Rector Fire Deptartment purchases new air system

Rector fire chief Houston Bowden prepares to fill up one of the department's self-contained breathing apparatus tanks with the new air system recently purchased with state funds. (Democrat photo/Ryan Rogers) [Click to enlarge]

New equipment is assisting the members of the Rector Fire Department in their effort to keep the local population safe.

Through state funds, the department recently purchased its own air system. The new system is used to fill the department's self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) air tanks for use in fires where there is a heavy presence of smoke or other factors leading to an immediate environment where sufficient air quality is unavailable.

This is the first such system the fire department has had.

"In the past, we've had to rely on other departments to fill our SCBAs," said fire chief Huston Bowden. "We had to ask the Piggott, Kennett or Paragould Fire Departments to help us by filling our tanks. Now we're able to do it ourselves. It makes it much easier for us. This is something we've needed for quite some time."

The system features a large compressor which fills either the individual SCBA tanks or four larger tanks with pressurized air. By having the larger tanks filled and nearby, the department retains access to the necessary air in the event of an emergency during a power outage. The large tanks have the capacity to fill approximately 80 of the smaller tanks used for the SCBAs.

Bowden says the system is simple to use. The entire operation is electronic with programmed information used to make sure each tank filled has the required level of pressure. In fact, the system will automatically shut off when the tank it is recharging is full. Air tanks are inserted top down into the refilling station. The tanks are hand connected to hoses inside the approximately four foot wide station. Once the empty tank is secured inside the air chamber, the top latch is secured as a built-in safety precaution. Air then is channeled from the nearby compressor through the station and into the empty tanks. The system can refill a completely empty SCBA tank in about one minute.

The department has received the necessary training in the operation of the system as well as routine maintenance.

"It's simple to use," Bowden said. "I can't imagine any other equipment of this type being any easier to operate."

The system was purchased from Scott Health & Safety, one of the leaders in emergency equipment manufacture. Total cost of the system was $19,035. The department received $9,500 of the cost, roughly 50 percent of the expense, from an Arkansas Rural Community Services grant. The remaining $9,535 came from state Act 833 funds, meaning the much-needed addition came without any real cost to the city or the department.

"It's great that we had these funds and grant available for this," Bowden said. "It's hard to come up with that amount of money when you're a small town."

The department has had the air system for two weeks. Bowden says he hopes there is no further need for the system or any other fire fighting equipment, but that will not likely be the case.

"It'd be great if there were no fires or emergencies, but that's just not how it is. This new system is just one more thing that helps us be prepared for when an emergency situation occurs."