In the story above from ABC7/WJLA-TV Chief Kenneth Ellerbe says “If we they missed a bunch of calls while they were doing it then it was an outrageously bad decision”.
Click here to follow STATter911.com on Facebook (hit “like”)
Previous coverage of this story
The story I’ve dubbed “watergate” is making the news for the second night in a row in the Nation’s Capital. In fact, it is one of three different stories about the actions of the administration of the DC Fire & EMS Department that local reporters worked on today. Click here to check out our other post this evening. It covers the demotion of a lieutenant for not telling a TV crew to stop shooting video of a patient on a public street and for failing to wear a compliant jacket, along with the ACLU’s letter about recent disciplinary action against two battalion chiefs.
In two TV news reports this evening about “watergate” Chief Ellerbe says an investigation is being launched. In a third the chief told a reporter he would neither confirm nor deny the incident took place (and you wonder why I call it “watergate”).
UPDATE:
Andrea Noble, who broke the story for The Washington Times, talked to Mayor Vincent Gray on Tuesday who said he would “look into the allegations”. She also found a paper trail:
“It doesn’t sound like it would be appropriate, no matter how many calls we had,” he (Mayor Gray) said.
An internal department document obtained by The Washington Times shows that an official request to “fill water pool” was sent through the department Thursday, the day before the massive stormed knocked out power in large swaths of the region.
At the bottom of the “Special Events Notice,” the name “W. Wright” appears as the person who sent the request through the department. When reached at the phone number listed on the document, William Wright, who works for the fire department and is listed in D.C. personnel records as a customer service specialist, declined to comment.
Less than 24 hours after the storm roared through the city leaving ten of thousands without power, someone at the highest level of the fire department ordered Engine 30 out of service and told the sergeant in command to go to a home on 55th Street and fill its above-ground pool.
A man who lives across the alley from the yard with the pool says he watched from his porch as the firefighters pulled out the hose and filled the pool.
“I thought it was mighty strange but I have never seen that done before, you know, that a fire truck would come and fill you tank up for you,” says David Edwards.
DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTGA person who answered the phone at the home declined to comment and hung up.
The water is free to the fire department if it’s drawn from a hydrant, but homeowners have to pay for it.
Another neighbor told us she would never ask the city to fill up her pool even if she had one.
The “watergate” pool from WRC-TV.
“We have ports on the side of our homes where we can attach a water hose to it and fill it up ourselves,” says Vonnie Brawner. “But no, I wouldn’t, and I think the fire department should put the priorities in order.”
Ed Smith, President of the D.C. Firefighters Union, says he is astounded anyone would have ordered a private pool to be filled unless there was an actual emergency.
When asked if it was improper, Smith responded, “Yeah, I would say so. It’s highly unusual on a normal day, much less given a state of emergency as in Saturday, one day after the storm.”
Smith says he would like to know who ordered the pool to be filled and why.
“We as firefighters believe in being out in the community and participating as much as possible,” he says. “We cannot lose sight of our core mission, and our core mission is to respond to emergencies, whether it’s medical, fire, terrorism. We need to be in service for our core mission as much as possible.”
Smith estimates the engine was out of service for at least a half an hour filling the pool and then heading to a hydrant for a refill of its own.
A spokesperson for DC Water estimates it costs about $10 to fill up a pool of that size.
We asked D.C. Fire and EMS Chief Kenneth Ellerbe for a comment, but he would neither confirm nor deny that this took place. He did issue a statement that doesn’t address the filling of the pool.
In that statement, Chief Ellerbe says regarding inquiries on our storm-related activities during this past weekend:
“We feel that the real storm-related story is the fact that Fire and EMS responded to more than 1,550 calls during and after Friday’s storm. The department was staffed at 100% and our firefighters worked tirelessly through adverse weather and heat conditions.”
Stephen Tcshida, ABC7/WJLA-TV:
D.C. Fire Chief Kenneth Ellerbee says he is launching an investigation to find out who approved the request.
Ellerbee added, “I don’t know why they did it. I don’t think I would have done it. I know I would not have done it, but it may have been to help a citizen who was hot.”
But, union leaders say they have a pretty good idea who gave the pool priority.
Ed Smith, the president of Local 36, said, “It had to come down from headquarters.”
Who did it, why and who ordered it? In tax records, the owner of the townhouse at 324 55th St. NE is identified as Annie Marby, but no one at the home would talk to News4 Tuesday.
“Well, first I would think that the fire union would be talking about the great work that their members did over the weekend responding to the storm,” he said. “We don’t open hydrants ordinarily for anything other than firefighting operations or training, so we’ve got to look at what happened, investigate it.”
Do you want to sell a rig? Click HERE to find out how with SellFireTrucks.com.
Also on STATter911 …
- Watergate goes national. CNN gets to the bottom of the swimming pool scandal in the Nation’s Capital. – July 6, 2012
- Water-Gate II, The Sequel: DC firefighters fill another private swimming pool after chief tells CNN it wouldn’t happen again. – July 9, 2012
- Busy DC fire engine placed out of service to fill pool. Order came as firefighters scrambled to handle major storm workload. – July 3, 2012
- Three DC firefighters face discipline over appearing with President Obama without authorization. One of those in trouble publicly opposed Chief Kenneth Ellerbe’s uniform policy. – February 22, 2013
Comments
Powered by Facebook Comments
Jeez, Dave, I hope 10 minutes of tape doesn’t “disappear”. We might never find out who ordered the “break in” procedure.
Yada, yada,yada! C’mon dude! The swimming pool request must go through our highly acclaimed PIO office to get approved. There is a civilian PIO(The Karate Geriatric) and a BFC PIO (Lying…). Then the BFC tells the Engine Co. to report to the event. With units being deployed through out the city from the beginning of platoon #4 shift, well into the night , it makes no freak’n sense! While we were being used as the Urban Forestry division, you mean to tell me that Dirty 30 had to empty their 500 gal tanks twice to fill a pool. He reminds of a old Cameo song “Talking out the side of your neck”!
Chances are when and if the laughing stock of a fire chief, well that’s not his title, does launch an investigation chances are he will find a scapegoat, bring them up on phoney charges, and demote them.
It sounds like lrb wants us to….. maybe use our own common sense when we are given an order? NAAA. If we did that,we would all be on charges because our fems administrator has no common sense. We would all be disobeying orders from him.
LRB will just blame the PIO office for improperly sending out the notice to have the engine company do the pool filling.
He may even take a shot at some in the chain of command asking why none of them questioned the order due to the state of emergency. But members won’t do that as it will look like you are questioning LRB’s order, and most believe that this order originally came from LRB. So, if you were to speak up and question it, then you become a target.
On top of that, this person lives in the same ward as LRB, so most probably thought it was a friend/connection of his. Thus, you are definitely not going to question that as you will become the next on the hit list for questioning his order.
its you who doesnt have common sense you never have.also you are delusional at the very least.
Looks like the tank was a little rusty.
The “million dollar question” remains…who is the person who’s pool was filled? Was that person connected to/friends with the mayor, the fire chief,…? That is what everyone wants to know.
We have filled pools for years. That must make us years ahead of DC…
From all i have been reading about DCFD it sounds like it is being run by many of the same politicians running our country. I feel sorry for the dedicated men and women that protect the citizens and serve in a department that once was one many dreamed of wanting to work for.
There going to blame it on misinformation and trickery and say they thought it was for a dunk tank at a Day Care.
How about some of you have an open mind and quite possibly maybe the Engine boss “knew” or was somehow connected to this person and helped them fill their friends pool. I just honestly cant come to full conclusion it was all of Ellerbe or his coherts that put this order in. I vaguely remember from awhile back that an Engine went to watch or play a tennis match out of their first due. Granted they still said they were “inservice”, but stuff like this happens!
I think if you read the excerpt from The Washington Times reporter’s article you will see that there is actually paperwork about this incident that indicates it didn’t start at the station level.
Statter
You are correct Dave. Normally any type of Public Service request, i.e., display apparatus, install a smoke detector, participate in a parade, etc. is submitted via a Special Event Form to the office of the PIO. Once approved, the form is forwarded to the DFC-Operations who will then forward the approved request to the respective BFC, who will notify the respective company.
The form will specify if the unit is to remain in-service or out of service. There is also a requested time to report to the requested location so there is no need for the unit to be dispatched via the OUC, nor does the OIC have to determine if the unit will remain in service or not.
Thanks Dave sorry I didn’t catch that the first time. Although I’m still not 100% sure it was Ellerbe…or just Ellerbe ALONE!
There was a ( Sergeant ) in charge of Eng 30…. A Sgt. does not have the authority to place his company OOS. The order has to come from a Battalion or Deputy Chief’s office….
Does this guy EVER stop lying!!! Investigation, he all ready knows who ordered it… If he did not, let’s – lay out how he could find out. Drive over to engine 30 and walk into the firehouse. Just as you did at Engine9 on U Street… So we know you have no problem popping in on people. Go to the WATCH DESK, pick up the journal, and look at WHO was in charge. Then look at when the Engine went out of service, I am sure it was entered in the Daily Journal, time out of service and ordered by whom. If it came down from the BFC, call him directly, then he can tell you who told him to do it, and then call that person. After you are done, you will probably track it all the way back to Somebody. Total time of investigation, about 15 MINUTES…. It is interesting how Every Jurisdiction around us, let’s just say within the COG, all have Public Information Officers (PIO) who will get in front of the camera, and tell the public, much needed information about things going on in there area. BUT, In Washington DC, the Nations Capitol, where is our PIO, What a F####### Joke… Here is a Guy, your Buddy, making a $100,000 plus a year, and don’t do Sh##…. Cronyism lives in all colors, worst part, it’s so in the tax payers Face, but they roll over like sheep. I was going to give you all the opportunities to do the right thing and be the Chief that some people said you could be… In the end, you are a real piece of work, I have never – until now, worked for someone who as a Chief, is such an EMBARSEMENT, and I have worked for several Chiefs on this job. You are by far, the WORST. You have drug this great department lower than anyone in my time on the job! One day, you and your embarrassing team of lying cronies will hit the road, and it can’t come soon enough. By the way, while you are at Engine30, you may want to do a refrigerator inspection also… A## H###
DCFDmember … you are so on target with your prediction I’m not so sure your real name isn’t LRB … that is exactly the way it will play out and Moe, Larry, and Curly (LRB, AFCO Timmy, and Lonnie) will continue to reign supreme until the day that King Vincent the Last’s rule of incompetence comes to an end … and don’t believe the hype, the crypt keeper isn’t going anywhere until the next election … too many court jesters who may have kissed the ring but do not wear one to take the fall(s) for him
Do not let this story die, Dave. It reeks.
Reeks of what? If this was E-5, 29, 31 or 20 it wouldn’t be a blip on the radar screen!!!
Don’t be ignorant. To take busiest company, on what will more than likely be the busiest day out of the year, and pull this crap is unacceptable. And had any other company done the same thing, the same would apply. Just say what you’re really trying to say!!
It doesn’t matter who’s area it is in, You dont do that when the city is in a state of emergency.
have dave investigate the union
FYI, Dave doesn’t investigate anyone anymore.
Well, I for one am completely confident with this clear and transparent administration that a 264 hour suspension and demotion is in the works as soon as the dastardly person who gave the order is found out…
And now we know why THIS story surfaced
There appear to be 3 parts to this story.
#1 – That E-30 was sent to fill a pool (not something the DCFD does) during a state of emergency when the call volume was extremely high.
#2 – How many calls were dispatched in E-30′s area during the time they were out of service filling the pool? The one news report stated that there was a high priority medical call involving a child patient not far from E-30 during the time they were out of service performing this task.
#3 – Who is the person who lives at that residence? Is the person friends/connected to someone high up in city government or the fire department? How was this request made and who made it?
We know most of the facts about #1, and more about #2 needs to be learned. The biggie though is #3. That may be the root of this entire situation if this was done per a high ranking city politician or high ranking fire department member as a favor to this person.
Anonymous,
Please educate us.
Who ordered the CODE RED KENNETH???????…..OH….Lon “No *alls” Walls did…silly me….
I just wonder if paramedic engine companies are so important why would anybody place them OOS. Must not be to inportant so place the medics on the ambo and they would not be OOS to fill pools, cut trees, afa, and multiple alarms. What a joke it never gets better.
So (likely) a High ranking officer places a busy engine out if service to fill a pool while WASA is restricting water use in MD and while DC is in. State of emergency and your solution is…take medics off engines? Seriously? What do medics have to do with any part of this blatant misuse of authority?
Hilarious!!!!!!!! Ok I get it. A pool at private residence should be filled by the homeowner. But please stop acting like Engine 30 being out of service for an hour that the fire dept was going to implode. LOL!!!!!!!! Listening and watching a select number of co workers whine and complain about a fire chief who is going no-where is better than reading a copy of the National Enquirer. LOL!
He was actually throwing another log on the fire. We are very short on medics and in an area where EMS call volume is high on a normal day, why take a thin resourse out of the equation? On normal days if an engine has to go OOS they put the medic on the truck, ambulance, or another engine. Again…this persons pool seemed to justify the expenditure of vital resourses.
Ken said it himself when he FINALLY spoke to the press…”maybe they were just hot”! Ya…kinda like the thousands of other citizens and the firefighters and EMS workers working to deal with the emergency.
EllerBOY…you just plain suck!
If this were the fire chief in my city, as a taxpayer, I’d be all over my council member and mayor about firing this guy. The only publicity coming out of DCFD, is negative, and INVOLVES HIM. I’ll be the first to admit, I ‘m not much of a fan of the IAFF. However, I hope they own this idiot cheif, and the District. Good luck DCFD. From the way it looks and smells, you’ll need it!
If some of you read the excerpt above, it shows who owns the house according to tax records done by a news crew. I’ll make it simple for you, Annie Marby, granted it’s unknown how old the tax records are but I’m sure they are pretty recent.
Dave i almost forgot. if you have not seen the co opted video of hitler and the shift guy, DO IT! its a crack up
that gives me an idea for this case
how a bout a few good men for this case, but lets get Lt Alvarado doing the questioning (please somebody with tech savvy do this)
LRB”you want answers”
Alvarado”i think i’m entitled”
LRB”YOU want ANSWERS
Alvarado”I WANT THE TRUTH”
LRB”you cant handle the truth. son we live in a world where swimming pools have to be filled on hot days, whos gonna do it? you?, the PIO?
Alvarado”chief LRB, did you order the pool filled?”
LRB” you’re goddam righ it did!”
come on dave…you know its priceless
Paramedic engine has everything to do with it. Its ok for medics to be OOS to fill pools. I just hope the people of the city wont need them when they are OOS. ME I hope you or your family wont need that resource when they are filling swimming pools wake up.
How did DC engine companies manage to do anything before those almighty paramedics started riding them? LOL!!!!!!!!!!
So taking medics off of fire engines makes this issue go away? If this had been a non Paramedic Engine Company it would have been ok because an ALS resource wasn’t taken away?
Medics are irrelevant here. The fact that it was one of the busiest companies in the city doesn’t even matter. What is at issue here is the fact that if there had been a fire in their 1st due they would have been out of service with hose on the ground emptying their tank into a private pool with WASA water and entirely unable to respond while other companies responded from a greater distance giving the fire more time to grow, destroy property, and trap/injure occupants. Had there been a medical emergency (and it sounds like there was) NO ONE would have been able to respond, ALS or BLS, meaning NO care would have been provided. Period. The issue would be the same for ANY company in the same situation.
Im not going to argue that DCFD does not horribly mismanage its ALS resources, but that is a much larger and more complex issue for a different day.
Ok..Annie Marby owns the property. Now… What makes her entitled to getting a pool filled during a state of emergency? What makes her more important then a child with difficulty breathing? What makes her more important then the other citizens calling 911?
IF… this administration WAS… transparent, this wouldn’t be an issue.
As I figured, it was neither Ellerbe nor “administration”. The pool filling was ordered at the station level by a BC!!! Quit your God Damn crying FEMS.
It’s DCFD tool box, and the order came down from someone higher than the BFC. Requests have to go through a number of higher ranking officials before they reach him.
Dave, link the CNN story!!! Another Battalion Chief getting ready to be scapegoated!!! Transfer? Demotion? According to the reporter there is no connection between the requester and DCFEMS. Another news agency at a prior time reported the requester was a DCFEMS “customer service” employee!!! Smoke and mirrors!!! Lon Walls…. Can you splain please?!?!?! LOL…
Make Annie Marby paid for the water, workers and the gas for the truck.
it look like she was going to have a pool party, with DC Fire Department help, look at
the yard all those tables and chairs.