By Nancy Bowman
Two equipment grants awarded by the Tipp City Foundation are helping Tipp City Emergency Services personnel work more safely and efficiency.
Cameron Haller, chief of Tipp City Emergency Services, said the grants requesting funding for new rescue helmets and thermal imaging cameras were written by department members and awarded this year by the foundation distribution committee.
The funding came from the Fire Safety First Fund created by former Fire Chief Steve Kessler.
A grant for $3,045 was used to purchase 25 KASK rescue helmets. The helmet is worn by rescuers and possibly the rescued following responses to events including water, ice and confined spaces rescues or structural collapses.
“When doing a technical rescue, it gives a lot more protection to the responder that is safer than the fire helmets,” Chief Haller said these helmets.
For example, if the personnel respond to a confined space incident, a rescue helmet is better because it is streamlined and fitted to the head. The fire helmets are bigger and awkward in a confined space.
The department previously had rescue helmets purchased in 2003. The old helmets were sized small, medium or large while the new helmets have a ratchet sizing system following a one-size fits most approach. “They are just as safe and now have high visibility in color and are reflective so if working at night, we will be able to pick out our folks a lot quicker,” Haller said.
Since he joined the department in 2019, Haller said it has had three water events, ice rescues and three different structural events, which involve mostly vehicles running into buildings.
With state safety standards, the life of these helmets is projected for 10 years. The previous helmets were in service 18 years. “Ironically, Chief Kessler approved buying the first round, and he paid for the second round (of helmets), too,” Haller said.
The second grant for $3,925 was to buy a thermal imaging camera used to search for victims inside a structure on fire or a missing person as well as sources of heat in a structure.
The cameras help firefighters “see” through the smoke by picking up temperature differences, Haller said. The camera was bought at the same time the department bought two new cameras, which helps make training and responses more efficient because all of the cameras work the same. “You can just grab the camera and go,” Haller said.
The equipment purchased with the grants is important to the department, and the community, he said. “Our main focus is the safety of the potential victims but also the responders,” Haller said.
The thermal imaging cameras also can help firefighters locate sources of heat such as a problem causing a heat smell, which often is an electrical issue in the wall. The cameras can help locate the problem area quicker and hopefully without tearing out a large portion of a wall to find the source, Haller said. “It saves time, making operations safer and more efficient.”
The grants were written by David Stockler, former assistant chief, and Lt. Doug Trent. Working with the foundation is beneficial to the department, and the community, Haller said.
“We appreciate the foundation and all of the people who contribute to all of the community projects to make Tipp City the best place we can make it,” he said.