The Fort Smith Fire Department has acquired detectors that have four different sensors that draw in samples of air. The device measures carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, the low explosive limit and oxygen. When the alarm goes off on the device, it means the levels are too high and it’s no longer safe for the firefighters to be inside a building.
The Center for Disease Control conducted a study finding that more than 68 percent of firefighters will develop a type of cancer due to their work environment. According to Assistant Chief Boyd Waters, "Once you breathe in so much, it mixes into your blood stream and everything, so it could eventually lead to death. However, at the very least it's going to give you dizziness, headaches and stuff like that."