New Air Handling Systems Being Installed
Firefighters regularly
wear breathing apparatus while fighting fires to avoid
breathing in the toxic smoke that is produced by burning 
materials.
Recent studies have stated that firefighters are also
at risk by smoke produced inside the firehouse, from fire
apparatus. Fire Trucks today typically are powered by Diesel
Engines which have been found to produce 100 different hazardous
chemical components which are discharged from the vehicle's
exhaust when the engine is started or running.
Fire Departments for years
have been trying to find a solution to minimize the health
risks of exhaust fumes by first separating the trucks from
the living areas of fire stations or installing some type
of filtration or simple ventilation systems to reduce this
risk. The City of Reading recently has taken steps to solve
this matter by going to a source capture
system that collects
all the exhaust and filters it before it goes back into the
atmosphere.
Purchased through grant proceeds,
the department had unique source capture
systems designed
which are currently being 
installed
in Stations by the company Plymovent. When the installation
is completed, firefighters will by instructed in the use
and care of the units and will have a better environment
to work in. Thanks to FF J. Batz for these pictures.
