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Firefighters Get Grant to Help Clear the Air Around Them

February 22, 2007

By LOYD BRUMFIELD / Today Newspapers

Firefighters are exposed on a daily basis to some of the most dangerous substances on earth, not just during calls, but in their own stations.

But an $87,092 grant will alleviate some of those problems for the Cedar Hill Fire Department, which was given the money to install comprehensive exhaust removal systems in each of its fire stations.

“Now when you get a call and you crank everything up, that exhaust immediately fills the whole room up,” Cedar Hill Fire Chief Steve Pollock said. “It gets in your clothes, it gets on your body and fouls up computer equipment. It’s just a real mess.”

The Assistance To Firefighters grant is dispensed through the Department of Homeland Security and was given to the department earlier in the month, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) announced.

“This funding will help ensure that Texas firefighters remain well trained and equipped for their important work of protecting our homes, families and communities,” a statement from Cornyn read. “The men and women on the front lines of emergency response need more support than ever, and I applaud the local first responders and area leaders for their work to obtain this important assistance.”

Grant money can be used on fire services, health and safety and wellness issues.

“Based on that, we knew we stood a good chance of getting a grant,” Pollock said.

The money will allow the department to install the MagneGrip exhaust removal system at its three existing stations and a fourth one in the planning stages.

A hose attached by a heavy magnet to a running track removes 100 percent of pollutants and other impurities generated by fire engines and other equipment, Pollock said.

The hose automatically disconnects and captures the exhaust once an engine leaves the station.

“This kind of equipment has been around since about the mid-1980s, and all of our stations are that old or older,” Pollock said.

Total cost to retrofit the existing stations is about $96,000, which includes a 10 percent match from the city.

The MagneGrip system is developed by Clean Air Concepts of Cincinnati and is also used by the DeSoto Fire Department.

“Once we get this going, we can use their equipment and they can hook up to ours,” Pollock said.

According to Clean Air Concepts, the MagneGrip system uses a friction-free, universal nozzle that connects with fire equipment.

With the nozzle attached, each time the vehicle’s engine is started, an exhaust fan starts automatically and vents the exhaust emissions outdoors, according to the company website.

As the vehicle leaves, the nozzle remains connected, traveling to the doorway along with the truck and then releases automatically as the vehicle exits.

Pollock is looking forward to a cleaner environment at each station.

“This type of health issue isn’t something that’s going to impact you in one day or one week, but when you’re looking at chronic exposure over something like 10 years, we’re talking about a severe impact on someone’s career and life,” he said. “That’s why this is such a high priority for us.”

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