Above is a video report produced by the DC Fire & EMS Department shortly after the 4th Street fire occurred.
Read final investigative report from the DC Fire & EMS Department
Watch raw video from DC Fire & EMS Department photographer Vito Maggiolo
Read NIOSH report on the fire
Click here & scroll down for previous coverage of this fire
About two years in the making, the DC Fire & EMS Department issued its internal review of a fire at 619 & 621 4th Street, NE that injured four firefighters. The 100-page report takes a detailed look at why the firefighters became trapped on the second floor of a rowhouse and were forced to bail out through the fire to safety.
STATter911.com received the report in November, but only this week was able to secure a digital copy to share with you.
Along with the report, we have streamed a video tour of the fire buildings and a discussion of preliminary findings. This video was recorded in the months immediately after the fire occurred. Chief Dennis Rubin hosts and narrates the 42-minute long video.
You will also find a link to the video shot during the fire by DC Fire & EMS Department photographer Vito Maggiolo.
We are occasionally contacted by people around the country looking for copies of two previous internal reports by the DC Fire & EMS Department. Below you will find links to the 1999 fire that killed Firefighter Louis Matthews and Firefighter Anthony Phillips and the 1997 fire that took the life of Sgt. John Carter.
Read the entire 248-page report from the May 30, 1999 fire at 3146 Cherry Road, NE
Read the entire 204-page report from the October 24, 1997 fire at 400 Kennedy Street, NW
Also on STATter911 …
- More raw video: DC two-alarm house fire on Girard Street with collapse. – May 7, 2012
- Raw video: DC firefighters rescue man from Potomac River in Georgetown. – May 25, 2011
- Rescue raw video: Man’s legs trapped by dough rolling machine in Washington, DC. – April 21, 2011
- Raw video: DC house fire on Channing Street, NE. – February 21, 2011
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Surprisingly candid. They admit not following SOPs, having poor situational awareness, poor communications, poor coordination, poor control. They admit to having done it wrong and they laid out a plan to fix it. Well that really sucks for the internet hacks who would have their secret say. What more can you add to this? The only thing worthy of note here is that there are no new lessons-only the old ones we never learned.
Haven’t read the report because the only thing that stood out was Denise Rubin narrating a video…..Once again another oppurtunity to make a buck off an incident…..Hey Dave I know you wont confront Rubin on anything because your buddy Piringer will tell you it isnt true, but here’s why he made the video….Dont think for a minute he made the video for this incident….
http://www.columbiasouthern.edu/podcast/fire_science/ob08/d-rubin.asp
Once again, he uses personnel while at work, to make a video for his personal project, on the DC Taxpayers dime and the DC Governments time….I’m sure Pete Piringer will get on Fox and say this was a Documentary dedicated to the fireman just like the Metro Train crash video. Speaking of the Metro crash, Rubin’s Lemonade Tour is on the road again, this time the tour stopped in Buffalo,NY yesterday and today for the Crossing Borders Conference. http://ecfire.wordpress.com/2010/02/25/youre-invited-crossing-borders-conference/
Also brought his Director of Community Affairs Billy Hayes(have to bring him because he played such a critical role) who makes over a 100K a year and when he is at work, makes power points on the DC Governments dime, so he can tour the country teaching people fire safety….And they talk about overtime being a problem!!!!!!
Don’t think the Lemonade Tour stops there..no sir…its off to Ontario,Canada next week…Hey Dave..didnt you interview Sir Lawrence Schultz last year when the Rubin Deposition video surfaced and told you the Fire Chief is at work 99% of the time from 6am – 7pm then its off to the ANC meetings????? Didn’t Chief Rubin say to you that he works 60-80 hours per week after you questioned him about being out of town after the Sprinkler Demo????? Dave does the media ever revisit what they report on…Apparently not..
Chris,
You are correct, Pete Piringer is my friend. I have never tried to hide that fact. We have been friends since we first worked together at PG Fire Communications in 1976.
As for the rest of what you have to say on the subject, I will let others be the judge of whether I will confront Dennis Rubin or any other fire chief.
My general philosophy is that I don’t do gotcha journalism and ambush interviews. I think that is done for show too many times. I will resort to that when I find public officials are refusing to talk to me or answer questions about important topics.
I do my best to be fair to people on all sides of the story, whether they are the fire chief or a new recruit. I am sure I am not always successful.
While I always think I can do a better job and believe the ADD that comes from essentially doing two full time jobs (a TV reporter and blogger)may not have me following stories as diligently as I wish I could, I will always let the readers be the judge of how I cover Dennis Rubin or any other fire chief.
I am also reasonably certain that I do not have the passion and motivation behind me that you do on this topic. That is why I am reasonably certain I won’t ever make you happy on how I cover Dennis Rubin.
Since his arrival almost three-years-ago STATter911.com has put more information out there about Chief Rubin and covered more stories involving him than any other news organization. I feel my job is to give our readers that information and let them judge the type of job he is doing. I also allow your comments to run when they meet our standards (actually you may be just a little borderline in doing your own reporting with this post, but I decided to let it go in an effort to make sure you were heard on the subject of me).
Chris, I always appreciate your input as I do with everyone who takes the time to write. I would appreciate some more insight into how I am failing to confront Chief Rubin.
Statter
This was just one of the many tactics I use from time to time. I decided to use one of my tactics to get your attention since you didnt answer your phone or email..lol……I see it worked…I know he is your friend and you dont have to explain it to me…it was all part of the plan…All my comments are borderline, but i tell it like it is and dont sugar coat it…. Ive talked to you plenty of times and know how busy you are….You do a great job of juggling the two and do a great service in providing us with news from all over the fire service….Give me a call or email and maybe you can give me some insight on how to become an investigative reporter….I’ll do the ambushing you do the reporting 10-4….This could be big Dave….Oh and I have ADD too…For now Im going into hiding for a few days due to Vermont bowing out to Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament.
Well done Dave keep doing your job like you have been.Don’t turn this into the Watch Desk.
I read the report and it was well written. Sometime we need to be reminded of the basics
First I am pleased to know all four firefighters are doing well. I appreciate Chief Rubin and the DCFD for passing along this informative video. Let this serve as a reminder of how quickly a “simple” house fire can turn into a catastrophic even. Stay safe out there!
Almost the same recommendations from Cherry Road, Kennedy Street and wasn’t Captain Coleman charged with one of the same charges and how come none of the Officers been disciplined? Or did the Department wait until time had passed so they couldn’t be Charged? I hope all individulals who have been charged simularly take note!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I must agree, the video and internal report is a great reminder and keeps us thinking of what could happen. I wish our department would do the same type of internal review report for the purpose of training and changing policy when needed.