Personnel safety is Hillsborough County Fire Rescue's highest priority. So they're getting new equipment to make sure crews are protected.
The newest addition to firefighter safety in their cars are Active Air Purification Systems.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue is installing 63 of them in fire trucks, ambulances, ladder trucks and other vehicles. They're designed with advanced photo-hydro-ionization and UV technology. They kill 99 percent of pathogens, including COVID-19, in the air and on surfaces.
That means better air quality and a safer cab environment, giving crews another level of protection.
"It gives them peace of mind so to speak, because every day is a challenge right now. Not only a challenge to go on the emergency calls we're going on right now, but being challenged responding during a pandemic. And it helps keep my staffing levels up and keeps my folks safe to respond to every kind of emergency with family members and citizens of the community," says Deputy Chief Jason Dougherty with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue.