Failing SCBAs in San Antonio, TX

[Guest]

KSAT.com

Firefighter Has Equipment Problems, Jumps From Window

City Council OKs Purchase Of New Equipment

POSTED: 7:32 am CDT April 21, 2006

UPDATED: 7:36 am CDT April 21, 2006

SAN ANTONIO -- On the same day the City Council approved the purchase of new breathing apparatus for firefighters, a San Antonio firefighter suffered smoke inhalation after his mask failed during a fire.

The firefighter, fighting a house fire on Thursday morning, jumped out a window because he said he was no longer able to get air from his mask.

"The fire was rolling over his head. All of a sudden, he doesn't get any more air out of his mask," said Christopher Steele, a spokesman for the Firefighters' Union.

The firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation and minor cuts at Methodist Children's Hospital.

Fire officials said it was too early to say if his equipment malfunctioned.

SAFD firefighters have reported several instances in which their breathing apparatus malfunctioned since the equipment was purchased from Interspiro about a year ago.

The problems prompted the City Council to approve more than $2 million to buy new equipment from a different vendor.

Firefighters should have the new gear within two months.

City officials said they are considering legal options against Interspiro.

[Tanker 10eng 140]

would like to hear more about this, what type of air packs ??? was it a mask failure or a regulator ? if anyone finds out more, please share .

[61MACKBR1 222]

My understanding is that their SCBA's were manufactured by INTERSPIRO FIREFIGHTING SCBA's and that the City is considering legal action against this manufacturer.

[x152 179]

Yes, Interspiro is correct. There has been an ongoing problem in the SAFD with the product. The manufacturer has tried on several occasions to work with them to resolve the problems, but without much success.

[ex-commish 490]

Yes, Interspiro is correct. There has been an ongoing problem in the SAFD with the product. The manufacturer has tried on several occasions to work with them to resolve the problems, but without much success.

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We expirmented with Interspiro years back. Had several members including myself try them in the mask confidence course and other evolutions. We found they were fitting for the dumpster and remained with Scott.

[Guest alsfirefighter]

This similiar problem was already reported at least once on firefighterclosecalls.com somewhere in the area of a year or more ago. I would like to know:

1. How many "malfunctions" have they had?

2. What were the "malfunctions" precisely?

3. What were the conditions and use when each failure occurred?

Its important to remember at anytime our SCBA's can fail and to train on emergency procedures to deal with such. We all have had some sort of "malfunction" occur to us wearing a SCBA, luckily most were probably minor. SCOTT has a very low malfunction rate (at least from what gets reported, that must be kept in mind). I do know that for the regulator they have had possibly around 3 malfunction in one department and it was found to be a maintanance issue with techs from that department and they made a chance to the purge valve mechanics to ensure no one can recreate that problem.

[Guest]

WOAI.com, San Antonio, TX, 6-4-06

S.A. Firefighters Get Equipment Upgrade

San Antonio firefighters received new breathing tanks and fire gear Saturday. This is welcomed relief after repeated failures of the old equipment.

Boxes of the new equipment from a company call Scott Air Pak were unloaded at a storage facility on the southwest side Saturday.

Fire officials say it’s going to take at least a week to get all the gear delivered to the different fire stations across San Antonio.

“We want to do whatever we can to protect our firefighters who, in turn, protect the citizens of San Antonio,†San Antonio Fire Dept. Chief Robert Ojeda said. “This was something we absolutely had to do.â€

For months, firefighters have complained about their current equipment made by Interspiro.

Some of the gas masks have broken and the breathing apparatuses have failed, according to firefighters.

“We've been dealing with multiple problems for about eight months now,†SAFD Deputy Chief Rodney Hitzfelder said.

“I don't think there's anyone in the fire department, from the in-line firefighter all the way to fire chief, that has confidence in the Interspiro apparatus,†Ojeda said of the old equipment.

San Antonio firefighters said Saturday they are confident in the Scott equipment.

“We're doing everything we can to expedite these to get these on the backs of firefighters as soon as possible,†Hitzfelder said.

City officials estimate the cost of the new equipment at about two million dollars.

City attorneys are trying to work out a reimbursement deal with Interspiro for the old equipment.

Fire stations on the southwest side, closest to the distribution center on Zarzamora, will get the gear first.

Latest Close Call Prompts City To Put Rush On New Firefighting Masks

Firefighter Jumps Out Of Window Following Malfunction

KSAT.com

POSTED: 6:54 am CDT May 30, 2006

UPDATED: 1:30 pm CDT May 30, 2006

SAN ANTONIO -- New breathing apparatus that were due to arrive at the end of June are now scheduled to arrive by Thursday, fire officials said Tuesday.

City officials put a rush on the order after another close call for a San Antonio firefighter.

On Monday, Mike Hernandez was among a team of firefighters who were battling flames and thick smoke in the attic of a home at 602 Burnet when his lifeline malfunctioned. Moments later, Hernandez dove out a window.

"It just stopped working on him and he couldn't get any more air," said Capt. Stephen Ersch, of the San Antonio Fire Department.

Hernandez was not seriously injured and was treated at the scene.

"I can assure the firefighters and citizens that all shortcuts to get this equipment deployed are being taken," San Antonio Fire Department Deputy Chief Rodney Hitzfelder said. "This is the fastest that virtually any city has ever replaced this type of equipment. "

The incident was the latest in a series of breathing mask malfunctions that have plagued local firefighters, prompting the local fire union chief to call for the resignation of Fire Chief Robert Ojeda.

The problems forced fire officials to modify firefighting tactics and added extra personnel at fire scenes.

Edited June 5, 2006 by hoss