Odessa Fire Rescue requests purchase of 35 replacement sets of bunker gear
Summary
Odessa Fire Rescue requested council approval to purchase 35 sets of firefighter turnout gear (bunker gear) at a total cost of $127,750 from a lifeline account; staff said replacements are mandatory every five years under NFPA/FPA standards and that the department follows updated materials to reduce carcinogen exposure.
Odessa Fire Rescue requested funding approval to buy 35 replacement sets of protective turnout gear (bunker gear) at a total cost of $127,750, with the department stating the purchase will be funded from an existing lifeline account.
The fire department representative said the department follows a five‑year replacement schedule for bunker gear and that standards require retirement or replacement of gear after a set service life. The presenter said the newer gear incorporates updated materials intended to reduce firefighter exposure to carcinogens and other hazards and that specifications change year‑to‑year as manufacturers update materials and design.
Council members asked about past purchase timing and whether the department had been under‑equipped; staff explained that recent purchases covered opening new stations and annual replacement schedules, and that none of the department’s requirements were intentionally unmet. The presenter said the department also faces rising costs for protective equipment and is subject to periodic audits.
The presentation included a reminder that fire‑department protective equipment is a mandated safety expenditure and that a Texas commission audit is scheduled next year. No formal vote was recorded in the work session; staff took questions from council and confirmed the request would follow the city’s procurement process.
