Limerick Township council got a report from Fire Chief Greg Maxwell at their Aug. 19 meeting about their fire department’s need for a new air compressor to fill their SCBA bottles up to 4500 psi. Maxwell recommended procuring a demo compressor for just over $33,000 plus tax, as a new unit would cost around $80,000. Council discussed Maxwell’s recommendation and agreed to move ahead with it.
Maxwell gave his report to council at their Aug. 19 meeting, saying that their fire department was in need of a new air compressor to fill their Self Contained Breathing Apparatus, or SBCA bottles. He said that their current one is failing and will only build up to 2000 psi and that their new MSA bottles hold 4500 psi and our Draeger’s hold 3000 psi.
“I just had our compressor tested and it is going to need a lot of work but will never be able to fill our new bottles as it can only fill to 3000 psi, sample test passed however, the CO2 & H20 dew point readings are approaching the allowable thresholds as set out in CSA Z180. I am giving you this info so we can have a conversation on purchasing one that has been on hold until this council meeting,” he says.
Maxwell told council that the compressor is a demo from A.J Stone Co. Ltd.; an Irwin Air M13 EVUS-CO compressor unit with 6,000 psi triple phase. He said that a new one is around $80,000.00 this demo is there’s and they are wanting $33,750 plus $4387.50 HST for a total of $38,137.50, with the installation and accompanying costs to be determined. The quote for the demo unit and the full specifications on the Irwin Air M13 EVUS-Co compressor unit can be found in the Jan. 19 meeting agenda at www.limerick.ca.
“This is a very essential piece of equipment we need for training to actual fires. I do believe we have around $17,000.00 in donations, firefighters are willing to do more fundraising as this again is a very important piece needed in our service,” he says.
Councillor Jan MacKillican also noted that in addition to being an essential piece of equipment to keep their firefighters safe, it would also be part of the township’s assets.
After discussing Maxwell’s request for the new air compressor, council decided to approve his request. Maxwell also said he’d like to donate the old compressor to Firefighters without Borders, a non-profit organization that provides training and equipment donations to communities throughout Canada and around the world (www.firefighterswithoutborders.org). Council also agreed with this recommendation.