Erin Fuchs
Chattanooga Times Free Press

DALTON, Ga. — After 11 years of using the same kind of breathing equipment, Whitfield County Fire Department engineer Todd Hegwood recently used a new, up-to-date, self-contained breathing apparatus.

"It's a lot lighter," said Mr. Hegwood, who fought a trailer fire last week using the new equipment.

The gear weighs about 12 pounds less than the 15-year-old breathing apparatuses, fire officials said Monday.

The Whitfield County Fire Department began about 18 months ago making the case that its breathing equipment sorely needed to be replaced, Chief Carl Collins said.

"We had needed to change breathing apparatus types for the past few years," he said.

On Nov. 5, the Whitfield County Commission approved the purchase of 56 units. The state-of-the-art devices, equipped with LED lights, cost $263,369.

Over the past several years, the county Fire Department has been receiving more financial support from the Whitfield County Commission, according to firefighters. The board approved $911,811 worth of new equipment in October, including three fire trucks.

One firefighter, Lt. Kevin McDermott, said the department has made important technological advancements.

"Within the last three years, the department has started taking real leaps and bounds," Lt. McDermott has said.

County Commission Chairman Brian Anderson said he knew when he was elected in 2004 that emergency services would need to be a priority. "We're putting the commission's money where the priorities are," he said.

For firefighters, the improvements help them do their jobs better -- and more safely.

Lt. Ricky Lloyd said he has never in his 25 years on the force seen a firefighter go down in the line of duty. State-of-the art equipment such as the new breathing masks will help ensure the firefighters will remain uninjured, he said.

"We thrive on safety," Lt. Lloyd said.

Copyright 2008 Chattanooga Publishing Company