Citizens, armed with video, question tactics in Weston, Missouri fatal fire. Chief admits there was a delay in getting water but says group is wrong about the time.
There is controversy in Weston, Missouri over a fatal July 4 fire that left George Treese, the owner of Old Geezer's Mantiques dead. Last night about two dozen citizens presented a video to the Weston City Council they claim shows a 14-minute delay before the Weston Fire Department and the West Platte Fire District put water on the fire. The West Platte fire chief disputes that account.
News reports indicate council members said they would review the video but advised the citizens to take up their complaint at fire district meeting later this month.
Among those talking to reporters and the council is Jennifer Koerper who lived with Treese. She told WDAF TV:
"Something was wrong, either with the truck or with the training of the personnel."
"You can see three or four times, a little bit of water being dispersed. We really felt a bucket brigade would have done a better job," said Koerper.
"I think they are going to sweep it under the carpet," said Koerper.
Lynn Johnson, the Fire Chief, did not feel comfortable talking about the tape on camera until she got a chance to see it. But she did say they did not wait 14 minutes to use water to fight the fire and that they had received conflicting reports about whether or not a person was trapped inside.
She also said once they did get inside the building it was hard to get him out because of all of the stuff around him.
The fire chief of the West Platte Fire Protection District now has a copy of the video. She told (reporter Dan) Weinbaum that there was a delay in getting water at the fire scene, but it did not hinder the firefight.
