San Antonio Firefighters Pleased With New Breathing Apparatus

After months of experiencing problems with their current breathing equipment, San Antonio firefighters have begun testing new equipment, called a self-contained breathing apparatus.

Firefighters are being trained on the new apparatus, made by Scott Health and Safety, which SAFD had worked with until 2005.

Capt. Wayne Purcell was among the first wave of firefighters to test the new equipment.

"It's good to have a piece of equipment we can trust. It's good. It worked well. Everything went fine," said Purcell.

The Scott gear replaces equipment made by Interspiro Inc.

The Interspiro equipment had numerous failures and complications over the past several months -- ranging from broken air valves to masks that fell apart.

The problems forced the SAFD to change the way it responded to fires by adding more gear and more manpower.

The union representing SAFD firefighters also criticized the department for not moving fast enough to deal with the problematic gear.

"We've thrown a lot of resources at this problem," said Deputy Chief Rodney Hitzfelder. "It cost the city of San Antonio a lot of money to provide the best safety for our firefighters that we could. Until the last one is off our backs and the Scotts are on there, I won't feel completely safe."

It could take up to three weeks to complete the training for the city's 48 fire companies.

For many of the firefighters, the Scott equipment represents a return to familiar gear and renewed confidence in the life-saving equipment.

"We did train on this before. We have used this in the past," said Purcell. "It's kind of going back to something we had before -- with some recent upgrades to it."

The SAFD hopes to have all firefighters trained and in Scott gear by July 1.

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