BOSTON – The Boston Fire Department's (BFD) new fleet manager and fleet safety officer start work today, April 27. Responsible for vehicle safety, the pair will hire a team of certified mechanics and oversee the BFD's aging vehicle fleet in hopes of averting accidents such as the one that killed a veteran fire lieutenant in January, according to the Boston Herald.

Both will be members of the BFD union and will earn between $70,000 and $90,000. Money for the new hires already is in the department's budget. The new managers assume salary slots left unfilled by retirements, BFD spokesman Steve MacDonald said, as reported by the Boston Herald.

MacDonald said the managers will review resumes and hire certified mechanics to maintain the fleet. The department currently has an eight-man motor squad, but no certified mechanics.

Ed Kelly, Boston Firefighters Local 718 president, has criticized the mayor for failing to replace old trucks. Two weeks ago, a ladder truck reportedly blew a hydraulic line during a fire, causing a hazardous-material spill.

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