Derby firefighters on scene in an undated photo provided by the department
DERBY — The city and its fire department face a $640 fine for not keeping firefighter turnout gear up to date.
“Several interior structural firefighters were found to be using bunker gear that had exceeded its 10 year life span,” according to a Nov. 2 citation from the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CONN-OSHA). The Valley Indy received a copy of the citation on Jan. 19, 2024.
CONN- OSHA characterized the violation as “serious.”
In October, after learning CONN-OHSA was investigating, the Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen voted to spend up to $500,000 to replace the expired safety equipment; to buy and replace other turnout gear approaching its expiration date; and to buy specialized washers and dryers to decontaminate the gear.
This equipment has been ordered and is expected to arrive in early February.
(Correction: an earlier version of this story said the equipment had arrived)
Officials from CONN-OSHA began an investigation after receiving an anonymous tip.
“Turnout gear” (or bunker gear) refers to firefighter safety apparel such as protective coats, pants, helmets, boots, gloves and hoods. The equipment used as primary gear should be replaced every 10 years to keep firefighters safe, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Some of the gear in use in Derby was about 15 years old, officials said. Old turnout gear is a “recognized hazard,” according to CONN-OSHA, one that could cause death or serious physical harm.
“Failure of the gear during a structure fire could expose a firefighter to an immediately dangerous life or health condition,” according to the citation.
Derby Fire Department Commissioner Gary Parker said the department had been asking the city for replacement turnout gear starting in 2019. The money to buy new gear was supposed to get approvals from the Derby Capital Planning Commission, but that entity stopped meeting in September 2022.
“It’s embarrassing and should have never happened,” Parker said.
Parker told The Valley Indy that since October Derby has purchased 72 new sets that cost about $5,000 each. That gear is now in use.
Parker said he is asking the city to change the way it funds turnout gear. He is suggesting that turnout gear be formally marked as a line item in the City of Derby’s operating budget, and that the city put $50,000 in the line item each year.
“If you are going to have a fire department, there are certain basics that are the cost of doing business — turnout gear is one of them,” Parker said.
Parker warned that the city’s various fire trucks are also growing old and will have to be replaced. Those costs could be big, and it’s something Derby has to start thinking about. The fire department is spending more and more money to maintain old vehicles, Parker said.
The fire commissioner said the self-contained breathing apparatus also has an expiration date — yet another cost the city will have to fund to keep volunteer firefighters safe.
Parker said the department was relieved to see the fine at just $640. He said the low amount was probably due to the speed at which the city reacted after learning CONN-OSHA was investigating.
“Quite frankly this fine could have been much, much higher. I’m talking thousands and thousands of dollars,” he said.
