Rapid City, S.D. – Block 5 has become the first building in South Dakota to feature a Firefighter Air Replenishment System (FARS), a crucial safety installation that allows firefighters to refill their air tanks inside the structure during an emergency.
Western States Fire Protection installed the innovative system, which the Rapid City Fire Department will use to enhance efficiency and safety during fire response operations in the downtown area of Rapid City.
Traditionally, firefighters must carry heavy, spare air bottles up numerous flights of stairs and return to ground level for replacements when their air supply is depleted. The new FARS technology provides designated standpipe locations on the 3rd, 6th, and 9th floors of Block 5 where firefighters can rapidly refill their air tanks. This eliminates the strenuous and time-consuming manual effort, allowing crews to maintain a continuous supply of breathable air on the fireground.
“This system represents a major advancement in firefighter safety and building preparedness,” said Brian Povandra, Division Chief of Fire Operations for the Rapid City Fire Department. “It gives crews a faster, safer way to maintain breathable air during extended operations, which can make all the difference in an emergency.”
