While performing an SCBA confidence maze drill, an SCBA ‘sucked to the face’ of a firefighter with little or no warning. The pack had passed its morning check with no issue.
Investigation by the FD and the manufacturer revealed that the bottle-to-pack filter was plugged with debris. The debris either resettled or, if it contained moisture, froze during heavy breathing occluding the air flow.
Lessons Learned: While the advances in SCBA technology and NFPA Standard has led to SCBAs that are better for interior firefighting, they seem more sensitive to the usual beating we give them. SCBA morning checks are critical and changing out the bottles should be given greater consideration. Tossing them down in the muck & gunk or the first place you come to outside the structure should be discontinued. Our SOG’s will soon change to designate a ‘clean site’ for bottle swaps.
