When you sign the papers to take on your first job in wildland fire, you’re also signing up for the inherent risk that goes along with it. Fighting flame in some of the most demanding terrain out there compounds potential injuries. Having gear built to the NFPA-standard is just one layer of protection that will always be on your side, 14-day roll after roll.
The NFPA is a global non-profit organization with a core mission to eliminate death, injury, property, and economic loss from fire and electrical hazards. The NFPA Technical Committee is the main group responsible for revising and developing codes and standards and is made up of individuals that represent an array of interests in relevant fields. They’re performing the jobs that these standards support and open each revision and new standard to public input and comment before advancing it to an NFPA Technical meeting and council action.
When you choose a wildland fire boot that was tested under NFPA standards, you’re making an additional investment in not only quality gear, but safety on the job. All our NFPA-certified boots pass the following tests:
Component Tests
Corrosion resistance
Label durability and legibility
Abrasion on outsole material
Thread breaking strength
Thread melting
Whole Footwear Tests
Cut resistance on upper composites
Eyelet and stud post attachment
Flame resistance test for protective footwear
Conductive heat resistance on soles
Heat and thermal shrinkage resistance
Puncture resistance on upper composites
Slip resistance on soles
Fire assignments are arduous, and your fortitude will be tested. Falling back on the gear you’re wearing and carrying is pivotal. You can use a run-of-the-mill boot and take the risk that it will protect you well enough, or you can invest in an NFPA-certified style and build firelines with confidence.
White’s has been on the feet of smokejumpers in the field since 1940 when Francis Lufkin took one of the first jumps in the new pilot program for the USFS. Ever since then, we’ve been developing and honing our fire gear to meet the demands of fire personnel year after year. You can rest easy knowing your fire boots have not only been landing into fires for over 80 years, but also have the stamp of approval of more than 100 years of industry knowledge in workplace protection from the NFPA.
