Department Standards Considered in Senate

April 23, 2008
The new legislation would begin with a task force that would explore what safety standards should be adopted, officials said.

CINCINNATI --

The deaths of two Colerain Township firefighters reminded many of the dangers of the profession.

News Five's Angela Brown reported that that the deaths of Brian Schira and Robin Broxterman are leading to sweeping changes in safety.

Shyra and Broxterman are two of 33 firefighters who have died in 2008.

"We are well on our way to hit another number of 100 firefighters lost in the nation. We have done that every year for the last 10 years," Colerain Township Fire Department Local 3915 spokesman Phil Klug said.

Now, the government is stepping in to help keep firefighters safe.

Sen. Sherrod Brown said he is backing the Firefighter Fatality Reduction Act, which would create national safety standards for fire departments across the country.

"Sort of learn the best practices so all of these departments can begin to standardized their safety equipment and best practices," Brown said.

This will not be the first time that standards have been implemented. New regulations were set five years ago after Cincinnati firefighter Oscar Armstrong III died while fighting a fire.

"Since then, their procedure implemented rapid assistant team, rapid intervention -- what they call them in their department," Cincinnati Fire Department Local 48 spokesman Marc Monahan said.

The new legislation would begin with a task force that would explore what safety standards should be adopted, officials said.

Copyright 2008 by WLWT.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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