New suits are expected to arrive in November and December

The Fire Brigades' Union (FBU) has raised its concerns because about 40% of Devon Fire and Rescue Service's stock of chemical suits is being removed.

The brigade issued a staff memo saying a small proportion have been replaced and others are on order.

The Fire Brigades' Union (FBU) said it raised concerns about the suits a year ago.

Suit gloves

Concerns were first raised about the suits after a lorry carrying acid crashed in Ilfracombe in September 2002.

Chemical protection suits are usually carried on every fire appliance.

However, the gloves of two of the brigade's older suits are said to have fallen off, creating a potential hazard for anyone in the middle of dealing with an incident.

This week, a memo e-mailed to all stations to say that all the suits that needed to be removed were being taken out of use this week, but there were only a limited number of replacements.

They are expected to arrive in November and December.

Dave Chappell of the FBU in Devon said: "We know that plans are in place to replace the defective suits. It's just a shame it has taken so long that, a year on, we are still in a position of not having obtained them.

The acid lorry crash happened in Ilfracombe in September 2002

"We will not longer be able to deal with any protracted chemical incident, in my view. There are no back-up supplies to use.

"Two years after September 11, during which time a lot of work has been done to improve our capability nationally, we've yet to see any of that on the ground in Devon."

Devon Fire and Rescue Service said suits were being replaced because they had reached the end of their life as recommended by the manufacturers.

It added: "In the event of a large or protracted incident, normal operational procedure will be implemented, which will necessitate the mobilisation of support appliances from within Devon, and from neighbouring brigades as necessary.

"This will ensure that no personnel are placed in an unsafe environment."

The brigade said it is replacing the suits as soon as the manufacturers are able to supply new ones.