Firefighter Un-fired; More Hydrants Hosed; Rescue Squad Takes Another Hit
As we wait for the latest news out of Kentland today, here are links to some morning fire and EMS reading.
Tarron Lively of the Washington Times on the dropping of the suit by two D.C. firefighters who were disciplined in the Rosenbaum case. The Times reports there is an agreement to “pursue arbitration in the case”.
The D.C. Examiner headline on the same story reads: “D.C. to rehire firefighter fired in Roasenbaum case”.
The article begins:
The District of Columbia agreed to reinstate the lead firefighter who was dismissed last month over the emergency response to the fatal beating death of David Rosenbaum, a retired New York Times journalist.
(On this subject, I just came from Engine 20 where Fire/EMS Chief Dennis Rubin helped inaugurate the new reading program for children displaced from the Georgetown Library. He said he couldn’t comment on these new developments because it involved an active court case. Chief Rubin was also off to a noon EMS Task Force meeting at the Wilson Building.)
Allison Klein, from the Washington Post, on Chief Rubin’s report that one-quarter of District of Columbia fire hydrants could need replacing.
(Chief Rubin had plenty to say about this in the press conference this morning at Engine 20. He believes they will be ahead of schedule in their hydrant inspection program. Chief Rubin also vowed to make sure that DC FEMS and WASA stay on top of this, so this situation doesn’t happen again.)
A story I have been meaning to alert you to has to do with EMS in Culpeper, Virginia. Through VAFireNews.com, the Star Exponent reports that the Culpeper County Volunteer Rescue Squad, Company 11, is having its funding cut. Here is more:
The state shut down Co. 11 in early January after county medics filed a formal complaint, alleging that the squad’s representatives ignored a call about a child choking.
The company’s license was reinstated in February, pending a hearing, which has not been scheduled. Co. 11 volunteers serve when they can but struggle to recruit new volunteers and say they need to hire paid staff to meet state standards of 24/7 coverage.
