While many imagine the breathing apparatus firefighters are frequently shown
wearing into a fiery environment is an oxygen tank, it contains regular
breathing air, which consists of only 21 percent oxygen.

“Pure oxygen in a fire isn’t a good thing,” said Scott Kline, Division Chief for
Hoodland Fire District, pointing out one of the many potential dangers
firefighters encounter in the line of duty.

The Hoodland Fire District (HFD) was awarded a Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) in August
for the replacement of all the district’s Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
(SCBA). The annual grants have been offered by FEMA since 2001 to provide
funding for “critically needed resources necessary for protecting the public and
emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.”

“A SCBA is worn any time we’re working in an IDOH (In Danger of Hazard)
environment,” said Kline.

A SCBA consists of a facemask, backpack, straps and a tank. The grant
money will enable the district to purchase 31 masks and packs, 62 refillable
bottles and 10 extra masks.

The updated protective gear will cost $220,398 with $209,900 provided from
FEMA funds and the district providing five percent in matching funds, or
approximately $10,495.

The SCBAs are evaluated for safe use based on National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) standards. The district’s current SCBAs were last upgraded
in 2008 and met 2007 standards at the time.

Kline explained the district was expecting to have to phase out and replace
these devices next year.

“Next year (our current devices) will not meet the safety standard set forth by
the NFPA,” Kline said.

The updated standards will render the 15-year-old SCBAs obsolete. The
district will not be able to donate the gear to another district for use.
Each bottle contains 45 minutes of regular breathing air for use in the field
before a replacement bottle is needed. HFD has a compressor to refill and
reuse the tanks at the station.

HFD will begin receiving sample SCBAs from manufacturers for evaluation and
testing, followed by a bid request, purchasing and fulfillment over the next six
months before receiving the new devices.

More information about the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant program is
available online at https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters.
HFD can be contacted at hoodland@hoodlandfire.org.