A Uniform Opinion [Archive] - Firehouse Forums

Ozzy69FF

03-02-2006, 01:17 AM

For those who dont really get the chance to read this too often here is the info on Australia. I am a former US firefighter who now resides in Australia and Volunteers when he can in Fire Brigades throughout the states here. I have lived here since 1999 and have seen the fire service here go through a major change in the thoughts about bunker gear. As those in the States understand we have moisture vapour barriers (MVB's) to protect us from steam and also bloodborne pathogen related contact, in Australia the thinking is different. The temperature here is lethal to say the least and different states have different geographical problems relating to ambient temperature and weather conditions that firefighters face. Having a MVB in ones gear is nice (especially when you fight fires without them), but it also makes bunker gear cumbersome and tends to also bring up the body's core temperature when working on a job. For years Australia has been grappling the problem of having more protection for their firefighters or keeping them happy with lighter less protective bunker gear, and now the debate is starting to spill over.

Queensland Fire and Rescue has MVB's in their gear and are one of the few progressive places that I have seen where firefighters have a bit more of a say in what they would like, but as we all understand within limits of a City or state budget. Most firefighters that I introduce myself to and show my "old" American gear to all mostly say the same thing "this is pretty bloody heavy mate." The stuff I show them is PBI with Gore Tex liner system. In my humble opinion I think we all need to sit back and take stock of the situation that being a. we work a dangerous job b. in this job protection comes from both insulation and gear being flame resistant which adds weight c. the Brigades here need to realise that the days of fighting fires in Cotton or Wool turnout gear treated with a material that gives off toxic gases (inert) are now out and should have been 20 years ago d. buying this new stuff is going to cost money, the new materials on the market these days are expensive and require a bit of a change in the philosophy of fighting fires to keep from hurting the poor Joe Schmo on the ground wearing the stuff.

The US Fire Service has already gone through these changes and are still learning every day, that is what we do as a probationary firefighter to a chief officer and we should keep learning or otherwise leave the job. The new gear on the market is heavy but not as heavy as the stuff I used to wear 10 years ago and it is up to every firefighter to keep his fitness monitered and also up to us as firefighters to know our limitations as to work and exhertion on the fireground. Chief Officers need to understand that they need to spend more money to get the guys what they want, they are the ones risking their lives for others (altruism is what drives this job I thought) and wearing the gear every day), not some pencil pusher sitting behind a desk! Also the Chief's have the added responsibility of looking after the boys and girls on the fireground safety, health and overall their physical ability to keep performing the work in gear that they not only feel safe in but comfortable.

We are taught at the Fire Academy to trust our equipment are we not? When we do that as a new firefighter it is always a leap of faith (at least it was for me with some of the stuff I used to use) this situation is going to take a leap of faith from both sides plus proper testing and education in it's use to make it a worth wile step to introduce into Oz. Like all equipment we use on the fire scene our bunker gear is a piece of equipment that helps us accomplish our job, treat it as such. Test it, clean it, use it to it's ability (not pushing the envelope obviously), train with it and finally in the end trust in it's ability to help protect you and keep you safe. If not let's just revert back to the old days and drag along an old horse drawn steam engine, use wooden hydrants, and wear old rubber raincoats to fight these fires! Change is a bastard, and takes compromise from both sides to become a reality.