Jim Planck is reporting in The Daily Mail three of the Hunter fire company's air packs failed during a recent structure fire. Hunter Fire Chief John Laveglia told the Hunter Village Board the oxygen-supplying mask and backpack-tanks that firefighters use to breathe when entering smoke-filled buildings were found to be inoperable and must be replaced as quickly as possible. The chief said it was unclear what caused the units to fail, but he noted the packs are more than 15 years old, and the temperatures were very low on the night of the fire. “We’re not quite sure why, [if it was] because of the cold weather — it was 4 degrees out,” he said. “Air packs are very important in the fire business,” he said, “and we need them, like, yesterday.” The new packs will cost up to $5,000 each. The new unit is designed to deliver oxygen to the user, and comes with a mask, tank, and bottle, and also has an intercom that allows firefighters to speak with one another. It also contains an injury alarm system used to locate a firefighter in case of injury. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.