Award Will Buy More Breathing Units for Island Fire Department

The Mackinac Island Volunteer fire Department was awarded $25,000 from the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company for six self-contained breathing units. A check was presented to the department Sunday, September 30.

"We're pretty excited," said Fire Chief Dennis Bradley. "This is certainly a step in the right direction."

The devices will meet all National Fire Protection Association standards that just went into effect. They also will help the department fill a need for more of the units.

There are 17 Island firefighters and three auxiliary firefighters. The department only has eight of the self-contained breathing units and the six new devices will help to supply the entire Island firefighting team.

"Anyone who goes into a hot zone has to use one of these units," he said, and backup crew members also need them in case they are called in to the fire area. "Ideally," he said, "it would be nice if everyone had their own unit."

Each of the units contains an air pack, which is a combination face mask and air cylinder. The cylinder is worn on a firefighter's back. The device provides a continuous flow of clean, breathable air when firefighters are in a contaminated environment with smoke, fire, or other hazardous materials. The new units have a display inside the mask alerting the firefighter about remaining air supply and battery power. The new cylinders also are lighter, making them easier to carry during an emergency.

The new units, said Chief Bradley, "are top of the line and have critical life-saving features, such as a pass device that sounds an alarm when a firefighter gets injured and remains motionless for a period of time."