Lawmakers want to improve firefighter safety

It’s a dangerous job saving lives. 40 firefighters have lost their lives in Colorado in more than 30 years.

Pueblo Fire Inspector Eric Knight has been fighting fires for 11 years, but when he was saving someone’s life, he paid the price.

“I suffered a back injury when we were trying to get a patient out of a tight space, only two of us got in to do the lifting, unfortunately my back gave out,” he said.

The Colorado Legislature wants to help by giving more than $3 million from a state grant to improve firefighter safety through training and more equipment.

Knight said skills and tools are good but having more people would be better.

“More firefighters would definitely help, everyone is operating on a tight budget, and we understand that,” he said.

The money from the grant will be split between the fire departments that need it.