A firefighter enters a burning building. In addition to his   46   clothing, boots, gloves and helmet, he also has a head-up-display (HUD), which presents key data in his field of vision. Moreover, his clothing is fitted with various sensors that feed the artificial intelligence that follows the firefighter with the firefighter’s position, temperature data, toxic gases and other   47    warnings. The artificial intelligence   48  the data, simultaneously collecting information from different sensors in the building and from databases with technical drawings of the structure. Based on all the data, the artificial intelligence sends instructions to the firefighter via his HUD, enabling him to   49    safely through the building. Moreover, if there is a group of firefighters who, for example, need to fight the blaze or   50   trapped occupants, the artificial intelligence can suggest ways in which the firefighters can work together to successfully perform their task.

Backdrafts are of great danger. They often   51    even highly experienced firefighters. A backdraft canoccur when a compartment fire has little or no   52   . Due to this, little or no oxygen can flow into thecompartment. Then, because fires   53   oxygen, the oxygen concentration decreases. When theconcentration becomes too   54   to support combustion, this may cause a phenomenon in which whenmaterial is heated enough, it begins to break down into smaller compounds, including hydrogen. However,the hydrogen and smoke remain at a hot   55   enough to auto-ignite. If oxygen is then re-introducedto the compartment, e.g. by opening a door or window to a closed room, while the gasses are still hotenough to auto-ignite, combustion will often restart abruptly.

More often, people have heard about PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) in the context of war, withcombat -exposed veterans. While combat veterans often return to the normality of the civilian life afterdeployment, the job of firefighters, police officers and emergency medical services workers involvesregular, routine exposure to all types of traumas, for years and decades of their careers.Research shows that 20% of firefighters pass the diagnostic threshold for PTSD at some point in theircareer. The symptoms developed include frequent nightmares, flashbacks, avoiding reminders of traumaand being easily startled. Depression, anxiety, and substance use are the consequences caused bycumulative trauma exposure.

The problem-solving and “being in charge” work attitude that is a strength of firefighters can sometimesbecome a barrier in seeking help, as they might see vulnerability as a sign of failure. It is often heard fromfirefighters the feeling of shame and worries that others might see them as weak for sharing and discussingthe traumatic experience they have being through. Consequently, firefighters’ tough work ceases to be theconversation topic at their family dinner table.

Left unaddressed, trauma and chronic stress can lead to not only mental health consequences but alsophysical illness. Fortunately, serious efforts are being made to spread awareness and fight stigma relatedto mental health. A variety of programs are launched to fight stigma by explaining the mechanisms oftrauma and stress in the body and brain. This approach can also reframe these traumatic experiences asvulnerability rather than weakness. The “don’t quit” mentality of firefighters can be shifted towardencouraging fighting the mental health consequences of trauma, instead of avoiding and denying it.

       Taitung’s Zhiben Wetlands caught fire late Sunday afternoon, burning into the night, fueled by strong winds,   52   over an area of five hectares. The fire drew the suspicion of environmentalists who completed a survey of endangered bird species in the wetland earlier in the day. They called   53   the Taitung Fire Department to thoroughly investigate whether the fire was an act of   54   . The Society of Wilderness (SOW) and the Wild Bird Society of Taitung County conducted a wild bird field study on Sunday morning, counting the number of endangered bird   55   such as ring-necked pheasants, orioles, and Taiwan thrush. Many of these birds   56   in the shrubs on the north bank of the Zhiben River mouth.

       A long time ago, around 300 B.C., the Romans had something called a "slave fire department" to protect againstfires. Later, in A.D. 26, Rome had a full-time fire department that was in charge of making sure people followed rules toprevent fires and punishing those who caused fires. Over time, people have tried different ways to lessen the damagefires can do. In 1666, a huge fire in London destroyed a lot of buildings because they were made of wood and straw.After that, people started building houses with brick and stone to prevent fires from spreading. Nowadays, fire protectionis about preventing fires and reducing their impact on people, buildings, and the environment. People who work in fireprotection include firefighters, fire marshals, and fire prevention officers, among others. The best way to protect againstfires is to prevent them from happening and, if they do happen, to decrease the damage they can cause.