Camden firefighters get lifeline

“Bailout system” helps firefighters climb out of collapsing buildings

Residents of Camden, New Jersey face poverty and crime. Now they’re getting some protection from another hazard: fire. New Jersey officials and firefighters gathered at the Liberty Firehouse Station to announce a $400,000 FEMA grant.

The grant will pay for equipment that could save the lives of Camden residents and firefighters.

Acting Camden City Fire Chief David Yates says the money is going to purchase four generators and safety harnesses called a “Bailout system.” Yates say they work kind of like rock-climbing gear.

“If they immediately have to exit the building and they can’t go through the normal means of going down say a set of steps they can bail-out of a window by hooking on their harness to a bail-out system that’s anchored within the building and they can repel out of the safely.”

With so many dilapidated buildings in Camden, Yates says being able to exit quickly without a ladder could be a life-saver.