January 12, 2009 Union wants inspection of Boston firefighting equipment Play video

(NECN: Prat Thakkar, Boston, Mass.) - Three accidents in 11 days have left Boston firefighters reeling. Now, the union wants the state to get involved.

The Boston Firefighters Union wants the state inspection unit to go through their aging fleet after a fire truck suffered mechanical failure and hit a parked vehicle yesterday, just two days after another truck was involved in a fatal crash.

The 19-year-old Ladder 15 went out of control yesterday when a turbocharger failed and flooded the engine, causing it to suddenly speed up.

On Friday, Ladder 26 crashed into a high-rise building, killing Lieutenant Kevin Kelley.

Firefighters' union President Ed Kelly says the union will ask Gov.Deval Patrick today to order a state inspection, saying the danger to firefighters is too grave to ignore.

*Material from the Associated Press used in this report*

From: Suffolk DA

The probe into the death of Boston Fire Department Lt. Kevin M. Kelley in the line of duty Friday continues. As with any unnatural or unattended death, the district attorney's office has undertaken a death investigation to determine whether criminal charges are warranted; District Attorney Daniel F. Conley has assigned a senior prosecutor to work with Boston Police and Boston Fire investigators. That prosecutor responded to Parker Hill Avenue on Friday afternoon and remained on scene into the evening. For those of you with whom I did not speak Friday or over the weekend,

"Our investigation will be thorough and the loss our city suffered today will remain foremost in our minds. Our thoughts and prayers are with Lt. Kelley's family, his loved ones, and his department."