Join us in Supporting City of San Diego Firefighters!

The San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation needs your help in raising funds to purchase devices that could save the lives of firefighters while they work
to protect yours.

Small donations can add up to make a huge difference for our San Diego
firefighters. We know we can do it, but we cannot do it alone.

Will you help us reach that goal? Will you be a hero?

 

Called Personal Escape Systems (PES), the devices provide firefighters the ability to exit through an upper floor window in less than 30 seconds, should they become trapped or disoriented during interior fire operations.

The device the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department currently uses requires all firefighters who are escaping to be together, to find an anchor within the burning building, and to tie a series of knots before exiting a building. This takes roughly four to six minutes.

Since 2000, the City of San Diego has seen a dramatic increase in the amount of mid- to high-rise buildings. And, with the use of different construction materials and an increase in fuel loads, rapid changes in fire dynamics and shorter escape times happen more frequently.

“While it’s not an everyday need, when you need to bail out of a burning building, seconds count,” said San Diego Fire Chief Javier Mainar. “As the experiences of other agencies have shown, these self-rescue devices could be the difference between life and death for our firefighters who find themselves with no other option for escape.”

Although the PES is a recommended item for all firefighters, SDFD has other priority needs that have not allowed for this equipment to be purchased. It is for that reason that the San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation, the independent nonprofit that funds enhanced equipment and other firefighter needs, has made it its goal to raise $582,300 to provide a PES for all 850 firefighters in the City of San Diego.

Ideal Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical has already donated four Personal Escape Systems to help keep our world-class firefighters at the top of their ability to serve San Diego and the surrounding region. If you’d like to personalize your donation and contribute to a specific firefighter, crew or station, please call me, Don Teemsma, at 619-583-7963. I serve on the board for the San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation and will make arrangements for your personalized donation.

You can also donate online: https://www.crowdrise.com/personalescapesystem

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,
Don Teemsma