Off-duty firefighter makes rescue at Chicago high-rise: Fifteen months on the job, Jason Durbin was working part time at an ambulance company on Sunday afternoon when he spotted the fire at Bryant House on Chicago’s North Side. Durbin says he climbed 28 flights to find a burned woman on a hallway floor. The firefighter carried her down. Click here to read more about the fire.
Statter blew the story of the Florida chief still on the DC payroll: Back during the second week of June, STATter911.com received a couple of tips that DC Fire & EMS Department Chief Kenneth Ellerbe was days away from being named as the new chief of the fire department in Sarasota County, Florida. That proved accurate when the announcement was made on June 17. The other part of that tip included information that Chief Ellerbe, at age 49, was about a year short on qualifying for a benefit that would allow him to start receiving his retirement pay at age 50 instead of 55. A significant amount of money (now reported at about $600,000) would be left on the table. Our tipsters told us that a deal was in the works to help out Chief Ellerbe in this matter. We contacted the administration of Chief Dennis Rubin to confirm such a deal was happening. We were told emphatically and on the record by department officials that there was no deal and there wouldn’t be one on Chief Ellerbe’s retirement. Well, shame on STATter911.com for not following-up on that story. As David C. Lipscomb reports in The Washington Time today, Chief Ellerbe is still an employee of the DC Fire & EMS Department while still serving as Sarasota County’s chief. Chief Ellerbe is officially on “leave without pay” until his birthday in April. Department PIO Pete Piringer (not on staff when our initial calls were made) tells Lipscomb, ”He had the years [of service] but not the age. They’re waiting for him to get to 50.” Here’s the story.
One fire engine and one firefighter apparently not enough for this house fire: In Millville, California a woman is is asking for changes after it took about 15-minutes for the first engine to arrive after her home caught fire in October. That engine showed up driver-only and three of the woman’s neighbors (two former and one current Cal Fire employees) handled the hoses. Read more.
Off-duty firefighter shot during apparent road-rage incident: A Milton, Massachusetts firefighter and his girlfriend were driving through Quincy when there was a reported confrontation with the driver of another car. The word is that the driver of a sports car kept hitting the brakes while in front of Firefighter Joseph Fasano’s car. Police say the two men got out of their cars and into a confrontation where Fasano was shot once in the abdomen. Read and watch the story.
State association is rallying around union president suspended over speaking out: The New York State Professional Firefighters Association wants firefighters from around the state to show up at the Johnson City Village Board meeting on Tuesday. They are protesting the suspension without pay of Captain Marty Meaney. Meaney is charged by the mayor with insubordination in comments to the press and at a public meeting. Here the latest. Here’s the earlier coverage with the charging documents.
Wife’s free spending causes hazmat: A woman in Rockland, Massachusetts was trying to hide her spending from her husband. She just didn’t let her daughter in on the plan. The confusion brought a hazmat response to the daughter’s home. Click here for an explanation.
Cumberland union still in a battle over reorganization: In Western Maryland, Cumberland officials are having to deal with the union to change the make up of the fire department. While the idea of going to a volunteer force seems dead, there are still serious issues, including bumping lieutenants back to fire engineers. Click here for the latest.
DC roof operations: Video a neighbor shot from a Northwest house fire.
NJ video: A three-alarm house fire in Hasbrouck Heights.
Also on STATter911 …
- DC fire chief faced sexual harassment claim in Sarasota County, FL. Washington Times questions why Kenneth Ellerbe wasn’t fully vetted by Mayor Vincent Gray. – March 6, 2012
- Chief Kenneth Ellerbe responds: Live interview this morning discussing sexual harassment claims when chief was in Florida. – March 8, 2012
- UPDATED: A new week & DC fire is still in the news. Chief Kenneth Ellerbe says media stories are sensationalistic & unfair. – March 12, 2012
- DC Chief Kenneth Ellerbe defends plan to remove all ALS transport units from overnight hours. Says citizens better served moving medics to peak demand hours. – November 13, 2012
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Let me get this straight… That lady thinks OK to use the elevators if you’re on the 22nd floor. What is the purpose of “In Case of Fire Emergency, Do Not Use Elevator – Use Exit Stairs” signs?
“We contacted the administration of Chief Dennis Rubin to confirm such a deal was happening. We were told emphatically and on the record by department officials that there was no deal and there wouldn’t be one on Chief Ellerbe’s retirement.”
Will there be a follow-up with these on-the-record fire department officials? Methinks the strain on the morale of the department that the council member Mendelson referred to will continue, not only because of the Ellerbie fiasco, but also as long as these “mistruths” are commonplace.
This story is not over and should not be allowed to die on the vine.
There is no Ellerbe fiasco!!! Any employee can take up to one year off without pay. There is nothing illegal there. It is right in the books.