South Glengarry Township Fire Chief Dave Robertson is applying for an Ontario Fire Protection Grant, expecting Fire Services will be awarded approximately $83,000 to be used for cancer prevention initiatives.
The first $45,000 to $60,000 will be put towards the purchase of an extractor that can clean firefighters’ self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) equipment.
The extractor would clean the equipment by removing toxins and extending the life of the equipment.
Each SCBA costs $10,000 to replace. In addition, some extractor models can clean boots, helmets and other equipment.
Robertson hopes to have sufficient funds to purchase additional respirator masks and air cylinders, thus limiting the necessity to share equipment, particularly when on scene at a fire where cleaning and sterilizing options are limited.
He plans to earmark $10,000 to $15,000 for the purchase of the respirator masks and air tanks.
An additional $5,000 would be used towards training on new devices that assist firefighters when dealing with burning or damaged lithium-ion batteries.
These devices immobilize electric vehicles (EV) and trick the car into a parked state, preventing any motion.
However, low-voltage power to the windows, lights and seats remains accessible, allowing anyone trapped inside the EV to be rescued.
The device shows a colour-coded display - green for immobilized or red for caution – to assist firefighters in their jobs. Robertson plans to purchase portable fire extinguishers specifically designed with water-based cooling agents for small lithium-ion battery fires.