Thanks to a federal grant from the Department of Homeland Security, the Salem Fire & EMS Department has updated some of the most important equipment its firefighters use in the field. Self-contained breathing apparatus packs and other important accessories were recently purchased with a combination of grant money and city funds.
The department purchased 42 self-contained breathing apparatus, 84 air cylinders, 63 face pieces and 4 rapid intervention team bags. The grant covered $255,546 of the approximate $300,000 cost. Several different SCBA manufacturers were evaluated before the MSA G-1 packs were purchased. The department chose these for comfort, performance and upgradeability.