Stewart County safety committee recommends $80,000 to replace aging firefighter air packs

A Stewart County safety committee voted to recommend $80,000 to the commissioner of finance to purchase eight replacement self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) packs after presenters said much of the county's equipment is at or near the end of its safe service life.

John D., who identified himself as a member of St. George Camp Fire Rescue, told the committee that "we have a lot of packs that failed" and described stations running mixed brands and cannibalized units that can no longer be reliably serviced. He warned that sending firefighters into incidents with inadequate or incompatible packs creates serious safety risks.

A fire-service presenter told the committee the county has a bid for 16 packs covering District 2 with a quoted price of about $144,000 and asked the committee to consider funding eight packs now so crews can be rebalanced across stations. "Right now we have a bid out and a quote for 16 packs for all of district 2 ... that quote is about $144,000," the presenter said. The presenter said the per-pack cost is roughly $10,000 and that packs typically have an approximately 20-year service life while cylinders can last about 30 years.

The committee heard technical details from a breathing-apparatus mechanic who said he had recently serviced units at several locations and that some stations (the transcript cites station 10 as an example) still maintain Scott-brand packs and spares. He described routine servicing and the limits of repair work when parts are obsolete.

Members pressed for concrete inventory counts; the transcript record contains inconsistent figures (some speakers referenced 10 stations, others eight), with one exchange noting the usual configuration is four packs per station—implying up to 32 sets countywide—though the committee did not resolve the discrepancy during the excerpt provided. Committee members and presenters agreed a multi-year replacement plan is needed so the county does not repeatedly rely on emergency expenditures.

The mayor (addressed in the discussion) said Tennessee Valley Authority impact funds could be used and encouraged the county to pursue an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) for remaining replacement needs. Presenters said grant applications were in process but awards and disbursement were not recorded in the provided excerpt.

A committee member moved to "take $80,000" and recommend that amount to the commissioner of finance to buy eight packs; the motion was seconded, put to a voice vote, and the committee approved the recommendation. The transcript does not record the names of the motion maker or seconder nor a numerical roll-call tally.

The committee's recommendation sends a funding request to the commissioner of finance; presenters and members said they would also pursue grant funding and work on a multi-year replacement and maintenance plan to address long-term equipment needs.