LAKELAND, Fla. (FOX 13) – Firefighter Douglas Novogrodski knows his health risks, even after a fire’s put out.
“If you go to a fire, and your gear is in the truck and you go back in, you get a headache from just what it smells like,” Novogrodski said. “It’s bad.”
The carcinogens first responders inhale go beyond the scene. MORE
“The Lakeland Fire Department (LFD) celebrated and welcomed its newest fire engine, Engine 51, into service Monday, August 5, 2019. Community members, leaders, and City of Lakeland officials were in attendance to check out the new apparatus at Fire Station 5 and learn more about its new features.”
“Engine 51 is the Lakeland Fire Department’s first clean-cab concept apparatus, a Pierce Velocity fire engine. It is the first of its kind at LFD, in an effort to protect the department’s firefighters from unnecessary exposure to carcinogens. The new fire engine replaces the existing Engine 51 as part of the department’s regularly scheduled replacement cycle.”
“The new fire engine features several new protections for firefighters as part of the department’s safety and health initiatives, while remaining cost neutral. The new features, designed to minimize exposures to harmful carcinogens include: exterior storage for self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), tools, and equipment; non-porous interiors for easy cleaning; HEPA filters through the interior cabin to eliminate outside contaminants; diesel exhaust removal system to eliminate harmful byproducts from the apparatus’ engine; and outside storage for used bunker gear.”
(Lakeland Fire Department photo)
