Keating Fire Company, like all fire companies, uses other equipment to fight fires safely. Some of this equipment is SCBA and turnout gear. SCBA is Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. This allows the firefighters to breathe while fighting a fire. Without this equipment, the firefighters would be breathing toxic smoke and other fumes.
Turnout gear is the special clothing that firefighters wear when fighting a fire.
This gear includes boots, gloves, helmet, nomex hood, coat and pants. These items are made out of materials that can withstand high temperatures and fire. They will protect a firefighter when worn properly, however, they can only withstand so much heat and flames. To keep the firefighters from being in a situation that gets too hot, we have a special piece of equipment that lets the firefighters know when they have been in the heat of a fire too long. This heat detector is combined with another piece of special equipment that detects movement in the firefighter.