HCFD Receives New Turnout Gear Washer, Dryer

HARRISON – Remember when moms declared their child could get clothes dirtier than anyone else in the world? Well, she was wrong – unless, of course, the child in question happened to be a firefighter.

Laundering firefighting turnout gear is challenging for multiple reasons: soot clings to fabrics like no other substance, hazardous compounds released during structure fires clings to the gear, and it would seem the smell of smoke just never goes away.

To better provide for crew safety, as well as turnout gear maintenance, Harrison Community Fire Department Fire Chief Chris Damvelt submitted a grant application to TransCanada, which has become TC Energy,

Damvelt had sent out a news release when the TC Energy Foundation funding was awarded, noting his department’s appreciation [see box], but when the newly purchased equipment finally arrived and was installed, he was eager to share the news. Damvelt wanted the community to know that his department would be better able to quickly clean and dry turnout gear with not only a sturdy washer that could handle two full sets of gear at a time, but also a dryer box which can dry the gear in only 90 minutes.

The chief said laundered gear used to be hung on racks with a huge fan blowing on it, but that it was an excessively loud setup.

“It was a big old fan,” Damvelt said. “The air would come down, and you couldn’t even hear yourself when you’d come out here – and it takes a long time.”

He also noted the new equipment is state of the art, and that while larger capacity equipment could have been purchased, space was limited. And, while it is expected to last for decades, at a cost of $17,000 that state-of-the-art equipment was not cheap.

On hand to share with Damvelt the photo op/unveiling was TC Energy representative Ronald Romanowski, as well as his son, firefighter Reed Romanowski.

Ron Romanowski explained that TC Energy was looking forward to receiving a copy of the local press coverage, recognizing the contribution and its benefit to the community.

“We have our own internet that shows where they donate,” he said. “So, they want to incorporate Reed and I, being how he’s summer help, and how it stays in the community.”

Romanowski noted that TC Energy Foundation has donated to multiple causes in this community. In this instance, he had mentioned the grant availability to Reed, who had conveyed the information to Damvelt. Apparently, getting a TransCanada grant had been conjectured for some time.

“We talked about it at one time, but didn’t do it,” Damvelt said. “Then his wife [Amy Romanowski] who’s a teacher at the school, said ‘I’ll help you write it.’ And one day I just sat down at the computer and dreamt it up.”

Romanowski said applicants have to jump through a few hoops, i.e., provide a cost estimate, what the grant is for, and how it will better the community.

Damvelt said he put in for the grant in 2019 but was too late for that grant cycle. He was told to wait until Jan. 15, when the cycle would start again.

“I was on the computer Jan. 15 and it wasn’t even ready yet,” he said.

He resubmitted the grant request, and in a couple weeks received confirmation it was being reviewed. That was followed another two weeks later by an email notifying him of the award.

Romanowski reiterated the foundation’s requirement that grants should benefit the entire community, and keeping turnout gear clean, safe for the wearer, and at the ready certainly does that.

Damvelt noted his information in the grant application cited the department’s coverage of 324 square miles [nine townships and the City of Harrison] and the populations served.

 “They actually donated to the Veterans Memorial,” Romanowski said. “They gave $12,000 down there.”

Damvelt and Romanowski both noted TC Energy Foundation’s contribution of about $30,000 to the Surrey Fire Department, which yielded a new Jaws of Life.

“I know Clare’s put in and got some money from them for different things,” Damvelt said. “So, I’ll be putting in for more – if they like giving money away, I’ll take it.”

Describing how he had tested out the equipment earlier in the day, Damvelt said the fire gear detergent is a citrus product.

Damvelt further explained that NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standards are becoming more stringent, and the previous washer was no longer in compliance. He said that dirty helmets and dirty gear used to be an indication of tough firefighters. However, there are so many cancer-causing compounds associated with fires, the standards now call for equipment to be cleaned every six months, regardless of whether it has been used. It is also expected that if turnout gear is used, it will be laundered immediately afterward – the 90-minute drying time will be significant, especially when there are multiple call outs.

“We have some extra gear,” he said. “It’d be nice for everybody to have a second set of gear, but it’s costly. Down the road it’s going to change. The NFPA’s going to make it so you’re going to go to the fire, and when you get done with the fire, you’re going to take your stuff off and put it in a bag and put that bag in a “dirty compartment” on the truck.”

This will help prevent contamination of the truck cab and those who ride in it subsequently.