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Fire Departments Install Exhaust Controls
Laurel Morales
Buzz Lechowski, division chief of operations for the Sedona Fire District, says diesel exhaust presents a problem for firefighters in the bay and on the scene.
Firefighters face a multitude of cancer-causing agents but one of the most insidious is the exhaust from their own trucks. There's now funding available to install exhaust removal systems.
Scientists said prolonged exposure to diesel exhaust increases the risk of lung cancer.
The Sedona Fire District and many other fire departments have recently installed hoses that hook up to the exhaust pipes while everyone is gearing up to go on a call. It keeps the firehouse clear of fumes.
“If you’re on scene, the fire truck’s always running on a fire,” said Buzz Lechowski, division chief of operations for the Sedona Fire District. “You’ve got multiple fire trucks running so you’re standing there after you came out of the dangerous area and you’re breathing in this diesel soot, diesel exhaust.”
Lechowski said firefighters need to wear their masks even after they’ve cleared the flames.
