Atlanta Fire Department Adds New Life-Saving Equipment to Inventory

From the City of Atlanta

The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD) today announced the addition of new rescue equipment to its inventory. The new equipment is a self-retracting, fire-retardant rope system, called a search line kit, which enhances both the safety of AFRD personnel and its large-area rescue capabilities.

Used during Vent, Enter and Search (VES) operations, search lines connect firefighters inside and outside a building or structure, linking the two together for protection. This allows firefighters to safely search large, complex areas in heavy smoke and fire without becoming disoriented.

“Protecting the public and our firefighters are top priorities for Mayor Kasim Reed, the City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department,” said Interim Fire Chief Joel Baker. “We want everyone to go home at the end of their day or shift, and adding life-saving search line equipment to our inventory ensures that our firefighters can quickly and safely find their way out of large buildings and increase the effectiveness of a search operation.”

Two lines will be assigned to each company operating a fire truck, giving the department a total of 15 search line kits. Three will be assigned to Squad 4, the Department’s technical rescue company. Firefighters are currently training to use the new search lines, which are manufactured by RIT Safety Solutions in Twinsburg, Ohio.