TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Firefighters Union, IAFF Local 754, is escalating its demands for the immediate distribution of over 500 sets of second bunker gear, citing a breach of contract and a failure to prioritize firefighter safety.
The union claims the vital protective equipment, negotiated in the 2022 collective bargaining agreement (CBA), has been sitting in storage for months despite repeated assurances from the City of Tampa and Fire Department leadership.
The second set of bunker gear is crucial for reducing firefighters’ exposure to dangerous toxins and carcinogens encountered during fires.
Studies have linked exposure to contaminated gear to an increased risk of cancer, the leading cause of death among firefighters nationwide. Many major fire departments have already implemented second sets of gear as a standard safety measure.
According to a release from the union, the Fire Department initially stated that distribution would start in increments, per the contract. However, in November 2024, the Department said that the gear would not be distributed until every set was available.
The union also highlighted ongoing issues with the Fire Department’s provision of essential uniform items, further suggesting a pattern of neglecting firefighters’ essential needs.
“It is unacceptable that over 500 sets of bunker gear—gear that is meant to protect our firefighters from hazardous exposures—is sitting on a shelf instead of being worn by the men and women who need it,” stated IAFF Local 754 President Nick Stocco. “This gear has a limited shelf life, and every day it sits in storage is a day lost in its ability to keep our firefighters safe.”
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Stocco emphasized the daily risks firefighters face and the city’s obligation to provide them with adequate protection. “The bare minimum the City can do is provide them with the protective equipment and uniforms they need to do their jobs safely. The time for excuses is over. This gear must be distributed now.”
The union is demanding immediate distribution of all available second sets of bunker gear, adhering to the terms of their legally binding contract. They argue that any further delay unnecessarily endangers firefighters and, consequently, the community they protect.
This story will be updated.
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