Protecting firefighters with bulletproof vests

Firefighters in Soledad now have bulletproof vests. But another agency has been using them for years.

Sparked by events across the country, and close to home, the Seaside Fire Department decided to start carrying bulletproof vests in 2013.

“My understanding is yes, we were the first agency in Monterey County to purchase the bulletproof vests, the ballistic style vests,” Seaside Fire Dept. Battalion Chief Paul Blaha said.

The move was prompted by two events: the 2012 shootings of four New York State firefighters, ambushed while responding to a call, and…

“…there was an incident around that time that happened in Greenfield where there was a shooting and the crowd was gathering, and they were mentioning about going to get guns, coming back and shooting up the fire and police,” Blaha said.

Now, they wear the vests when responding to shootings, stabbings and physical assaults.

Firefighters already wear about 20 pounds of gear when responding to calls. The bulletproof vests add an additional 8-10 lbs.

While they haven’t had any close calls, all of that extra weight could mean life or death in an active shooter situation.

And with the passage of Assembly Bill 1598, law enforcement and first responders must now work together when responding to a gunman on the loose.

Monterey County is planning a large scale active shooter training exercise this spring, involving law enforcement, fire and ambulance.