Firefighters rely on their equipment to survive, but sometimes it is their equipment that needs to be saved.
As dangerous as flames can be, firefighters know it is the smoke that is the real killer.
Scott Estrada fought fire for 15-years, but on June 14, 2004, he had to fight for himself after he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.
Scott believes it was the gear he loved to wear that made him sick. There was no history of cancer in his family, which led Scott to believe it was cancer causing chemicals that soaked into his turnouts that gave him cancer.
Scott has since dedicated his life to cleaning, washing, inspecting and repairing his fellow firefighters’ gear.