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Fire department seeks $378K SCBA purchase, hazmat detector and screening program
Summary
Columbia County's fire and emergency services asked the committee to approve purchases including 40 Scott XD SCBA units ($378,463.70), a Protect IR/Explore IR hazardous‑material detector ($128,355.50), a RapidSOS responder subscription ($889.10/yr) and a telemedicine cardiovascular/metabolic screening agreement (max $80,000).
Fire and Emergency Services staff presented multiple budgeted equipment and service requests that the committee approved on consent.
The department asked for $378,463.70 to buy 40 Scott XD self‑contained breathing apparatus and 30 additional cylinders from American Safety and Firehose; staff characterized the purchase as annual and budgeted. On the department's lifecycle expectations, staff said SCBA units have a service life and require hydro testing; "we get 20 years out of them," the presenter said.
The department also requested $128,355.50 for Protect IR and Explore IR bundles to equip the HazMat team with portable chemical‑identification sensors. The presenter described a recent six‑hour response to an unidentified smell in a school where the device could have identified the compound. Staff recommended approval of a RapidSOS master service agreement for responder dispatching at $889.10 per year and an independent contract with Telemedicine Group for firefighter HeartStart cardiovascular and metabolic screenings with a maximum value of $80,000 (expected annual participation funds around $24,000). Each purchase was moved on consent and approved.
