MAPLETON – The fire department here is purchasing two bunker gear extractors each for its Drayton and Moorefield fire stations.
Bunker gear extractors are commercial washing machines that remove cancer-causing contaminates from firefighting gear.
The extractors will cost $42,960, including the necessary plumbing and electrical costs for installation.
Of this, $16,460 will be covered by provincial funding from the Fire Protection Grant, and $26,500 will be paid for with Maptleton’s protective services reserve funds.
Mapleton and Minto previously shared and extractor located at the Palmerston station, notes a report presented to council on March 18.
This extractor is more than five years old and “has been a good first step in the process of washing contaminated gear,” the report states.
“With the progression of cancer prevention steps, it is more efficient for the gear that comes back to the station to be washed immediately in the extractors. Less handing of the gear exposes less people and vehicles to the contaminants.”
Having two extractors at each station will allow one to wash the outer shell, which usually holds most of the contaminants, while the other is used to wash gear liners, the report states.
“This approach will allow firefighters to wash two full sets of gear at the same time,” the report states.
“Gear is then placed on drying racks and air dried, which usually takes about 24 hours to complete.”
Purchasing all four extractors at the same time will save the township money, the report noted.
“Further to this, Mapleton’s extractor purchase will be paired with purchases for Minto, generating additional economies of scale,” it added.
Councillor Lori Woodham asked whether the extractors are made in Canada, and fire chief Chris Harrow confirmed they are.
