Danielson Fire Department officials say the department has only eight usable sets of PPE for 19 interior firefighters and will rely on mutual aid during the stand-down

By Josh LaBella
Journal Inquirer

DANIELSON, Conn. — The Danielson Fire Department is standing down because it does not have enough gear to keep firefighters safe, officials say.

The stand-down began Wednesday and officials are in contact with mutual aid agencies to ensure the borough is covered in case of emergencies, the Fire Department said in a post on Facebook.

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“We can not in good heart have our members responding to calls without being equipped with the proper PPE necessary to keep our members safe while giving you the best care possible,” the department said.

Officials pointed the finger at the Danielson Borough Council, saying the gear issue has not been addressed by the government body. Council members did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The lack of safety gear for firefighters has posed real challenges, according to the Danielson Firefighter’s Association, a nonprofit created by borough firefighters to support the department. During a fire on Hawkins Street that killed 30 cats and injured two people last month, crews had to “scramble and piece together mismatched gear” to send firefighters into the building.

Officials said the Fire Department has 32 active members, including 19 interior firefighters and 4 trainees, but only eight sets of gear are usable and none of it properly fits. They said the stand-down will last a minimum of 15 days unless a full plan is given to replace and distribute usable gear.

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