Firefighter Safety Research Articles

External drivers of changes in wildland firefighter safety policies and practices

Background Firefighter safety is a top priority in wildland fire response and management. Existing explanations emphasise how land management agency initiatives to change organisational culture, usually inspired by fatality incidents, contribute to changes both in formal safety policies and informal safety practices. Aims This paper identifies external factors that lead to changes in wildland firefighter safety policies and practices. Methods This paper uses qualitative data from a long-term ethnographic research project. Data include detailed fieldnotes, semi-structured interviews, and agency documents, which were systematically coded and thematically analysed. Key results In addition to the triggering effects of fatality incidents and agency initiatives to change organisational culture, external factors also directly impact the development of firefighter safety policies and practices. These include sociodemographic, material, political, and social-environmental factors. Conclusions Identifying and understanding the influence of multi-scalar external factors on firefighter safety is essential to improving safety outcomes and reducing firefighters’ exposure to hazards. Implications Attention to and recognition of external factors is valuable for fire managers and practitioners, whose work is influenced and constrained by meso- and macro-level factors. The framework presented in this paper would be useful in understanding other important aspects of wildland fire management.

Application and Research of Intelligent Multi-source Information Fusion Technology in Firefighting Equipment

As modern firefighting environments become increasingly complex, traditional firefighter equipment and operational methods are no longer adequate to address the high-risk challenges of fire rescue operations. Fire scenes are characterized by complex and hazardous environmental factors, with firefighters facing multiple threats such as extreme temperatures, dense smoke, and toxic gases. Therefore, ensuring the safety and efficiency of firefighters is of paramount importance. This study integrates multiple sensor technologies to enable real-time monitoring of firefighters' physiological status, posture changes, and fire scene conditions. The system incorporates ErgoLAB wireless ECG and PPG sensors, the BWT61CL posture sensor, and the MAG14mini infrared camera, which are capable of simultaneously capturing key physiological data and heat distribution in the fire scene. To ensure data accuracy and real-time performance, the study employs efficient signal preprocessing techniques, including noise reduction, baseline correction, and time synchronization. In addition, wireless transmission technology and multimodal data fusion algorithms are utilized to comprehensively analyze the firefighters' status and fire scene conditions. This approach significantly enhances the precision of firefighter safety monitoring and operational efficiency, demonstrating substantial innovation and practical value.

Thermally robust hierarchical nanofiber triboelectric yarns for efficient energy harvesting in firefighting E-textiles

Textile-based triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) face challenges in achieving high performance and fulfilling functional requirement for special applications. This paper presents the development of a high-performance, thermally robust hierarchical polyimide (PI) nanofiber triboelectric yarns with a charge-trapping interlayer for application in firefighting E-textiles. The hierarchical nanofiber yarns, comprising a stainless-steel core electrode, a PI/MXene interlayer and PI outer tribo-layer, exhibit enhanced triboelectric performance due to the charge-trapping capabilities of MXene, which preventing the recombination of triboelectric and induced charges. When the MXene content in the charge-trapping interlayer reached 1 wt%, the corresponding TENG achieved its optimal output performance, with an output voltage of 153 V and a current of 13.13 μA and a peak power density of 0.84 W/m2 under optimal conditions. It also demonstrates exceptional thermal stability, maintaining stable output at temperatures up to 400 °C. The integration of the TENG into E-textiles enables real-time monitoring of firefighters’ physical activities and location tracking, significantly enhancing their safety and operational efficiency in fire scenarios. Additionally, the TENG powers electroluminescent yarns, improving visibility in dense smoke and dust environments. This research opens new avenues for the application of smart wearable systems in high-temperature environments, providing effective strategies for ensuring the safety of firefighters in fire rescue operations.

Влияние жизнестойкости на психологическую безопасность пожарных-спасателей

Introduction. The professional activity of a firefighter is inseparable from psychological states associated with risks and challenges. Performing the tasks of extinguishing fires, eliminating emergency situations and man-made disasters, firefighters act in a team. Their hardiness, the ability to use adaptive strategies in difficult situations, the skill of constructive interpersonal interaction depends on their psychological safety. The aim of the study is to examine firefighters' resilience and its contribution to psychological safety. Materials and methods. The following methods were used: The Hardiness Survey (S. Muddy), The Security Questionnaire (Ch. Kong and L. Ahn), The Portrait Values Questionnaire (Sh. Schwartz). The study on the basis of IPSA GPSA of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia involved firefighters studying in the master's programme in the direction of “Fire Safety”. Methods of mathematical data processing (descriptive statistics, Spearman rank correlation, regression analysis) were implemented in IBM SPSS Statistics 26 package. Results. The mean scores of resilience, personal psychological safety of firefighters were above the normative values. Significant correlations were found between psychological safety and resilience of firefighters, and involvement as a component of resilience is a predictor of psychological safety with the dominance of values of caring for people and nature. Conclusion. Firefighters' willingness to take risks, sense of confidence and control, and engagement enable adaptive, resilient coping mechanisms. Firefighters' higher sense of psychological safety reflects their ability to better cope with stress, make informed decisions, work effectively as a team, and maintain their psychological well-being in high-risk and highresponsibility environments. Job involvement and commitment to the values of the profession enhance their sense of psychological safety in a teamwork environment and confidence in control. It is important for leaders of fire and rescue organisations to understand the psychological benefits based on resilience and firefighters' sense of psychological safety and to employ practices to develop them.

The Role of Resistance and Plyometric Training in Firefighter Safety and Performance: A Narrative Review

The Role of Resistance and Plyometric Training in Firefighter Safety and Performance: A Narrative Review

Fabrication of Laminated Electrospun Fire˗Resistant Phosphorylated Poly(Vinylalcohol) Membrane for Enhanced Firefighter Safety

AbstractThe current study focuses on the creation of breathable and fire˗retardant fibrous membranes using phosphorylated poly(vinylalcohol) (PPVA) via the electrospinning method, with a specific interest in their application for structural firefighter clothing. Poly(vinylalcohol) (PVA) was phosphorylated to enhance its inherent flame resistance. Optimization of reaction conditions, including time and temperature, was conducted to achieve a solution suitable for electrospinning. The flame resistance of PPVA was confirmed through vertical flammability tests, with thermogravimetric analysis indicating a significant increase in carbonaceous char formation during PPVA decomposition compared to unmodified PVA. The limiting oxygen index also exhibited a notable increase from PVA to PPVA. Furthermore, the study established optimal operating conditions for producing uniform fibers, considering parameters such as polymer concentration, feed rate, tip to collector distance, and applied potential difference. The PPVA membrane demonstrated superior water vapor transmission rates compared to PVA, indicating enhanced breathability. The entire fabrication process utilized an environmentally friendly water‐based solvent. Additionally, a moisture‐cum‐thermal barrier layer (MCTB) was developed by laminating the PPVA fibrous membranes with microporous polytetrafluoroethylene and further with needle punch‐spunlaced OPAN fabric. Experimental assessments of the MCTB layer revealed satisfactory breathability and thermal performance, surpassing the standard requirements of 35 cal/cm2 for structural firefighting configuration.

Firefighter Hose Rolling Method: Low Back Pain Risks Analysis with Full-Factorial Approach

Firefighters frequently face the risk of Low back pain (LBP) due to the strenuous nature of their duties, especially during hose rolling tasks. Prioritizing their safety and health is vital. This study aimed to evaluate and compare various hose rolling techniques to lower the LBP risk in firefighters. A full-factorial approach was employed to exhaustively examine every possible combination of three key factors: the hose rolling method (conventional, mechanical, motorized), hose condition (dry, wet, dirty), and hose length (10, 20, 30 meters). Across 27 different trials, an Industrial Lumbar Motion Monitor (iLMM) was used to assess the LBP risk, which is lift rate, average twisting velocity, maximum moment, maximum sagittal flexion, and maximum lateral velocity. The study's results indicated that conventional method had the highest LBP risk at 58.22%, with mechanical rolling at 34.33%. In contrast, the motorized hose rolling method showed a significantly lower risk, averaging at 17.44%. This denotes a 40.78% reduction in LBP risk compared to conventional hose rolling method, positioning the motorized roller as the most effective and safest option among those tested. This method's efficacy underscores its potential as a viable solution for improving firefighter safety. These findings offer important insights into occupational health and safety in firefighting. The data suggests that adopting motorized hose rolling tools could significantly alleviate the physical burdens and associated health hazards firefighters face. This advancement is a critical step towards enhancing their overall safety and well-being in the field.

Assessing the Impact of Pre-Soaking to Enhance Laundering Efficacy of Firefighter Turnout Gear.

Firefighters are exposed to hazardous chemicals at fire scenes, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) among many others, which pose significant health risks. Current laundering practices are ineffective at removing persistent contaminants from turnout gear, necessitating further research to optimize cleaning methods. This study explores the impact of presoaking prior to the laundering process and the factors that can affect its effectiveness, including the presoaking duration and detergent concentration, in PAH removal when laundering. For this, contaminated fabric swatches were subjected to various presoaking durations (1, 3, and 12 h) and detergent concentrations (99:1 and 90:10 water-to-detergent ratios) before undergoing bench-scale washing. The cleaning efficacy was assessed for 16 PAH compounds, including both low-molecular-weight (LMW) PAHs and high-molecular-weight (HMW) PAHs. Moreover, the removal mechanisms of PAHs from turnout gear were fundamentally explained using partition coefficients and standard affinities with different parameters during washing. The results demonstrate that 3 h and 12 h of presoaking lead to 2.8 and 4.3 times greater HMW PAH removal, respectively. After 12 h of presoaking in a 90:10 water-to-detergent ratio, 97% of the LMW PAHs and 78% of the HMW PAHs were removed, compared to only an 11% removal of the HMW PAHs with a 99:1 ratio. Additionally, direct washing with a 90:10 ratio achieved comparable efficacy to that of presoaking with the same water-to-detergent ratio, indicating the crucial role of detergent concentration during laundering. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing firefighter safety practices, emphasizing the role of presoaking and the appropriate methods to perform presoaking to mitigate firefighters' occupational exposure risks to toxic substances and ensure gear reliability.

Moisture barriers used in firefighters' protective clothing: Effect of accelerated hydrothermal aging on their mechanical and barrier performance

AbstractFirefighters' protective clothing rely on moisture barriers to safeguard against liquid ingress while enabling sweat evaporation for comfort and safety. However, these moisture barriers can degrade over time, jeopardizing firefighters' safety. Existing evaluation methods, primarily visual inspection, are inadequate for assessing moisture barrier integrity in service. This study examines the effect of accelerated hydrothermal aging on the tear force, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), and apparent contact angle in three moisture barrier models used in firefighter protective clothing. The moisture barriers studied varied in composition, structure, and base fabric fiber content. Results revealed that moisture barriers' responses to aging are influenced by factors, such as fabric structure, adhesive configuration, finish, and the presence of additional coatings. The hardening of the adhesive layer between the ePTFE membrane and the base fabric was observed in two of the moisture barriers, leading to a slight tear force reduction. Two of the moisture barriers also experienced crack and pit formation on the membrane side, which affected the WVTR. The water‐repellent finish on the fabric side degraded in one moisture barrier. Understanding these complex behaviors is essential for predicting the long‐term moisture barrier performance and enhancing firefighter safety.

Using AutoML and generative AI to predict the type of wildfire propagation in Canadian conifer forests

Accurate prediction of wildfire behaviour is critical for safe and effective fire management and suppression. This study focused on developing and evaluating machine learning (ML) models based on a dataset collected of outdoor experimental fires in Canadian conifer forests. Binary classification models (surface fire vs. crown fire) and multi-class fire type models (surface, passive crown, active crown) were created using ensemble tree methods (Random Forest, XGBoost) and automated ML (AutoGluon, TabPFN). Generative adversarial networks (GAN) were used to generate synthetic data to overcome imbalances in the type of fire distribution. The results show automated ML methods applied to the binary problem to perform best of all tested methods, with an overall accuracy of 91%. TabPFN had the highest accuracy for the multi-class problem, with the use of GAN improving model fit. Results show overfitting issues with some of the ML models, highlighting the need of independent evaluation when ML models are developed. The TabPFN models have potential for application in supporting fire management, namely in fuel management and identifying situations with high fire spread and intensity potential that can impact firefighter safety.

The impact of deprivation on the psychological safety of firefighters: results of a preliminary study

The impact of deprivation on the psychological safety of firefighters: results of a preliminary study

The impact of positive-pressure breathing apparatus on muscle fatigue of volunteer firefighter.

Muscle fatigue is one of the leading causes that contributes tremendously to injuries among volunteer firefighters in the workplace. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of positive-pressure breathing apparatus on muscle fatigue in the shoulder, back, and legs of volunteer firefighters. A total of 60 volunteer firefighters were recruited to perform a running task on a motorized treadmill in a controlled laboratory environment. Surface electromyography and rating of perceived exertion scores were collected from all participants every 60 seconds during the running task. Results show that the median frequency values for all measured muscle groups were significantly lower, and the rating of perceived exertion score was significantly higher after running with the positive-pressure breathing apparatus. Meanwhile, there were no significant differences in the median frequency values for the upper trapezius, erector spinae, and biceps femoris between the initial and final periods of running task without load. However, the median frequency values with load for gastrocnemius, rectus femoris, and tibialis anterior exhibited a greater downward trend compared to those without load. Additionally, using a breathing apparatus can cause asymmetric muscle fatigue in bilateral upper trapezius, erector spinae, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior muscles. The decreased performance due to muscle fatigue increases the risk of accidents, thereby posing a threat to the safety of volunteer firefighters. This study offers valuable insights into the effects of positive-pressure breathing apparatus on muscle fatigue among volunteer firefighters. These results may serve as a reference for developing improved fatigue management strategies and optimizing the design features of breathing apparatus.

Tinjauan Literatur Tentang Evaluasi Kesehatan dan Keselamatan Kerja Serta Penggunaan Alat Pelindung Diri (APD) Dalam Pemadaman Kebakaran Di Indonesia

The development of urban areas into residential, industrial, and commercial zones has increased the risk of fires, especially in areas with inadequate building conditions. Firefighters must always be on alert and equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to reduce the risk of occupational accidents. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and the use of PPE among firefighters in Indonesia through a literature review method. The analysis was conducted on 7 research articles and 1 reference book published in the last 10 years. The results show that OHS knowledge and optimal use of PPE are significantly related to the reduction in the rate of work accidents. Factors such as knowledge, training, availability, supervision, and good PPE management are crucial in reducing accident risks and enhancing the safety of firefighters. This study emphasizes the importance of continuous education, routine training, and effective PPE management to ensure optimal occupational health and safety for firefighters in Indonesia.

Design and implementation of an autonomous fire-extinguishing robot with SMS alert functionality

Fire outbreak represents a formidable threat, capable of causing loss of life, property destruction, and permanent injuries. Firefighters bravely confront these hazards, placing themselves at serious risk to protect communities. Despite the inherent dangers, their selfless service remains vital. Among recent technological advancements, firefighting robots have emerged as significant tools for mitigating such risks. These robots utilize machine learning and cutting-edge sensor technologies to enhance fire detection accuracy, minimizing false alarms. To improve the performance of the fire robot, this study designed and implemented an Arduino UNO microcontroller based on the ATmega32 and developed using C++ language. In addition to equipping it with SMS capability that allows it to notify the concerned entity about an outbreak, the developed robot operates autonomously thereby minimizing human error in its operation. With the aid of the ultrasonic sensors, the robot navigates and avoids obstacles collision with high precision. Integrated with flame and smoke sensors controlled by the microcontroller ensures swift fire detection. By autonomously sprinkling water from a mounted container, it effectively suppresses fires. Through this innovative design, the study aims to bolster fire response capabilities, reducing reliance on human intervention and enhancing safety for both firefighters and civilians. From the performance evaluation carried out on the developed robot, it was observed that the robot has exhibited an effective performance in detecting and extinguishing fires using the various sensors.

INNOVATIVE TESTING STAND FOR CONTACT WITH FLAME - EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH

One of the most important factors affecting the safety of firefighters is protection against heatwhile fighting a fire. Flame is considered the most dangerous phenomenon that can quickly causedamage to fire-resistant clothing and injury to a firefighter. The article presents testing methodsfor protective clothing. An innovative method of testing the impact of flame on protective clothingfabrics, developed at the State Fire Service Aspirants’ School in Krakow, was presented. The samplewas exposed to a flame from a burner powered by propane-butane gas. Temperature measurementswere executed with a thermal imaging camera Flir T430sc and K-type thermocouples, and thetime to reach the so-called pain threshold (temperature 60C) by a person wearing protectiveclothing. The tests were carried out on material samples of fabrics produced by ANDROPOL withreflective layers of nanocomposites applied and subjected to impregnation.

Relationship Between The Implementation Of Occupational Health And Safety Manajement Systems With Accident Risk In Fire Fighting Officers

Fires often come without warning, presenting unexpected risks for firefighters who must remain alert while on duty. This profession is classified as a job that is full of high risks, and the level of risk faced is closely related to the implementation of an occupational health and safety (K3) management system. This research uses a quantitative analytical survey approach with a cross-sectional design to explore the relationship between the implementation of an K3 management system and the risk of accidents among firefighters. In this study, 36 officers were selected as samples using the random sampling method. Primary data was obtained through questionnaires filled out by respondents and assessment sheets prepared by researchers. Data analysis used the chi-square test with a confidence level of 95% (? = 0.05). Rejection of the null hypothesis (Ho) occurs if the p value <0.05, which concludes that there is a significant relationship. Research findings show that as many as 30 field officers (83.3%) are within the scope of the K3 management system which is categorized as poor. There is a significant relationship between the implementation of the K3 management system and the risk of accidents (p=0.000). In order to minimize the risk of work accidents, increasing awareness and discipline of officers in using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is very important. It is hoped that the findings from this research can become a basis for related parties to make system improvements and increase the safety of firefighters in the future. Efforts to increase awareness of the importance of K3 and the use of PPE are expected to reduce the risk of accidents and better protect officers as they carry out their duties to protect the public from the dangers of fire.

Fire dynamics simulator modeling of a line-of-duty death in a firefighting training facility using recent research on materials and firefighter safety

In 2005, a line-of-duty death of an instructor at a firefighter training facility spawned research into both firefighter training and improving firefighter protective gear. Since the incident, there has been additional research into the material properties, firefighter facepiece performance, and the classification of firefighter exposures. This has been in parallel to significant improvements in the ability to model fires and predict, rather than prescribe, fire growth. As this recent body of work was not available at the time of incident investigation, the incident was revisited using the current version of Fire Dynamics Simulator. The full day of training evolutions was modeled in Fire Dynamics Simulator using recent data on wood pyrolysis (the fuel) and facepiece reaction to heat. Fire Dynamics Simulator results were evaluated against the testing done following the incident. Facepiece research was used to develop hole formation criteria that could be evaluated from Fire Dynamics Simulator predictions of facepiece exposure. This was used to compare the performance of facepieces contemporary with the incident to today’s facepieces. In addition, exposure predictions were evaluated in the context of exposure hazard categories developed for firefighter protective gear.

Modeling fuel break effectiveness in southern Spain wildfires

BackgroundFuel breaks aim to reduce the energetic progression of a wildfire, facilitating safe and efficient suppression. Changes in fire regimes are creating increasingly complex scenarios in which a higher percentage of wildfires exceed control capabilities, and a significant increase in firefighting costs is expected. Therefore, it is necessary to redefine fuel break networks incorporating science-based criteria. This change entails the improvement of the existing fuel breaks, the abandonment of those whose effectiveness does not justify the investment in their maintenance, and the development of new optimized designs. Fuel break effectiveness is understood as the probability of controlling a fire in the treated area. We analyzed 563 intersections between fires and fuel breaks that occurred during wildfires from 2011 to 2018 considering topographic, meteorological, fuel, design feature, suppression, and fire behavior factors. The main goal of this study is to quantitatively analyze the effectiveness of fuel breaks during wildfires in southern Spain and to develop models to predict potential fuel break effectiveness in fire containment capabilities by comparing machine learning techniques with a classic statistical approach.ResultsFuel breaks were effective in containing the fire in 46.9% of cases. The most influential factors in effectiveness were the type of suppression work executed on fuel breaks (aerial, ground, or combined firefighting), the flame length, and the intersection angle between the fire and fuel break. Although the most accurate results were achieved with an artificial neural network, a decision tree could be the easiest model for end-user operational application.ConclusionsThis study entails a change in effectiveness assessment to an empirical approach in real wildfires in Spain. Our findings can be used to support decision-making for optimizing fire containment capability and firefighter safety.

Preparation and moisture transport behavior of multilevel branching network nanofiber membrane: Based on the Lattice Boltzmann method and inspired by plant transpiration

Ensuring the efficiency and safety of firefighters relies heavily on optimizing the moisture permeability of their suits. Inspired by the intricate multi-level network structure of plant transpiration, this study utilized electrospinning technology to prepare biomimetic vascular, veined multilevel branched network quick-drying nanofiber membranes. Combining X-ray microtomography (XMT) and the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), this study conducted a 3D reconstruction of the microstructure of quick-drying nanofiber materials, establishing a characterization method for moisture permeability behavior from a micro to mesoscale perspective and conducted numerical simulations. The results indicate that in the nanofiber membrane, the fiber diameter and pore size between fibers gradually decrease from the inlet to the outlet in the forward flow direction (from PET side to PAN side). At the same displacement pressure difference, the average and maximum flow rates of forward percolation were significantly greater than reverse percolation (from PAN side to PET side); in the initial stage of forward percolation (x < 11), the flow rate first increased and then gradually decreased, with the rate of increase (k = 0.712623) significantly higher than the rate of decrease (k'=0.001102), while in reverse percolation, the flow rate continuously increased throughout the process; These phenomena are primarily due to different startup pressure gradients. Furthermore, the analysis of moisture transport performance indicates that the fiber membrane exhibits highly efficient unidirectional moisture transport capability. This study expands the understanding of the moisture permeability mechanism of nanofibers, which is significant for enhancing the protective performance and comfort of quick-drying firefighter fabrics.

A REVIEW PAPER ON FIRE FIGHTING ROBOT

Firefighting robots are becoming increasingly important tools for combatting fires, particularly in hazardous environments. This paper reviews the latest advancements in real-time wireless firefighting robots. We explore the design considerations, functionalities, and sensor technologies employed in these robots. The paper highlights the importance of autonomous navigation, fire source detection and localization, and fire suppression mechanisms for effective firefighting. We discuss various fire extinguisher options beyond traditional water-based systems to address the limitations of water in extinguishing specific fires. Additionally, the paper examines the role of real-time communication for remote control and data transmission, enabling firefighters to make informed decisions and ensure their safety during operations. Finally, the review concludes by emphasizing the potential of real-time wireless firefighting robots to revolutionize fire response strategies and improve firefighter safety. · Key Words: Firefighting robots, localization, fire suppression mechanisms