U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Danny Thompson, 20th Civil Engineer firefighter, races with fellow firefighters to put on all their gear with the new M-7 Firehawk self-contained breathing apparatus at the fire station Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Aug. 2, 2011. The new M-7 Firehawk helps Airmen complete the mission by being more durable, safer, user friendly and uses one tank instead of two. The mask has more features which include a voice enhancer and a heads up display that shows how much air is left in the tank. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Tabatha L. Duarte)

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U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Aaron Hanson, 20th Civil Engineer firefighter, practices putting on the new M-7 Firehawk self-contained breathing apparatus at the fire station Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Aug. 2, 2011. The new M-7 Firehawk helps Airmen complete the mission by being more durable, safer, user friendly and uses one tank instead of two. The mask has more features which include a voice enhancer and a heads up display that shows how much air is left in the tank. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Tabatha L. Duarte)

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U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Danny Thompson, 20th Civil Engineer firefighter, demonstates to a class how to operate the new M-7 Firehawk self-contained breathing apparatus at the fire station Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Aug. 2, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Tabatha L. Duarte)

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U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Danny Thompson, 20th Civil Engineer firefighter, teaches a class on the new M-7 Firehawk self-contained breathing apparatus at the fire station Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Aug. 2, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Tabatha L. Duarte)

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U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Danny Thompson, 20th Civil Engineer firefighter, shows the class the new mask portion of the new M-7 Firehawk self-contained breathing apparatus at the fire station Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. Aug. 2, 2011. The new M-7 Firehawk helps Airmen complete the mission by being more durable, safer, user friendly and uses one tank instead of two. The mask has more features which include a voice enhancer and a heads up display that shows how much air is left in the tank. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Tabatha L. Duarte)

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Photo essay: Shaw firefighters fight flames with new gear

Published Aug. 3, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Tabatha Duarte
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The new M-7 Firehawk helps Airmen complete the mission by being more durable, safer, user friendly and uses one tank instead of two. The mask has more features, which include a voice enhancer and a heads up display that shows how much air is left in the tank. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Tabatha L. Duarte)