Every year, people in the United States alone spent more than $2 billion on the fire truck manufacturing industry. In return, fire stations provide even more value to the society that they protect.

Of course, fire stations are only capable of doing this when they have the right firefighter tools. Unfortunately, some fire stations neglected to acquire some of the best firefighter tools around.

So what exactly are these tools, and why are they so important? Read on to learn all about the most important firefighter tools that every fire station needs.

Personal Lights

Many people imagine that burning buildings are full of light. However, that is not always the case. There are plenty of occasions in which a firefighter will need to provide their own light in order to be able to quickly navigate a dangerous building.

In fact, there are special flashlights created especially for firefighters. They are portable, powerful, and have hooks that make them easy to access at a moment’s notice.

Door Chocks

These are one of the cheapest and most disproportionately helpful pieces of equipment a firefighter can use. 

One of the most common uses of door chocks is to make sure that doors stay closed so that they do not provide extra ventilation to a fire. In other cases, firefighters will use them to make sure the door stays open so that as many people can move through them as quickly as possible.

Fortunately, these tools are extremely affordable. That means that firefighters can make sure to always carry more of them than they really need.

Work Gloves 

Firefighters use special heat-resistant clothing to protect themselves. However, they also have a great need for robust work gloves. These gloves help them to quickly and efficiently manage broken glass, sharp metal, and anything else that a burning building might be full of.

These gloves also come in handy outside of fighting a fire. They can help during training or while cleaning up. One of the great advantages of using them this way is that it protects your heat-resistant gloves from unnecessary wear and tear.

Because they are more expensive, it makes sense to use your firefighting gloves only when you really need to. On top of that, work gloves tend to be much more flexible than firefighting gloves. This additional dexterity makes them superior for tasks that do not require heat protection.

Hose Straps 

Fire hoses can be very heavy and difficult to navigate. That is where hose straps come in.

They are generally made of nylon and have a hook. These hose straps help firefighters to control and move fire hoses. They allow them to create more convenient handles.

However, these tools can also be used to help firefighters move victims. In other situations, they can also be helpful for carrying other equipment.

Snagger Tools

Snagger tools are another way of controlling charged fire hoses. They are extremely light and affordable, so it is easy to provide every firefighter with more than enough of them. These tools help firefighters get an extremely effective grip on charged fire hoses.

That way, they do not have to rely on grip strength alone to move a fire hose. These tools can also be helpful if you need to smash glass or break down drywall.

Webbing 

Webbing is another disproportionately useful firefighter tool. Despite its simplicity and affordability, it can provide a wide variety of benefits for firefighters.

Webbing is generally about an inch wide, and can range from 20 to 30 ft long. It is strong enough that some firefighters use it to create a harness to rappel down the outside wall of a building.

Radio Equipment

One of the most important tools for every firefighter to have is a radio. Firefighters are far more effective when they work together than when they work independently of each other. However, that kind of teamwork requires a tool for rapid and reliable communication.

Shove Knives 

A good shove knife can be used almost like a crowbar. It can help firefighters to quickly open doors by forcing the locking mechanism open even if it is engaged. Done correctly, this process does not even damage the door.

That means that firefighters can use it without having to judge for themselves if it is worth inflicting damage to open a specific door. Using shove knives correctly can require a certain amount of training, but they are a great way to decrease unnecessary damage while navigating a building with locked doors.

A Good Multi-Tool Provides Multiple Benefits

A good multi-tool can be useful in a wide variety of situations. You want to find a tool with a variety of tools, but that is not so heavy as to inconvenience firefighters who will want to carry it in trying circumstances.

Fortunately, multi-tools are generally very robust. That means that firefighters can simply click them to their belts rather than needing to carry them in any special location.

Ear Plugs

Ear plugs are essential to protect the hearing of firefighters. Some firefighters experienced temporary tinnitus after being exposed to extremely loud sounds. Unfortunately, this problem can become chronic if it is not addressed.

Firefighters also sometimes need to operate loud gas-powered engines. Regular ear protection can help keep firefighters from developing hearing problems over time.

It is important to get earplugs that provide quality protection. There is a rating system that measures how effective ear plugs are.

The higher the NRR number of an ear plug, the more sound it blocks out. An ear plug with an NRR of 30db provides excellent protection.

Make Sure That Your Station Has the Essential Firefighter Tools 

We hope learning about essential firefighter tools has been helpful for you. Many stations have found a way to operate effectively, so they end up ignoring potential new tools. However, finding the right tools can help firefighters to perform their duties with greater efficacy and safety.

To learn more about essential firefighter tools or to speak with experts in firefighter radios, get in touch with us here at any time!