Photo: Motor City Muckraker
Steve Neavling of Motor City Muckraker continues to scrutinize the operation of the Detroit Fire Department.
Firefighters regularly relies on outdated equipment that hasn't been tested in years, including air bottles that have the potential to explode, he posts. Firefighters use air bottles to breathe inside smoke-filled houses and buildings.
The department found Tuesday that 179 of the 420 air tanks haven't been tested every five years, as required under federal law.
“We have a crisis,” Sgt. William Harp of Engine 44 tells Neavling after filing a complaint with the Michigan Occupation Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA). “We are not supposed to have these bottles on the rig if they are noncompliant.”
Federal law requires the tanks to be hydrostatically tested for leaks or flaws in their casings because compressed gas can cause the tanks to explode.
“DFD has pulled the bottles out of service, and they are currently being tested,” said Second Deputy Commissioner Craig Dougherty, who is in charge of ensuring the equipment is compliant. “We are also surveying the remaining companies for overdue bottles.”
Firefighters said Tuesday night that the air bottles haven’t been taken out of service, and no one has received orders on what to do, despite the serious risks. At several companies, including Engine 1, which protects downtown, there aren’t enough compliant air bottles for half of the firefighters.
