Menlo Park Fire Protection District

 

Self-contained Breathing Apparatus

 

Program Overview

The Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) program’s purpose is to assess, purchase, maintain, repair, and test the Scott Air Packs used by District employees. The Scott Air Pack is a device worn by firefighters to provide breathable air in an immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) atmosphere. This includes hydro-testing SCBA cylinders, quarterly testing of the fill station, flow testing of all SCBA packs, and purchasing equipment for employees.

Management Oversight

The SCBA program is directed by the Division Chief of Operations with oversight authority delegated to the Battalion Chief and program coordinator. This program does not have any full-time equivalent employees. This program contains the general expenditures pertaining to the purchase of SCBA equipment, maintenance and repair services, and overtime for training and program administration.

Program Objectives

  • Ensure the reliability and proper functionality of all SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) equipment.
  • Perform maintenance and repairs on all SCBA equipment as needed.
  • Conduct research on emerging SCBA technologies to stay current with advancements.

FY 2024-25 Accomplishments

  • Purchased new SCBAs, bottles, masks, and RIT packs, placed the equipment in service, and provided training to District employees.

FY 2025-26 Program Initiatives

  • Purchase and install two additional SCBA bottle fill stations to reduce apparatus movement across the District and provide a backup if a fill station goes out of service.

Program Expenditure Summary

Expenditure Analysis

Materials and supplies: This request includes funding for general-purpose equipment, supplies, training registration, and travel expenses. An increase of $68,200 is anticipated, driven by new purchase requests for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) equipment, including masks and batteries, as well as improvements to storage infrastructure. This increase reflects the need to replace outdated or expired SCBA equipment to ensure personnel safety, along with enhancements to storage systems for better organization and maintenance of this critical gear.

 

Contract services: This request includes funding for general contract services expenditures. A decrease of $20,000 is anticipated due to reduced costs associated with contract services for fit testing and the general maintenance of compressors.

 

Fixed assets:  All fixed asset purchases are recorded in the Capital Improvement Projects Fund. An increase of $113,795 is projected due to the proposed purchase of two new fill stations.