Firefighters upgrading equipment

McKeesport firefighters will soon be better equipped thanks to a little help from their friends, and the federal government.

The McKeesport Fire Department has purchased and upgraded equipment with federal grants and money from local fund-raising efforts.

Purchases include equipment to replenish air tanks, 12 new self-contained breathing apparatus systems, two thermal imaging cameras and a state-of-the-art system that allows firefighters to be tracked during fires.

All but 10 percent of the $141,000 spent on the equipment came from the grants, fire Chief Fred Bray chief.

Bray was able to cover the cost of the city's share through donations received from individuals, as well as a variety of community organizations.

"The money came through," he said.

The new equipment is a welcome addition to the small, but busy department. The 26-member paid department has seven stations and answers approximately 12,000 calls a year, Bray said.

The tank replenishing system will allow firefighters to refill air tanks at the scene rather than having to return to the stationary system at the firehouse to refill the tanks. Self-contained breathing apparatus tanks used by the firefighters last about 20 minutes apiece and often have to be refilled while on a call.

Twelve sets of the breathing devices complete with spare tanks, harnesses and individual masks were purchased.

Two thermal imagining cameras will allow firefighters to see through thick smoke. A monitoring device that allows those at the command center to see what the firefighter sees is designed to improve fire rescue efforts.

Bray said he is excited about the tracking system that will allow command officers to know which firefighters are where during a blaze. The firefighter will attach a device to his clothing and his name and location will be visible on a computer monitor.

The system also will monitor the temperature of the area where the firefighter is and, if a firefighter stops moving for any length of time, his name will immediately jump to the top of the computerized list.

"Their name goes to the very top and (command officers) know that he's having trouble," Bray said.

Matthew Foust, sales consultant and air products manager for Susquehanna Fire Equipment Co., the firm that sold the equipment to the city, said the new tracking system is expensive -- in excess of $26,000 -- but worth it.

"Now you don't have to wait for someone else to come and tell you there is a firefighter in trouble," he said.