“I tried to hate this helmet; but, after wearing it for a few times and for a few burns, I’m a fan. I truly am.”

Andrew Tomer Division Chief, Allegheny County (PA) Emergency Services

The new, innovative MSA Cairns® XF1 Jet-Style Fire Helmet makes it possible for firefighters to transition from structural fire operations to rescue operations instantly when changing fireground conditions warrant. The helmet is certified to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1971 (current edition), Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, and NFPA 1951 (current edition), Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents.

The Cairns XF1 design is based on the input and expertise of firefighters who have worn the jet-style fire helmet during the research and design stages and in subsequent field tests relative to the needs of the North American firefighter. It can withstand the rigors of structural firefighting as well as meet the unique demands of rescue operations – AND, it does not require a change of helmet when you must switch from structural to rescue operations tasks.

“I tried to hate this helmet; but, after wearing it for a few times and for a few burns, I’m a fan. I truly am,” exclaimed Division Chief Andrew Tomer, Allegheny County (PA) Emergency Services. Tomer explained that he, like others in the fire service, are not always fans of change but his attitude changed after engaging in operations with the new helmet and experiencing its comfort.

Assistant Chief Sean Johnson of the Stoney Point Fire Department, Fayetteville, North Carolina, one of the first departments in the United States to switch the entire department to the Cairns XF1, noted that department members more efficiently maneuvered through entanglements encountered in their operations with the XF1 helmet than with traditional helmets.

These innovative features of the XF1 provide an engineered “safety-first” approach to rescue operations:

• A lightweight shell molded from high-heat-resistant thermoplastic that protects against typical hazards encountered on the fire scene.
• Its jet-style design does not have a brim, which makes it easier to crawl into tight spaces and for the helmet to remain in place.
• The sleek design and variety of integrated accessories helps to maximize available headroom and minimize snag hazards.
• The shell, face shield, and earlaps provide coverage from impacts, projections, heat, and flames.
• The increased head mobility afforded by the new design expands your field of view, especially in the upward direction.
• A three-position ratchet adjustment enables an individualized/customizable fit.

Learn more about the MSA Cairns® XF1 and hear more from Division Chief Tomer and Assistant Chief Johnson on the MSA Cairns XF1 site.