Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com
Images on this page from DC Fire & EMS Department photographer Vito Maggiolo via DCFD.com.
Instead of our normal “Quick takes” to start the day, we are focusing this morning on Monday’s crash on the DC Metro system.
The latest on the investigation: Check out WUSA9.com for the latest stories on the investigation and details about the victims of Monday’s crash. The headline from the Tuesday afternoon NTSB briefing is that the Metro train that collided with a stopped train was in the automatic mode and the train operator put the train into “emergency” in an apparent effort to halt the train. Watch Gary Nurenberg’s 11:00 PM wrap-up.
“Small incident” became big problem: Reporters are asking lots of questions about why this disastrous crash was originally reported, as Chief Dennis Rubin said on Monday, as “a small incident”. So far, what everyone at Metro’s OCC and DC’s OUC knew, and when they knew it, has not been released. What is known is there is a long history of communications issues between Metro and area fire departments. Not all of them have been Metro’s fault. Click here for that story.
First responders to Metro crash heard from, finally: After a day of trying to interview firefighters and EMS workers who responded to Monday’s deadly crash, the crews from Rescue Squad 2 and Engine 26 were allowed to speak shortly after 6:00 PM on Tuesday. Their first hand accounts came at the end of a long late afternoon press briefing. It didn’t give us a lot of time to put together the type of story these highly praised first responders deserve. But it is an important story nonetheless. Click here for the accounts of Tony Carroll, Bill Whetzel, William Kennedy and Nicole Norris. Sgt. Kennedy and Firefighter/Paramedic Norris are seen carrying a patient (facing the camera) in the image below by Vito Maggiolo.
There’s more with rescuers from The Washington Post’s Allison Klein and Michael Ruane.
DC Fire & EMS Department command staff tells its story to national fire service and EMS press: Apparently off limits to the local media (not sure why, but we have asked Chief Rubin and his staff for an explanation) are detailed accounts of how the incident was handled by the people in charge of Monday’s response. Check out FirefighterNation.com/ Fire Rescue Magazine, Firehouse.com , FireRescue1.com and JEMS.com.
It isn’t just STATter911.com that noticed the media relations issues at Monday’s collision: While the fire department, with Chief Rubin at the helm, was the lead agency from the initial dispatch on Monday until the last body was removed on Tuesday, STATter911.com has confirmed that it was DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier who gave the orders to clear the press away from areas where the crash site could be seen. This came about an hour and fifteen minutes after the initial dispatch. We are still trying to determine from city officials why this occurred and why PIOs were told not to do interviews during the early stages of the incident. As we reported yesterday, the no interview orders came from Mayor Adrian Fenty’s press office. The Washington Post’s Nikita Stewart has more on critics of the mayor’s efforts to control the message. Also, WTOP’s Hank Silverberg has a frustrated radio reporter’s version of trying to get access and information on Monday. Go to DCRTV.com and scroll down.
Since how messages during times of crisis are delivered has long been a topic of discussion on this blog, let’s look beyond just the city’s efforts. Metro General Manager John Catoe probably has had the toughest questions to answer of any public official. Still, he has been out in front of the cameras on numerous occasions since the news coverage began. A Baltimore Sun reporter has some criticism of Metro’s efforts, but his complaints are web-based. Check it out here and here.
Also, Metro’s email alerts to riders apparently weren’t timely and the Post’s Dr. Gridlock, Robert Thomson, talks with Metro about how it kept its passengers informed.
Views from some cameras that were allowed access on Monday: DC Fire & EMS Department PIO Alan Etter shot some close-up video that you can find here.
DC Fire & EMS Department photographer Vito Maggiolo’s early track side images are on DCFD.com.
Retired dispatcher and veteran fire photographer Elliott Goodman also has some gripping close-up images on DCFD.com.
FF/historian gives us some history on the crash site: Rich Schaffer is a DC firefighter with a passion for the department’s and the city’s history. Rich alerts us in our comments section to a very similar train collision in the early 1900s that took place in almost the exact location along the railroad in Fort Totten . What is known as theTerra Cotta wreck killed 53 people. Obviously it wasn’t Metro. It was the B & O Railroad (now the CSX tracks running
on the outside of the Metro line). According to Rich, after the crash, Congress mandated changes to the railroad industry to prevent rail cars from “telescoping” during a train collision. Telescoping is also what happened in Monday’s crash and has been a major concern with the NTSB. Here is a link to read more about the B & O collision.
Also on STATter911 …
- Thank you Dennis Rubin! More than three-years later former DC fire chief confirms STATter911.com’s reporting was accurate. – October 12, 2012
- Judge rules psych eval ordered for former DC fire captain legitimate. Throws out Vanessa Coleman’s lawsuit. Another DC fire whistleblower suit in court. – September 28, 2012
- DC lieutenant’s lawsuit against TV station tossed out by judge under new anti-SLAPP law. Dave thinks this was a case of poor journalism. – January 20, 2012
- Ruling says case of DC EMT fired in 1997 to live on. Court allows suit over failing to reinstate & provide back pay eight-years-ago to continue. – November 3, 2012
Comments
Powered by Facebook Comments
The PIO"s weren't allowed to do their jobs because Fenty and Rubin with that silly helmut on his head would not be able to show their pretty faces on TV. I've never seen 2 individuals that have to be on TV all the time.
An incident like this so close to two suburban jurisdictions should have been a major multi-jurisditctional response with closest apparatus responding regardless of jurisdiction.
Not so here – clearly there are plenty of units closer from PG and Montgomery counties than the 2nd and 3rd alarm companies from DC. Are these departments realy prepared to work together? Outside COG numbering, has anything really changed over the past 20 or 30 years?
The newest rumor going around the firehouses is that Allen Etter has been asked to resign or be fired. I am curious as to why the department newest and greatest PIO was no where to be seen.
WAH WAH WAH! Dude cry me a river. Interjurisdictional problems would have compounded this disaster response 10 fold. Having DCFD handle the primary role and having outlying units backfill stations is actually a brilliant move.
Calm your skivvies and try and talk down your manhood stiffness, maybe someday you'll have your own major incident so you can become "HERO for a day", until then, leave the major incidents to the big boys.
Good job DCFD command and field units.
Maybe some 2 person PG Co. engine companies or PG volly houses that are having a hard time staffing their units were closer…and dispatching them on the initial assignment would have only compounded things further when they arrived with insufficient manning or failed to post at all.
I hope that rumor about Alan Etter isn't true. He is a true professional, does a great job, and is very dedicated. He is there at all times of the day, and even in the middle of the night he is usually quick to get to the incident.
He's been jerked around so much since he's been on the job, but keeps his head held high and continues to do a great job and maintain a positive attitude.
Leave the major incidents to the "big boys?" Give us a break. The DCFD did a great job on this incident, no question. But let's not let the ego get in the way of reality. The culture of "we can handle everything ourselves don't need any help from anyone" is from a bygone era.
Any professional officer recognizes the value of interjuristional cooperation and response…but it needs to be integrated in day to day ops, not just when the major job hits. The Air Florida incident demonstrated that quite vividly. If you don't think it works, look across the river or to the west coast. It worked fairly well at the Pentagon on 9/11.
A tip of the lid to the lads from DCFD, MCFRS and the other jurisdictions that were on the METRO incident-job well done.
I would like to commend the previous comments concerning the need and absolute workability of having Mutual Aid. as was noted the Air Florida 90 and the METRO Train Crash brought about the reasoning for such a progressive move. If people will just stop and think back, yes in earlier years the DCFD was noted for Proper Staffing and the ability to Flow an maximum amount of water in a few minutes upon arrival at the Fire Scene. That was when DCFD was known as District of Columbia Fire Dept. EMS was a total separate entity. The DCFD then operated a 2-piece Engine Company which enhanced immediate water flow to suppress any fire. The DCFd has always been noted as one of the best Fire Suppression Depts in the Nation. Today however things have changed. The Fire Chiefs of COG agreed that a more unified Response
was needed after January 13,1982 Tragedies. Since the inception of COG the Local Fire and EMS Depts have now focused efforts on Homeland Security and the need to recognize what can occur. The DCFD now operates a Single piece Engine Company. Increased Population means emergenies have reached the level to Tax the available resources. The DCFD has a responsibility to its citizens. When a major Incident occurs such as the Metro Train Tragedy vs the 1982 calls there has been noteable changes in every respect to the Region. The now 800mz Interoperability Radio aspect is a Blessing. Individual Talk Groups is one improvement that has been a Blessing in disguise. I can guarrantee that MCFRS didnot/wouldnot send any first line Appartus understaffed. The Staffing Level for MCFRS is 4-Staffing one of which must be a Paramedic. As fare as PGFD sending any first line Apparatus into a Mutual Aid Request is absolutely wtrong. I give the PGFD the benefit of the doubt. It just didn't/wouldn't occur. The days of DCFD handling the overwhelming call Load under such Disastrous conditions ie; Mass Casualty Incident. The EMS Factor plays amuch more important integral role today. The Mutual Aid Response was/is a critical important role. The BCCRS has assisted the DCFD numbers of times and years to keep Response times down when call load just simply prioritizes the DCFD Fire and EMS Dept Resources. Come on people for those individuals who really think in terms of waht was, has been. Those days and Times. We can all Learn from experiences of the Professionalism
DCFD has built over those years. Today that Professionalism continues with added Personel and Apparatus/Command Resources. The most important factor in any Major
Incident, or day to day exceptional taxing of emergency resources is "FIREFIGHTER SAFETY/EVERYONE GOES HOME"
In response to the negative comments about Pete Piringer "The Greatest" please people. I have Pete Piringer for a number of years. Pete will do an exceptional job, with DCFD. I can understand and appreciate the Loyalty shown to Allan Etter. I donot know the man. I have seen him on TV with DCFD reporting incident activity. I am quite sure just by watching him, he's intelligent knowledgeable and is an integral part with DCFD. The Firefighters
obviously have grown to know good and decent man. He has established
himself well. As for Pete Piringer I would hope each member of DCFD would allow Pete to become an integral part of the Dept. The comments speaking negatively about Pete were totally out of line and uncalled for. Think about it. Pete doesn't start DCFD/PIO until July 1st. why would he be on the scene when Allan Etter was there doing his job. Who among us can say why Allan etter didn't get the Primary PIO Position? Only the powers to be who in their thoughts about what is best for DCFD today have chosen Pete Piringer. It is simply wrong to make a premature judgemental opinion about Pete when he hasn't begun his job. As professionals of DC Fire and EMS Dept I would hope/ask that each and everyone within the DCFD allow Pete Piringer to demonstrate his Professional Skills and Abilities.
I am convinced both Pete Piringer and Allan Etter will work well together as a Top notch PIO Team.
Changing of the Guard does in fact
occur with today's Society. In Public Safety new ideas fresh eyes and thoughts can be/must be a welcome addition.
Thank You