Eagle Scout’s project helps Roseville Fire Department dry its gear faster

ROSEVILLE — The Roseville Fire Department recently received new equipment that will make it more convenient for firefighters to dry their turnout gear after washing it.

Both of the city’s fire stations — the headquarters on Common Road and Station 2 on Frazho Road — now each have a firefighter gear dryer that was built by 16-year-old Julian Deschner.

Julian, whose dad, Mark Deschner, is a lieutenant with the department, made the dryers from scratch for his Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout project. His fellow scouts from Troop 1032, out of First United Methodist Church in Birmingham, helped him build the equipment, which was delivered March 4. The parts to assemble the dryers were purchased at Home Depot.

“I decided to do this project as a way to give back to the firefighters of Roseville, as they are always busy with calls and fires,” said Julian, who resides in Bloomfield Township. “When a firefighter goes to a fire, there are many cancer-causing materials, also called carcinogens, that get on their gear, which results in washing their clothes after every fire.”

The dryers consist of PVC pipes connected to a blower with hooks and holes for the firefighters to hang their coats, pants, gloves and boots. Because the gear is so thick, it can take up to 12 hours to dry. With the dryers Julian manufactured, the gear dries in four hours. The equipment does not alter the gear in any way, Mark said.

“We have no practical way to dry our gear after it is washed. If bought from a manufacturer, these dryers can cost up to $10,000 each,” Fire Chief Keith Jacobs said via email. “These gear dryers will be donated to the Fire Department at no cost to the city.”

It cost a total of $2,000 for Julian to construct the dryers. To make his Eagle Scout project possible, Julian received monetary contributions from several donors, family and friends, and from the Roseville Firefighters Union Local No. 1614.

“I’m absolutely proud of him. He took charge of this,” Mark said. “Obviously, I assisted with this. Another department built something similar to this. We were able to copy their dimensions, brought it back to Julian, and he was all about it. Him and I worked together. With his whole troop, we were able to build this in just a few days.

“The reason we wash and dry the bunker gear so quickly is the carcinogens on there,” Mark said. “There has been a humongous increase in firefighter cancer because of stuff that is building these houses. There’s so many carcinogens, and there is a push to get your gear washed after every fire.”

Julian, who attends Lutheran Northwest High School in Rochester Hills, was recognized at the March 26 Roseville City Council meeting, where firefighter/paramedic Eric Pocket presented him with a plaque. Mark was with him, as was mom, Marci, and sister, Violet.

The Eagle Scout project is the final requirement to obtain the highest rank within the Boy Scouts of America organization. The project gives the Scouts lessons in community service, leadership, teamwork and project management. There are many steps to earning the rank of Eagle Scout, including making a presentation before the Eagle Board of Review.

To earn the Eagle Scout rank, Scouts must progress through the ranks from Tenderfoot to Eagle, earn 22 merit badges, serve in a leadership position, and participate in a scoutmaster conference.