Quick takes
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Milestone moment comes about 15 months late and almost 200 people short: A press release and news conference in April 2008 said that the DC Fire & EMS Department would soon be swearing-in its approximately 230 EMS workers (AKA single-role providers) as uniformed members of the department. Making the department one, with equal benefits and promotional opportunities, was an important recommendation from the panel looking into improving EMS in the city following the death of former New York Times reporter David Rosenbaum. We were told at the time the swearing-in ceremony would happen about two weeks after the 2008 announcement. It wasn’t that easy. Lots of issues, many of which still aren’t solved. But today, for the first time, 32 civilian EMS employees will take the oath of office. These are supervisors and managers including 23 lieutenants, five captains, six battalion chiefs and a deputy chief.
“They are determined to pin this on her”: That’s the word from the lawyer for Houston firefighter Jane Draycott. Draycott, who found racist and sexist graffiti inside the women’s dormitory at the fire station where she worked, has now been ordered by a judge to give a handwriting sample. Draycott’s attorney is also questioning the city’s polygraph procedures. Click here for this latest turn of events in the Houston Fire Department.
A must read. A truly unbelievable scandal: Firegeezer has the latest on a story out of Hamilton, Massachusetts he first told us about in December. The police department was in charge of EMS for the town. They have made such a mess of it that four people, including the police chief and a local fire chief, are now under indictment. Make sure you check out the details.
Former King George, Virginia chief fights for his reputation: An interesting profile from Virginia’s Northern Neck of Pete Sullivan, a long time volunteer chief who was shown the door in October. Sullivan makes the case there was no basis for the charge against him of stealing a drill from the department. The theft accusation brought about Sullivan’s ouster. The bigger story is about the consolidation of the fire service under a career fire chief and the growing pains associated with such a move. Click here for the story by Cathy Dyson at the Free Lance – Star.
Back on the job after beating up the former chief: Two River Rouge, Michigan firefighters get to keep their jobs after being convicted of beating up their former chief at a town bar in 2007. The question was over whether the firefighters would be able to hold on to the required state medical certifications with their criminal records. That has been solved. Read the story.
North Myrtle Beach officials withhold information as reporters look into their actions during wildfire: The last time we checked on North Myrtle Beach, SC, town officials had cut the fire training budget by 40-percent. This came shortly after a report into the area’s worst fire in history called for more training. Now, reporters and others are looking at the actions of North Myrtle Beach leaders as the wildfire destroyed scores of homes in April. Those receiving the documents and recordings claim the items have been greatly edited in violation of state law. Read the story.
Horse trapped for 3-hours in I-5 wreck: The horse’s owner abandoned the animal, but Sacramento firefighters, CHP, animal wardens and a vet didn’t. We have raw video and details from the rescue. Check it out here.
Village without fire protection and doesn’t seem to care: Even thought Oakwood Park, Missouri decided last summer to stop paying for Kansas City to provide fire protection, the fire department was prepared to continue to respond. That changed on Friday at midnight when the Kansas City Fire Department, having not heard from village officials in the last year, became concerned about its legal authority in the village. The fire department notified Oakwood Park it was on its own. Gene Geiger, the chairman of the village’s board of trustees, told KansasCity.com’s Robert Cronkleton, “I don’t know if I would call that risky. We have had only two fires over the past 30 years.” Read more.
Incident commander makes the case that budget cuts impacted fire: A district chief in Fall River, Massachusetts tells how staffing cuts caused problems at a Friday house fire. Here’s the story.
Early house fire video: Video as firefighters pull up to a burning home in Pella, Iowa. Check it out.
Inside the Command Post: This video shows a vacant house fire from a week ago. Click here.
