A flapper is a wildland firefighting tool that resembles a broom or a leaf rake with wide, overlapping metal bristles in the form of a hand fan. It is also called a swatter or a beater. It is designed for extinguishing minor fires in rural areas such as heaths. A flapper is built with a long handle and a series of lamellae which allows firefighters to stand well back from the fire. The lamellae are constructed in either rubber or steel, though practically any other fire-resistant material could be used.
The fire is attacked from the upwind side by lightly swatting out the flames or embers with the thick flap. When the flapper hits the ground, the oxygen supply to the fire is stopped and the fire will be extinguished. Where ground cover is short, the flapper can be dragged along the fire edge to smother the fire. If used too hard it can add more oxygen to the fire. It is often recommended to either hose water on the area or keep it under observation, as there will always be a risk of it flaring up later.
Due to a flapper's small size it is unfit for use against a blazing forest fire or large burning fields. The tool's design makes it only suitable for minor flames or glows within a limited area. It is commonly used in fire mop-up operations. For fire fighting in larger areas it is much more convenient to take out hoses from a fire engine and spray selected areas. Alternatively a water cannon from a water tender can be used.
A flapper is often part of the standard equipment on a fire engine and may also be set up inside and around forests and at heaths in order to take immediate action if a fire is seen.
The flapper's technique has been developed from using a wet green pine bough, and wet burlap sacks in the rural south US, to swat the fire known as "wet sacking" a fire.
the flapper hits the ground, the oxygen supply to the fire is stopped and the fire will be extinguished. Where ground cover is short, the flapper can...
Flappers were a subculture of young Western women prominent after the First World War and through the 1920s who wore short skirts (knee height was considered...
A fire station (also called a fire house, fire hall, firemen's hall, or engine house) is a structure or other area for storing firefighting apparatuses...
left to burn itself out away from the edge of the fire line, or another fire fighter with a fireflapper will smother it if required. The tool will cut through...
Fire brigade keys are a set of standardized keys used in the United Kingdom to secure items which need to be kept locked against casual interference, but...
protection level) Fire/high temperatures usually by a combination of insulating and reflective materials which reduce the effects (see also fire proximity suit)...
is in battery. As the bolt is forced backwards after the firing of a cartridge, the flappers recede back into the bolt, therefore unlocking and sending...
The Timmins Fire Department provides fire protection, technical rescue services, hazardous materials response and first responder emergency medical assistance...
enforcement and control in fire and emergency situations. New South Wales Rural Fire Service Victoria Country Fire Authority Volunteer fire departments New rank...
Avon Fire & Rescue Service". www.avonfire.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-05-08. "Fact sheet: Overview". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2023-05-08. Text of the Fire Safety...
timber management, especially reforestation, forests at prime conditions, and fire control. Foresters develop and implement forest management plans relying...
Toronto Fire Services (TFS), commonly called Toronto Fire, provides fire protection, technical rescue services, hazardous materials response, and first...
Therese Flapper FTSE is an environmental engineer, and was elected to be a fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering...
The Kitchener Fire Department provides fire protection, technical rescue services, hazardous materials response, and first responder emergency medical...
toilets have a 3 in (76 mm) flapper-flush valve. Older toilets have a 2 in (51 mm) flapper-flush valve. The larger flapper-flush valve is used on toilets...
of the agency responsible for the apparatus, which may be a rescue squad, fire department, emergency medical services, law enforcement agency, or military...
base of the fire. RACE (The priority of initial actions to take against a fire.) Rescue - Rescue anyone in immediate danger from the fire if it does not...
Brampton Fire and Emergency Services provides fire protection, technical rescue services, hazardous materials response, and first responder emergency...
The Hamilton Fire Department provides fire protection, technical rescue services, hazardous materials response, and first responder emergency medical...
Swatter may refer to: 9M17 Fleyta, a Soviet anti-tank missile Fireflapper, a fire suppression device Flyswatter, a handheld fly-killing device Someone...
Vaughan Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS) provides fire protection, technical rescue services, hazardous materials response, and first responder emergency...