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A firefighter in bunker gear. The Nomex hood is not normally pulled in front of the SCBA mask as shown in this photo, but fits around the edges and tucked under the jacket collar..

Bunker gear is a term used in many fire departments to refer to the system of outer protective clothing worn by firefighters, also commonly known as "turnout gear" or "structural turnouts".

"Bunker gear" and "turnout gear" can refer depending on the context to just the trousers and boots, the pants and jacket, or the entire combination of personal protective equipment. The name is derived from the fact that the pants and boots are traditionally kept by the firefighter's bunk at the fire station to be readily available for use.

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Historically, firefighters did not have the protective clothing used today. Because of this most fires were fought from the outside of burning buildings, and structures were rarely entered. In the early 1800s, felt caps were worn, which did not provide any protection against flame or head injury but did keep water off the firefighter's face. The forerunner of the modern fire helmet was developed in 1830. The early use of long trench coats, later made of rubber, was the forerunner of modern turnout jackets. Earlier rubber coats were much longer than today's modern turnout jackets, and were worn with long rubber boots called "three-quarter boots" which came above the firefighter's knees. They have been replaced by the combination of a jacket, trousers with suspenders, and shorter rubber or leather boots.

The combination of modern triple-layer turnout gear with self-contained breathing apparatus, PASS device, and modern communications equipment made it feasible to enter burning buildings. Modern turnout jackets and pants are made of fire resistant fabrics such as Nomex, Aramid, or Kevlar. The standard that the National Fire Protection Association has designated to firefighter protective clothing, NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensemble for Structural Firefighting, includes “coats, trousers, coveralls, helmets, gloves, footwear, and interface components”^[1]

The first component of firefighting equipment that a firefighter will wear is their station uniform, which actually falls under NFPA 1975, Standard on Station/Work Uniforms for Fire Fighters. It’s purpose is to provide, at a minimum, “a standard of work wear”^[2] which will not contribute to injury during a fire, or become an obstruction when a firefighter is required to don his turnout gear. NFPA 1975s main purpose is that no part of the uniform garment “ignite, melt, drip, or separate”^[3] when exposed to a heat of 500° F for 5 minutes. Naturally, turnout gear is to be worn over the station garments during firefighting operations. Another aspect of the station uniform is the station safety shoes, commonly referred to as work boots. Most departments will require these shoes to be fitted with safety toes and puncture-resistant soles.

Bunker Pants hanging on a hose drying rack after getting wet at a fire call.

Generally Velcro and a clip help to hold the Bunker Pants on the firefighter as well as the suspenders.

Once the need arises for actual firefighting protective garments to be worn, also known as turnouts, a firefighter must properly don all of his protective equipment. Protective trousers will be the first article of clothing that a firefighter will usually don. According to NFPA 1971, all trousers must be comprised of three components: an outer shell, a moisture barrier, and a thermal barrier. In between these layers are pockets of air referred to as "dead zones". These layers of air along with the three protective layers help to further insulate the wearer from the extreme environments of fires. Usually trousers are outfitted with reinforced knees and leather cuffs. Suspenders worn with the trousers should be the heavy duty type in order to stand up against such heavy weights and rigorous activities they will face. Most experienced firefighters will carry, in their trouser pockets, various tools and trinkets they feel they may need during an emergency. Almost always, one could expect to find a multipurpose tool in the cargo pocket of a firefighter. The bunker pants, when not in use, are usually stored scrunched down around the boots for efficient donning when they are of need. The firefighter may then step into each boot and pull up the trousers.

Several pairs of surplus firefighter boots.

Usually pre-fitted inside the legs of the trousers are the firefighting boots, which can be made of either rubber or leather. When the trousers and boots are not being actively used, the trousers will fold down and out around the shins of the boots, ready for quick access for the firefighter. They are, in effect turned down with the boots attached hence the term turnouts. Due to the enormous amounts of potential hazards at a fire scene to the feet, turnout boots are required to be able to handle a variety of different burns and blows. All boots are required to be outfitted with safety toes and a puncture resistant midsole plate to prevent puncture from sharp objects that may be stepped on. Such emphasis on the midsole plate is made that IFSTA has deemed that “if there is doubt about midsole protection, [one should go as far as to] x-ray the boot.”^[4]

A turn out jacket hanging on a hose drying rack after getting wet at a structure fire call.

A turnout coat is the type of jacket typically worn by firefighters. In terms of materials and layering, the protective coats are designed virtually identically to the protective trousers. They too will contain their own outer shell, moisture barrier and thermal barrier. As with the trousers, turnout coats are manufactured using fire-resistant cloth, often some combination of Kevlar and Nomex; and although they are marketed by different companies, they all share common features such as protective collars and sleeves, oversized pockets, and reflective safety stripes to ensure that firefighters remain visible to each other. The protective coats will usually have Velcro or zipper functions which will enable a firefighter to properly and efficiently don this piece of gear. There is also a storm flap which covers this closure area and protects it against damage and loosening. Wristlets, along the distal end of the coat arms, fit around the firefighters hand to prevent the sleeve from sliding up during firefighting functions.

A Firefighter wearing an SCBA Mask designed for MSA brand packs and a Nomex fire resistant hood.

Protective hoods are worn by firefighters and are fitted and designed to protect the firefighter’s ears, neck, and the parts of his face which are not being protected by the SCBA mask. They are made of fire resistant material, many times Nomex, and are thus commonly referred to as Nomex hoods. First, the hood is tucked into the collar. The SCBA mask is then donned, and the hood pulled over the face seal to cover any exposed skin.

One variation of a Firefighter's helmet.

Several surplus firefighter helmets hanging in the back of a fire department.

Helmets are invaluable to the firefighter. There are many styles available, but most firefighters today prefer the traditional-style helmet. Helmets protect the fire fighter's head from fire, falling debris, bumps and bangs, and scalding water. Not only do helmets serve as protection, but they can be used to help identify a person by rank. Since many fire departments use different systems, it will be up to you to find out what the departments in your area use. Many firefighters affix their last name or nick-name to their helmet for easy identification. Generally a helmet will have a net inside of it and some empty space between the top of the helmet and the firefighters head that will provide for some suspension if falling debris happens to contact the helmet.

There are many types of hand protection which are available to firefighters today, the most common being the work glove and the structural firefighting glove.

Work gloves are a must for all fire departments. They are used when gloves are required, but actual firefighting gloves are not. They allow better mobility to perform various types of functions from relaying hose beds to vehicle maintenance. Work gloves are usually made of leather or a leatherlike material.

Extrication gloves are similar in design and appearance to auto mechanic's gloves but are made of a heavier rip-proof and puncture-resistant material such as Kevlar while still lightweight enough to allow the manual dexterity to operate rescue equipment and sometimes enough to take a victim's pulse. These are used in urban search and rescue, vehicle extrication and related applications, but are not rated for firefighting.

For an actual working fire, structural firefighting gloves must be worn. Structural gloves tend to be the last piece of protective equipment to be donned; usually because the free dexterity of the fingers are required to perform functions such as properly placing an SCBA mask on and accurately tightening a helmet strap. The gloves will fit over the wristlets and under the distal part of the coat sleeve, ensuring full enclosure of the latter arm. Gloves are designed to protect from extreme heat, various penetrating objects, and to allow dexterity. Usually the latter is sacrificed in order to give adequate protection to heat and sharp objects. Newer gloves are more lightweight and don't lose their dexterity when they dry after becoming wet such as leather gloves do.

There are several other related types of protective clothing worn by firefighters, which are not usually called bunker gear:

Proximity fire gear

Wildland firefighter gear

Proximity gear or a fire proximity suit is turnout gear with an outer layer of heat-reflecting metallic material, used in firefighting applications of extreme heat such as aircraft fires and some chemical fires.

Protective clothing worn for forest fire and other wildland fire suppression use is made of a single layer of lightweight Nomex material and worn with leather logging boots and an industrial hard hat. A tent-like fire shelter is carried for emergency use in case of a blowup. In the U.S. the standard color scheme for wildland fire PPE since the 1970s is yellow for shirts, green for pants. Steel toed or rubber boots cannot be worn due to the heat conditions on the fireline. U.S. standards for wildland gear are covered in NFPA 1977.

• Fire proximity suit
• Hazmat suit
• Leatherhead (helmet)
• PASS device
• Self contained breathing apparatus
• Splash suit

1. ^ Sneed, Marsha, Essentials of Fire Fighting. IV. IFSTA, 2001.
2. ^ ibid, 2001
3. ^ ibid, 2001
4. ^ ibid, 2001

• NFPA 1971, "Standard on Protective Ensemble for Structural Firefighting"
• NFPA 1975, "Standard on Station/Work Uniforms for Fire Fighters"