Local firefighters get new breathing apparatus
The new fire truck at Warren Fire Station No. 5 is the first to be equipped with a Lifeline fire hose. It allows firefighters to connect to an airline so they can breathe clean air without having to carry their self-contained breathing apparatus on their backs.
“I’m very optimistic that this has the potential to save lives and reduce injuries and illness,” said Warren Fire Commissioner Wilbert “Skip” McAdams. “It is such a simple concept I’m surprised no one had ever thought of it before.”
The Lifeline hose can be used for outdoor fires such as trash fires and car fires. The firefighter is able to connect their face piece directly to the airline in the Life Line hose.
“They don’t have to wear their tank, so they will drop 20 pounds of weight from their back,” said McAdams. “The only thing they have to wear is the mask to get all of the air that they need.”
McAdams said that historically, firefighters do not wear a mask when dealing with outdoor fires, which can be extremely dangerous because they are exposing themselves to carcinogens and toxic fumes. Wearing a mask with an air supply could reduce incidents of throat cancer and other health problems related to breathing.
“All of the rules have always said you should wear your face masks, but it is one of the hardest things to enforce in the fire service,” said McAdams. “This is an opportunity to change that narrative and we are going to test it out.”
The Lifeline system cost $19,100. The department is scheduled to get a second new truck in December and if the firefighters like the Lifeline system and find themselves using it on a regular basis, that new truck will also be equipped with the system.
“We put it on this rig and will test it for the next year and see how the guys like it and if they use it,” said McAdams. “The proof will be using it in a real-life situation.”