Wow...Major Department Doesn't Wear Hoods

[x635 4,066]

I found it surprising that there is still departments out there that doesn't wear hoods. I'm sure there are a lot of guys wearing them, but how can it not be mandated?

Hartford is the last community in Connecticut where firefighters do not all have heat-resistant hoods – but not for long.

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/troubleshooters/Hartford-Fire-Department-Changing-Equipment-After-Firefighter-Death-304653211.html

[SteveC7010 58]

I found it surprising that there is still departments out there that doesn't wear hoods. I'm sure there are a lot of guys wearing them, but how can it not be mandated?

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/troubleshooters/Hartford-Fire-Department-Changing-Equipment-After-Firefighter-Death-304653211.html

Seth, sadly I think that there are still a lot of departments out there who believe that the rules just do not apply to them. It should not have taken the death of a firefighter and subsequent OSHA investigations to bring about these changes.

For example, I just finished advising a fire department about matters related to 501©3 tax exempt status and it was a real horror show. There are influential members in the department that still do not believe that they will have to file full 990 tax returns even though their annual income is clearly large enough for returns to be required by law. (Federal tax law requires complete tax returns for income $50,000 or more per year. Under $50K, you file a 990-N which contains no financial information. It's a simple affirmation that your agency's income was less than $50,000.) They don't think their annual reports are public information and must be disclosed promptly without the need for FOIL requests. They truly believe that they will receive a very large gift from a donor without being 501©3. Luckily, one or two much cooler heads have prevailed and they are on the right track.

[SageVigiles 1,194]

From my understanding, it was a union issue related to the PPE policy.

A lot of the guys there have bought their own and worn them, but HFD has never issued hoods. Its stupid and reckless, but it sounds like its FINALLY being addressed.

[AFS1970 504]

If I remember correctly, I think Hartford still had pull up boots until some guys got burned on a ladder a few years ago. Sadly in the fire service we learn from other peoples misfortune.

[thebreeze 194]

You're gonna hear far worse in the years to come, one day it's going to be "wow, Major Department Still Cares About Hiring Standards", or "Wow, Major Department Still Goes INSIDE to Fight Fires"