The self-contained breathing apparatus is a vital life safety tool that protects firefighters from a multitude of hazardous situations in the field – from structure fires to carbon monoxide incidents. Each apparatus is mounted with brackets into fire trucks, which secures the device while firefighters are responding to calls and gives them mobility when the breathing apparatus is not in use.

The fire department is currently in the process of replacing all existing apparatus with new, upgraded devices. All the brackets are also being replaced so the apparatus can be safely secured into each truck. All apparatus and brackets are expected to be replaced by the middle of this year.

Washington State Patrol reports that Debra Burner, 62, was driving a silver 2005 Chevrolet Uplander southbound on State Route 125 when she failed to obey a traffic signal and collided with an ambulance driven by Daniel Thompson, 54, of Walla Walla as he was turning into the northbound lanes of SR 125 from Southeast Meadowbrook in College Place. The collision caused the ambulance to roll on its side and block the intersection. Traffic was blocked for about an hour as clean-up took place.