City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date: July 19, 2005

Item No.:         18

Recommendation:  That the Common Council approve the quote for purchasing the high pressure breathing air system from Max-Air at a cost of $18,162.69.

Background:  In the 2005 CIP the fire department has $20,000 allocated for purchase of a high pressure breathing air system.  At present the department has approximately 90 small self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) bottles, two large air bottles on the aerial platform truck, and a portable bulk filling station that has four large bottles.  The portable bulk filling station is located in one of our pick-up truck beds for rapid response to emergency locations.  The SCBA or air pack bottles allow fire department members to enter hazardous environments to put out fires, control spills or leaks and to save lives.  This is the primary way to protect firefighters from any type of inhalation injuries.  At present the Oak Creek Fire Department refills the small SCBA bottles using our portable bulk filling station that has a capacity of only 12-15 bottles.  The portable bulk fill station must then be driven to MATC if open or to the 440^th Airlift Wing to be re-filled.  This process takes a firefighter out of service for 1 to 2 hours.  The same procedure has to be done with the aerial platform truck taking it out of the City and out of service while the two large bottles are re-filled.

With the purchase of a high pressure breathing air system the department will be able to re-fill all the air bottles in the department including the aerial platform truck and bulk filling station.  In 2004 and 2005 several members of the Fire Department attended the Fire Department Instructors Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.  This is the largest Fire Department Conference and trade show in the country.  Several vendors were contacted about an air system and listed below are three bids.

Vendor	Type of System	Total Price w/shipping
Safety First	Eagle “Aerie Station #2”	$20,713.25
American Airworks	Fast 90 Compact E3	$18,837.48
Max-Air	Max-Air 90 Compact E3	$18,162.69

Project Future

The new air system will be installed at fire station #1 in the center of the city.  This will allow all three stations easy access to refill their SCBA bottles and the aerial platform and bulk filling bottles which are located there.  The only additional cost will be wiring the three phase power to the unit.  Facilities Manager Dick Kulka will do the work and the approximate cost of materials for this will be $500.  This unit will be easily transferred to another location should the need arise.

Fiscal Impact:  Funds of $20,000 for this project were budgeted for in the Fire Department’s 2004 CIP Account.

Prepared by: Roy A. P. Giesenschlag Fire Lieutenant	Approved by: Gerard R. Hammernik Fire Chief
Fiscal Review by: Beverly A. Buretta, CMC City Clerk