Choose board approves air filtration system upgrades at Farmington … – Each day Bulldog

FARMINGTON – Tuesday night time, the choose board accepted an upgraded air dealing with system for the hearth station.

At the moment the Farmington Fireplace Division makes use of a diesel exhaust capturing system. This technique is over twenty years outdated and in want of serious repairs or substitute.

To seize diesel exhaust from the hearth vehicles, massive hoses are hooked up to the exhaust pipes on the hearth vehicles. The system is about up for 3 vehicles, which covers the big equipment however not the smaller squad truck, which additionally has a diesel engine.

Whereas the capturing hoses will robotically disconnect from the exhaust when a truck begins transferring out of the station, they should be manually hooked up when the equipment is moved again into the station. That is technically difficult because it requires both an extended publicity to diesel fumes whereas the truck is being parked, or an method to a transferring truck.

Fireplace Chief Tim Hardy researched different choices and made a advice to the choose board to maneuver ahead with an AIRVAC 911 filtration system. This technique is a ceiling-mounted air dealing with and filtration system that may robotically activate when the station bay doorways are opened and when a automobile begins transferring. This technique was put in in new development hearth stations in each Carrabassett Valley and New Sharon inside the previous couple of years.

One of many advantages of this technique over the diesel exhaust system is that it permits the entire air within the station to be filtered. Along with eradicating diesel fumes and particulate, the AIRVAC 911 system will take away airborne contaminants ‘off gassing’ from the vehicles, the hoses, firefighter turnout gear, and different gear and tools. After a name with publicity to those dangerous substances, the AIRVAC 911 system might be manually turned on to run for an extended time frame to assist with the general decontamination course of.

When the present exhaust seize system was put in, Deputy Chief Clyde Ross shared, there was a noticeable enchancment within the air high quality within the station and within the municipal constructing. The proposal was to separate the price for the brand new system between the hearth division price range and the municipal constructing price range as this new system will additional enhance the air within the municipal constructing, defending workplace employees and guests.

For Stephan Bunker, that is private. Bunker serves on each the choose board and the Farmington Fireplace Division. Whereas he sometimes abstains from votes relating to the hearth division because of his involvement, he delivered an announcement to the board Tuesday night time.

“Come this April Idiot’s Day, I’ll have a good time three years cancer-free,” Bunker stated, “With no return of the mind most cancers that struck me within the spring of 2020.”

Throughout his convalescence Bunker studied the prevalence of most cancers, significantly within the hearth service. He stated that most cancers is now the primary killer of firefighters, exceeding cardiac arrests and emergency automobile accidents, and line of responsibility deaths reminiscent of Farmington’s personal Captain Michael Bell in September of 2019.

“Most cancers within the hearth service is usually known as ‘the silent killer’,” Bunker stated. “I’ve chosen to not be silent.”

In 2012, the Worldwide Company for Analysis on Most cancers categorized diesel exhaust as a Group 1 carcinogen, Bunker reported. The most important threat isn’t the carbon monoxide within the exhaust, however the extended publicity to diesel particles which are inhaled and absorbed into the bloodstream.
Bunker disclosed that he’s within the midst of a employee’s compensation case with the City of Farmington, as state statute offers most cancers presumption as a work-related damage as a result of elevated dangers within the hearth service. Nonetheless, he’s extra involved with prevention and eliminating the necessity for such claims. He works with the Farmington Fireplace Rescue division and with different departments throughout the state for most cancers prevention training and finest practices coaching.

Within the line of finest practices, whereas the city – together with the hearth division – has been acknowledged on the state degree for sustaining security practices, Bunker stated this improve to the air filtration system is ‘lengthy overdue.’

Bunker is working together with his fellow selectman and State Consultant Scott Landry to draft laws that would offer funding for decontamination methods reminiscent of air filtering methods or heavy responsibility extractor washing machines to wash bunker gear for departments in want. Within the meantime, he strongly inspired the choose board and the price range committee to help the proposed upgrades.

The board voted unanimously to approve spending $21,000 from the Fireplace Gear reserve account and $10,040 from the Municipal Constructing reserve account for the set up of the AIRVAC 911 system within the hearth bay. The system is anticipated to be put in in some unspecified time in the future in April.

 

This assembly was recorded by Mt. Blue TV and could also be considered on-line at MtBlueTV.org