Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

TURNOUT COAT / BUNKER COAT

Date

2010

Materials

CANVAS, COTTON, PLASTIC

No. Pieces

2

Length

100.7

Width

171.6

Description

FIREMAN'S TURNOUT COAT OR BUNKER COAT. OUTER AND INNER LAYER. .A: OUTER SHELL. TAN CANVAS. HAS TWO SECTIONS OF FLORESCENT YELLOW AND SILVER REFLECTIVE STRIPE, ONE AT THE HEM AND THE SECOND ROUGHLY ACROSS THE WEARER’S CHEST. STRIPES CONTINUE ONTO THE SLEEVES, AT THE HEM, AND BETWEEN THE SHOULDER AND ELBOW. COLLARED, WITH A SEMI-CIRCULAR PIECE THAT VELCROS ACROSS THE WEARER’S NECK. INSIDE LEFT COLLAR, IN ORANGE THREAD, EMBROIDERED ONTO JACKET: “GLOBE” IN THE CENTRE OF A CIRCLE. JACKET ZIPPERS SHUT WITH A SINGLE-WAY, BLACK PLASTIC “YKK” ZIPPER. ZIPPER PULL HAS A PIECE OF LEATHER TIED ONTO IT. PLACKET CLOSES OVER THE ZIPPER WITH BLACK VELCRO. TWO POCKETS, WITH VELCROED FLAPS, AT WAIST. FLAP OF RIGHT POCKET HAS A HANDWRITTEN NUMBER IN BLACK INK: “42-32”. SMALL SINGLE POCKET ON LEFT SIDE, CHEST HEIGHT, WITH VELCRO CLOSURE FLAPS. CUFFS OF SLEEVES, BELOW THE REFLECTIVE STRIPE, FINISHED IN BLACK CANVAS. CANADA FLAG PATCH ON WEARER’S RIGHT SHOULDER, WITH “42 32” HANDWRITTEN BELOW IN BLACK. ON THE LEFT SHOULDER IS A RED, RECTANGULAR PATCH WITH SILVER LETTERS ON LEFT SHOULDER: “G-XTREME”. LINER SNAPS ONTO OUTER SHELL NEAR THE ZIPPER, WITH THE CAP AND SOCKET OF THE SNAPS ON THE OUTER SHELL. SLEEVES HAVE A PLASTICIZED, ELASTICIZED INNER CUFF, THROUGH WHICH THE LINER CUFF STICKS OUT. THE LINER SNAPS ONTO THE SHELL, WITH THE CAP AND SOCKET OF THE SNAPS BEING ON THE INSIDE OF THE SHELL’S SLEEVE. ALONG BACK BOTTOM OF JACKET IS NAME IN YELLOW FLORESCENT: “KRAJEWSKI”. AT BACK OF NECK IS A FLAP, LABELED IN SILVER REFLECTIVE, WITH RED: “DRD DRAG RESCUE DEVICE”. FLAP LIFTS, REVEALING BLACK, WITH A RED STRIPE, NYLON STRAPPING. THIS STRAPPING GOES DOWN THE BACK OF THE JACKET AND INTO THE ARM HOLES. DANGER LABEL ON THIS STRAPPING: “DANGER. YOU MUST READ AND UNDERSTAND THE DRAG RESCUE DEVICE USER INFORMATION GUIDE BEFORE INSTALLATION AND USE. THIS DRAG RESCUE DEVICE IS DESIGNED FOR THE IMMEDIATE EVACUATION OF AN UNCONSCIOUS FIREFIGHTER FROM A LIFE-THREATENING ENVIRONMENT. DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LIFTING OR LOWERING A PERSON ON A LIFELINE OR EMERGENCY ESCAPE. USE OF THIS DEVICE FOR PURPOSED OTHER THAN ITS INTENDED APPLICATION MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. SERIAL NO: 3972260. CHEST SIZE: 42. MANUFACTURE DATE: 3/10. GLOBE. GLOBE MANUFACTURING CO. LLC. 37 LOUDON ROAD – PITTSFIELD, NEW HAMPSHIRE 03263 1-800-232-8323 WWW.GLOBEFIRESUITS.COM U.S. PATEN # 6205584 NFPA 1971, 2007 ED” LABEL INSIDE RIGHT POCKET, SILKSCREENED ONTO THE LINER: “GLOBE FIREFIGHTER SUITS. MADE BY GLOBE MANUFACTURING CO. LLC.37 LOUDON ROAD, PITTSFIELD, NEW HAMPSHIRE USA 03263 TEL: 603-435-8323 FAX: 603-435-6388. ‘THIS STRUCTURAL FIRE FIGHTING PROTECTIVE GARMENT MEETS THE GARMENT REQUIREMENTS OF NFPA 1971, 2007 EDITION.’ … OUTER SHELL: 11-PBI MATRIX/GEMINI, GOLD. THERMAL LINER: 78-ARALITE SL2. MOISTURE BARRIER: 4-CROSSTECH TYPE 2C. DRD IS INSTALLED BETWEEN SHELL AND LINER. LINER IS ATTACHED AT NECKLINE, FACINGS, AND CUFFS. MODEL: GXTREME JACKET. STYLE: 311784 10. SIZE: 42. NAME: KRAJEWSKI. SER. #: 3972260. DATE: 03/2010. CUT: A0726C. MADE IN USA.” WASHING INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOW. .B: LINER. QUILITED LIGHT BLUE/GREY COTTON FABRIC ON ONE SIDE, WITH A PLASTIC/COTTON OFF-WHITE FABRIC ON THE OTHER SIDE. THIS OFF-WHITE FABRIC IS STAMPED, VERY LIGHTLY, IN SEVERAL PLACES WITH: “CROSSTECH MOISTURE BARRIER” AND “W.L. GORE & ASSOCIATES INC.” TWO POCKETS ON THE INSIDE, BLUE/GREY QUILTED SIDE. POCKET ON THE RIGHT SIDE HAS A WHITE RECTANGULAR TAG THAT READS: “FIRESERVICE MANAGEMENT. TEL: (403) 279-5095 C 11841. THE OTHER POCKET HAS A SILK SCREEN DANGER WARNING LABEL THAT COVERS MOST OF THE POCKET. WHITE BACKGROUND WITH BLACK WRITING: “DANGER. DO NOT USE THIS GARMENT IF YOU HAVE NOT READ AND UNDERSTOOD THE ENTIRE FEMSA OFFICIAL USER INFORMATION GUIDE AND ALL LABELS FOR FIRE FIGHTING PROTECTIVE GARMENTS!” IT THEN GOES ON TO DETAIL THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH FIREFIGHTING. THE OTHER HALF OF THE LABEL IS A REPETITION OF SILK SCREENED LABEL FOUND ON THE INSIDE RIGHT OF THE SHELL. IT PROVIDES WASHING INSTRUCTIONS, THE MATERIALS THE COAT IS MADE OF, AND THE MODEL, STYLE, SIZE, NAME, SERIAL NUMBER, DATE, AND CUT OF THE JACKET. LINER CONNECTS TO THE SHELL WITH VELCRO AND SNAPS. THERE ARE FOUR STUDS (OF THE SNAPS) GOING UP THE JACKET. LINER VELCROS AT THE NECK, BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE COLLAR. SLEEVES ARE HELD IN PLACE WITH SNAPS, WITH THE STUDS BEING ON THE LINER. JERSEY TYPE MATERIAL CUFF OF THE SLEEVE EXTENDS OUT FROM THE CUFF OF THE JACKET AND EACH LINER CUFF HAS A THUMB HOLE. JACKET IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. NO VISIBLE TEARS OR RIPS IN FABRIC. DISCOLOURATION, ESPECIALLY ON THE CUFFS OF BOTH THE SHELL AND LINER.

Subjects

CLOTHING-OUTERWEAR

Historical Association

SAFETY SERVICES

History

THIS TURNOUT COAT OR BUNKER COAT WAS USED BY THE LETHBRIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT. IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT PROVIDED AT THE TIME OF DONATION, JESSE KURTZ, DEPUTY CHIEF – SUPPORT SERVICES (RETIRED), EXPLAINED THAT THIS COAT WOULD BE “WORN BY ALL FIREFIGHTERS WHEN FIGHTING STRUCTURE FIRES. MADE OF FIRE RESISTANT MATERIAL AND MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION AGENCY (NFPA) AND CSA STANDARDS. STANDARDS CHANGE EVERY FIVE YEARS.” IN THE SUMMER OF 2015, COLLECTIONS TECHNICIAN KEVIN MACLEAN, CONDUCTED A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH CURRENT AND FORMER MEMBERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING: CLIFF “CHARLIE” BROWN (HIRED IN 1966, RETIRED 2004), TREVOR LAZENBY (HIRED IN 1994), RAYMOND “RAY” PETIT (HIRED 1965, RETIRED 1998), AND LAWRENCE DZUREN (HIRED 1959, RETIRED 1992). BROWN SAID: “THESE ARE HIGH CLASS. THESE ARE NICE TURNOUTS. WHAT I HAD IN ’66 WAS JUST AN OLD BLACK CANVAS PANTS AND COAT – LITTLE BIT OF RUBBER LINING INSIDE, ORDINARY HOOKS LIKE THIS. THIS HERE’S GOT VELCRO ON IT; IT’S GOT HOOKS, IT’S GOT ZIPPERS, SORT OF A LINER IN IT FOR HEAT PROTECTION. THIS IS VERY MODERN COMPARED TO WHAT I HAD WHEN I STARTED.” LAZENBY ADDED: “THIS WAS AT LEAST ONE GENERATION AHEAD OF THE JACKET AND PANTS THAT I WAS ISSUED WHEN I WAS NEW. WHEN I WAS NEW, I GOT SECOND HAND TURNOUTS. I GOT STUFF THAT HAD BEEN USED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BEFOREHAND … MONEY WAS TIGHT IN THE MID-‘90S WITH COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNMENT PROVINCIALLY, BEING WHAT IT WAS, THERE WAS NOT A LOT TO GO AROUND. … THE HEALTH AND SAFETY MOVEMENT WASN’T AS STRONG THEN AS IT IS NOW. NOW THE HEALTH AND SAFETY MOVEMENT IS VERY POWERFUL AND CAN AFFECT CHANGE IN A HURRY, TO A POINT WHERE WE NOW KNOW THAT SEVEN YEARS OR WHATEVER IT IS AFTER I GET THIS SET OF TURNOUTS, I’M GOING TO GET A NEW SET OF TURNOUTS NO MATTER WHAT. BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SHELF LIFE OF SO MANY YEARS AND ONCE THAT’S UP, YOU’RE NOT ADHERING TO THE STANDARD ANYMORE AND SO IT’S TIME TO CHANGE THEM OUT. WE DIDN’T REALLY GO BY THOSE STANDARDS WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE JOB, SO I GOT ISSUED STUFF FROM A GUY THAT HAD JUST RECENTLY RETIRED AND I DON’T EVEN THINK THEY GOT SENT TO THE CLEANERS FIRST.” HE CONTINUED, SAYING “THE COMPANIES THAT MAKE THIS GEAR FOR THE FIRST SERVICE … ARE CONSTANTLY SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE LATEST, GREATEST FIREPROOF FABRIC. THAT GOES DOWN TO WATER VAPOUR BARRIERS, HEAT LINERS, AND THE OUTER SHELL. … YOU KNOW, IT’S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD … BECAUSE THE MORE PROTECTED YOU ARE, THE MORE ENCAPSULATED YOU ARE, AND THE LESS YOU FEEL THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AROUND YOU, THE MORE TROUBLE YOU CAN REALLY GET YOURSELF IN, RIGHT? THE FURTHER YOU GET INTO A STRUCTURE, THE FURTHER IT IS YOU HAVE TO GET OUT. AND THAT’S ONE OF THE KNOCKS ABOUT, UP UNTIL RECENTLY, OF GETTING THAT MUCH MORE PROTECTION IN YOUR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IS THAT IT WAS LEADING TO PEOPLE MAYBE GOING TO PLACES WHERE 20 YEARS EARLIER THEY COULDN’T HAVE GONE BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO HOT.” HE ELABORATED FURTHER: “BUT THE SCIENCE OF FIRE IS BEING BETTER UNDERSTOOD NOW, AS IS OUR TRAINING AND OUR TACTICS. … I THINK I’VE BEEN ISSUED THREE SETS OF TURNOUTS NOW SINCE I GOT MY ORIGINALS … THIS WAS SIMILAR TO MY SECOND SET … I THINK THE ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY IN THIS FIELD HAVE BEEN LEAPS AND BOUNDS. THEY’RE JUST SO MUCH BETTER THAN THEY USED TO BE.” IN COMPARING THIS STYLE OF TURNOUT TO WHAT HE CURRENTLY WEARS, LAZENBY SAID: “IT HAS A SHORT BACK ON THE BACK OF THE TURNOUT COAT AND NOW WE HAVE FLAPS THAT COME DOWN. IF YOU WERE TO WEAR THIS JACKET AND YOU DIDN’T HAVE A HIGH BACK ON YOUR TURNOUT PANTS, IF YOU WERE TO BEND OVER, THERE WOULD BE A GAP BETWEEN WHAT YOUR JACKET COVERED AND WHAT YOUR PANTS COVERED. ANY TIME YOU HAVE A GAP, YOU’RE EXPOSING YOURSELF TO EXCESSIVE HEAT … THE FABRICS ARE DIFFERENT NOW, AS IS THE REFLECTIVE STRIPING. … THESE SET WERE NOT AS WELL MADE … THE MATERIAL WASN’T AS HEAT-RESISTANT AND THESE ACTUALLY AREN’T AS REFLECTIVE AS OUR NEW STUFF. THE CUFFS ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. I LIKE THE CUFFS THAT THERE’S A THUMBHOLE THAT YOU CAN PUT YOUR THUMB THROUGH THE CUFF SO THAT IT DOESN’T END UP CREEPING UP THE INSIDE OF YOUR JACKET WHEN YOU’RE WORKING. THE CUFF IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF KEEPING DEBRIS AND THINGS OUT OF YOUR COAT AND IF YOU HAVE A COAT THAT TENDS TO RIDE UP YOUR ARM, IT’S NOT IDEAL, SO. JUST LITTLE THINGS THAT ADD UP TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE AFTER/AT THE END OF THE DAY. SO, YEAH, THESE WOULD BE ’95 TO 2000, I THINK.” PETIT ADDED: “THE TURNOUT GEAR IS SO MUCH BETTER, IT’S GONE THROUGH ALL KINDS OF TESTS, DIFFERENT MATERIALS, LIGHTER … ACTUALLY, WE STARTED GETTING BETTER TURNOUTS, AND WHAT THEY WERE DOING WITH THE OLD TURNOUTS THAT WERE NOT GOOD TO US, THEY WERE GIVING THEM TO SMALLER DEPARTMENTS THAT DIDN’T HAVE ANY.” DZUREN DISCUSSED THE TYPE OF TURNOUT GEAR HE WORE WHEN HE FIRST STARTED IN 1959: “THEY WERE JUST STRICTLY KIND OF A CANVAS. THERE WAS NO FIRE-PROOFING TO THEM … I DON’T EVEN BELIEVE THERE WAS ANY FIRE RETARDANT TO THEM. BUT THEN EVENTUALL, WELL THE UNIONS, THEY WERE QUITE ADAMANT, AND THE DEPARTMENTS THEMSELVES WERE QUITE ADAMANT IN TRYING TO KIND OF IMPROVE THAT … WHERE THEY DEVELOPED KEVLAR TYPE STUFF THERE, LIGHTWEIGHT, VERY HEAT RESISTANT, SAVED MANY LIVES WITH THE FACT THAT THEY WERE THAT GOOD.” HE CONTINUED, SAYING: “ONCE THEY CAME IN EVERYBODY WAS QUITE ELATED, THAT THEY DID COME IN, CAUSE’ BEFORE IT WAS ALL JUST STRICTLY BLACK, AND WITH YOUR NAME ON THE BACK, I DON’T EVEN BELIEVE… WELL THEY HAD “L-F-D” ON THE BACK IF I RECALL, AND YOUR NAME, AND THEN THEY WERE HEAVY, AND CUMBERSOME, AND THEY HAD A LINER THERE FOR THE WINTER MONTHS AND A WOOL LINER WAS VERY HEAVY. SO WHEN YOU GOT IN THERE AND YOU START SWEATING, IT WAS NOT IDEAL WORKING GEAR THAT YOU HAD ON WHEN YOU WERE WORKING.” SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR FULL INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE LETHBRIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Catalogue Number

P20150010019

Acquisition Date

2015-02

Collection

Museum

Less detail