Firefighters spend extended periods inside the station during each shift; these toxins add to the overall health risks that firefighters could face throughout their careers. During new station construction to facility rebuilds, departments are emphasizing quality exhaust removal and air purification systems designed to create safer station environments and support long-term firefighter wellness. Ensuring proper filtration is an important step departments can take to protect them from toxic particulates in the areas where they train, work, and rest. 

Goshen Township, OH

One example is Goshen Township, OH Fire Department in Ohio. After a tornado devastated the community, the department rebuilt its headquarters station with firefighter health as a priority. The new facility incorporates air quality and cancer prevention measures designed to help reduce exposure to harmful contaminants. By integrating these protections during the rebuild process, the department created a safer environment for future generations of firefighters.

The growing focus on firefighter health is driven in part by increasing awareness of the risks associated with diesel exhaust exposure. Diesel exhaust is more than an unpleasant odor. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies diesel engine exhaust as a Group 1 carcinogen and links it to lung cancer, with positive associations to bladder cancer. Because firefighters spend extended periods inside the station throughout their careers, departments continue looking for ways to improve station air quality and reduce long-term exposure risks.

Holland, MI

As part of its new station design, Holland, MI Fire Department Station No. 1 in Michigan installed 7 Sliding Flexhose Tracks with Pro-Nozzles systems across its apparatus bays. The Pro-Nozzle provides 100% guaranteed seal diesel exhaust capture at the source, using flex-magnet technology for a seal from any angle, reducing strain and streamlining response times. Designed for high-use, space-conscious stations, the system features automatic fan activation, a durable lifting elbow, integration with your station’s existing HVAC system, and reinforced hose support to ensure reliable, low-maintenance performance. Manufactured in the USA and supported by MagneGrip's in-house sales and service team, the system provides departments with direct access to parts, technical support, and ongoing service to help minimize operational interruptions.

Even with source-capture technology, some airborne contaminants can remain inside the station environment. AirHAWK air purification systems continuously circulate station air through a multi-stage filtration process designed to capture airborne particles, gases, and other contaminants. Ultraviolet treatment helps address microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and mold spores before purified air is returned to the facility.

Complete Clean Air Solutions

MagneGrip delivers fully integrated clean air solutions by combining:

• Source-capture exhaust removal systems
• AirHAWK air purification systems
• Real-time air quality monitoring

Source-capture systems remove diesel exhaust at the tailpipe, while air purification systems help reduce airborne contaminants that remain suspended inside the station environment afterward.

Together, these systems help departments reduce exposure to diesel exhaust and maintain a safer station environment for firefighters.

For more information about MagneGrip products or get no-cost grant assistance, visit MagneGrip or call 1-800-875-5440.