New devices that will clean equipment used to battle blazes are expected to reduce the cancer risks faced by Brampton firefighters.
The devices will be used to scrub equipment of harmful toxins that can accumulate on it and be inhaled or absorbed by emergency crews.
More than $230,000 will be spent on items, including two self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) washer units and four bunker gear washers.
The funds to purchase the equipment come from the Ontario government through a fire protection grant.
The grant also supports municipal fire services across Ontario with projects focused on firefighter safety, improved emergency response and modernized fire service infrastructure.
Firefighters face a 9 per cent higher risk of cancer diagnosis compared to the general public through exposure to toxic chemicals, combustion by-products, and diesel exhaust through skin absorption and inhalation, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
“The brave men and women at our local fire halls in Brampton across Ontario work selflessly while putting the safety of others before their own. These new additions will provide our firefighters a healthier working environment, ensuring our first responders receive the care and attention they need and truly deserve,” said Graham McGregor, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism and MPP for Brampton North.
Brampton Fire Chief Andy Glynn said that protecting firefighter health and safety is a priority for the department and the funding will expand important cancer prevention initiatives while strengthening the ability to respond to evolving emergencies.
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