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January 04, 2012

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Fire News in Focus
by Adam K. Thiel

Okla. incident highlights need for fully-functional SCBA

We are completely dependent on fully-functional breathing apparatus to safely and effectively fight today's fires

By Adam K. Thiel

Editor's note: The Tulsa, Okla., Fire Department is investigating how a firefighter was injured fighting a New Year's Eve fire that was intentionally set, with the probe looking at whether SCBA was to blame.

I know we're all thinking of the Tulsa Fire Department and wishing FF O'Neal a speedy recovery after his harrowing experience.

This isn't the first, nor will it be the last, time I've written about the importance of selecting, maintaining, and training with self-contained breathing apparatus.

Perhaps because my first experience breathing compressed air (as a 15-year-old SCUBA diving student) was at the hands of a retired fire captain, I've always been a bit, uh, "detail-oriented" about making sure my assigned SCBA was properly maintained and ready, and that I was personally highly-proficient in its use.

While we still don't know the exact nature of the suspected/reported SCBA issue that led to FF O'Neal's injuries, this story reinforces the fact that we are completely dependent on fully-functional breathing apparatus to safely and effectively fight today's fires.

Stay safe!

About the author

With nearly two decades in the field, Chief Adam K. Thiel – FireRescue1's Editorial Advisor – is an active fire chief in the National Capital Region and a former state fire director for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Chief Thiel's operational experience includes serving with distinction in four states as a chief officer, incident commander, company officer, hazardous materials team leader, paramedic, technical rescuer, structural/wildland firefighter, and rescue diver. He also directly participated in response and recovery efforts for several major disasters including the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Gustav, and Hurricane Isabel.

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