NIOSH report on Boston restaurant fire does not mention alcohol or drugs. Autopsy reports not provided to investigators. Two more NIOSH reports on LODDs in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Read NIOSH report into August, 2008 LODDs in Boston

You may recall this headline and story in the Boston Herald on October 4, 2007 and a similar story in the Boston Globe. It followed the deaths of Firefighter Paul Cahill and Firefighter Warren Payne at an August 29, 2007 fire inside a West Roxbury restaurant. According to the Herald, “Paul J. Cahill, 55, had a blood alcohol level of .27 – more than three times the legal alcohol limit for motorists”. Both papers and other news media reported Payne had an unspecified amount of cocaine in his system.

STATter911.com and other fire service news media relayed those stories. The issue added fuel to the growing battle between the firefighters’ union and recently re-elected Mayor Thomas Menino. Menino called for a review of the fire department after the news surfaced.

Now, the NIOSH report into that fire has been released. It does not mention alcohol or illegal drugs. NIOSH makes note that its investigators were not able to access the autopsy report:

Note: There have been media reports of alleged substance abuse that were discovered during the toxicological screening of both victims. NIOSH repeatedly requested a copy of the autopsy reports through the fire department, district attorney’s office, and representatives of the families, but did not receive any toxicology reports; therefore, NIOSH is not able to comment on the alleged condition of the victims.

NIOSH has two more reports. Click here for the report on the mobile home fire in Craigsville, West Virginia that killed Lt. Johnnie Hammons and Firefighter Timothy Nicholas.

Click here for the report on the March, 2008 fire in Grove City, Pennsylvania that killed Firefighter Brad Holmes.

Also on STATter911 …

• Firefighter arrested on cop impersonation charges. Former West Virginia chief accused of pulling woman over. – August 19, 2011
• FireTruckBlog.com: Apartment building’s insurance company sues City of Boston & repair shops in connection with Lt. Kevin Kelley’s death. – January 8, 2011
• Handling bad news: PA’s West Hazleton FD responds to hooker’s claim of ‘booty call’ at ‘Pat the firefighter’s house’ along with one planned for firehouse. – November 12, 2011
• NIOSH says Bridgeport FD failed to respond to mayday calls in double LODDs. Many failures cited in deaths of Lt. Steve Velasquez & FF Michel Baik. – June 30, 2011