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

Tag Archives: rope rescue

Rope Rescue, NFPA Compliance and Liability

Today’s burning question: Are there any cases where a fire department has been held liable because personnel used rope rescue hardware that was appropriate for the task, but did not meet NFPA 1983? Answer: Great question - I have not seen a single case where a fire department was sued (let alone held liable) because they used non-NFPA compliant tech rescue hardware. However, safety concerns should not be driven solely by liability concerns.

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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