Don't know if this is the right forum, but...

[Dannybot]

Local firefighter diving with bunker gear
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2QrRzyd-ztg&index=1&list=PLEA7D3843D2D94B35

 

[ttriton]

I'm a firefighter and I guess that's one way to clean your gear, but I haven't tried it.
I sure wouldn't want to have to swim in bunker gear, it's bad enough on dry land.

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

Being a volunteer fireman -
I am surprised the Chief allowed that - chlorine and bunker gear are not a good mix. I will also assume he washed his gear before jumping in a pool - contaminates on the bunker gear are not what I would want in my pool. Seems funny on the surface until you start adding up the cost of the bunker gear, helmet and scott pack and then you begin to wonder why would he do that... I don't jump in the pool with my scuba gear because of the chlorine...
It reflects poorly on the department in my opinion.

 

[knotical]

This: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydY7x20DFRE and similar videos seem relevant.

see also: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/public-safety-divers/

 

[Malpaso]

Being a volunteer fireman -
I am surprised the Chief allowed that - chlorine and bunker gear are not a good mix. I will also assume he washed his gear before jumping in a pool - contaminates on the bunker gear are not what I would want in my pool. Seems funny on the surface until you start adding up the cost of the bunker gear, helmet and scott pack and then you begin to wonder why would he do that... I don't jump in the pool with my scuba gear because of the chlorine...
It reflects poorly on the department in my opinion.

Likely this was "training gear" that was not used in service. We have tons of gear that is out of service/out of date that we keep around for training. The video says it was a training exercise to see what would happen if you fell into the water with bunker gear on.

 

[Frosty]

The video says it was a training exercise to see what would happen if you fell into the water with bunker gear on.

Well its safe to say that they established that buoyancy isn't an issue