Whiffs Brush Pro and Xcaper Filtration System

JOHN GRANGER of the Estantia Fire Department in Estantia, New Mexico, says his department provides fire protection for the Manzano Mountains in central New Mexico. "New Mexico is the driest tinderbox in the nation right now. Our crews have used the Whiffs® - Bush Pro® mask on several urban interface and flatland wild fires. The Bush Pro mask and Xcaper® filter give our staff an extra measure of protection that wasn't available before. The Xcaper filter is free flowing. It gives the mind 'a sigh of relief' that if you're caught in a bad situation you are protected." July 2000

VICTOR HARRELL with the Lee Engine Company Volunteers in Elko, Nevada says, "The Whiffs - Bush Pro mask and Xcaper filter is a great product. I was a little skeptical at first but now that I have used it in the field, I can say that it performed above and beyond what I expected. As a matter of fact, the carry bag and extra filter are attached right to my web gear. I strongly suggest that every wild land firefighter buy one and use it. The break it gives your lungs from the smoke is well worth the price. The enclosed picture is from the Adobe Summit fire in Elko Nevada. The fire was about 10,000 acres." June 2000

TONY BACON with the Novato Fire Protection District in Novato, California wrote the following letter. "Many thanks for the improved filters! Just in time too! I just returned from a 16 day Team assignment in Montana. A day did not go by that I didn't take advantage of the opportunity to have personnel on my division use the Whiffs - Bush Pro and Xcaper filter; in fact the last time I saw my mask it was on a Fort Peck crew leader's face; heading up a firing operation.
Please send me another mask and filters when you have the chance and please bill me this time.
By the way, the filtration system was a great hit at the Central Oregon Wildlife School last month! I would estimate that all the Task Force Leaders running crews through our live fire training exercise were not only impressed but also stated that it was far easier to breath through, compared with the Hot Shield You have a winner and you have a disciple! Once the fire season settles a bit I'll get in touch." August 2000

KURT BLANCHETT says that "after spending about 4 hours in the smoke on a grass fire, I did not have the usual post fire "dead" feeling in my lungs that I usually do. Nor did I get the same level of "black snot" that I've experienced with particulate filters. Paired with a good set of goggles (I was using a new pair from Bullard) the fire's heat was the biggest issue to deal with. No coughing fits or smoke filled lungs that take you off the line." April 2000

CHIEF ROBERT KIENAS with the Somers Volunteer Rural Fire District in Somers Montana says "Don't do what I did, do what I did for my men! I provided each of them with the Whiffs - Bush Pro mask and Xcaper filters. My lungs are permanently damaged from smoke inhalation. I now need to breath pure oxygen 24 hours a day. Wearing nothing or a bandana (which is equivalent to nothing) is just no longer acceptable.
A wet bandana can result in a steam burn - not with the Whiffs masks and Xcaper filters. Breathing smoke isn't macho; I'm proof of that. There hasn't been much choice when it came to lung protection during Wildland fires, structural overhaul (after CO check), and prescribed burns. My men will experience less down time after fires and less claims on our workman's compensation plan now that we are using the Whiffs masks and Xcaper filters. The smoke and toxins in the smoke did damage my lungs over time; don't let it happen to your men." August 2000

MELISSA RILEY with the Lafayette County VFD sent the following letter:
"WHIFFS,I am a volunteer structural fire fighter in Mississippi. I recently heard about and purchased your products. This past Tuesday I was able to use the Mop-Up Pro® mask and Xcaper filter during overhaul for a fully involved structure fire. The winds kept shifting, so as we put out the remaining hot spots the smoke would drive around us. I used your mask and filter from the beginning of overhaul once we were cleared to remove our SCBA's until we had completed the overhaul. I cannot say enough about this product. It was the first time in 9 years of firefighting that I did not cough or experience a headache after the fire. Even as we overhauled the structure other firefighters were coughing. Upon removal of the filter from the mask the outer layer was covered in black soot. You really don't realize all that you are inhaling until you have a chance to see just a fraction of it on the outside of the filter. I will use the Whiffs mask now for the rest of my career and highly recommend it to any structural fire department for use during overhaul operations. Aside from the SCBA, it is the best product out there to date to reduce fatigue and lung damage. I cannot recommend a better product to invest in. It will be the best money you ever spend to protect yourself." February 2001.