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Push For State Impaired Firefighting Policy Is Unlikely

Associated Press0

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Key state lawmakers and Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s administration say they don’t plan to push for a statewide measure to regulate intoxication among firefighters when they’re responding to emergency calls.

A recently released autopsy determined that a volunteer firefighter for Valley Springs Fire and Rescue who died fighting a house fire in Brandon had a high blood-alcohol level when he responded.

State Fire Marshal Paul Merriman says there’s no uniform policy governing alcohol use in departments across the state. He says his office doesn’t have authority over day-to-day operations at individual departments, but says many have impairment policies.

It’s unclear if there’s such a policy at Valley Springs.

Kelsey Pritchard, a spokeswoman for Daugaard, said in an email that a statewide alcohol policy for departments would be difficult to enforce.

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