Will There Be Firefighters In The Future?

[x635 4,066]

I know the notion seems a bit silly, but I was wondering.

With all the advances in safety and technology, where will firefighters be in 50,100, 200 or even 300 years from now? Improvments in building codes, roadways, cars, and everything else that factors into our job have decreased our run volumes already. Will advances affect the job from the way we know it now? For instance, think if they finally get automatic alarm systems to be very reliable and accurate, how much will our run volumes drop at that point?

Will there still be firefighters in the future? Will manning be more or less, or there at all?

I think there will always be a need for firefighters, in some capacity, because people will always do stupid things and bad things will always happen. I don't think firefighters will just fight fires in the future, as it is already becoming...firefighters will become a community's emergency multi-tool.

Edited February 27, 2006 by x635

[Remember585 815]

Recall the book Farenheit 451??? Firemen will be burning books because knowledge is forbidden...

[IzzyEng4 427]

Remember585, excellent book first off, one of my favorites!

Back to the topic at hand. No matter what technological advances the future may have, example building codes, robots, and sprinklers, ect. You will still need firefighters. Why, first off, humans are, at least for now, the only ones that can change their way of thinking in a matter of thousandths of seconds. There will be no A.I. (artificial intelligence) that can do that for far quite sometime, plus the fact of do we want to rely on a computer all of the time. I believe we would as firefighters also hesitant with any new technology until we can fully use and manipulate it and it is proven reliable. This is not saying that we are closed-minded. Just look in the last hundred years, hand pumpers, to steam to gas / diesel motorized were the big debate. What about running dual 3-inch lines compare to a single 4 or 5-inch hose line from the hydrant.

I think we will find safer technologies but sill firefighters will still be around for a long time no matter what tools we use.

[27east 19]

People will still smoke in bed, still overload electrical outlets, still leave candles unattended and kids will still play with matches. That won't change. And don't be totally suprised if the number of fires goes up.

Edited March 2, 2006 by 23piraf

[Guest]

In alot of areas, FF's go on paramedic calls with EMT's so Medical help calls are always going to be somthing Firefighters and EMT's go to. In the future when everything is run by Computers and new Technology theres always going to be that person doing somthig stupid like playnig with matches, leaving the stove on, ect. So it matters I guess.

But I think that new thechnologhy will defenatly make the Run totals decrease. Who knows how much though.

[TAPSJ 30]

Yes, Firefighting Will Be Around Forever. Because It's The Best Job In The World Paid Or Volunteer. Plus There Is Always Kids Burning Things Or Getting Hurt. We Will Be Here Forever and Ever.

Thomas