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Comment by Chris on February 21, 2008 at 3:11pm

Hi! I can confirm that scandinavian firefighters who is trained in smoke diving, are responsible for victim rescue. We have a system that categorize smoke diving. Just wearing breathing apparatus for own safety is categorized 0, and does not demand being a smoke diver. but when we enter an area or object that contains smoke, bad sight, poison fumes and so on, it's category 1. To be a category 1(or more) smoke diver, you have to have an instructors approval after a course, and training/practicing each month and of course a good health! Our way of smoke diving is to enter areas or objects with smoke, and to start searching for victims with a goal to get them out! Scandinavian houses are very closed buildings with closed rooms and well insulated, often with basements and hidden ceilings, often difficult to get the smoke out early in the process. We search under severe conditions, often carrying a heat seeking camera to locate victims. We have a smoke diver leader who is responsible for our retreat way. Well, that's some of our world! Stay safe!

Comment by SmOkE DivEr on December 14, 2007 at 3:51pm

Thanks Lou for your comment! Thats very interesting! I geuss it goes to show how different we are when it comes to terminology. How about if we post this to the forum and see what others think about the your comment! Again Thanks

Comment by Lou Angeli on December 14, 2007 at 12:37am

Smoke Diver,

All firefighters in the United States are trained to use of SCBA and, in European terms, are considered to be Smoke Divers. There are SCBA and spare bottles on each apparatus for firefighters assigned to that machine. During fire incidents, firefighters are mandated to wear SCBA at all times, but without an aggressive safety officer on hand, that may not be the case.

During my studies in Sweden with the flashover simulator, the smoke divers were responsible for victim rescue. Is that correct? If so, here in the United States that role is taken on by the Ladder Company (or Support Company) to conduct that search.