Ottawa firefighters soon will purchase new lightweight air pack assemblies following a grant award announced Monday by Fire Chief Jim Duback, which, he quipped, will allow his men "to breathe a little easier."

Duback said his department will be able to order the packs in the near future after the department was awarded an Assistance to Firefighters Grant for $113,620 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

Written and submitted in May, 2009, the grant allows for the purchase of 20 self-contained breathing apparatus assemblies that will replace older units, some of which were nearing 20 years of service.

Duback said the new 4500psi air packs will succeed the 2200psi packs now in use. "The new packs feature spun carbon-fiber air tanks which weigh just about 11 pounds versus the aluminum tanks we have now that weigh nearly 22 pounds," he said.

The chief said the new assemblies are state-of-the-art and meet National Fire Protection Association's standards for safety and operation.

The units include the ability to share breathing air between firefighters in emergency situations and contain sophisticated alarm systems for pressure depletion warnings and location signaling should a firefighter become trapped or injured during on-site operations.

Each assembly comes with two tanks that can be quickly filled from department service engines when the need arises at fire locations.

Duback said the units would be ordered in a few weeks following "grant paperwork management details" and should be put in service later this spring.