A firefighter’s helmet is primarily designed to provide protection, but it also holds various tools, such as nails and wedges. One tool in particular-the flashlight-is a staple of every firefighter’s helmet. When mounted, it emits a constant beam of light and greatly increases visibility in any direction. The new Underwater Kinetics International (UK) 4AA eLED Fire Light was specifically designed to be mounted to a helmet, so I decided to review it for this month’s gear test.
The UK 4AA eLED Fire Light is built of non-corrosive ABS and polycarbonate plastic, which makes it incredibly durable. The on/off switch is a simple twist bezel-which makes it a breeze to operate in the dark-and the projection optical system allows one LED to produce a narrow beam of light powerful enough to penetrate some of the thicker smoke you’ll encounter. It also comes with a rylee helmet clip.
The best place to test each of the Fire Light’s features was, of course, the fireground, so I attached it to my helmet and wore it for the past several months. While pulling ceiling at one house fire, I noticed that even though there was a fair amount of smoke emitting from the attic, I could see exactly what I was doing, which made my inspection of the area faster and easier.
During the same incident, I also used the light while performing various smaller tasks, such as inspecting a faulty wall outlet. The light performed well every time I used it, but it really “shines” when it comes to seeing through heavy smoke conditions.
After using the light in real-life situations, I tested its durability by turning it on and dropping it onto concrete from a height of 6 feet. The result: The light suffered only minor scratches but remained operational, proving that its tough construction will enable it to provide years of service.
According to UK, the flashlight is also waterproof to a depth of 10 meters, so I tested its ability to remain waterproof by turning it on and plunging it 10 feet under water for 5 minutes. At that depth, the flashlight remained fully functional, which proves it’s more than capable of keeping out any water it might encounter on the fireground.
I had only one concern with the Fire Light. While attempting to remove the light from my helmet one day, I managed to break the rylee clip. As alternatives, UK does offer a wide variety of helmet-attachment devices, which may be more durable.
Overall, the 4AA eLED Fire Light is an exceptional helmet light, and it’s affordable; the light and the rylee helmet clip together cost only $66. So if smoke is decreasing your visibility or you just need a rugged, reliable helmet light, look no further: the Fire Light is the light of choice.
Manufacturer’s note: The Fire Light is not certified for use with lithium batteries in hazardous locations. Use only alkaline cells.
