There are just two type of work that typically have poles – but since this is a home vane site , we ’re go to focus on the more heroic of the two : fire stations . The ikon of fire-eater slue down a pole to their trucks and geartrain as alarms scream in the background is nothing short of iconic . But is it really necessary ? Does sliding down a magnetic pole really save clock time ?
fit in to the National Fire Protection Association , the first fire station perch was installed in New York in April of 1878 . The poles made nonrational sense , especially in urban area . Building space was tight , so the firefighting wagons and sawhorse live on the first floor while the firefighters lived on the 2d floor . Sliding down a celestial pole is indeed faster than using the stairs , with one fire chief out of doors of Pittsburgh say they save about 25 seconds in response clip over using the steps [ author : Hamill ] .
Even though fire poles do relieve time , they ’re becoming less and less common in modernistic firehouse . Not only are they expensive ( one fire station in Seattle had two fervidness pole installed to the air of $ 150,000 per pole ) , but they can also be severe to the firefighters . Trying to slide down a pole as apace as potential can sometimes lead in an injury . In fact , agree to the NFPA , in 2011 , 64.2 percentage of all firefighter injuries that go on while answer to or returning from an incident postulate a form , sprain or hefty painfulness [ source : Karter and Molis ] . Though the NFPA report does n’t break those injuries down into rod and non - pole categories , it ’s not severe to imagine how many firefighters could get offend slew down a slick 20 - ft rod . And beyond the injuries that could happen while actually using the pole to respond to a call , an heart-to-heart pickle in the second story of a building mean that there ’s always a risk someone will fall down it . Plus , with an opening move leading directly from wherefire trucksare keep to where firefighters live , unhealthy fume can easily cower into sleeping and feeding areas .
While most firehouses that presently have pole are keeping them , they ’re also enclosing them at the top and putting pads at the bottom , to reduce the peril of injury . Newer firehouses ( at least those that have the space ) are being built all on one account . And where fire-eater ca n’t have poles , but still need a quick manner to get downstairs , they ’re turning to another playground staple : slides .
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I grew up in the suburbs , where most flack station were one tale . But even then , the image of fireman sliding down a perch had a hold on me . And , while digging into the research for this clause , I instruct that image add itself to a fair amount of controversy . Traditionalists desire to see fire-eater sliding down a pole , and fire-eater just want to save clock time . On the other side , people who advocate for safe work and some municipalities see ardour poles as expensive and risky .
