Manteca’s City Council may spend $990,190 in Measure Q sales tax to enhance city firefighter safety.
The council is being asked to purchase SCOTT X3 Pro Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) from Allstar Fire Equipment.
The current breathing equipment is nearing the end of their recommended service life.
Current equipment placed into service more than a decade ago is no longer fully compliant with the most recent National Fire Protection Association standards for respiratory protection.
The new equipment includes:
*Integrated GPS tracking for real-time fireground accountability. The technology enables incident commanders to monitor firefighter location and movement during emergency operations, improving tactical decision-making and providing a critical safety net in the event of a mayday situation.
*Enhanced ergonomic design and lighter weight materials to reduce firefighter fatigue during extended incidents.
*Upgraded communication systems including Bluetooth-enabled voice amplification and direct radio interface, allowing clearer and more reliable communication in high-noise and low-visibility environments.
The proposed purchase will standardize equipment across the department, streamline maintenance and training, and enhance interoperability with neighboring agencies during mutual aid operations.
Proposed pay increases
Manteca elected leaders are also expected tonight to approve a 3 percent raise for city firefighters.
The raise, once approved would be retroactive back to Sept. 1.
The cost for the remaining 10 months of the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 is $176,000.
That represents $122,000 funded by the General Fund and the rest is funded by the Measure M public safety sales tax.
Other key changes in the firefighters’ contract included:
*One additional person to be approved for time off at any given day.
*One additional person to be approved for wellness leave.
*Added language that wellness used in lieu of sick leave for new hires does not count towards maximum number of people allowed off.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
