Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone

Tag Archives: NFPA 1851

Safety, Liability and The 10 Year Service Life for PPE

Today’s burning question: My fire department does a very good job of adhering to NFPA 1851 when it comes to turnout coats and pants. Something we’ve really never paid attention to is the 10-year service life for helmets and boots. Is liability for violating NFPA 1851 purely theoretical?

Selectmen Order Maine Fire Department To Stand Down

A Maine fire department has been ordered to “stand down until further notice” as town officials scramble to address outdated turnout gear. The Town of Limington’s Board of Selectmen released a statement yesterday stating they recently were informed that the personal protective equipment issued to the town’s volunteer firefighters was more than ten years old

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.

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