INDIANAPOLIS — Identifying interior firefighters is difficult at best. Even firefighters with reflective lettering on the backs of their turnout coats often have those obscured when wearing SCBA.
As a way around this, MN8 Foxfire applied its photoluminescence to SCBA identification markers. But rather than design them for bottles, the markers fit on the harnesses.
The harnesses – which were on display at FDIC – tend to stay in the same place, where bottles are often changed out and moved from vehicle to vehicle, said company President Zachary Green.
Identifying the harness makes it easier to label SCBA based on companies — and it means far less tags to buy for fire departments.
The identifying tags are made of aircraft-grade aluminum and can be bent to contour to different size bottles. The letters and numbers can be customized for each department. The tags, like other Foxfire products, retain light and emit it in dark, smoky environments.
The SCBA tags sell for about $40 each.
Foxfire has also entered two partnership ventures to apply its illuminating materials to existing products. One is the Fat Ivan door chock, the other is Box Alarm’s line of leather radio straps and glove holders.