Dixon Fire Department Purchases State-of-the-Art Breathing Apparatus

The has a new tool to help keep the citizens of Dixon safe. It's called a S.C.B.A. or self-contained breathing apparatus, a valuable piece of firefighting equipment that keeps firefighters safe.

The purchase of the S.C.B.A. was made possible through a grant-funded award of $146,000 obtained through the Assistance to Firefighter Grant. The new acquisition brings the most advanced technology available to the Department to protect firefighters from hazardous environments.

“When our firefighters have modern tools and technology available to them, we can then provide a higher level of service to our community when called upon” said Fire Chief Aaron McAlister, in a press statement.

Additionally, the department has purchased new testing equipment to facilitate standardized tests for the appropriate fit and wear of the S.C.B.A. the release said.

The new S.C.B.A. will serve to eventually replace significantly outdated S.C.B.A. units from the 1980s. The department credits the grant funding with allowing them to implement a complete respiratory protection program, as well as training of staff to become certified on the repair and testing of equipment consistent with national standards and manufacturer recommendations.

By fulfilling the department’s S.C.B.A. needs through the AFG grant, the Dixon Fire Department is in compliance with national standards and will be an improved asset to the community, according to the Department.

“Today’s firefighting hazards go well beyond a smoke filled environment.  Firefighters have the potential to be exposed to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and hi-yield explosives.  This equipment provides increased levels of respiratory protection for our firefighters as they encounter the unknown” McAlister said.

The primary goal of FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighter Grant is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment and training to help protect the public and emergency personnel from fire related hazards.

Check out the video attached to this story for a look at what the new equipment can do.