Wildfire expert Andy Elliot and HAIX footwear call for a change in the kit issued to firefighters to protect their health and comfort as wildfires continue to take up a huge amount of firefighter time in England.
England isn’t typically known for its hot and dry summers unlike other parts of the world; however, the country experiences an average of 30,000 wildfires annually, which is three times the number in Greece and four times that of Canada. Although Canadian and Greek wildfires typically burn more hectares and cause greater devastation, the persistent and growing problem of wildfires in England is undeniable. Trends over the past decade show fluctuations, but the overall increase in wildfire incidents highlights that it is now crucial that firefighters are equipped with the appropriate wildfire footwear to enable day-to-day use as well as fight wildfires when they arise.
The Growing Wildfire Problem
The key trend of concern to Fire and Rescue Services is the increase in both size and intensity of wildfires, this is directly linked to more typical dry air ‘wildfire weather’. These extreme wildfire weather events are increasing in frequency and set to get worse due to climate change, which is something already showing in Europe over the last few decades.
Over the past 12 years, around 79,000 hectares of land has been burnt by wildfires in England and fire and rescue services in England have been increasingly burdened by wildfires. From 2009-10 to 2020-21, there were over 360,000 wildfire incidents, burning more than 79,000 hectares of land and consuming nearly 540,000 hours of firefighting time. Peak years such as 2011-12, had around 47,000 incidents, and the most devastating year, 2018-19, which saw over 26,000 hectares burnt, illustrates the significant impact wildfires are having.
Changing Times Call for Changing Footwear
Traditionally, firefighters have relied on a combination of wellington boots and structural boots, however, neither of these are ideal for combating wildfires. Structural boots, designed for urban firefighting, offer excellent protection against heat and sharp objects but are often too heavy and cumbersome for the varied terrains encountered in wildfires. Wellington boots, while lighter, do not provide the necessary protection or support for prolonged and arduous wildfire conditions. The current issued footwear fails to meet the demands of wildfire situations where firefighters cover long distances and endure extended hours. This leads to severe discomfort, blisters, and more painful outcomes like the loss of toenails, compromising the effectiveness and safety of firefighters during life-saving wildfire operations.
Firefighters need to be issued footwear that is comfortable for both tasks, structural firefighting for short duration use and long-use wildfire incidents. There are boots on the market that do both.
Conclusion
Specialist wildfire designed PPE is becoming a necessity to protect the health of firefighters. The traditional approach to firefighting footwear is no longer sufficient and firefighters should now be equipped with structural boots as well as more lightweight boots that provide added comfort and protection for extended use.
Modern solutions like the Special Fighter Pro and Fire Eagle 2 boots offer the versatility, protection, and comfort required to tackle both structural and wildfire incidents effectively. As the wildfire landscape continues to evolve, so too must the approach to firefighter safety and equipment.
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