Riverside Emergency Services Association receives Washington County Riverboat Foundation grant. Photo by Sam McIntosh.

The Riverside Fire Department will be better equipped to safely fight fires and rescue victims with new air packs.

Riverside Fire Chief Chad Smothers says their current packs are outdated, “We are replacing air packs that have passed their lifetime. Our air packs we currently have are 20 years old, they’re at their life expectancy now where they’re needed to be replaced. They aren’t even up to current NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standards for all the safety features that are built into the air packs, such as the low air alarms, the personal alert safety devices, heads up displays, things like that.”

The department is purchasing 18 air packs that also include a built-in thermal imaging camera to assist with locating fires and victims. The upgrades cost a total of $140,000, paid by a $70,000 grant from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation, $60,000 from the city, and $10,000 from the Riverside Emergency Services Association. The new air packs will be implemented March 2018.