Casa Grande, AZ – In a move to protect its firefighters, the Casa Grande Fire Department has secured new equipment that could be a game-changer in preventing cancer among its ranks. Thanks to a $124,772 grant from the Gila River Indian Community, the department will install three specialized washing machines designed to remove cancer-causing substances from firefighting gear.
The new Solo Rescue Decon Washers can eliminate up to 99% of cancer-causing contaminants from equipment in less than 10 minutes. This is crucial because firefighters’ gear – from breathing apparatus to helmets and boots – often becomes contaminated with toxic substances during fires.
“This grant represents a significant advancement in the department’s mission to protect its personnel,” says Fire Marshal Frank Ricci, who authored the grant application.
The cancer risk for firefighters is a serious concern. When responding to structure fires, vehicle fires, and other emergencies, firefighters are regularly exposed to harmful substances that cling to their equipment. These contaminants have been linked to higher cancer rates in the profession.
Fire Chief Dave Kean emphasizes the immediate impact this will have on his team’s safety: “These decontamination washers will create a cleaner, healthier environment for our entire department.”
The new equipment is also environmentally conscious, using just 1.6 gallons of water per cleaning cycle – a crucial feature for a desert community like Casa Grande. Traditional cleaning methods typically require significantly more water while potentially being less effective at removing dangerous substances.
The washers will be able to clean various pieces of equipment, including:
- Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
- Face pieces
- Hand tools
- Boots
- Helmets
For Casa Grande’s firefighters, who put their lives on the line daily, these new washers represent more than just cleaning equipment – they’re an investment in their long-term health and safety.
