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A Maine fire department has been ordered to “stand down until further notice” as town officials scramble to address outdated turnout gear.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. According to NFPA standards, specifically NFPA 1851, PPE that is more than ten years old must be retired.

According to the Portland Press Herald, the selectmen released a statement saying: “The priority of the selectmen is to insure the health and safety of all employees and residents of the town. Continued swift action by the selectmen and the leadership of the fire department will result in the lifting of the order to stand down within a few days.”

In the mean time, the Selectmen have been working with neighboring fire department to ensure adequate coverage for structure fires. The Limington Fire Department will continue to respond to emergency medical calls.

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