Most of the protective gear used by firefighters was purchased in 2005 and exceeds the “mandatory retirement age” of 10 years from the date of manufacture set by the National Fire Protection Association. The national standard applies to jackets, pants, helmets and boots.  

In a statement released Wednesday, selectmen said the turnout gear was fully inspected using a checklist provided by the Maine Bureau of Labor Standards and found fully compliant with the state’s minimum safety standards for firefighters. Fully compliant gear was also made available to Limington firefighters by other local fire departments.