October 2003       

East Lake Fire Rescue has recently taken delivery of 20 new SCBAs (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) and 40 bottles from Survivair.  The SCBA committee, comprised of DC May, Lt McLain, Lt Teolis, FF Calderini and FF West, selected Survivair after extensive testing of six different manufacturers.

The Survivair SCBAs are equipped with 4500psi / 45 min carbon fiber bottles, integrated PASS with a buddy breather fitting, upgraded digital pressure gauge which will allow firefighters to calculate air supply based on their own breathing rate, an additional over the shoulder male/female buddy breather along with the NFPA required RIT connection, chest straps, rescue strap, and a secondary integrated PASS device.  Each facepiece will have a heads-up displays (HUD) and voice amplification.  Lieutenants and acting lieutenants will also have their facepieces fitted for enhanced radio interface to allow for better communication.  Each SCBA pack will also be equipped with one Smoke Eater™.  This is an emergency air purifying escape respirator designed to attach to a  Survivair SCBA facepiece. Once attached, it will provide users with approximately 15 minutes of protection from contaminated air, allowing them to escape from a situation should their SCBA run out of air.

Each of our 3 primary units will also have an RIT (Rapid Intervention Team) kit.  The RIT kit was designed to offer rapid intervention teams a comprehensive, well-organized rescue package to facilitate the rescue of downed or trapped firefighters.  The kit includes a spare SCBA bottle, spare mask (that can be used on firefighters or civilians), 150' of reflective search line, 2 - 10' supply lines (1 for transfilling and 1 for teathering), and a tool bag with various small tools for extricating entangled firefighters.

The purchase of these new SCBAs was made possible through a Federal Fire Act Grant for $98,134.00. 

Digital Gauge / Electronic Alarm	Panther HUD	Smoke Eater™
RIT Kit	Integrated PASS	New East Lake Survivair Panther
Survivair mask with voice amplification and enhanced radio interface	East Lake patch molded on bottles	Training with new SCBAs