In firefighting operations, heat-resistant protective clothing is one of the essential types of equipment used to protect firefighters from extreme temperatures and radiant heat. One specialized type of protective clothing used in high-risk fire situations is the heat-resistant asbestos suit. With the ability to withstand temperatures of more than 1,000°C, this type of suit can be used in particularly hazardous situations, including fires involving chemicals, petroleum products, or intense radiant heat. The suit allows firefighters to approach high-temperature areas for the time required to carry out firefighting operations. However, it is relatively bulky, can be uncomfortable, and may restrict movement, meaning that users require appropriate physical fitness, technical training, and professional skills.

A practical example was seen during a provincial-level firefighting and rescue exercise at the Ben Thuy petroleum depot in Nghe An Province on 14 August 2026. The simulated scenario involved lightning striking and causing a fire and explosion in a 3,000 m³ diesel storage tank, with the fire subsequently threatening to spread to the gasoline loading area. More than 300 personnel, together with numerous specialized vehicles and firefighting equipment, were mobilized for the exercise. Among them, firefighters wearing specialized heat-resistant protective suits directly deployed foam-spraying equipment to attack the simulated fire.

The exercise also involved a firefighting robot designed to approach hazardous areas, fixed foam monitors, and a 54-meter aerial ladder truck used to conduct firefighting operations from above. In particular, firefighters operating the monitor from the aerial ladder were required to wear heat-resistant protective suits while working in an environment exposed to intense heat and radiant energy. After nearly 10 minutes of coordinated attacks from multiple directions, the simulated fire at the storage tank was brought completely under control. The exercise demonstrates that, in large-scale industrial fires, heat-resistant protective clothing forms an important part of an integrated system of personal protection, specialized equipment, and firefighting tactics.

Photo source: Báo dân trí.