Firefighting facts for kids

Firefighters at a major fire involving an abandoned convent in Canada, 2006

Firefighting is all about stopping fires from spreading. It's also about putting out unwanted fires completely. These fires can happen anywhere. You might see them in buildings, cars, forests, or other places. A firefighter works hard to protect people. They also save buildings and the natural environment from fire.

What Firefighters Do

Firefighters are brave people who respond to emergencies. Their main job is to control and put out fires. They also help rescue people and animals. Firefighters protect homes, businesses, and wild areas.

Becoming a Firefighter

To become a firefighter, people need special training. They learn many important skills. This includes fighting fires in different situations. They practice putting out fires in buildings, cars, and forests. This training helps them stay safe and do their job well.

Dangers of Firefighting

Firefighting can be very dangerous. One big risk is the harmful air created by burning things. There are four main dangers firefighters face. These are thick smoke, not enough oxygen, very high temperatures, and poisonous gases.

To stay safe from smoke and bad air, firefighters wear special gear. They use a device called a breathing apparatus. This helps them breathe clean air. It protects their lungs from harmful fumes.

How Firefighters Put Out Fires

One common way to put out fires is by spraying them with water. Water does two important things. First, when water hits a fire, it turns into water vapor (steam). This steam takes away the oxygen that the fire needs to keep burning.

Second, water makes things cooler. Fires need a lot of heat to burn. If things are not hot enough, they will stop burning. Water helps to cool down the burning materials. This stops the fire from spreading.

Images for kids

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  Bulgarian firefighters in action, 1930s

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  Ottawa Fire Department motor pump, Ottawa, Ontario, taken by the Topley Studio, May 1915.

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  A firefighter doing a ladder slide, which is used to quickly escape from a window

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  A hose team training to fight an aircraft fire aboard a US aircraft carrier, 2006

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  A fire warden poster, circa 1940s.

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  Structure fire in Grand Rapids, Michigan, US

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  Firefighters at Ground Zero during the September 11 attacks

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  A fire helicopter is used to fight a wildfire

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  USMC firefighters neutralize a fire during a training exercise

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  A firefighting aircraft dumping water on a forest fire in South Africa.

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  Iranian firefighters extinguish a fire at Bistoon Petrochemicals Powerhouse