Introduction
Firefighters are not just responsible for putting out fires. They are responsible for protecting people and property from all sorts of accidents, preventing fires, and helping out in disasters.

The First Fire Department
Benjamin Franklin founded the first official fire department in Philadelphia in 1736. Benjamin Franklin was born in 1706 and died in 1790.

The Fire Triangle
Heat, oxygen, and fuel are the three ingredients that make up the fire triangle. If one of these ingredients is missing, there is no fire. For a fire to start it needs the three ingredients that make up the fire triangle.

What The Eye Sees When It Looks At Fire
When the human eye sees fire it only sees part of what is happening. There are really four parts to fire, all of them are dangerous. One of the four things is fire gas. Fire gas is a lot of flammable gasses that are created by heat as it disincarnates a fuel source. The human eye can’t see them, but the gasses are there. A flame is light given off by burning gas. As long as the temperature is high enough, fuel is there and oxygen is plentiful, the eye will see light. Heat is the part of fire that you can feel and the part that burns things and vaporizes new fire gas. A deadly cloud of vapor mixed with a very fine powder of solid particles is called smoke. Many lung injuries are caused by inhaling smoke. That is why firefighters wear air packs and masks.

The Fire Extinguisher
Captain George William Manby invented the first version of the modern fire extinguisher in the United Kingdom in 1816. It consisted of a copper vessel of three gallons of pearl ash solution under compressed air pressure. 


Common Ways Fires Start In Houses
Every 13.5 seconds, a fire bursts out in the United States. Most of them start in houses and are caused by carelessness. Here are some examples of carelessness. Smoking in bed can cause linen or clothing to catch fire if the smoker falls asleep. An overloaded electrical outlet can cause overheated wires to burn. Playing with matches can result in rugs, clothing, and other items starting to burn. Storing flammable liquids near a furnace can cause escaping fumes to catch fire. Gasoline should not be used to start fires. It is too flammable and uncontrollable. A flashback fire can begin when fumes escape from cleaning fluid or some other flammable liquid and come in contact with a flame. A flashback fire travels along the path of the fumes. Dishtowels and other burnable items can be set ablaze if placed too near a stove. Throwing away cigarettes that are still burning can start a wastebasket on fire. A soldering iron can set a workbench on fire if not disconnected after being used. Stored rags soaked with grease, oil, or paint can quickly burst into flame. Space heaters located too close to blowing curtains can cause the fabric to catch fire.

Twelve Things Every Firefighter Needs
Whenever a person fights a fire they need twelve things. The first thing that every firefighter needs is a helmet and hood to protect their heads from falling debris. An air pack and mask are needed to protect a firefighter’s lungs from smoke and it makes it so they can breathe. Every firefighter needs a flashlight so that they can see. A rope is needed for safety. Every firefighter needs a fire tool to clear debris. Boots are needed so firefighters don’t hurt their feet. Every firefighter needs an alarm in case of an emergency inside the building. Walkie-Talkies are needed so that firefighters inside of the building can communicate with ones outside of the building. Firefighters need a turnout coat, a thick, heavy coat, to protect them from flame and falling debris. Firefighters need bunker pants, thick, heavy pants, to protect them from debris and flame. Every firefighter needs a buddy who can watch out for them. But the most important thing every firefighter needs is common sense!

Fire Uses Over The Years
The earliest uses of fire in ancient history were to cook food and to keep warm.    More advanced uses of fire were to shape weapons and tools, change clay to pottery, and furnish light. Today fire is used to shape metal, power machines, keep industries running, create power for machines, generate electricity, and remove and destroy waste materials.

Tools That Firefighters Use
Firefighters use many tools. These are some tools that they use: rope, crowbar, ax, sledge hammer, pike pole, bolt cutters, smoke ejectors, power saw, hydraulic rescue tool, air cylinder, and masks.

Who I Interviewed And What I Learned On Monday, December 19, 2005 I interviewed Scott Hanna in the Selah Library at 4:30 p.m. I think Mr. Hanna was a good choice for my interview because he is an assistant fire chief. He told me that he had been involved with firefighting for 25 years. He is currently involved by being an assistant fire chief and going on all of the emergency calls. He told me that you have to be good at math to become a firefighter. You also have to be in excellent physical condition. Mr. Hanna went to a lot of different schools to become a firefighter. They were Texas A and M and other local state schools. Mr. Hanna told me about CH-47 helicopters (The big ones with two sets of rotor blades, one set in the front and one set in the back) and how he works with them. In 1994 he was called to help in a major forest fire, known as the Tyee complex fire. There he repaired 1000 and 2000 gallon buckets that are used on these helicopters to fight wild land and forest fires. Mr. Hanna also told me that he rides in the helicopters and helps their crews, that’s what keeps his job fun and exiting. He got involved with firefighting because his dad was a firefighter and so is his brother. He said he likes his job.

Bibliography County of Los Angeles Fire Department. “Statistical Summary” 2004.   “Firefighters” Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance.  2000. Fortnney, Mary T.   Fire Station Number 4.  Minneapolis, MN.  Carolrhoda Books, Inc.  1998.  Pp 1-47     Goldberg, Jan.  Firefighter.  Mankato, MN.  Capstone Press.  1999.  Pp 1-44    Hanna, Scott.  Personal interview.  December 19, 2005 Quintere, James G.    “Fire” World Book Encyclopedia.  2002.

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