N.J. firefighter charged with falsifying fit-testing records

By Jeff Goldman
nj.com

EMERSON, N.J. — A 45-year-old senior fire captain in Emerson is facing charges after authorities say he improperly conducted respirator fit tests for firefighters and lied about it.

Richard A. Solimando, is charged with forgery and tampering with records, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said Friday.

Solimando signed reports stating the tests had been completed when they had not been finished between Jan. 7 and Jan. 27, officials said.

Fit testing is the method for finding the respirator that fits the face of emergency responders and ensuring it provides a tight seal to help keep you protected, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

It’s more involved than a seal check, which is only used to check if a respirator is properly positioned on a face.

The Emerson fire chief couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Monday morning. An attorney for Solimando wasn’t listed in court records.

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