Awesome Firefighters

Firehouse Projects makes rugged bags from retired firefighting gear. Their largest piece is this 40-liter duffel bag made from recycled materials attached to a sturdy canvas base. It has reflective striping, a quilted lining, an exterior zipper pocket for small accessories, and Velcro on front for attaching patches.

This unique furniture piece from Axes and Hose Co. is a great gift for a firefighter or anyone who appreciates our selfless first-responders. Each bench is handmade from wood, wrapped in recycled fire hoses woven to form its seat. We particularly appreciate the Thin Red Line design. Measures 40.5″ L x 20.5″ W x 20″ H.

Elide Fire makes this innovative firefighting device – a ball that can be tossed into a fire to instantly extinguish or reduce its intensity. The ball automatically deploys upon contact with a flame and smothers it with a blanket of non-toxic chemicals. It can also be placed in a high-risk location where it will activate in case of fire.

Jake O’Neal from Animagraffs creates detailed see-through 3D illustrations which show how things work. In this video, he walks us through the inner workings of a typical fire engine for a look at how firefighters ride inside the truck, its lights and sirens, its powerful water-pumping system, and onboard safety gear.

Firefighters use rescue tools called spreaders to lift and separate vehicles involved in accidents. But can one of these battery-powered tools lift seven cars at the same time? Fire Department Chronicles used a Genesis Rescue Systems EForce spreader to see if it lives up to its rated 15,000 lb. spreading force.

Filorosso’s belts are handmade from reclaimed FDNY or LAFD fire hoses, with buckles and other hardware are made from bright-finish American steel. They make a great gift for first responders or anyone who wants to tribute our firefighters with a portion of proceeds going to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

Run by firefighters and veterans, Fire Dept. Coffee donates 10% of its net profits to help support injured and disabled first responders. They also make these sweet and aromatic brews inspired by donut flavors like vanilla sprinkle, red velvet, blueberry cake, and double chocolate. Dip your favorite donut for bonus points.

Russian firefighter Artur Prosport shared video of a competition where participants show off their speed climbing a building. Each player must run to the wall carrying a one-story ladder, then use it to ascend three floors as quickly as possible. We imagine this would be much slower if they were wearing their firefighting gear.

Have a firefighter in the family? These bar tools from Halligan Bottle Openers make a great gift for our valiant first responders. The set includes a bottle opener that looks like a tiny Halligan pry bar, and a corkscrew that resembles a pickaxe. They come with red or black handles, and can be personalized for $10 extra.

TV shows and movies take lots of artistic license when it comes to real-world situations. Fire Department Chronicles doesn’t have good things to say about how firefighting is portrayed on screen, so he greenscreens himself into scenes to set the cast straight on all the things they’re doing wrong. More here and here.

To honor first responders who have relied on Broncos for decades, Ford and Filson created a special Bronco Badlands SUV. It’s painted in U.S. Forest Service colors, and packs a rescue skid, fire hose, water tank, and pump. Its seats are made from Filson jacket leather, while its top and cargo divider are made of fireproof ripstop nylon.

Firefighters need every advantage they can get. Sam Cossman of Qwake Technologies met with Adam Yamaguchi of The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation to show off the mask his company has developed which can overlay high-contrast outlines and heat signatures of objects even when they’re obscured by smoke or darkness.

Germany’s IFEX Technologies makes this incredible tool for firefighters, which can smother an inferno in the blink of an eye. It uses compressed air to discharge water or a water/foam combo at speeds up to 400 km/h (~249 mph), making quick work of fires.

(Loud) Engineers from Japan’s Tohoku University and National Institute of Technology are developing a truly unusual firefighting device. The machine self-balances on its water stream and can snake its way into difficult to reach locations as it sprays water on flames.

The PyroLance allows firefighters to spray water into a burning structure without having to break down doors, walls, or ceilings. It uses extremely high pressure to drill a hole into an adjacent space, then sprays a fine mist on the other side to reduce the temperature.

(PG-13: Language) The idea of grabbing onto a fire hose dangling from a forklift, then taking it for a ride sounds like equal parts fun and insanity. But these off-duty firefighters did just that, as one of the guys hangs on for dear life at the end of a hose pumping out 200psi.

Firefighter James Love’s Black Helmet makes wallets from decommissioned protective bunker gear. Each one is handmade, and offers three card and cash slots, as well as see-through ID holder. He also makes a dopp kit from the same materials.

Each year, the brave men and women of the Chicago Fire and Chicago Police Departments meet up in the ring for a series of exhibition fights. With the help of sponsor Country Financial, the matches raise funds to support families of fallen firefighters and officers.

A group of Russian firefighters has a little time on their hands between calls and decides to do something fun with all those high-pressure hoses they have lying around. Sure, it’s a waste of water, but it still looks like fun.

Firefighter Cory Kalanick was wearing his GoPro camera when he entered a smoke-filled house and encountered a poor, unconscious kitty. It’s a little hard to watch the little guy when he’s lying there, but Cory helps nurse it back to life.

Actually, this is just a regular fire truck, but the daring and brave men of Eltham, Melbourne Australia don’t let deep flood waters stand in the way of getting to their destination.

The National Smokejumper Association’s official timepiece, the SmokeJumper GMT Worldtime features three time functions and silver or black colorways; 1% is donated to the NSA.