Wildland Firefighter Gear Breakdown; Colors Changed

Dec. 19, 2013
The color was changed to yellow because pilots mistook the orange for fire and sprayed crews with retardant.

Editor's Note -- Here's the latest in a series of articles written by a team of investigative reporters from Utah who spent several months probing wildland firefighting. 

Dec. 16--Before heading to the flames, firefighters are required to carry and wear specific protective equipment.

Here is a breakdown of what they wear:

Boots

There's a reason firefighters are often called "boots on the ground." A good pair of boots is essential to any firefighter to protect from hot embers, prevent slips on rough terrain and reduce the risk of falls or sprains. It's the only piece of equipment not provided by the U.S. Forest Service or U.S. Bureau of Land Management, but they must be certified wildland boots.

Shirt and Pants

Those forest green pants and bright yellow shirts aren't worn because they look good. The uniform is a key component of wildland fire personal equipment.

The original shirts used in 1962 were treated with fire retardant chemicals and issued in a bright orange color. Fire officials quickly switched the uniform color to yellow after aircraft mistook the orange for flames and dropped retardant on firefighters. The pants weren't required until 1974.

Today, the shirts and pants are made of heat-resistant, synthetic aramid fabric. When exposed to flame, the fabric burns but instead of melting when the burning stops, the fabric forms a char that protects the skin.

Gloves

To prevent blisters, cuts, scratches and minor burns during routine firefighting.

Hard Hat

Made out of thermoplastics or fiberglass, hard hats save firefighters from serious head injuries against falling trees, limbs and rolling rock. They're typically lightweight -- 15.5 ounces -- to help keep heat being released from firefighters heads and prevent overheating.

Face and Neck Shrouds

Rectangle piece of fabric that hangs from firefighters' hard hats to the shoulders. It is attached to the hard hat and can be removed or rolled outside of the hard hat and fastened above the bill. Shrouds are used almost exclusively in wildland fire, unlike structural firefighting where they use balaciava-style hoods.

Eye Protection

To keep dust, ash and debris out of firefighters' eyes.

Fire Shelter

Every firefighter carries a fire shelter around his or her waist. To remove the shelter, firefighters unzip the bag and shake out the shelter. They then climb into the shelter and lie completely flat on the ground.

Firefighters are trained to use them as a last resort.

Copyright 2013 - The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho

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