Instead of fighting flames, a Dumont fire station is battling a chief over what it feels is political retaliation that could cost people their lives.

Members of Company 1 say Chief Tony Spina is stripping them of life-saving equipment because of its captain, Brad Levitski. Firefighters say when Levitski was fire chief, he suspended two members of Spina?s company last year for allegedly using marijuana. Levitski has been suspended since February for allegedly using ?10-call? lingo instead of plain language over radios. A new rule calls for plain language because officials feel it will expedite saving lives.

In the meantime, officials say another group is better suited to keep the tools and other items in question and they maintain it is not a matter of retaliation. The company surrendered the tools Saturday at a central location.