Can smaller fire departments afford life-saving upgrades?

BOSTON — A tragic day for the Boston fire department back in 2014 has turned into a rallying call for a foundation dedicated to saving the lives of local firefighters.

Ever since Lt. Edward Walsh and Michael Kennedy were killed in a Back Bay fire three years ago, Kathy Crosby-Bell’s mission has been to make the job safer.

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“I would like to see some eyes opened,” the fallen firefighter’s mother told Boston 25 News.

She formed the Last Call Foundation that has done so much to improve the safety at many departments by getting better hoses and her new focus is on air tanks.

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The air tanks that get harnessed on the backs of firefighters are one of their lifelines to get out of a fire. The last call foundation wants departments to have better air tanks with more capacity.

Earlier this year, firefighters me suit up with them and showed me how important it is use the air wisely. Most smaller departments have tanks designed to last for 30 minutes. But someone breathing fast can shorten that time, even down to just 12 minutes. That makes surviving in a major fire more of a challenge.

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“It's unconscionable that this is happening to men and women who are heroes; that they go to work every day to protect us and our property and we shouldn't be allowing this to go on,” said Crosby-Bell.

It usually comes down to funds. Earlier this year, the Boston Fire Department changed out its tanks from 30-minute bottles to 45-minute bottles. It cost $4.5 million.

That’s something most smaller agencies can't afford.

“There are fire departments across the Commonwealth and across the country that don't have the funds,” Crosby-Bell said. "It's so frustrating. It's so basic and it's so clear. We can spend the money now and provide the firefighters the need and save money in the long run.”

Firefighters say the shorter air tanks play a role in forcing them to breathe in dangerous and deadly fumes, which have recently been linked to the alarming cancer rate among firefighters.

That’s a big reason why Boston made the change.

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Cox Media Group