Rebreather Unit 1 is at Ladder 20 and covers Manhattan. RBU 2, at SOC on Roosevelt Island, covers the rest of the city. Each unit is manned by two SOC rebreather technician/firefighters. The units are located to provide maximum coverage of the East River tunnels. RBU 2 is relocated to the quarters of RBU 1 whenever the latter is out of Manhattan.
Each 2006 Freightliner MT55/LDV/Utilimaster truck carries 36 Draeger BG-4 Closed Circuit Breathing Apparatus, 36 extra oxygen cylinders and CO2 scrubbers, a freezer to maintain ice blocks used to cool output air, and a mask recharging work station. Additional supplies may be furnished by the Rebreather Facility at Fort Totten.
As of last month, rescues, squads, Hazmat 1, hazmat technician engines, ten of the 25 SOC support ladders, and 14 of the 52 battalions have been trained in rebreather operations.