Brigade invests in new equipment and donates kit to Fire Aid

Cleveland Fire Brigade has completed implementation of new breathing apparatus from MSA Safety as part of the Brigade’s long-term asset management plan and ensured that older, still usable equipment can be used by communities all over the world via the Fire Aid charity.

The Brigade said its investment in Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) from MSA Safety marked “a major step forward in firefighter safety and operational capability.” It highlighted key improvements including:

• Enhanced hygiene – through full wet-cleaning capability, helping reduce contamination risks
• Telemetry integration – enabling real-time monitoring of wearer conditions such as breathing rate and intensity
• User login capability – allowing personalised usage tracking for better accountability and data-led insights.

The new equipment has already been deployed across a range of operational settings, including large-scale incidents, and Cleveland Fire Brigade says that it has received excellent feedback from firefighters on the ground.

As well as donating previously used, yet fully functional SCBA sets to Fire Aid, a charity that distributes essential firefighting equipment to communities in need all over the world, the Brigade is also making a difference closer to home. Two unused BA boards have been donated to Social Training 4U, an organisation that supports families affected by autism. Run by a former firefighter, the group uses the boards in team-building activities, including their hands-on ‘Duck Rescue’ scenario.

Marking the roll-out of the SCBA, the Brigade said: “It is a testament to the dedication and adaptability of our workforce and to the positive impact that innovative equipment and strong partnerships can have on both our operations and our communities.”

The industry will once again be gathering at the NEC, Birmingham for The Emergency Services Show, co-located with The Emergency Tech Show, on 17-18 September, check out the full exhibitor list here. You can find MSA Safety in Hall 5, Stand G190.