Salem Fire deputy tells committee gas blowers are an emergency tool; battery limits cited

Deputy Shoblin, a Salem Fire deputy, described why the department relies on gas-powered leaf blowers for wildland and storm response and urged the committee to consider operational realities.

"We use leaf blowers, gas powered leaf blowers mainly because of the distances that we need to travel... If we use battery, we would have to continually be changing batteries coming in, coming going back out even if we carry multiple," Deputy Shoblin said, explaining that gas models allow crews to clear fuel in remote or extensive areas without repeated battery swaps.

Deputy Shoblin noted those uses were infrequent in his 34-year career but could grow with dryer conditions. He also said mutual-aid partners and forestry crews would likewise need access to gas-powered tools during major incidents. Committee members asked about equipment-sharing with DPS and confirmed departments have borrowed blowers during past incidents.

The committee accepted a narrower exemption for the fire and public school departments in the ordinance text and retained a temporary-exemption process for public-safety uses.