A recent report looked at growing concerns over aging hoselines in Ohio fire departments.
The Port Clinton News Herald reported that new standards are asking fire departments to stop using fire hoses manufactured before 1987, but many with budget issues have had difficulty replacing older hoses.
The oldest hose still in use by the Port Clinton (OH) Fire Department is from 1968, although all are tested annually and inspected after each use on a call.
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The standards, derived from the National Fire Protection Association, are not mandates, but may factor in when it comes to liability, which could be placed on departments if hoses are outdated and burst at a fire.
Read more HERE.
The issue of hoseline safety has gained renewed attention in light of high-profile incidents such as Boston’s Back Bay fire, which took the lives of two firefighters in 2014. In that instance, an intense fire reportedly contributed to the burn-through of the late Firefighter Michael Kennedy’s hose.
