Fireman - Occupation query, again! (General)

by admin , Forest of Dean, Tuesday, December 25, 2007, 16:06 (6180 days ago) @ Simone

Here is a couple of types of Firemen of the past, other than the Fireman we know of today

Fireman in the Coal Mines
Early coal mines were troubled by methane gas; the coal mine
management paid someone to disperse the gas by igniting it with a
naked flame. As you can imagine this was a very dangerous
occupation and these "firemen" literally risked their lives every
time they entered a gaseous area of the mine.

The fireman walked down roads or tunnels with a candle and
ignited any accumulated gases he encountered. He held a long
stick with a candle at the end. Naturally this exploded any
methane present. His only protection was to wear clothing such as
wool, or leather, well damped, and his head protected by a hood
Very often the fireman was killed during the operation
of igniting the gas.
http://www.petcaretips.net/gas-coal-mine.html

Railway Fireman
A person who tends the fire of a steam engine, a stoker.