A fork of Rural Dictionary
The term "smoke eater" is commonly used to refer to a firefighter.
Firefighters are smoke eaters.
a firefighter; a fireman
An off duty smoke eater informed the police that someone planned to set off some illegal fireworks.
is a name used to describe Firefighters before Scott Air Packs were used for air while fighting fires. Smoke Eaters had no clean air source and would enter a fire to search for people which would end up with the Firemen (Firefighters) inhaling the smoke from the fire. The seasoned Firemen (Firefighters) would make this task look easy thus earning the title Smoke Eater.
The fireman started his career as a Smoke Eater and retired as a firefighter.