Two new breathing
air compressors are being installed and the current unit at Station # 19
is being relocated in an effort to improve our operations. County
Council approved a request from the Fire-Rescue Commission to purchase
two additional breathing air compressors in last fiscal year. The units
were not delivered until early this fiscal year. The Buear Unicus units
are fully self contained and feature a ten horse power compressor, four
cylinder cascade system and fully enclosed fill station. The two new
units are updated versions of our current Buear Unicus compressor in use
at Station 19.
The new heavy
Rescue, which is scheduled for delivery in February, will also have a
Buear Breathing Air Compressor, cascade system and fill station on
the truck, giving the department a mobile unit for any sustained
operations. These additional compressors will greatly increase our
operating ability. Presently, our department has a 40 year old unit at
Station 18 which broke last year. Due to it's age, parts are no longer
available to repair it. Additionally, with only two compressors in our
large service area, filling cylinders after fires was somewhat
troublesome.
The two new units
have been placed at Stations 9 and 19. The present unit from Station
19 has been relocated to Station 18. It's connections are compatible with
Rescue 1, which will be reassigned to Station 18 when the new Heavy Rescue
arrives in February. This also allowed the fill station from Station 18 to
be moved to Station 6, for use with their cascade system.
Battalion Chief Stallings, Fire Marshal Roger Johnston and Captain Richie Wood spent all day Monday (6-Oct) moving the 2-1/4 ton units to their new homes. Beach Electric had previously run the wiring for the compressors. A technician with Safe Air Industries will be in Colleton County Thursday to make the final connections and test all three compressors. Training on the compressors will take place shortly thereafter.
