Firefighters

Firefighters

Introduction Can you hear the loud siren? It is the sound of firefighters rushing to fight a fire in their bright red fire truck. Firefighters put out fires and save people whose lives are in danger. They also help prevent fires from starting. They inspect buildings, and they teach people about fire safety.

What Makes Fire Burn Fires need both fuel and oxygen to burn. Some types of fuel are wood, oil, and coal. Oxygen is a gas in the air. The more fuel or oxygen there is, the hotter the fire will burn. Fires can be stopped in three ways. One way is to remove the fuel. A second way is to smother the fire by removing its oxygen. A third way is to remove the fire's heat with water.

Types of Fires Firefighters put out house fires, factory fires, and even forest fires. They must be ready to fight many different kinds of fires and face other dangers, too.

Firefighting Equipment Firefighters use many different tools to fight fires. Large hoses spray water or special foam on fires. Tall ladders reach high places. Axes chop holes in doors, roofs, and walls to reach places safely.

Smoke masks and air tanks protect firefighters from smoke. Large fans remove smoke from rooms. Firefighters also use fire extinguishers to put out small fires.