Firefighters and

Release of a pressurized, hquefied gas to the atmosphere will cause the gas to cool and condense water vapor in ambient air, forming a visible vapor cloud. Firefighters and operators who attempt to move such a cloud away from furnaces and the hke with fire hoses and water jet guns are at risk, because of the possibility of a UVCE near them. Plants and governmental agencies who recommend such practices need to reexamine their pohcies. 

The latter three categories include all responders not covered by 29 CFR 1910.120 (1) and (p). The last category includes local firefighters and HAZMAT teams (see Table 8-1). 

Potassium superoxide is used in self-contained breathing devices for firefighters and miners. It reacts with the moisture in exhaled air to generate oxygen ... 

A massive explosion and fire occurred at an agricultural chemical packaging facility in Arkansas, killing three firefighters and injuring a fourth. The likely cause was a supersack of azinphos-methyl (an insecticide) being placed near a hot compressor exhaust pipe. 

Two years later, an explosion and fire at Bartlo Packaging (BPS, Inc.), in West Helena, Arkansas, killed three firefighters and seriously injured another. Hundreds of residents, including patients at a local hospital, were either evacuated or sheltered-in-place (USEPA-OSHA, 1999). Property damage was extensive. Major roads were closed and Mississippi River was traffic halted for nearly 12 hours. 

A hydrant lock is a physical security device designed to prevent unauthorized access to the water supply through a hydrant. It can also ensure water and water pressure availability to firefighters and prevent water theft and associated lost water revenue. These locks have been successfully used in numerous municipalities and in various climates and weather conditions. 

Cartridge respirators are also not suitable for use in firefighting and sandblasting as well as in atmospheres containing less than the normal 21 percent of oxygen or where the concentration of the contaminants is unknown or immediately threatening to life. In these unsuitable situations, an air line respirator or a self-contained apparatus (see following) should be used. 

Incipient firefighting, and if the fire becomes too large, protect exposures and walk away. 

Hydrants and monitors should be spaced so that they can be safely utilized during a fire such that the total firefighting and equipment cooling water requirements for each fire area can be delivered. Hydrants are generally spaced a maximum of 200 ft (60 m) apart in process areas. Greater spacing is allowable in tank farms [up to 300 ft (91 m)] and low hazard areas, such as utility blocks. Hydrants and monitors should be located a minimum of 50 ft (15 m) from any equipment to be protected. 

In colder climates, enclosures may be necessary to mitigate freeze-related hazards. In enclosed process buildings, additional fire protection features should be added to compensate for reduced ventilation and dissipation of flammable vapors, limited access for firefighting, and handling of runoff from spills. 

Where water supplies are inadequate for conventional firefighting and foam making, automatically activated fixed clean agent or CO2 systems may be considered for seal fire protection. The agent should be discharged into the seal area below the secondary seal. Fire detection options for these automatic systems include reusable thermal wires and pneumatic tube devices. Thermal wire is typically the more economical choice. 

Polymers form the basis for fire-resistant textiles. For instance, many of the firefighters and race car drivers wear clothing made from aromatic nylons because these materials resist melting, dripping, supporting combustion in air, or burning. 

U.S. market is about 20 million pounds per year. The applications are those where one needs very high flame resistance (clothing for firefighters and welders, welder s protective shield, upholstery and drapes), heat resistance (ironing board covers, insulation film for electrical motors and transformers, aerospace and military), dimensional stability (fire hose, V- and conveyor belts), or strength and modulus (circuit boards, bulletproof vests, fiber optic and power lines, ship mooring ropes, automobile tire cord, puncture-resistant bicycle tires). 

Academy training generally lasts several weeks, with part of the time spent on classroom instruction and part on practical training. You will cover areas such as firefighting and prevention techniques, hazardous and combustible materials, local building codes, and emergency medical procedures. You will also learn how to use various kinds of firefighting and rescue equipment. 

Do some research. Spend some time at local and college libraries or on the Web reading about the fire service profession. Contact professional organizations for any newsletters, articles, and papers they publish. Subscribe to magazines in the field. Don t forget to scan the daily newspaper for articles about firefighting and on topics that affect the profession. 

Many jurisdictions, but not all, require that you live nearby or in the jurisdiction. Some fire departments give preference to otherwise qualified veterans over civilians. This may take the form of a policy, sometimes called a Veteran s Preference policy, whereby points are automatically added to the written exam. Is this unfair No. Fire companies are a lot like military units. They follow a strict chain of command, and firefighters on the line work as a team, knowing that their lives are in each other s hands. Military personnel have learned the discipline and teamwork that are vital to firefighting and emergency services, making them very well qualified. 

Here, you can clearly see the age group with the highest fatalities, represented by a point that corresponds to intersection of the value of the age range of the firefighters and the number of fatalities in 2007. These numbers can also be represented by a box in a bar graph, as shown in the next graph. 

The firefighters in a station house work as a dedicated team, entrusting their lives to one another. They also operate within a hierarchical structure. In this structure, they treat their superiors with the utmost respect, valuing their experience and knowledge. Judgment and reasoning questions that deal with interpersonal relations stress respect for authority, dedication to all firefighters, and responsibility for one s actions. 

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) publishes regular NIOSH reports on the deaths and serious injuries to firefighters, and numerous monthly reports deal with death due to cardiac arrest. In the majority of these cases, the conclusions and recommendations focus on the need for a complete wellness program and the elimination of smoking. 

The oral interview is a crucial step on your way to becoming a firefighter. You can and should prepare for it. So, do some research both on the life and work of a firefighter. And do some research on yourself—your background, opinions, strengths and weaknesses. Self-awareness leads to self-confidence, especially in an interview situation. Seek experience in areas where you think you need it. Practice interviewing skills. Demand the best from yourself. The panel and the profession certainly will. 

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