Firefighting is a career that puts your life on the line even as you attempt to save other people and property. Any miscalculated move can cause even greater havoc worsening the already sour situation.
Every piece of equipment in your rescue kit, therefore, must be of premium quality and optimal functionality. Among the primary tools that must never miss in your kit is a firefighter flashlight.
During rescue exercises, you are bound to run into burning buildings to save people or man the hose. The dust or smoke in such incidences reduces visibility to a great extent. And nothing can be handier than a super-bright, impact-resistant, waterproof, compact flashlight.
Here, we review the five best flashlights that will satisfactorily serve you as a first responder in the fire department and the factors to consider when purchasing the lamp.
See also: best firefighter knives
best firefighter helmet camera
best firefighter boots
Contents
Comparison Table
In summary, our top picks are:
| Product | Type | Lumens | Power Supply |
| Streamlight Knucklehead Spotlight | Right Angle | 180 | Rechargeable Ni-Cd 4.8 V battery |
| Streamlight 69140 Vantage Tactical Flashlight | Helmet Mounted | 115 | 2 CR123 Lithium batteries |
| Pelican 3410 Right Angle Fire Rescue Lamp | Right Angle | 653/97/25 | 3- AA batteries |
| Nightstick FDL-300R K01 Flashlight | Helmet Mounted | 180 | 2 CR123 batteries |
| Bright Star 510304 Flashlight | Right Angle | 220 | 6-AA batteries/Rechargeable Li-ion battery |
Streamlight Knucklehead Spotlight
This strong and versatile tactical flashlight can be mounted virtually on anything. You can attach it to your turnout gear using the handy clips or a metallic surface via the powerful removable magnet. Still, you can work with it from the ground.
It has an articulated swivel head that allows you to control the beam angle precisely.
The Knucklehead spotlight has high, low, and midnight modes of operation. When in midnight mode, it can last up to 20 days between charges.
The super tough nylon construction which is impact resistant makes it exceptionally durable. Its shock-proof C4 LED has a lifetime of 50,000 hours.
Has either 120-volt AC or 12-volt DC charging modes.
Pros
· Convenient beam angle control via the swivel head
· Fast charging options
· Mountable on several surfaces
Cons
· Not the cheapest flashlight option
Streamlight 69140 Vantage Tactical Flashlight
Streamlight 69140 Vantage is the best helmet firefighter light. You can attach this sturdy lamp below or above the helmet brim to free your hands for other uses in emergency scenarios.
Whether you are wearing a traditional or modern industrial helmet, fire helmet, or hard hat, this flashlight will snugly fit. And you can remove or secure it without the need for any special equipment.
Built with a strong 6000 series aircraft aluminum, this flashlight is impact resistant and quite long-lasting. It is also waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes.
It utilizes the latest LED technology combined with super-bright blue LED tail light thereby giving greater visibility even in pitch-black smoke.
The large power switch allows you to operate the torch even with gloved hands.
Pros
· Compact and lightweight
· Super-bright reaching up to 167 meters
Cons
· Battery cover opens easily
Pelican 3410 Right Angle Fire Rescue Lamp
Pelican is another top brand that produces premium quality flashlights. Their 3410 right angle firefighter lamp is no exception.
Built with a compact design, this flashlight derives its durability from the strong polymer housing. Besides, the body material is photo-luminescent making it easy to locate in the dark.
Featuring three beam modes of spot, flood, and both, you will get a 3-level light output with any mode. It is, therefore, suitable for both long-distance and close-up lighting requirements.
For settings, it can work on high, medium, or low where it produces lumens of 653, 97, and 25 respectively. The run time ranges from 61 hours on low mode to 5 h hours on high setting with three-AA batteries.
Has a magnetic clip for attachment on metal surfaces
Pros
· Lifetime warranty
· Quite compact
· Photo-luminescent body for better visibility
Cons
· Fairly durable
Nightstick FDL-300R K01 Flashlight
Nightstick FDL-300R-K01 is a multipurpose helmet light that can be used in firefighting, outdoor activities, and tactical events. You can secure the mount to any side of a fire helmet or hard hat.
With a water resistance rating of IPX7, this torch can also survive an impact of up to 2 meters.
Besides the hands-free operation, the mount’s angle is adjustable up to 1400 thereby clearing areas around the face shield, goggles and any other object that is mounted on the helmet.
Producing about 180 lumens of brightness, this versatile flashlight has a run time of 3 hours.
The structure is made of a strong material that imparts chemical resistance and extra durability.
Pros
· High versatility
· Waterproof of IPX7
· Mounts conveniently attaches to any side of the helmet
Cons
· Heavier than several helmet firefighter lights
Bright Star 510304 Flashlight
This right angle LED light uses UL 913 certified technology that makes it intrinsically safe with minimal risk of explosion.
The 220 lumen light output is focused by a wide-eyed lens with a resultant illumination length of 490 meters. The extra-bright light penetrates through even the darkest smoke or dust.
Its durable structure is built from extra-tough nylon which is impact resistant to up to 30 feet. Also, it has a waterproof rating of IP 67.
You can easily switch from a 6-AA power supply with a run time of 4 hours to a rechargeable Li-ion battery that will increase run time to 17 hours.
Designed with a slim profile, it delivers tight light against the body thereby preventing entanglement.
Pros
· Intuitive use even with gloved hands
· Micro-controlled LED for increased run time
· Slim design and low profile
Cons
· Expensive
What do you consider when purchasing a firefighter flashlight?
As a first responder in fire emergencies, your lighting needs are very different from normal users. The primary factors you should consider to ensure you have the appropriate torch include;
Beam shape
A flashlight can have either a narrow, wide, hybrid or an adjustable beam. What you choose should give you the best lighting even in the dark smoke-filled room.
A narrow beam gives a perfect one-point focus with blurred periphery while a wide beam will scatter the smoke obscuring your direct vision though the peripheral vision is good. And fiddling with an adjustable beam to get the right focus is the last thing you want to do.
The hybrid beam gives a spot-on focus with a well-illuminated periphery that enables you to concentrate on a specific point while maintaining situational awareness because of optimal peripheral vision.
Power supply
A dual-fuel lamp is the recommended flashlight type for firefighters. You can recharge it in preparation for any emergency or use primary cells when on a mission. Ensure you always have the right dry cells for your flashlight in the truck.
Ease of operation
The easier you can operate your flashlight with a gloved hand the better. Choose a torch with large mounts, buttons, or swivel heads that you can manipulate seamlessly in a situation without compromising your safety.
Maneuverability
Select a flashlight that you can mount on your helmet or attach to the turnout gear to let both your hands free for doing something else. A torch you can sling over the shoulder is also a good option.
The flashlight should also be compact and light enough to be carried around with ease.
Firefighter Flashlights FAQs
Must a firefighter flashlight be waterproof?
Yes! Fire extinguishing primarily involves water use. The place is highly likely to be flooded during the exercise and the flashlight must survive the environment even if it drops in the water.
The seals are always sealed with O-rings and the switches made of rubber to impart water resistance.
How many lumens should a firefighter torch produce?
160 is the least lumens a helmet-mounted and hand-held flashlight should generate. This is to ensure that it penetrates the pitch-dark smoke for greater vision and thus avert injury. For floodlights, about 1200 lumens deliver satisfactorily.
Where can I buy a flashlight for firefighters?
You can either buy from a physical store or an online store. For the former, the tactical flashlights are mainly found in shops selling firefighters or police equipment and army supply stores.
Online is the best place to purchase your torch as it gives you a variety of types and sellers to select from.
The Bottom Line
The value of a lamp in a firefighter’s kit can never be undermined. That is why you need the best flashlight as it might be the line between life and death in a smoky burning house. Having one of the lights discussed above as an ordinary individual is a great milestone.
However, for professional firefighters, one may be like none owing to the variability of the situations they encounter. It is, therefore, recommended that you have flashlights of various designs and features to enable you to handle any situation.