New equipment is helping Santa Barbara County firefighters as they assist fire crews at wildfires across California.
Regional Task Force members are using alternative respiratory protection devices, or ARPDs, which filter out toxic particles so firefighters can breathe clean air.
Firefighters say these devices can also be used during COVID-19 related emergencies.
"This is higher level protection that what we used to have. We used to have a hot shield which was basically a particulate filter, not so much with the actual attachments and for chemical use as well," explained firefighter-paramedic Egan De Los Cobos.
Every Santa Barbara County firefighter received their own device.
The Santa Barbara Firefighters Alliance provided funding for the new equipment.
