Firefighting is an ultra-hazardous profession. Fires today burn hotter, faster, than at any other period in time. Because of the increase in the use of synthetic materials to make furniture, carpeting and other interior furnishings, the heat release rate of fires is 8x faster than it was 50 years ago. Modern fires require modern training, modern equipment, modern tactics, and modern education. With the advent of lightweight construction since the mid-1980's homes are built larger, have more open floor plans, and allow for rapid fire growth and collapse.