Big Rapids Firefighters will be getting new breathing apparatus' in the near future.

Fire Department Director Steve Schroeder told the city commission earlier this week, the current devices in service are reaching their lifespan of 15 years, per state requirements and need replacement.

“Those are the backpacks that we wear in the fire division that we use to go into smokey environments or an environment that may be hazardous to breathe in. Schroeder said. “Our air packs are actually at the end of their lifespan of 15 years, so we have several air packs that are actually out of service right now that are about three-quarters of the cost of a new one to repair and with them ending, we've chosen not to replace those or fix them rather.”

The City Commission approved a low bid from West Shore Fire of $176,623 for replacement of 19 air packs and other fire accessory devices.