Stawell brigade's new gas detection capability

Stawell Firefighter Jai Smith demonstrating the gas detector to Stawell Secondary College's school captain

 

Stawell Fire Brigade has expanded its emergency response capability with the addition of a new atmospheric gas detector, funded in part through a fundraising effort by Stawell Secondary College.

 

Six brigade members completed training on the MSA Altair 5X multi-gas detector last month, and the equipment has already been deployed at three local incidents to confirm whether the atmosphere inside a structure was safe for occupants to re-enter.

The detector identifies the presence of hazardous gases including carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulphide and oxygen deficiency — invisible dangers that can remain in a building long after a fire or gas leak.

Knowing that a building has been handed back to its owner with a confirmed safe atmosphere is a significant reassurance for responding crews, property owners and fellow emergency services working at the scene.

With six trained operators now on the roster, Stawell brigade can also support surrounding brigades and agencies when gas detection capability is required.

 

Submitted by	Joseph Stubberfield