From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — Trussville Fire and Rescue will soon implement new equipment to help firefighters battle flames and smoke.
The department received 15 new self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs). The packs are worn by firefighters to regulate and supply breathable air in a variety of situations. Sunbelt Fire won the bid to sell the equipment by offering all 15 apparatuses for $110,920.
The department currently has 60 – 80 outdated SCBAs. The last time the department replaced the SCBA packs, was in 2004. At that time, the equipment was purchased with a grant. Fire Chief Tim Shotts said the apparatuses only have a usable life of about 15 years.
“We’re replacing 15 of them because that keeps us operating,” said Shotts.
As the SCBAs age, they require more upkeep and sometimes cannot be repaired because parts are no longer available. The new SCBAs have added features. One of those features is Bluetooth capabilities. Cpt. Chris Franklin said a Bluetooth communication unit will help firefighters talk to each other while battling fires.
“One of the things that’s tough for us is, even when you’re talking face-to-face with a mask on, sometimes it’s hard to understand,” said Franklin. “The built-in microphone in the mask will allow us to not have to scream and yell and hopefully understand each other.”
Chief Shotts said the purpose of add-ons is efficiency. For example, the new packs also have quick-connect features.
“On a standard pack, you have to thread on the regulator, so if you have guys who are going to change out bottles, it will help them do that in a much shorter amount of time,” Shotts explained.
Perhaps the most valuable add-on to the SCBAs is the buddy-breathing system. In the case of a firefighter running out of breathable air, another firefighter has the ability to share air quickly.
“It helps if somebody’s down,” said Franklin. “We can go in there and use our own pack and connect to them.”
The feature could be life-saving when every second counts.
The new packs are also battery-powered and have rechargeable lithium batteries. They have been tested for safety and have been certified for use in a fire.
The new cylinders also have a longer operating time. The old tanks lasted around 30 minutes. The new ones last up to 45 minutes. The extra 15 minutes make up for the time lost to new standards, according to Franklin.
“You used to hear the end of service bell with 20% left, but now it’s at 33%. So, the problem is, bells are going off a lot quicker so we went with a 45-minute cylinder in order to give us more operating time,” Franklin explained.
The new SCBAs are expected to be in service by the beginning of 2020. Trussville Fire and Rescue plans to replace the remaining outdated SCBAs over time. The plan is to purchase five new packs a year.
“That way we’ll never run into a situation where we have to replace them all at one time,” said Shotts.
The fire department also purchased new belts that will assist firefighters in a rappel escape or in a firefighter down situation.