San Antonio firefighters are being asked to closely examine their self-contained breathing apparatus for another potential problem.
In a mass e-mail, all city firefighters were told to look for any cracks in the valve seals of breathing tanks used during fires.
The warning comes after at least three firefighters reported problems with valve seals on their apparatus.
The defect could mean a complete loss of air at a critical time.
Firefighters were expected to meet with the assistant fire chief on Wednesday to discuss problems that have surfaced with the equipment in recent months.
Since October, the Fire Department has tracked numerous failures of the devices that resulted in loss of airflow during firefighting.
An investigation by the Southwest Research Institute found a defective protective coating and various loose connections on the breathing apparatus manufactured by Interspiro.
Previous Stories:
- November 9, 2005: SAFD Launches Investigation Into Faulty Breathing Masks
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