The Petersburg Borough Assembly unanimously approved a $301,327 purchase for new safety equipment for the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department in March. The purchase will replace the department’s aging self-contained breathing apparatuses, which firefighters use to breathe during a fire.
During an assembly meeting on March 16, Petersburg Emergency Services Director Aaron Hankins demonstrated a tank that had a bad valve.
“This tank doesn’t have any air in it,” he said, holding up a tank. “This is one of the tanks that we’ve taken out of service.”
Hankins said the gear is regularly serviced, but some still broke over time. The gear was purchased in 2012, and some will expire next year.
Hankins said it would be dangerous to keep using it.
“Because it’s a piece of personal protective equipment, you open yourself up to tremendous liability if you keep using it after its recommended use,” he said.
Hankins requested 70 new air tanks, 46 new masks and 30 new packs. He said some of the new gear will be more versatile than what the fire department has now.
Assembly member Jeff Meucci moved to pass the resolution, seconded by James Valentine. The Assembly unanimously approved the spending request in a 6-0 vote.
$225,000 of the purchase will be paid with congressionally directed funds secured by Alaska U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski. The remaining $76,327 will come from the Borough’s general fund reserves.
