If not for the protective gear that saved him, Spokane Fire Department firefighter Chuck McKenzie could have died when he was burned in an apartment fire in North Spokane in September.
Nearly two months later, SFD officials said they remain committed to repairing and improving their gear.
What happens to the gear when it gets anything from a tear to a life-threatening heat damage?
“We really are the tip of the spear,” said Alex Dreager, a firefighter for the SFD and helps sews the gear for the crew.
“We are all dedicated to making the gear better and the best that it can be,” he said.
It is not too often you will see a room in a fire station dedicated to patching things up.