Not Just Smoke Eaters Anymore
When the fire department started protective safety equipment was very limited. The firefighters wore rubber coats and rubber boots, and a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) was a thing of the future. Now the personnel have Nomex turnout gear, which consists of a coat, bunker pants, nomex hood and gloves. Along with steel toed boots, helmets, and SCBA’s.
Also the only training the initial firefighter received was in-house training from their fire departments. There was no formalized training. Now once an individual joins our department they have two years to obtain their Firefighter I & II certification from the State of Michigan. Which of consists of approximately 300 hours of training, both written and practical. There is also specialized training that is required such as; Incident Command; Hazardous Material; and Vehicle Extrication to name a few. At the end of the training you must pass a written and practical test to obtain your certification.