McGorty Ushers Fire Apparatus Safety Bill Through House

Rep. McGorty speaks on the Fire Apparatus Bill. Click above for video

State Representative Ben McGorty (R-122) today helped advance a bill through the House that would require municipal and volunteer fire departments to maintain their pump and aerial fire apparatus components in compliance with national standards.

McGorty, who has 37 years of fire service experience including 25 years as a volunteer with the Shelton Fire Department and serves on Shelton’s Board of Fire Commissioners, said the measure would help ensure that equipment used by local firefighters is properly maintained at an appropriate standard.

“Our local firefighters are hard-working and dedicated, risking their lives routinely to keep our neighborhoods safe,” said Rep. McGorty. “We owe it to them to ensure that their equipment is functioning at the highest level and is maintained to the highest standard to provide them the greatest assurance of safety we can provide as they do the dangerous and critical work they do.”

Provisions of the bill require municipal and volunteer fire departments to maintain their pump and aerial fire apparatus components in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association standard 1911, which sets minimum inspection, maintenance and testing for fire apparatus.  A vehicle qualifies as “fire apparatus” if it is used as an emergency vehicle and weighs at least 18,001 lbs. or is registered as fire apparatus, bearing such license plates.

The proposal is supported by the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut.

The bill, HB 7047, An Act Concerning Municipal Fire Apparatus Safety and Testing, passed the House by a vote of 139-5.  It now moves to the State Senate for a vote there.  If passed and signed by the governor, the bill would be effective October 1, 2017.

This session of the Connecticut General Assembly concludes at midnight, Wednesday, June 7, 2017.