Scuba tanks and fills=Fire Dept.?

[eagleI79]

Is my local Fire Dept. a good place to start looking for a scuba tank? I live in west Arkansas not a lota scubin going on around here. I know about buying tanks like the carbon but a scuba tank in the back seat of my "truck/mobil refill center" would with out a second thought be the best for my stile of walking/hunting. I tend to walk get bored shoot at things hunt get cold and walk back to truck then to the next spot, thats me thats what I do. Anyways info? I am going to wait untill I get some replies before I call the Fire Dept.. Thanks     -EagleI

[SUPERFITTER]

wrong post

[eagleI79]

Really...no one. I don't know of any dive shops around here and I know the FD has to get their tanks filled somehow right.

[Phil_B]

I would check with the fire house, and see what they can fill. Some Scott packs use 2260psi wile others use 4500psi and most scuba tanks take 3000psi. So get a 12 pack  and take a ride down to the fire house and talk with them first . Find out if they are even willing to fill first off, then what they can fill ,they will steer you in the right direction and might even have a tank for sale or rent. Or you can do what I just did . I just rejoined the local fire house and as a perk I get FREE fills HeHe

[ezman604]

Fire departments use SCBA tanks. Those are generally 44cu ft capacity where SCUBA are generally 80 cu ft capacity, I believe. There are steel, aluminum and carbon fiber models and have capacities from 2200 to 4500 psi. The carbon fiber 4500 psi tanks are rather expensive. I'd say $800 or more new. MSA (Mine Safety Appliances) is the supplier for mostif notall SCBA equipment for Fire & Rescue. Check MSA's site for the nearest service center or yes, you can call your local fire department and ask them who services their tanks. http://www.msanorthamerica.com/

The company I work for is a MSA distributor and wefill and serviceSCBA tanks. We are in West TN and service the surrounding states.

Happy Shooting!!!!

Dave

[spysir]

Fire departments normally can not fill for other than thier own use do to insurance/liabilty and just what would they need to charge to cover extra upkeep. Now sometimes if you know them that "may" be different.
 You might check here :
http://www.cei.net/~dvines/shops.html
and check fire your local rescue squad memebrs (Police & Sheriff now tend to how their own unit) they unlike Firemen MUST be scuba certified and around here they all use a scuba shop 40 miles away. If you can find a shop you likely should buy a tank from them ($150.00 would be normal for a 3200) as they often offer a # of free refills (at up $10.00 per fill someplace) a half dozen "free" fills with any purchased tank really helps out. Ask them about used tanks too. And if you find a good dive shop ost and let everyone know.

 John

[kiwi]

Over here our fire department don't / won't fill tanks for
out side use....And the tanks they use are not filled to 3000psi
"A 3000psi filled tank  on yer back in a HOT enviroment..not very clever"
& as the tank is used at normal air pressure you are not loseing air volume due to
pressure as is the case when diveing..So not as much air is required..
ie...At 10m deep the pressure doubles so the air volume in the tank halfs..
and the next 10m the air volume decresses by another 1/3..and so on..

so the fire  units don't require a as much air..or a high fill pressure...
So I can't imagine them changeing there compresser settings to fill a
tank for a air gunner...CAN YOU...