Mesa council approves contract for fire department breathing equipment

By Connor Van Ligten
Mail

The Mesa City Council voted 5-0 to approve a contract for breathing equipment for the fire and medical department at their July 8 meeting.

Councilmembers Francisco Heredia and Alicia Goforth were absent.

The contract will provide breathing apparatus parts, supplies and equipment that firefighters need for breathing in environments that are dangerous to life or health.

“The current Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus packs in use by the MFMD are outdated and are no longer compliant with the most recent (National Fire Protection Association) standards. These units, which are over 10 years old, present significant challenges both in terms of operational safety and ongoing maintenance,” the council documents stated. “Advancements in SCBA technology over the past decade have resulted in significant improvements in firefighter safety, comfort, carcinogen mitigation and efficiency. Modern SCBA units offer enhanced thermal protection, better ergonomics, improved air management, and integrated communication capabilities – features that are not available in our current inventory.”

The contract will be set for three years at $4 million for the first year and $500,000 annually afterward. According to council documents, a committee recommends the contract be awarded to L.N. Curtis and Sons.

The contract is funded by the general fund operating lifecycle program, according to council documents.