San Antonio Fire Department Corners Company Over Faulty Equipment

Feb. 2, 2006
Tests showed leaks could occur with less than a quarter turn of the hand wheel

San Antonio's fire chief has given an equipment company until Friday to respond to concerns over leaky air tanks and masks that are supposed to help firefighters breathe.

The Southwest Research Institute has been investigating potential problems associated with the self-contained breathing apparatus manufactured by Interspiro.

Fire Chief Robert Ojeda said Wednesday that the initial investigation turned up several problems.

According to Ojeda, the tests showed leaks could occur with less than a quarter turn of the hand wheel, which regulates the airflow. With more than a quarter turn of the wheel, the study reported, the seal could blow.

Ojeda said a locking device is being installed on the apparatus to keep the wheel from moving.

The city issued a letter to Interspiro, demanding the company to respond to the issues and requests brought up by the study, and also asked the company to provide a date when solutions would be provided and implemented.

Ojeda said no injuries have been directly tied to the problems, but firefighters have been told to put their safety before anything else when fighting a fire.

Many firefighters, including Ojeda, made it clear that they don't have complete confidence in the gear.

"I have some concerns," said Ojeda. "We have adopted our responses, our procedures in order to enhance this apparatus, so we can be a little bit more at ease with the safety of our firefighters. But, we're not real confident in it."

The department purchased 403 of the breathing apparatuses from Interspiro for about $2 million.

They have been in use since June 2005.

Ojeda said talked are already under way to decide how to replace the faulty gear and purchase new gear, should Interspiro fail to address and correct the problems.

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