By Jim Bloch
The Port Huron Fire Department will spend about $80,000 for the purchase of a turnout gear washer/extractor and a breathing air compressor/containment fill station for use at the new Fire Station No. 1, now under construction on 10th Street on the city’s south side.
The city council unanimously approved both purchases at its regular meeting Aug. 14.
Turnout gear washer
The council awarded the contract for the purchase of the turnout gear washer/extractor to Universal Laundry Machinery of Westland, the lowest of four bidders at $21,283.
The bids were extremely tight.
R & R Fire Truck Repair Inc. of Northville submitted the next lowest bid at $21,975. MacQueen Emergency of Aurora, IL was high at $22,500.
The bid of A & B Equipment of Saginaw, did not meet specifications and was tossed out.
“The department’s existing turnout gear extractor, which is located at Central Station, is nearly twenty years old and well past end-of life,” said City Manager James Freed in his memo to Mayor Pauline Repp and the council.
The new station will replace Central Station, built in 1960 just off the campus of St. Clair County Community College.
“This unit was initially sourced before the National Fire Protection Association standards were developed regarding mechanical gear cleaning,” Freed said. “This unit also suffers from frequent mechanical and electrical breakdowns, due to its age. Fire service industry and labor standards require that structural turnout gear be laundered immediately after exposure to products of combustion at fires, due to carcinogen exposure. Due to the high cost of firefighter structural turnout gear, it is imperative that the gear be cleaned consistent with manufacturer’s recommendations. This includes proper spin rates and detergent/rinse cycles. The proposed unit is also sized to accommodate an entire shift’s turnout gear inventory, post-fire. This will eliminate the possibility of Fire Department members remaining in soiled turnout gear, due to lack of cleaning capacity.”
Breathing air compressor
The city council awarded the contract for the purchase of a breathing air compressor/containment fill station to West Shore Fire of Allendale, the lowest of five bidders at $59,988.
R & R Fire Truck Repair Inc. of Northville, submitted the second lowest bid at $62,948.MacQueen Emergency of Aurora, IL was next at $81,960, followed by Municipal Emergency Services of Sanford at $91,817. Phoenix Safety Outfitters of Springfield, OH was high at $107,611.
“The department’s existing breathing air compressor, which is located at Central Station, is over twenty years old and well past end-of life,” Freed said. “Due to excessive compressor oil leaks, electrical issues, and inability to safely fill Self Contained Breathing Apparatus cylinders and high pressure SCBA cylinders, transfer of existing equipment to No. 1 has been deemed unsuitable. The new compressor and fill station are compliant with existing MIOSHA and NFPA standards. This includes real-time monitoring of excessive moisture and carbon monoxide, as well as blast containment in the case of rupture for all sizes of department cylinders. This unit will also be capable of filling SCBA cylinders to 5500 psi, which will likely be a specification in the next replacement cycle of firefighting breathing apparatus. This proposal also includes a multi-year preventative maintenance program.”
Both purchases are part of the overall $10+ million cost of the new station. Both are expected to be delivered and installed in the first quarter of 2024.
Both votes were 6-0. Council member Anita Ashford was absent.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
