THOMPSON, N.D. -- Recently, a TV news story showed firefighters putting out a big grass fire. Most of the firefighters shown in the story were wearing the proper personal protective equipment.
But the fire chief and a person who appeared to be another firefighter were not.
Do these firefighters expect to be covered by workers' compensation if they are burned?
A recent Herald story told of a police officer in western North Dakota who also is a volunteer firefighter and who was burned a few years ago. Was he wearing all of his personal protective equipment? Was he covered by workers' compensation? If so, how long did he have to fight to be covered?
The point that I am trying to make is that all personal protective equipment must be worn regardless of the call. No firefighters should be getting burned battling grass fires.
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If the department is deficient on safety, it shouldn't take a firefighter getting burned to correct that deficiency. Everybody must goes home alive and safely.
Jerod Kurtz
