The Huntington Fire Department asked council to authorize the mayor to enter a five‑year lease‑purchase agreement to acquire 75 sets of turnout gear and replace gear on a 10‑year cycle in line with NFPA 1851 guidance adopted by the state and city ordinance. The request was presented at the work session and will return to council for formal action.

The fire chief said the department previously purchased helmets and boots and that turnout gear is an expensive, safety‑critical item. He stated, “it is necessary and for safety reasons have been primary, the to replace the turnout gear that firefighters wear every 10 years.” He said the purchasing division issued a bid, received two responsive offers, and named Phoenix Outfitters as the successful bidder. He presented financing parameters of a five‑year term at approximately 5.89% interest but the transcript does not clearly record the contract price or the precise total financed amount.

Why it matters: Turnout gear is a safety necessity for firefighters and replacement is governed by NFPA standards. The city will consider lease‑purchase financing to spread the cost; the vendor named in the work session was Phoenix Outfitters and staff said the purchasing division received two responsive bids.