Kingsport Fire Department receives new equipment
The men and women of the Kingsport Fire Department use a variety of specialized equipment every day during the course of their duties. From state-of-the-art ladder and pumper trucks, to protective clothing and helmets, to heavy-duty axes, hooks and saws.
All of this equipment and more is needed for our firefighters to do their job safely and effectively.
Now, through the use of $760,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, the Kingsport Fire Department had purchased some new equipment, including new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), bunker gear and thermal cameras.
A good chunk of the money ($465,000) will go towards the purchase of 60 new SCBA, the newest versions within the specifications of the National Fire Protection Association, said Chief Scott Boyd. The SCBA systems arrived on Thursday.
“These will take care of all of our frontline firefighters and the remaining SCBA to be replaced would be included in the upcoming capital projects list,” Boyd said. “The older ones were not failing. They had just hit their 10 to 15 year lifespan.”
The SCBA tanks hold approximately 20 to 30 minutes of oxygen and are worn by firefighters the entire time they’re fighting fires. The new SCBA will have additional heads up displays and connections to allow supplemental air to be attached, if needed.
The remaining $300,000 in ARPA funds are going towards the purchase of new bunker gear (pants, coats, helmets), cardiac monitors, thermal cameras and high rise hose packs. These packs contain 150 feet of hose with nozzle and adapters and are used to fight fires in taller buildings. “All of this equipment was in our budget last year, but it got cut due to COVID,” Boyd said. “Through the use of the ARPA funds, we’ve been able to go back and fulfill these requests. We’re thankful we’re able to do that for our firefighters and the citizens of Kingsport.”