Firefighters, they are also "fighting fire." This is the nickname American firefighters in the USA have. Everywhere they wear a recognizable shape, have special cars, moreover, any of them can boast of a sports physique. Not one city event can do without a heavy American fire engine. In addition, anyone can sit in it and feel like a hero.
Firefighters in the USA: how do they live and work?
Perhaps the romanticization and heroization of firefighters on the part of Hollywood makes this profession become desirable for many. And therefore you will not surprise anyone with the answer to the question about the future workplace. Perhaps the popularity of the American fireman profession is affected by fairly large salaries. Yes, and they have good pension accruals. In addition, fire departments are everywhere in the USA. And so you can work, as they say, a stone's throw from home. One way or another, there are more than enough people who want to become a hero in the eyes of people. American firefighters are welcome guests in kindergartens and schools, and any student is waiting for excursions to the fire department.
But everything is not as rosy as it might seem. Beautiful helmets of American firefighters, heavy equipment, interesting situations - all this is only a small part in the work of the specialists in question. Being a firefighter is a very big risk. Saving other people's lives, one day you yourself can become a victim of a fire.
Building codes
According to building codes, any project must contain a sheet with the California Fire Code section. This code contains 800 pages. All projects undergo an examination to determine compliance with legal standards. To educational institutions, and to any other public buildings, the requirements in America are very high.
From the entire list of requirements, the main ones can be identified. So, the width of the corridor varies depending on the type of building, and for schools it is the largest. Also a mandatory requirement is the availability of emergency exits. The corridors end up facing the street with a full-width doorway. Doors are never locked and open outward when a bar is pressed. Buildings are designed so that American firefighters can easily approach them. And, of course, every citizen knows from films alone that parking with a hydrant is strictly prohibited.
Alarm and fire extinguishing system
Already, each building under construction has not only an alarm system, but also a fire extinguishing system. The fire fighting industry is developing every year, and the Americans themselves are not far behind it. Fire extinguishing system nozzles are installed on the ceiling. They are covered with white plastic caps. There are also huge, ugly, but much-needed standalone smoke detectors. Sensitivity strikes them. Even with the slightest hint of smoke, the sensor "wakes up", and with it the nearest streets.
There are not even any thoughts on the possible discharge of the battery. Everything is thought out to the smallest detail, and therefore it will be impossible to miss the moment of operation. The sensor itself understands that the battery is about to run out, and begins to emit sound signals. That is why every home has a supply of batteries. And if earlier the installation of such systems was extremely rare, now it is considered a prerequisite. So, if the repair cost is more than $ 1,000, builders are obliged to install smoke detection sensors for free in all rooms.
How do American fire inspectors work?
At first glance, it might seem that such a profession does not exist, but this is not at all the case. As such, inspectors walking around offices and checking were neither observed nor observed. Any interested person who is entrusted with the duties can become an inspector. So, at a construction site, the functions of a fire inspector are performed by a construction inspector.
Fire shields with a hook, crowbar and sand are completely optional. No one in the US will force citizens to install them. The situation is similar with fire extinguishers in a car. There you can do without them. The only condition that must be observed during new construction is the location of the fire extinguisher at a distance of at least 15 meters from the work site.
How firefighters are trained in the USA
In addition to possessing excellent physical shape, firefighters must also think well enough. That is why the first step in learning is a questionnaire. It is required to identify the potential, to learn all the nuances of the profession. All this is supported by specially designed tests aimed at working with numbers, on understanding information, on situational awareness and solving problems. The most important of all stages is physical preparation, during which the assessment of skills, strength, training, dexterity, as well as human behavior in emergency situations is carried out.
Chicago firefighters have about six training methods. The first of these is "movement in a confined space." The ability to cope with enclosed space, orientation in it, attempts to tolerate moderate physical activity, body flexibility - all this plays a major role in this method.
US Firefighter Training Options
A method designed to test the ability to work at height is “climbing stairs”. With it, you can evaluate self-confidence and your ability to follow instructions. The evacuation of victims requires skills to move backwards while dragging a mannequin, which plays the role of the victim. You can recall episodes from films and programs where firefighters raise and install multi-meter stairs. This is the fourth teaching method.
Not to mention the assembly and transportation of equipment would be a huge mistake. All such methods are aimed at developing manual dexterity and adapting to physical activity in emergency situations. All of the above is complicated by a complete simulation of emergency situations and heavy equipment during training. The equipment of the American fireman alone weighs about 20 kilograms. Moreover, firefighters are preparing to leave in a matter of 45 seconds. It is impossible to exceed this norm.
American technique
Almost all fire fighting equipment is manufactured in the United States by special state order. Manufacturers will not refuse almost any customer request. In rural areas, incidents are not uncommon when fire trucks try to convert them into used fuel trucks, tankers and other civilian or military equipment. In addition to large firms manufacturing the equipment itself, there are a huge number of smaller companies that manufacture component parts for machines.
American fire fighting equipment is quite diverse. So, all the vehicles mentioned below, of course, cannot even partially fill in the whole list of equipment and vehicles that Chicago firefighters, for example, keep with them.
Types of equipment
Start with the auto pump. It is equipped with gas mask mounts. 1500 gall / min pump located in the middle of the car. An integrated foam system is rare. Hose lines are laid next to the pump, on the shelves. Behind the pump is a water tank. Unallocated space behind and around it is reserved for other technical equipment. At least two stairs are located.
There are more mobile versions of car pumps, most often they are called quick-response cars. There are also auto pumps with a large supply of water, focused on quick set and discharge of fluid. They are called tankers. There are also vacuum versions of a similar technique.
Other machinery
An important element in the list will be a ladder that performs the functions of reconnaissance, saving people, smoke removal, the installation of portable stairs, lighting and the like. There is a technical fleet of firefighters and a hybrid ladder with an auto pump. In the USA, smoke exhaust devices are most often installed on car pumps or ladders, but pickups with an open fan are also found. Cars need it for smoke removal.
There are also cars that contain anything: all the way to the toilet and kitchen. Such cars are considered regular, and you can meet such vehicles in several fire departments in New York. Rescue vehicles are no less diverse. Usually they are distinguished by classes: light, medium, heavy or by body type. Cars with more powerful equipment are called object.
In addition to all of the above, there are tankers with increased cross-country ability, forest medical vehicles, etc. But do not forget about other fire fighting equipment. Many of the most diverse other equipment is also actively used in extinguishing fires, but most of it, both in quantity and frequency of use, remains simple cars.
New York Fire Department
A little more should be told about the famous department, which aims to extinguish fires located in the largest US city - New York. It has about 10,000 thousand employees. Of these, 3,500 are emergency workers, 1,700 are maintenance personnel, and the remainder are firefighters themselves. The department itself is formed on the principle of a military unit. He is in charge of the five New York City bureaus.
If you compare the department with other organizations, then in many ways the main fire department is similar to the New York Police Department. There are also two states here: the executive, led by the civil commissioner, and the state responsible for the bureau in other departments. All departments are quickly and geographically scattered in different areas of the city. Within each department there are ten fire departments. Within each unit - from five to seven battalions, led by leaders and 180-200 employees.