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Council hears resolution to lease-purchase 75 sets of turnout gear for fire department; bid awarded to Phoenix Outfitters
Summary
Resolution 2025-R-85 would authorize a five-year lease-purchase to buy 75 sets of turnout gear for the Huntington Fire Department; Purchasing received two responsive bids and the apparent successful bidder was Phoenix Outfitters. The work session transcript includes financing terms and bid timing but does not record a council vote.
Huntington City Council reviewed Resolution 2025-R-85, which would authorize the mayor to enter into a five-year lease-purchase agreement to acquire 75 sets of firefighting turnout gear for the Huntington Fire Department.
The fire chief told council that turnout gear must be replaced every 10 years pursuant to NFPA 1851 (adopted by the West Virginia State Fire Commission and adopted verbatim in the city ordinance). He said the city previously purchased helmets and boots and that turnout gear is a high-cost safety item. Purchasing issued a bid on July 2, 2025, with responses due July 29. The city received two responsive bids; the transcript identifies Phoenix Outfitters as the successful bidder.
The chief described financing terms during the presentation and stated an interest rate of 5.89% over five years for a lease-purchase. The transcript includes bid and financing phrases that are not fully clear in the recorded audio; the transcript does not show a final council vote.
Why this matters: turnout gear is safety-critical protective equipment required by national and state standards. Replacing aging gear affects firefighter safety and department readiness.
Next steps: council considered the resolution at the work session; no formal vote or adoption is recorded in the transcript. If council approves the resolution at a later meeting, the city will finalize the lease-purchase contract and ordering.
