Senior Reporter
otto.carrington@cnc3.co.tt
The storage of 225 brand-new breathing apparatus (BA) sets has come under scrutiny, after firefighters raised concerns that the life-saving equipment is being kept in a “hot room,” sparking fears of damage and reduced lifespan.
But Chief Fire Officer Andy Hutchinson has dismissed these claims, telling Guardian Media that the T&T Fire Service (TTFS) is following standard storage procedure.
He described the concerns as “mischief” and assured the public that the equipment will only be deployed once officers are fully trained and fire trucks properly fitted.
Hutchinson confirmed that the TTFS recently received 225 MSA-1 BA sets to replace its ageing Scott NXG-7 models. Before the new gear can be issued to fire stations, he explained, each unit must undergo mandatory acceptance and functionality tests at the Fire Service’s Breathing Apparatus Department.
“When these sets arrive in the country, an acceptance test is required to ensure, firstly, that what was ordered is received and, secondly, that what is received is in good working order,” Hutchinson said.
He added that officers are currently undergoing training at the supplier’s facility to maintain and repair the equipment.
“Once that is done, we will retrain our officers to use these new sets, because the systems are slightly—and in some cases totally different—from what we had before,” he said.
Hutchinson acknowledged that the sets are currently in storage but stressed this was routine.
“Yes, the sets are stored, but they must be stored at this time so that we can do the needful to ensure that when they are finally put into operation, the officers are trained to use them safely,” he said.
One of the concerns raised by firefighters was that trucks would need to be “retrofitted” to hold the new BA sets. Hutchinson clarified that only minor adjustments are required.
“Retrofitting is a big word,” he said.
“Because the sets are shaped slightly differently, the air racks on the appliances—or fire trucks, as the public knows them—require some adjustment so they fit snugly and don’t move around or become missiles in the cabin during an accident.”
He said procurement of the necessary materials is underway and that distribution will take place once those adjustments are complete.
The chief also revealed a major oversight in the procurement process: no spare air cylinders were purchased with the sets.
“In the predecessor’s wisdom, they did not purchase spare cylinders,” he said.
“Each BA set you purchase, you should purchase two spare cylinders. If you purchase 225 BA sets, you should have 500 spare cylinders.”
Without spares, he warned, the Fire Service would have to dismantle some complete sets to have enough cylinders for operations, meaning fewer than 225 would be fully functional in the field.
Hutchinson was blunt about those raising alarm.
“Somebody is trying to make mischief by saying the sets are here and have not been distributed. But because the sets were changed, it has created a number of anomalies, and we are working through them to make sure the public and our officers are safe,” he said.
He assured the public that once training, adjustments, and the purchase of spares are complete, the new BA sets will go into service.
“We cannot distribute until all systems are in place. This is about safety,” he said.
