# Poles in fire stations--dangerous? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 30, 2012, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248 "2012-03-30T07:25:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248/21 "2012-03-30T16:05:35Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Poles are not dangerous in firehouses. Czechs are another matter. Only the good ones. The bad Czechs bounce. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248/22 "2012-03-30T16:09:19Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Poles are not dangerous in firehouses. Czechs are another matter. > [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > Only the good ones. The bad Czechs bounce. then they wouldn’t need a pole at all, just a hole in the floor. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248/23 "2012-03-30T16:12:24Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Wait, are we talking about whether or not sliding down a pole is dangerous for people _who run into burning buildings for a living_? There was a story on the Chicago news the other day, about a study on causes of on-the-job deaths for Chicago firefighters. Interestingly enough, the top two causes were not directly related to fire: they were traffic accidents while heading to fires, and heart attacks. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248/24 "2012-03-30T16:27:25Z")
> [@Pixel\_Dent](#): > > I used to work in a building that was a converted firehouse. Yes, it still had the poll. Yes, we used it for fun. Yes, Weeeeeeeeeeeee!!! Were you a Ghostbuster? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248/25 "2012-03-30T16:45:06Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Poles are not dangerous in firehouses. Czechs are another matter. They work for the post office. Or did you forget the Czechs are in the mail? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248/26 "2012-03-30T16:54:02Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > They work for the post office. Or did you forget the Czechs are in the mail? They also work in government. We have a system of Czechs and balances. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248/27 "2012-03-30T17:07:45Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Were you a Ghostbuster? Or Balki from Perfect Strangers. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248/28 "2012-03-30T17:24:49Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > There was a story on the Chicago news the other day, about a study on causes of on-the-job deaths for Chicago firefighters. Interestingly enough, the top two causes were not directly related to fire: they were traffic accidents while heading to fires, and heart attacks. See what I’m saying? Poles and pole-related accidents didn’t even make the top three! ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248/29 "2012-03-30T17:36:35Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > My husband showed me how they slide down the pole without hands the other day. Takes some practice, I guess. I’ve seen that done, but not in a firehouse… ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248/30 "2012-03-30T21:35:11Z")
> [@KCB615](#): > > When my daughter (or any other small child for that matter) has visited, I become overprotective crazy dad keeping her away. One misstep near that pole and its a 16 foot plummet. I think it was Chris Rock who said that your only job as a father is to keep your daughter off the pole. ---
**Author:** ![KCB615](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ea666f/32.png) [@KCB615](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KCB615)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248/31 "2012-03-30T22:48:57Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I think it was Chris Rock who said that your only job as a father is to keep your daughter off the pole. One of the two reasons I will do my damnedest to keep her from taking up firefighting as a career. Not only do I work at one of two places where poles are commonly found, but unlike the other place, there are also beds. Its just a bad idea all around, really. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2012, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248/32 "2012-03-31T06:53:41Z")
Originally posted by **Tom Tildrum** > [@](#): > > Space constraints can’t be the answer, because the building has to have a stairway anyway, for the firefighters to get back up to the second floor. That’s not what I meant. Space constraints would require that some rooms of the station be on the second floor, as in any building; the fast exit is what requires the pole or some other special means. Originally posted by **Scumpup** > [@](#): > > Poles are not dangerous in firehouses. Czechs are another matter. Nierozumim. I once met an L. A. City Firefighter and I asked him what was the most dangerous part of his job. Rather than carrying victims out of a burning building, he said it was driving to and from work every day! ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2012, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248/33 "2012-03-31T07:15:03Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > However, in the 1960s there were two fatal accidents involving people using the poles; and the Department in New York considers them dangerous. Chicago’s department disagrees–they have never had such accidents. Who’s right? When I was in Kindergarten in 1966 we took a field trip to a small city fire department. A kid asked where the fire pole and we were told that they caused “lots of firemen to get hurt sliding down them”. Don’t know if they really consider 2 to be “lots” or if there were more injuries than mentioned in the OP. But as far back as '66 departments were getting rid of them. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2012, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248/34 "2012-03-31T07:26:25Z")
What’s the point of being a fireman if you can’t slide down the pole? Why let strippers have all the fun? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2012, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248/35 "2012-03-31T07:44:55Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > What’s the point of being a fireman if you can’t slide down the pole? Why let strippers have all the fun? Strippers? How did THEY get into the station? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2012, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248/36 "2012-03-31T13:58:35Z")
ethnics, strippers, puns; this discussion is hosed. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248/37 "2012-03-31T18:00:51Z")
Stippers use poles for their dances. Without firemen using poles all we would have left is strippers using poles. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248/38 "2012-03-31T18:29:14Z")
Good thread-I suggest you file a complaint with OSHA-they will write a 10 page analysis of fireman’s poles. I expect lawsuits too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poles-in-fire-stations-dangerous/617248.md?page=1)