“When I am called to duty, God
Wherever flames may rage,
Give me the strength to save some life
Whatever be its age.”

– From “Fireman’s Prayer” by A.W. Smokey Linn

On December 2^nd, 1998, a major wildfire occurred in the Linton area, Victoria, Australia. As evening fell, there was a sudden change in the wind direction and the flame became more violent, instantly took the precious lives of five firefighters. This tragic incident led to the proposal for an International Firefighters’ Day, which is observed on May 4^th. The date chosen to honor the efforts and dedication of firefighters, was linked to the feast day of Saint Florian, the patron saint of firefighters in Europe. Saint Florian, a Roman military officer around 300 AD, is known as the first person in history to officially establish a fire brigade.

No words can ever be enough to express our gratitude for the hard work of firefighters. It is the wish of everyone that nothing bad would happen to the firefighters, but prayers alone cannot protect them. The most significant thing that keeps firefighters safe is their armor – the turnout gear. For our superheroes, these turnout gears mean much more than the “suits” of the superheroes in movies.

The secret to the turnout gear’s ability to protect firefighters from flames lies in a material called Aramid Fiber. Aramid is short for “Aromatic Polyamide,” and it is not only resistant to heat but also lightweight, so it is also dubbed as “super fiber.” The turnout gear consists of multiple layers, including an outer cover specially coated with aluminum on the surface of the aramid fibers, a middle layer of heat-resistant fibers, and a lining, all designed to reflect and block heat to protect the person wearing the gear.

Aramid weighs around only 20% of steel but is more than five times stronger. It is a high-strength material capable of lifting a 2-ton truck with a 5mm-thick thread made from aramid fibers. Moreover, it has excellent heat resistance, as it does not burn or melt even at high temperatures between 400-500°C. Based on these excellent functional properties, aramid is used in various applications such as turnout gear, bulletproof vests, automotive materials, etc.

Aramid, regarded as a “magical thread” or “miraculous fiber,” is divided into Para Aramid and Meta Aramid based on its chemical structure. Para Aramid has high tensile strength and therefore is used in bulletproof materials that can block bullets, as well as in automotive brake pads. Meta Aramid, noted for its exceptional heat resistance, is used in special garments like turnout gears and spacesuits that need to withstand high temperatures. 

The symbol for International Firefighters’ Day is a red and blue ribbon. Red represents fire, and blue represents water, which indicate the main elements firefighters work with. If you see this ribbon, let’s spend at least a few moments to honor the firefighters, who always follow the “First In, Last Out” principle despite being at risk on duty.

Another important thing to remember: the perfect material beyond aramid that completely protects firefighters from flames has not yet been discovered. We hope that day will come soon with the relentless efforts being made along with the development of petrochemical technologies.