What is the primary purpose of a fire helmet?

The primary purpose of a fire helmet is to protect firefighters from falling debris and other hazards encountered during firefighting operations. Fire helmets are specifically designed to offer impact protection, shielding the head from debris that may fall during rescue or firefighting efforts, especially in structural fires where conditions can deteriorate rapidly. Additionally, these helmets are often equipped with features such as face shields or eye protection to guard against exposure to heat, smoke, and flying particles, further enhancing the firefighter's safety in hazardous environments.

While aspects like uniform appearance, communication, and temperature regulation are relevant to firefighting gear, they do not capture the core function of the fire helmet, which centers on head protection from physical threats encountered in the field.