Technology-made-mobile will allow Jones County firefighters to remain on scene

From Jones County Fire Council Public Information Office

JONES COUNTY, Miss. (WDAM) – Jones County firefighters will be able to stay on-scene longer thanks to technology-made-mobile that will allow breathing apparatuses to be refilled on site.

The Sharon Volunteer Fire Department took possession of an air-and-light trailer that has been outfitted with a mobile cascade system that refills self-contained breathing apparatus worn by firefighters when they respond to a call.

Think of a machine that fills scuba tanks or even a variation of the device that refills gas tanks for a grill.

Dubbed the “Delta Fire & Safety Trailer,” the mobile unit houses a 6,000 pounds-per-square-inch compressor system that can fill four, SCBA bottles at a time.

The American Air Works system contains a compressor, which allows as many SCBAs to be refilled as may be needed.

Previously, firefighters would have to leave an active scene and go to a fire house that had a cascade system in order to refill the SCBAs used at the scene.

Now, SCBAs can be refilled in the mobile unit without firefighters having to leave the scene.

The trailer also has scene lights for nighttime firefighting as well as heat/air conditioning for firefighter rehabilitation.

Training began on the new equipment Thursday. While Sharon VFD will house and maintain the unit, the trailer will be dispatched all over Jones County to assist at large-scale events.

The trailer was purchased with funds made available through a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant.