By Becky Pallack
The Arizona Daily Star

AVRA VALLEY, Ariz. — Breathing devices and protective suits were in storage, not in service.

The truck that's supposed to respond to toxic spills wasn't working.

And the fire stations didn't have smoke detectors.

These are a few of the 47 violations state workplace-safety inspectors found when they visited the Avra Valley Fire District after receiving a complaint about the lack of precautions at a March collision and acid spill on Interstate 10. The violations led the Industrial Commission of Arizona to issue $366,000 in fines against the fire district, which is appealing.

A review of the Arizona Department of Occupational Safety and Health investigative report shows inspectors found safety problems stretching beyond the district's response to the crash. The safety inspection in April included regular checks of the fire stations, where inspectors found problems that firefighters often warn citizens about.

The fire stations had no smoke detectors, the reports say. Exit signs weren't illuminated, outlets didn't have shock protection and the drinking water wasn't potable. Eye-washes were available only in men's bathrooms.

Worse for the district: Many of the problems previously were noted during an internal safety inspection in December, but no action was taken, according to the report.

During a review in April, an inspector noticed a firefighter's protective gear had holes and burn patches. The Fire District conducted a gear inspection, but when the inspector returned a week later, the gear was still in service, even though "the employer had a surplus of extra gear upstairs," the inspector wrote.

"I suggested that they replace the gear. They all agreed but did nothing," according to the inspector's report. "Being that the firefighter's gear was on an engine, I suggested that they replace it right away before he is exposed. They all agreed, but again no one did anything. I finally stated that I would wait there, so that they could get him some different gear. Then they went up the stairs and returned immediately with a new set of gear."

Beyond the safety violations, the state is investigating five claims from current and former employees who say they were retaliated against after bringing up safety concerns. Four others have said they were harassed, according to safety inspectors' reports.

Gary Perry, chairman of the fire district's board, said he takes the problems very seriously. Some have been abated and some will be appealed, he said.

He declined to discuss specific points until a public meeting on Oct. 26.

Workers sent to hospitals
The attention from the state stemmed from a March 14 crash. It was identified by a dispatcher as a hazardous-materials scene, but it wasn't handled that way. No one set up a zone to keep workers at a safe distance from the spill, according to the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health investigation report.

There weren't enough breathing devices on the emergency vehicles, although the district had more stored upstairs at a fire station, according to the report, and a haz-mat truck was left at the station because it wasn't running.

Workers were exposed to dynamite powder and cleaners containing phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid. The chemicals mixed with each other and with metal from the truck, giving off chlorine and hydrogen gases.

"Employees in an ambulance stated that the smoke drifted through the vehicle and they started feeling their eyes burn," a safety inspector said in the report.

A truck with clean water that could have been used to hose down and decontaminate workers exposed to the acid cloud was diverted to a brush fire that was surrounded by roads and wasn't threatening people or structures.

Four firefighters, four Arizona Department of Public Safety officers and a Southwest Ambulance employee all were sent to a hospital, where the nurse who treated them also was exposed to the chemicals. They suffered from wheezing, coughing, burning eyes, nausea and vomiting.

Several staff members told inspectors that safety concerns weren't addressed by Chief Barry Gerber because of cost issues.

The fire district has said it is in talks to merge with the larger Northwest Fire/Rescue District.

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