Awesome Firefighters

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.