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Volunteer firefighter warns city and county officials about rising gear and testing costs
Summary
Michael Lobstein, speaking for volunteer firefighters, said bunker gear costs $4,500 and air bottles require testing every five years and replacement at 10 years; he emphasized that city equipment and testing serve neighboring departments as well.
Michael Lobstein, speaking on behalf of the city fire department volunteers, urged officials to account for equipment and maintenance costs when negotiating cost shares. He told the meeting "bunker gear, is $4,500 and that's for bare minimum gear," and said that "air bottles expire every 10 years. They have to be tested every 5."
Lobstein added that the city runs a cascade system that fills air bottles for neighboring departments (Miles, Winters) and other entities such as the jail, and that volunteers apply for grants to help cover equipment purchases. His comments were presented to underline the shared operational burdens that, the city argues, support its demand for reimbursement or a formal cost-sharing agreement.
