Dozens of firefighters met with local lawmakers on Thursday to talk about new regulations coming from the federal government - regulations that could hurt fire departments and taxpayers’ wallets.
“We all need firemen. We all need to protect our communities,” said West Carthage Village Trustee James Smith.
That was the consensus of the meeting in West Carthage, amid proposed regulations that could prove detrimental to rural fire departments.
Representatives from at least 9 different departments, all in one room, addressed concerns over proposed requirements from the Occupational Safety and Health Association. Those requirements would mean increased training, new tires on fire engines every seven years, and would require trucks more than 20 years old to be replaced with newer trucks.