Detroit Fire Department conducting department-wide training on new G1 SCBA systems ahead of deployments

The Detroit Fire Department (DFD) is conducting department-wide training on newly acquired self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) systems, with full implementation scheduled for March 31, 2026. The equipment upgrade represents a more than $6 million investment in firefighter safety and operational readiness for one of the nation's busiest urban fire departments.

Training is being conducted at the department's Walter P. Harris Regional Training Center, where companies from across the city are rotating through hands-on sessions led by DFD's Training Division. The program ensures firefighters are fully familiar with the new SCBA systems, including emergency procedures, integrated safety features, and operational best practices prior to field deployment.

The new SCBA equipment will allow DFD to replace aging MSA FireHawk units with modern upgrades designed to enhance firefighter safety, situational awareness, and reliability in immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) environments. They include a state-of-the art voice amplifier which removes breathing sounds, and a larger facepiece lens to provide better peripheral vision, along with other exciting new features. Each unit comes with its own Emergency Breathing Support System (EBSS).

Captain Brent Elledge, of DFD's Training Division, highlights all the features of the new MSA G1 SCBA gear.

Self-contained breathing apparatus are among the most critical pieces of personal protective equipment used by firefighters, enabling crews to safely operate in smoke-filled, toxic, and oxygen-deficient environments during fire suppression, search and rescue, and overhaul operations.

"Ensuring that our firefighters have the best equipment available to them is a core responsibility of this department," said Executive Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms. "Our members respond to thousands of emergencies every year and regularly operate in some of the most hazardous conditions imaginable. Modern SCBA systems provide reliable respiratory protection, improved safety features, and greater situational awareness on the fireground. When we invest in equipment like this, we are making a direct investment in the safety of our firefighters and the effectiveness of the service they provide to the residents of Detroit."

Members of the Detroit Fire Department getting acquainted with their new facepieces at the Walter P. Harris Regional Training Center.

The department's Training Division has structured the rollout to emphasize hands-on experience and real-world application, allowing firefighters to become comfortable with the new equipment. "Training has gone extremely well so far," said Training Chief Jamal Mickles. "Our members are getting the opportunity to work directly with the new SCBA systems, learning the updated features and practicing with the equipment in realistic scenarios. The feedback from the field has been very positive, and there's a lot of excitement among the membership about putting this gear into service."

The Detroit Fire Department expects all operational members to complete SCBA training prior to the March 31 rollout, ensuring every firefighter is fully prepared to operate with the new systems once they are placed into service.

The equipment upgrade is part of the department's broader commitment to modernization, firefighter safety, and continuous improvement across operations, training, and emergency response.

Members trying on the new harnesses, which are equipped with voice amplifiers that filter out breathing sounds. Despite being slightly heavier than the SCBA units they're replacing, members say they find these packs more comfortable.

The new MSA G1 SCBA gear will be distributed to the field around March 31. Clearly, the members are excited!