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Good afternoon everyone. I have gotten asked a few times if it is safe to have long hair and be a firefighter. I have been meaning to explain and I am including pics to illustrate. If you notice in the pic from the front there is a tan shroud that is called a Nomex hood that goes over the head. This hood is a bit like an open faced ski mask except as you can see it hangs down to just above the chest. It also hangs down that length in the back. When you put the hood on you pull your head through the opening in the front and then put your face mask on. Once the face mask is on you pull the hood back up and over and it sits on a rubber piece that runs completely around the mask. The hood is elastic so once you get it on the rubber pad it stays put. Of course my hair is not long enough to hang out the back of the nomex hood as I would need shoulder blade length hair. However, you longhairs would still be ok, because as shown in the pic from behind once your bunker coat is on it would cover the remainder. Only thing left is to put your helmet on which not only protects your noggin, but also helps keep that hood in place. LoL So, as you can see, long hair is not a danger at a structure fire as long as you are wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment. I know that most paid fire departments do have short hair guidlines, but seeing as I am on a volunteer department our regulations are not as strict. If anyone took the time to read all this(LoL) and has any questions then feel free to shoot them to me. Brian
Also note in this pic that if I were actually going into a burning house I would have pulled the second collar up and around to give even more protection. Also I would be wearing an air pack to go with that face mask! Hahahahaha Brian
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Thanks for the explanation and the pictures, it looks perfectly save for your hair.
Very cool info and photos Brian. It's also good to see a volunteer firefighter who's not a big fat guy with crewcut and a mustache ; )
Keep growing that hair, you'll find a way to protect it as it grows.
-Phil
Good to see other long hairs in the fire service! I was career for 26 years. I now work as a sub-contractor for the same department I 'retired' from and am an instructor for NFA. All those years, (and even now), I've always had long hair, usually in a tail while on duty or teaching.
chaikwa.
Thanks for the job you do in protecting your community.
Frank
That's awesome that they are good with your hair length. We also have a volunteer dept where I am. I don't have the health to do it myself but I show up with a tank of Chile or a plate of brownies once and awhile.
Thanks for doing what you do.
Nice illustration of the protective gear that our local heros wear. Of course hair, properly tucked in, would be protected. If it's hot enough to burn hair then it's hot enough to burn skin. Thanks.
Bruce
Very interesting....Thanks for Sharing that with us
Walter
I know a few volunteer fire fighters in a small Indiana town and one of them had long hair. (has since fallen out) The cool part about being a volunteer is you get training and all that but get to keep your hair and as you said the rules aren't as strict. Volunteers have more fun too.
Cool post Brian, thanks
Kevin
Hey thats a creepy looking outfit! Glad you can have long hair in your job, you guys are heroes!!
Take care, Dave
Brian, I, too, thank you for the information. I had been concerned that long hair could be a safety issue for many reasons, but your pictures and descriptions put my mind at ease.
Do you think, though, that there is a length that would be too long to be safely covered?
Looks very similar to the gear we used when I was in the Navy, except we used more of a "jumpsuit" type one-piece garment instead of the bunker coat you referred to.
Good on ya for the work you do. :)
Jim