The WFD also purchased key safety equipment and new turnout gear
From the Wellsville Fire Department, pictured are L-R: Billy Day III, Peyton Day, Chief Rod Winans, Kevin Fleischman, Dival Sales Rep Jim Dick, Garrett Gardner, Mike Walsh
The Wellsville fire department started the process to procure new SCBA in June of 2023. Our current system is a 2009 MSA system that is near the end of its service life. Current standards with NFPA require that SCBA manufacturers produce parts for 3 model cycles, which is approximately 15 years. Being that we decided it was time to start the process of replacement.
In June/July we sent bids out to three of the top manufacturers, SCOTT, MSA and Drager. Dival Safety products out of Buffalo, NY representing SCOTT, Churchville Fire Equipment out of Churchville, NY representing MSA and First Out Rescue out of Watkins Glen, NY representing Drager were the sales reps that received requests for proposals. Bids were received back in the beginning of August and the fire department decided to go with SCOTT Air Pak’s sold by Dival Safety at a price of $249,763.95 which covers 28 Air Pak’s, 53 facepieces (masks), 66 cylinders and 10 spectacle kits for the firefighters that require glasses.
Dival safety and 3M (SCOTT Air Pak’s parent company) presented a group of Wellsville firefighters with a demo in July which followed up with a live fire evolution. Firefighters used the SCBA in the most realistic environment that we can produce and the firefighters that participated in the evolutions were thoroughly impressed by the performance of the new SCBA, especially the breathability, comfort and additional safety features associated with this new system.
This new system will provide high quality life and property saving resources to the Fire Department, Village and Town of Wellsville Residents, as well as our mutual aid departments and residents. The old system was good for its time however it had flaws. Some of the largest complaints from the firefighters that wore them for sometimes numerous hours was the discomfort but most importantly the breathability of the previous system. We found that firefighters feel more fatigued through prolonged use of the system due to a feature in the regulator that restricted flow but prevented firefighter to firefighter illness. Firefighters that wore the system collectively felt that the breathability of the system was the most important feature of the new system that drove the department to the purchase of the SCOTT system.
The Wellsville Fire Department also purchased new bail out kits for our interior firefighters that allow them to escape dangerous situations in the event conditions change while working inside a fire. These were also purchased from Dival for $8,617.80 for 30 kits. The fire department also switched distributors for PPE (turnout gear) earlier this year to supply firefighters with new LION Turnout gear sold by The Fire Store represented out of Buffalo, NY. We purchased 7 sets at $5,538 per set.
The Wellsville Fire Department would like to personally thank Dival Safety, especially Jim Dick our sales representative for the outstanding service and professionalism.
