Chief Leader

In the wake of three firefighter deaths in the past year related to suffocation and smoke inhalation, Fire Department officials June 17 clarified details regarding the self-contained breathing apparatus firefighters use during a City Council hearing.

Battalion Chief William Mundy, the FDNY Mask Service Unit head, told the Council's Fire and Criminal Justice Services Committee that enrollees at the Fire Academy go through nearly 200 hours of training with the SCBAs.

"We also require biweekly air quality testing; the national standard for this testing is quarterly," said Battalion Chief Mundy. "This is in addition to each firefighter's inspection of his or her own SCBA, which takes place at the beginning of each tour and immediately after the SCBA is used."

Battalion Chief Mundy demonstrated how an SCBA functioned for the members, including its audible emergency alarm if a firefighter is injured.

"The entire SCBA weighs approximately 25 pounds, costs approximately $7,000 and includes visual, auditory and vibrating low-air indicators," he said.

In addition to the SCBA, firefighters typically carry 100 pounds of tools and gear into a fire, Battalion Chief Mundy told the committee.

"This is heavy," Committee Chairman Miguel Martinez said as he handled the gear.

'Becomes Part of Your Body'

Deputy Assistant Chief of Operations James Manahan, who testified on behalf of the department, responded, "It's an extra part of your body now."

Battalion Chief Mundy said that the department would be seeking approval of an upgrade in the equipment in September.

"SCBAs are usually replaced at least every 10 years," he said, adding that the department replaced its SCBAs in 2004 with funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Lieut. John Martinson died from smoke inhalation and burns while responding a fire in Brooklyn in January. Firefighters Robert Beddia and Joseph Graffagnino were killed when they ran out of air last August fighting a fire at the Deutsche Bank building. The FDNY officials did not comment on the Deutsche Bank building fire, citing ongoing investigations by the Manhattan District Attorney and the State Attorney General.

A Uniformed Fire Officers Association official said that the union was pleased with the progress the department had made with the devices.

"We have 4,000 SCBA units and 15,000 cylinders, including 200 SCBAs located in an emergency cache at the Mask Service Unit," Battalion Chief Mundy said. "This emergency cache can be quickly deployed anywhere in the city in the event of a major emergency that requires these additional resources."