Palouse adds air after fire

The Palouse Fire Department bought three new oxygen cylinders following an early morning house fire Oct. 21.

“So we can bring more air with us,” said Scott Beeson, fire chief. The quick-change cylinders are rated for 45 minutes of oxygen – while that varies depending on how active a firefighter is. A cylinder holds 4,500 pounds of air.

Beeson ordered three more $1,000 cylinders to be paid for out of the department’s capital fund, so it will now have six air packs and 12 cylinders. A cylinder snaps into an air pack.

Beeson informed the joint fire board and Palouse city council of the purchases...