Solo Rescue firefighters

In its latest move to ensure the long-term health and safety of its firefighters, the city of Goodyear has become the first Southwest city to invest in Solo Rescue decon washers, which provide a thorough decontamination of crucial pieces of firefighters’ equipment.

The Solo Rescue provides a thorough cleaning of firefighters’ air tanks, helmets, boots, gloves and face masks.

“It’s a more prescribed wash, so we’re really ensuring we’re getting all of the contaminants off their equipment,” Goodyear Fire Chief Paul Luizzi said. “We want to keep our firefighters healthy and safe. We want them to not be exposed to any carcinogens, and we’ve taken that very seriously.”

The Goodyear Fire Department has invested in three Solo Rescue machines at its newest stations, Fire Station No. 181 (450 N. 143rd Avenue) and Fire Station No. 186 (18370 W. Willis Road), as well as the Goodyear Fire Resource Management Building (14000 W. Yuma Road). The machines were strategically placed to allow firefighters based at every station throughout the city to utilize them.

The investment in the Solo Rescue machines is the latest move by the city of Goodyear to ensure the health of its firefighters. 

Goodyear Fire Stations Nos. 181 and 186 were created with enhanced health and safety measures in mind, including a decontamination corridor and a vestibule that separates the “clean” (living) side of the station from the “dirty” (business) side. Also, Goodyear’s clean cab fire truck system requires firefighters to store their gear in separate compartments within fire trucks to limit exposure to contaminants.

“We’re excited that we get to lead the way, not only in our station designs but also in the way we take care of all of our equipment and our firefighters,” Luizzi said. “We’ve gotten the support from the Goodyear City Council to move forward in this process, so that’s been very, very helpful and very reassuring for our firefighters that everything that they wear is fully decontaminated.”