By Carl Nix

As thousands of firefighters are preparing to attend FDIC International this month, I started thinking back on some of the FDICs I have attended during my 32 years in the fire service and the information I learned thanks to this conference.

For 90 years, FDIC has been a gathering place for firefighters to share their wisdom and experiences with each other while receiving the latest training in fire safety and equipment. The training given to firefighters at FDIC throughout the years has contributed greatly to protecting the lives of civilians and firefighters worldwide.

Whenever I had the opportunity to attend FDIC, I was impressed with the advances in technology that were being applied to self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), turnout gear, fire helmets, fire apparatus, and thermal imaging cameras (TICs). The use of thermal imaging technology in the fire service has been available only since the late 1990s - a relatively young technology to the fire service compared to SCBA. Not until the late 1990s did TICs become accessible to fire departments in the United States and only to some departments that had the funds to acquire this new technology.

The first TICs were large, heavy, and bulky and certainly nowhere near as technologically sophisticated as the TICs today. The first adopters were the truly progressive fire departments that jumped at this new technology, and very soon other departments followed.

1 In today’s fire service, it is common to see a TIC on every apparatus. (Photos courtesy of Bullard.)

Fire departments quickly saw the value in thermal imaging and began to deploy TICs for specific operations such as search and rescue and overhaul. Soon fire departments found more consistent uses for TICs that included fire attack, size-up, and hazmat. Fire departments quickly realized the powerful capability and versatility of this tool. The evolution of thermal imaging technology was underway, much like the evolution of SCBA. When the SCBA was first introduced to the fire service, it was a revolutionary concept, much like the introduction of TICs. SCBA gave firefighters the ability to breathe in dangerous environments, and TICs gave firefighters the ability to see in dangerous environments. Both technologies are the perfect combination for firefighters to safely survive and maneuver in smoked-filled environments.

As technology evolved, so did the design of the TIC. Today, the fire service is afforded a range of handheld TICs, with most models now weighing three pounds or less and incorporating technology that yields clear, crisp imagery that shows cool scenes and high-temperature environments. A hands-free TIC integrated into a firefighter’s SCBA is also available to the fire service. The ability to make TICs even smaller, more integrated, and more capable will most certainly increase in the coming years.

TICs today are powerful, multipurpose devices capable of providing a wealth of information to firefighters. It is common to see a TIC on every apparatus. The fire service needs to make the next move toward securing a TIC for every firefighter. The technology is too important and too enabling not to eventually be standard equipment for every on-duty firefighter. Every firefighter has an SCBA; why doesn’t every firefighter have his own TIC? In past years, the price of a TIC was affordable only to large fire departments. Toda

By Carl Nix

As thousands of firefighters are preparing to attend FDIC International this month, I started thinking back on some of the FDICs I have attended during my 32 years in the fire service and the information I learned thanks to this conference.

For 90 years, FDIC has been a gathering place for firefighters to share their wisdom and experiences with each other while receiving the latest training in fire safety and equipment. The training given to firefighters at FDIC throughout the years has contributed greatly to protecting the lives of civilians and firefighters worldwide.

Whenever I had the opportunity to attend FDIC, I was impressed with the advances in technology that were being applied to self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), turnout gear, fire helmets, fire apparatus, and thermal imaging cameras (TICs). The use of thermal imaging technology in the fire service has been available only since the late 1990s - a relatively young technology to the fire service compared to SCBA. Not until the late 1990s did TICs become accessible to fire departments in the United States and only to some departments that had the funds to acquire this new technology.

The first TICs were large, heavy, and bulky and certainly nowhere near as technologically sophisticated as the TICs today. The first adopters were the truly progressive fire departments that jumped at this new technology, and very soon other departments followed.

1 In today’s fire service, it is common to see a TIC on every apparatus. (Photos courtesy of Bullard.)

Fire departments quickly saw the value in thermal imaging and began to deploy TICs for specific operations such as search and rescue and overhaul. Soon fire departments found more consistent uses for TICs that included fire attack, size-up, and hazmat. Fire departments quickly realized the powerful capability and versatility of this tool. The evolution of thermal imaging technology was underway, much like the evolution of SCBA. When the SCBA was first introduced to the fire service, it was a revolutionary concept, much like the introduction of TICs. SCBA gave firefighters the ability to breathe in dangerous environments, and TICs gave firefighters the ability to see in dangerous environments. Both technologies are the perfect combination for firefighters to safely survive and maneuver in smoked-filled environments.

As technology evolved, so did the design of the TIC. Today, the fire service is afforded a range of handheld TICs, with most models now weighing three pounds or less and incorporating technology that yields clear, crisp imagery that shows cool scenes and high-temperature environments. A hands-free TIC integrated into a firefighter’s SCBA is also available to the fire service. The ability to make TICs even smaller, more integrated, and more capable will most certainly increase in the coming years.

TICs today are powerful, multipurpose devices capable of providing a wealth of information to firefighters. It is common to see a TIC on every apparatus. The fire service needs to make the next move toward securing a TIC for every firefighter. The technology is too important and too enabling not to eventually be standard equipment for every on-duty firefighter. Every firefighter has an SCBA; why doesn’t every firefighter have his own TIC? In past years, the price of a TIC was affordable only to large fire departments. Toda

By Alan M. Petrillo

Gloves are a major element in a firefighter’s personal protective equipment (PPE) envelope, and PPE manufacturers have evolved firefighting gloves into specialty areas of operations, from structural to rescue to wildland to specialty rescue.

Structural Firefighting Gloves

Karen Lehtonen, vice president of innovation and product management for Lion, says Lion makes six types of structural firefighting gloves, primarily made of leather with CrossTech barriers and various types of thermal protection. “Our most dexterous glove is the Lion Primus, a leather glove made with a combination of cow and sheep leather,” Lehtonen says. “It’s a 3-D glove pattern with a forchette area in between the fingers, made from sheep grain leather, which is softer and more flexible. It has a gauntlet-style cuff and is offered in regular and cadet sizes and in two extra-small and four extra-large versions. The Primus gives a better fit to the firefighter’s hand, which means better mobility.”

1 Lion’s Primus structural firefighting gloves have a 3-D pattern with a forchette area on the fingers and a gauntlet-style cuff and are made from more flexible sheep grain leather. (Photos 1-4 courtesy of Lion.)

Lion also makes the Lion Commander and Commander Ace structural firefighting gloves, Lehtonen points out. “The Commander is a long-standing model we offer where we enhanced the cut of the glove in three pieces for where the fingers and hand bend to give the glove more flexibility and dexterity. It’s offered in both wristlet and gauntlet style.”

Lehtonen adds, “The Commander Ace has the Commander’s design and performance but shortens the cuff to interface better with a turnout coat sleeve. It also has extra thermal protection on the back of the hand.”

2 Lion’s Commander structural firefighting gloves are crafted so that the fingers and hand bend to give the glove more flexibility and dexterity.

Tony Moore, regional sales manager for Fire-Dex, says his company makes the Dex-Pro structural firefighting glove, which, he notes, “the market is calling a driver’s glove because it has excellent dexterity.” Moore says the Dex-Pro has an ergonomic thumb pattern sewn separately into the palm of the glove to give it a 360° range of motion and maximum flexibility.

“This 3-D glove’s palm back and sides allow for a proper grip with the firefighter’s thumb,” Moore says. “And the dropped position of the pinky finger reflects its actual location on the firefighter’s hand. The palm is rolled back over the finger to eliminate the seam at the end of the finger, and the forchettes, which are the side panels, are precurved for each finger, giving them a natural form.”

Read more 268 0 Article rating: No rating Posted: Apr 4, 2017 Hand Protection Evolves to Cover Variety of Fire Service Tasks By Alan M. Petrillo Gloves are a major element in a firefighter’s personal protective equipment (PPE) envelope, and PPE manufacturers have evolved firefighting gloves into specialty areas of operations, from structural to rescue to wildland to specialty rescue. Structural Firefighting Gloves Karen Lehtonen, vice president of innovation and product management for Lion, says Lion makes six types of structural firefighting gloves, primarily made of leather with CrossTech barriers and various types of thermal protection. “Our most dexterous glove is the Lion Primus, a leather glove made with a combination of cow and sheep leather,” Lehtonen says. “It’s a 3-D glove pattern with a forchette area in between the fingers, made from sheep grain leather, which is softer and more flexible. It has a gauntlet-style cuff and is offered in regular and cadet sizes and in two extra-small and four extra-large versions. The Primus gives a better fit to the firefighter’s hand, which means better mobility.” 1 Lion’s Primus structural firefighting gloves have a 3-D pattern with a forchette area on the fingers and a gauntlet-style cuff and are made from more flexible sheep grain leather. (Photos 1-4 courtesy of Lion.) Lion also makes the Lion Commander and Commander Ace structural firefighting gloves, Lehtonen points out. “The Commander is a long-standing model we offer where we enhanced the cut of the glove in three pieces for where the fingers and hand bend to give the glove more flexibility and dexterity. It’s offered in both wristlet and gauntlet style.” Lehtonen adds, “The Commander Ace has the Commander’s design and performance but shortens the cuff to interface better with a turnout coat sleeve. It also has extra thermal protection on the back of the hand.” 2 Lion’s Commander structural firefighting gloves are crafted so that the fingers and hand bend to give the glove more flexibility and dexterity. Tony Moore, regional sales manager for Fire-Dex, says his company makes the Dex-Pro structural firefighting glove, which, he notes, “the market is calling a driver’s glove because it has excellent dexterity.” Moore says the Dex-Pro has an ergonomic thumb pattern sewn separately into the palm of the glove to give it a 360° range of motion and maximum flexibility. “This 3-D glove’s palm back and sides allow for a proper grip with the firefighter’s thumb,” Moore says. “And the dropped position of the pinky finger reflects its actual location on the firefighter’s hand. The palm is rolled back over the finger to eliminate the seam at the end of the finger, and the forchettes, which are the side panels, are precurved for each finger, giving them a natural form.” Read more 277 0 Article rating: No rating RSS FirstPrevious3471347234733474347534763477347834793480NextLast Theme picker Section Quick Links   Fire Mechanics Documents EVT Discussion Forum Fire Mechanic Photo Gallery Training & Testing 2019 Scholarship Logo Wear Store Upcoming Events Theme picker Sponsors Fire Mechanics Section Board Chair Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Chair Elliot Courage North Whatcom Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Vice Chair Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Vice Chair Mike Smith  Pierce County Fire District #5 Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Secretary Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Secretary Greg Bach South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #1 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #1 Doug Jones South Kitsap Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #2 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #2 Paul Spencer  Fire Fleet Maintenance LLC Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #3 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #3 Jim Morris Mountain View Fire Department Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #4 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #4 Arnie Kuchta Clark County Fire District 6 Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #6 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #6 Brett Annear Kitsap County Fire District 18 Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #5 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #5 Jay Jacks Camano Island Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Legislative Representative Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Legislative Representative TBD TBD Read more 3401 0 Article rating: No rating Immediate Past Chair Posted: Oct 20, 2015 Immediate Past Chair Brian Fortner Graham Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating RSS Theme picker 2020 CAR SHOW Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement - Copyright 2025 by Washington Fire Chiefs Home Members About Us News Calendar Resources Documents Sections County Fire Chiefs FRWC WSAFM