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Fire district to buy replacement bunker and lightweight wildland gear amid cancer-risk concerns
Summary
Fire Chief Doug Williams requested and the board approved transfers from the Fire District Special Equipment Fund to purchase new turnout/bunker gear ($497,254.80) and dual-certified wildland/extrication lightweight gear ($225,798.56), citing concerns about older gear and noting a federal grant covered most of the wildland-gear cost.
The governing body of Fire District No. 1 requested and received approval for two budget-authority transfers from the Fire District Special Equipment Fund to update firefighter personal protective equipment.
Fire Chief Doug Williams said the department discovered older-style gear posed exposure concerns and decided to use special-equipment funds to buy new bunker gear for all staff rather than incrementally purchasing small sets. "We didn't feel right just buying 15 sets and having another 125 firefighters that weren't in the clean gear," Williams said.
The board approved establishment of $497,254.80 in budget authority for bunker gear and a separate $225,798.56 for dual-certified lightweight wildland/extrication gear. Chief Williams explained the lightweight gear is less cumbersome, useful for wildland and extrication duties, and extends the life of structural bunker gear; roughly $179,000 of the lightweight-gear purchase will be covered by a federal grant. Commissioners expressed support and voted in favor on roll call.
