City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date:  February 20, 2006

Item No.:        

Recommendation:  That the Common Council approve the bid from Bendlin Fire for the purchase of 46 Integrated Self-rescue Bailout System from MSA (Mine Safety Appliances).

Background:  The department currently uses MSA breathing apparatus.  This manufacture has introduced a self-rescue bailout system.  It is attached at the waist belt and would allow a firefighter to self rescue from a fire floor above the ground if necessary.  It can also double as part of a rescue effort if the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) would need to deploy.  A RIT is a team of firefighters on the fireground whose sole purpose is to rescue other firefighters should they become trapped or lost in a structure.  The unit is a 50’ waist belt with fall arrest protection for easy rappelling in extreme conditions.  It has a total weight capacity of 1,000 pounds.

Bendlin Fire is the only company currently offering this product on the market place and they are the sole supplier for Wisconsin.

Fiscal Impact:  The total cost of the project is $16,100 or $350 per unit.  They will be put on each breathing apparatus and available to any firefighter entering a hazardous condition.  The money for this project was approved in the 2006 Capital Improvement Budget at $16,200.

Prepared and approved by: Thomas Rosandich Assistant Fire Chief	Respectfully submitted, Patrick DeGrave City Administrator
Fiscal Review by: Beverly A. Buretta, CMC City Clerk