Widows of Fallen MD Firefighters Push to Ban Sale of Prohibited CSST
The widows of two Maryland firefighters killed in the in the line-of-duty are back in the state capital to promote legislation that would prohibit the sale of first generated corrugated stainless-steel tubing (CSST).
In 2018, Howard County Fire Lt. Nathan Flynn was killed in a house fire. Just three years later, Frederick County Battalion Chief Josh Laird answered his final alarm, also in a house fire.
It has been determined that lightning strikes caused the CSST lines to arc and ignite escaping gas that sparked combustibles which burned for an extended time in unknown voids.
ATF Special Agent Adam St. John released his analysis of the two similar incidents last year.
The two now single mothers have joined forces to educate firefighters across the nation about the dangers of CSST and basement fires.
They started in Maryland and went to Annapolis to educate legislators about the dangers of CSST.
Their efforts paid off when former Gov. Larry Hogan signed the Flynn-Laird Act which requires only non-arcing CSST to be installed in all structures.
But, there was an apparent loophole.
“I was just stunned that original CSST was still being sold in Maryland stores. Yes, the new law says it has to be non-arcing, but there’s nothing saying the other lines can’t be sold,” Laird said.
When she discovered a local store was still selling the banned product, she said she reached out to corporate authorities. They have yet to respond.
Legislation introduced in both the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates states: “A person may not sell, offer for sale, transfer or distribute corrugated stainless steel tubing that does not meet the requirements of the LC1027 standard described in the most recent edition of the International Fuel and Gas Code issued by the International Code Council.
Anyone in violation may be fined up to $1,000.
Laird said legislators she’s spoken with are supporting the measure.
Frederick County Chief Tom Coe said he believes banning the sales will save the lives of residents and firefighters.
“It’s a very important piece of legislation that will have lasting impact,” he said.
Susan Nicol | News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.
