Over the last few years, national firefighter organizations have put an emphasis on cancer preventions. Firefighters face higher rates of cancer diagnosis and cancer-related deaths than the general population.
Innovative work by the Xenia Fire Department will help them be more diligent about keeping gear clean to prevent the inhalation of carcinogens as suggested by many national firefighter organizations.
Jeff Bruggeman, a captain at the department, began to see other fire stations build their gear dryer systems. So, he decided to build his own for the department.
“It’s just a series of PVC pipes. We have a bouncy house blower of all things. It’s what we’re using to drive air into it,” Bruggeman said.
It took the department about 36 hours to build. The machine features hangers and hooks for wet jackets, pants, gloves, hoods and liners.
“Commercial units run anywhere between $7,000 and $12,000. We built this one just under $1,000,” Bruggeman said.