Fire Breathers

The Fire Breathers was a specialized division of the Responders dedicated to fighting the Scorched before 2102. Before the Great War many served West Virginia as firefighters and emergency services most operating in Charleston, WV. After the Great War they formed the Responders and were tasked with battling the wildfires and underground mining fires. However, with the appearance of the Scorched their mission changed to a more combat role with most Fire Breathers being deployed with firearms to patrol in the Ash Heap south of Charleston.

Background
The Fire Breathers were comprised of pre-War firefighters and post-War volunteers. The division, based out of the Charleston Fire Department, was created out of a need for a specialized defense against the Scorched. They refined tactics and developed equipment for this purpose, notably using pre-War fire protection gear as armor as well as Fire Breather uniforms. Firefighter protectrons at the CFD were reprogrammed to assist the Fire Breathers in their new role.

To join the Fire Breathers, potential recruits were required to complete an exam comprised of three tests; a written exam, a fitness exam and a final exam testing the practical application of the recruit's abilities in a hostile environment.

Like the rest of the Responders, the Fire Breathers are long gone by the time Vault 76 opens in 2102.

Interactions with the player character
While the Fire Breathers have been wiped out, their protectrons and equipment can be utilized by the player character. One of these protectrons, Bernie, appears during the quest Into the Fire, in which the player character participates in the Fire Breathers' recruitment exam. Bernie presents the player character with equipment necessary for the final test and instructs on how to formally become a Fire Breather upon its completion.

After the quest, Into the Fire, the Fire Breather serve no further purpose in the game but their uniform and helmet can be rewarded to the player to wear as a final legacy to the fallen division.

Locations

 * Charleston Fire Department - main, and so far only, base of operations.
 * Belching Betty - a Scorched infested mine, the player character is sent to clear it and activate the emergency beacon of a team of Fire Breathers previously sent there during Into the Fire.
 * Brim Quarry - a Scorched infested Quarry, it was successfully cleared by a Fire Breathers team led by Lieutenant Thomas on the 10th of March 2095, however has subsequently been occupied by super mutants.

Known members
Initiates:
 * Melody Larkin
 * Hank Madigan - last reported as attempting to fix a relay for the Free States Scorched detection system at Top of the World.
 * Sgt. Allemane - last reported on duty at Big Bend Tunnel.
 * Sgt. Comminsky
 * Sgt. Holstein
 * Lieutenant Thomas - a lieutenant in both the pre-War Charleston F.D. and later the Fire Breathers. At one point was charged with clearing Brim Quarry.
 * Dustin - a member of Lieutenant Thomas' squad at Brim Quarry. After Garrett's death, he attempted to console the squad by reasoning his death was relatively painless.
 * Garrett - a member of Lieutenant Thomas' squad at Brim Quarry. Died whilst clearing the quarry summit, and was buried in its shipping yard.
 * Omar - a member of Lieutenant Thomas' squad at Brim Quarry.
 * Yas - a member of Lieutenant Thomas' squad at Brim Quarry.
 * Andrew Rhodes
 * Maxine Ballard
 * Rita Wilcox
 * Sylvester Tate
 * Timothy Wolfe

Appearances
The Fire Breathers only appears in Fallout 76.