Fire Resistant Clothing
Fire Resistant Shirts and Pants
The main items in the personal protection equipment (PPE) that firefighters are required during duty are a loose-fitting long-sleeved shirt and loose-fitting, cuffless pants. Both shirt and trousers must be made of fire resistant fabric. Fire resistant clothing protect firefighters skin from radiant heat and prevent embers from igniting their clothing. The shirts are a bright yellow color to improve the ability of air personnel and other ground staff to locate firefighters when they are working in heavily vegetated places.
It is recommended that firefighters wear a short-sleeved t-shirt, underwear, and socks under fire clothing and boots. T-shirts and underwear should be 100% cotton or a 100% flame-resistant blend. Socks should be cotton, wool, or a blend of flame-resistant fibers. Undergarments and socks should not be made of 100% or a high percentage of polyester, nylon, or acrylic.
Gloves
Heavy leather gloves are essential for protecting hands from burns and cuts. Firefighting gloves should be a nongauntlet style so as not to funnel hot embers into the glove. Some agencies require their firefighters to wear specific types of gloves. Gloves that have holes or tears should be discarded and another pair placed into service. Often leather gloves get wet on the fireline because of leaking water hoses. If wet, lay out flat to dry.
Goggles
Goggles the eyes from dirt, debris, metal shards from tools, and hot ashes. Wildland firefighters are exposed to many hazards to the eyes. These hazards include, but are not limited to, debris in the air from wind gusts; dirt and debris propelled from chopping and grubbing operations with a hand tool; metal shards broken off hand tool edges after striking a rock; and hot ash reacting to application of cool water. Some styles of goggles protect eyes from smoke. Without goggles the eyes typically water profusely and blur the field of vision of the firefighter. Blurry eyes may have other safety hazards to firefighters who continue travelling or using his or her tool.
Boots
Wildland firefighters are required to wear specially engineered boots that meet the NFPA 1977 certification.
Hard Hats
Wildland firefighters are required to wear hard hats when they are on duty.
Encyclopedia ID: p318
