Picture taken by Paul Vallone
Photo of Florida Fire Chief Michael Bedini showing off one of ten safety vests his department received from The Massachusetts Call/Volunteer Firefighters' Association
The safety vests were distributed to the 17 membership departments at Thursday night’s Berkshire County Fire Chiefs meeting which was held at the Florida Volunteer Fire Department’s station in Florida, Mass on November 20th.
The Massachusetts Call/Volunteer Firefighters' Association is donating 2,000 reflective traffic safety vests to approximately 170 local volunteer and combination fire departments who are members of the association.
Beginning November 24, 2008, new federal regulations require fire department personnel to wear approved reflective apparel when working on or near federally funded highways. This includes most major roadways in Massachusetts. The purpose of the regulation is to increase the safety of personnel working an emergency scene such as a motor vehicle accident by making them more visible to motorists. While current firefighter turnout gear does have reflective strips, it is insufficient to meet this new regulation.
This regulation requires fire departments to purchase vests that cost up to $50 each for each of their firefighters. With many departments' budgets stretched to the breaking point, this unfunded requirement is very difficult for small departments to meet.
The MCVFA purchased 2,000 Lakeland reflective, 5-point breakaway, fire resistant traffic safety vests through Brigham Industries of Paxton, Massachusetts. They will be distributed to member departments at regional meetings in November. The first of these meetings was held in Rehoboth on November 6.
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