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From Dallas, Texas, the news, apparently official … social media has taken over the news business. Actually this is old news. The video above has been on YouTube since 2010, but I realized I had never shared it with you. You see, those in the news business don't just make fun of you, they also make fun of themselves.
Read more about the video from KDFW-TV.
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This is what it has come to around the country. Firefighters in San Bernardino, California are so fed up with cuts and the related politics from City Hall they think the way to remove or reduce the political factor is to have an elected fire chief. While the ballot initiative IAFF Local 891 wants to propose to the citizenry is still a work in progress, what they are talking about seems to be the kind of structure that provides the kind of autonomy an elected sheriff usually has.
In recent years San Bernardino has seen 25 firefighter positions vanish and minimum staffing drop from four to three.
The firefighters will need 12,000 signatures if this idea is to make it on the ballot. Under this early version of the proposal, the first chief would be elected in the 2014 general election and would run the department without interference from the mayor or city council. The chief would also have the power to appoint some key staff members.
More details from Joe Nelson at Redland Daily Facts:
"Too often, the current administration at City Hall has injected politics into the management and operations of our Fire Department," said union President Scott Moss in a statement Thursday.
An elected fire chief, Moss said, would remove the taint of politics from decisions affecting hiring, promotions and fire protection policies at the department.
Sixth Ward City Councilman Rikke Van Johnson said he is unaware of any municipalities in California that have an elected fire chief, and that only 4.5 percent of city firefighters reside in San Bernardino.
"Out of 179 fire firefighters, there are only eight that live in the city. That's problematic to me," Johnson said.
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In Vacaville, California, Firefighter Louis Jones had a rather unique experience. Jones and his fellow firefighters responded yesterday morning to a medical call at a mobile home park in the 1000 block of Nut Tree Road. Something seemed quite familiar in the home where the emergency was located. The first thing to catch the eye of Firefighter Jones was a yellow plastic block that looked like the one he had until a week earlier. Jones' vanished, along with other items, when the home he was preparing to rent out was burglarized a week earlier.
"I was kind of in shock, " Jones said. "Wow, I used to have something like that, and kind of looked around and saw some of the tools laying there that looked sort of familiar."
Jones and fellow firefighters finished their call and then he called police.
It didn't take long for officers to recover Jones' washing machine and dryer, a lawn mower and a number of his personal effects.
Police arrested 47-year old Ricky Mankini, of Vacaville, and booked him into the Solano County Jail for possession of stolen property.
Unfortunately, Jones still hasn't recovered a quad he loved to ride and a number of other items, but police are still investigating.
Vacaville police contacted Mankini at the hospital, wherehe was visiting his housemate, Jones said. A search of Mankini's vehicle revealed more stolen items and Mankini was arrested for possession of stolen property and booked into the Solano County jail, Lopez said.
"The only thing we recovered was the washer and dryer, a lawn mower, some paint, hinges, paint brushes and keepsakes — beer steins with firefighting related artwork," Jones said.
"Ninety percent of the stuff is still missing," Jones said. He estimates it's worth between $8,000 and $10,000.
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Several businesses have been left in ruins after a blaze engulfed a three-storey building in a Surrey strip mall early Thursday morning.
The extent of the damage is not yet known and the cause of the blaze is still being investigated. Firefighters spent hours battling the blaze at 83rd Avenue and Scott Road. The fire rapidly spread through the building, devastating several businesses, including restaurants and a gym.
About 10 fire trucks, three rescue trucks and 46 firefighters responded to the blaze and had it under control by 7:30 a.m., though crews remained on scene targeting remaining hot spots.
No injuries have been reported in connection with the blaze, but a BC Hydro worker who is believed to have fallen down near the scene was loaded into an ambulance.
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Audio from the fire, additional video & pictures at Monroe County Fire Wire
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A fire a week ago on Locust Street in Rochester, New York has become the center of a controversy. The union president says budget cuts and a fire department reorganization put lives and safety at risk. The fire chief says otherwise. Four firefighters and four civilians were hurt during the blaze (see the story below about their charred PPE).
President Jim McTiernan went on to detail various fire units that were out of service at the time that this fire was called in as well as the location of a Battalion Chief who had to respond from South Avenue because another Battalion Chief post was recently eliminated.
McTiernan’s letter also detailed the need for a round-the-clock Group Safety Officer that happened to be present at this fire scene but had been cutback on various shifts due to budgetary restraints. A letter McTiernan sent to those same city leaders last week argued the union’s objections and concerns to cuts that lowered the number of on-duty firefighters from 99 to 86 over Fire Chief Caufield’s 4-Year Plan.
Fire Chief (John) Caufield fired back late Wednesday with a response of his own during an interview with 13WHAM News. Chief Caufield said he disputes nearly every word of McTiernan’s letter and said that 13 firefighters were on-scene at Locust Street in four minutes and a total of 26 were on scene in eight minutes. Caufield also pointed to a report from a senior officer, and a union member, who was at the fire scene and applauded the efforts and decisions of the firefighters that day.
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The news from New York indicates that New York's finest are now dealing with the opposite problem that is facing DC's bravest. It's a story that is worth paying attention to whether you are police officer or a firefighter.
As we've covered extensively, a recent order in the Nation's Capital banned on-duty wearing of any firefighter provided outer wear that has the DCFD logo on it. In New York, the city's top cop says you can't wear or use any items that say NYPD while off-duty without getting special permission. Reports indicate this came about after Commissioner Raymond Kelly saw a shirt with the NYPD logo and a controversial quote.
The Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association thinks this is infringing on the constitutional rights of police officers.
Here's coverage from a variety of sources.
From the AP:
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly has issued an order saying the department must approve clothing branded with the New York Police Department logo before officers can wear it.
Kelly said Wednesday the order is meant to make sure nothing inflammatory or derogatory appears with the logo. There have been instances where clothing says "NYPD" and also states something negative. He says officers are still police, even when they're off duty.
Kelly says the order is common sense, and no employer would allow the brand name of the company or organization to be used without authorization.
Union officials say the directive goes too far. Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch says telling police officers what they can wear in their private lives is a violation of free speech rights.
Some of taboo shirts’ slogans included the 81st Precinct’s “Bed Stuy do or die’’ and a shirt popular with homicide detectives that says, “Our day begins when your day ends.”
But some shirts have caused offense — such as one worn by some cops in Harlem that dubs the 30th Precinct the “House of Pain.”
Others disliked by brass include one that calls the 32nd Precinct in Hamilton Heights the “Tomb of Gloom.”
According to the new rule, officers are not allowed to wear any sort of clothing or accessories with the department's image on them while off the clock.
Prohibited items include hats, pins, jewelry and clothing.
The ban also applies to non-clothing items like pens, mugs and ceremonial coins.
The order targets "any item of apparel which contains a Department logo or shield, or in any way identifies its wearer with the New York City Police Department unless approved by the Uniform and Equipment Review Committee, prior to being worn by a member of the service, uniformed or civilian, on or off-duty."
Pat Lynch, president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, said that the order goes too far and threatens officers’ constitutional rights.
“Telling police officers what images or objects he or she can own or wear in their private lives is a clear violation of the officers’ free speech rights,” Lynch said in a statement. “Many private citizens proudly wear NYPD apparel — and police officers can’t? It makes no sense. The PBA believes the order is patently unlawful and we will defend our members’ rights.”
One police source confirmed that the new restrictions came on the heels of Kelly spotting an officer wearing a T-shirt with the NYPD logo and a controversial quote.
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This is a fire yesterday in the 1500 blk Sheffield Avenue in Northeast Baltimore, Maryland. IAFF Local 734 reports the closest engine company was closed for the day. The union also reports three firefighters suffered minor burns.
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Above is Guy Zampatori video of a house fire yesterday on Dartmouth Avenue in Rochester, New York.
From an article by Victorie E. Freile at democratandchronicle.com:
The fire at 215 Dartmouth Avenue was called in about 12:45 p.m. by dozens of people in the neighborhood who saw smoke pouring from the roof of the three-story structure, said Fire Chief John Caufield.
Firefighters arrived to find flames shooting from the second floor, and upon entering the home saw that the fire had spread throughout the interior walls and ceilings of the house.
Firefighters began fighting the blaze inside, but changed tactics and left the home, fighting it instead from the outside, Caufield said.
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This fire occurred at Winthrop and Acacia, but there is no indication when it happened.
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Watch video tribute to Pontiac Fire Department
Pontiac's financial emergency lead to the disbanding of the fire department.
Waterford Township has a $6 million annual contract to fill the void. It will employ most of the Pontiac firefighters.
"We have to build new bonds and be professionals for the good of the citizens of this community," said Cpt. Matthew Nye.
The plan is to evenly deploy Waterford firefighters and former Pontiac firefighters in each community. Two Pontiac fire stations will close.
Tuesday afternoon, the firefighters prepared their final meal together as a Pontiac Fire Department. Forty-two of them will make the move to Waterford.
Several other are in the process of joining Waterford’s Fire Department.
Throughout the day, many people have been stopping by the building to support those worked there. "We’ve got guys that are off duty that have been here all day,” said Fortney.
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Make sure you watch the video above and see how much difference one man with a few fire extinguishers can make. This is a fire on Luwum Street in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. It turns out the man who jumped into action has been in the fire protection business for a good part of his life. According to The Monitor he is Arthur Ruhyama Acaali, a trader of fire-fighting equipment, who is in business near where the fire broke out and has jumped into action during previous fires in the area. His nickname is Arthur Fire. Here's how the Monitor describes what Acaali did:
There is smoke escaping into the air, a crowd on the streets has gathered just outside Namaganda plaza, and then the tongues of fire appear, leaping and tossing about. And that's when he appears on the scene, with his unmistakable shaven head, down at the centre of the flames, his right hand swinging back and forth, emptying a jet of white liquid onto the fire from a fire extinguisher he held.
He is seen pulling aside bags, sacks and clothes, retrieving what little he can from the flames. Moments later, screeching sirens announce the arrival of fire trucks.
The video clip ends with him pulling a water hose from the fire engine, to where a few obstinate embers of fire are still lit up.
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Jason Low, STATter911.com reader and a firefighter at Redwood Meadows Emergency Services in for Redwood Meadows Emergency Services in Alberta, Canada sent us this information about a fire last night at a service station:
Redwood Meadows Emergency Services (RMES) along with mutual aid partners from Cochrane, Springbank, Elbow Valley, Priddis, Madden, and Langdon all worked together to extinguish a gas/service station that caught fire at 8:20pm MST Monday night. Initial reports are that a car being worked on inside the service bays contained gasoline fumes which were ignited by the overhead heater. One person sustained minor injuries.
Bragg Creek's commercial district is comprised largely of unsprinklered wooden structures. The fact that this was held to the building of origin and did not spread to the very close by strip shopping mall and another gas station can be directly attributed to effective water (tanker) shuttles and frequent pre-plan/table-top exercises by RMES.
A Bragg Creek gas station has been destroyed by a gas-fed fire, despite desperate attempts by fire crews to contain the blaze.
Firefighters spent hours battling an inferno Monday night, sparked inside a garage at the Bragg Creek Husky station on the corner of Highway 22 and Highway 22X.
Residents reported that gas inside the southwest station ignited sometime after 8 p.m.
Click here for a series of still pictures from CalgarySun.com.
Rob Evans, deputy fire chief with Redwood Meadows, said the blaze could have been far worse.
“Crews did a great job of saving it from going into the newer mall in Bragg Creek, as well as the old mall, “ he said.
Propane tanks in a cage outside of the gas station were whistling, said Evans — venting and ready to blow.
Evans said the preliminary cause of the fire is gasoline vapours from a vehicle being worked on in the shop at the time, ignited by a unit heater in the ceiling.
Video below by David Schuurman.
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This is from a house fire yesterday in Greeley, Colorado at 1312 28th Avenue. The play-by-play is by Scooter McGee of NEWSTALK 1310 KFKA radio.
Here are details from an article by Dan England at Greeley Tribune.com:
A fire fed by exploding welding tanks engulfed a home in central Greeley in minutes and scorched another Sunday afternoon.
Jacob Rodriguez, who was renting the home from Leroy Measner, was welding in the garage when a piece of the melted metal fell to the ground and caught some grease on fire. He tried to put it out but couldn’t and escaped before acetylene and oxygen tanks exploded.
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St. Louis house fire: A fire yesterday at 4152 Parker Avenue in South St. Louis.
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Courage for Kyle: The Barnegat Fire Company in New Jersey is now selling Courage for Kyle Bracelets. Kyle, the 11-year-old son of Firefighter Gene McGetrick, has been battling cancer for seven years. We first became aware of Kyle in December when there was an impromptu fire truck parade in front of his house. Firefighters from around the world have sent messages and patches to Kyle after Glenn Usdin's FireTruckBlog.com ran the story of the parade. If, like me, you listened to Kyle on the Internet radio show last week with Anthony Avillo and Jim Duffy, you probably recognized that these should be Courage for Us bracelets. Kyle is clearly not lacking in that department. Click here to learn how to buy one and to hear the interview in case you missed it.
Final day for special FDNY Rescue 2 Mayday Fund offer: Check out Willie Wines Jr. at IronFiremen.com as he writes about the last day of the week long offer from MN8-FoxFire to donate 50% of web sales to the FDNY Rescue 2 Mayday Fund.
Tough economic time, the 1990s version: A look back to when Massachusetts' Chelsea Fire Department was among the busiest and, at the same time, working with little resources. Click here for the video.
'The real heroes are the firefighters': Nice words from Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel after alerting a neighbor that her house was burning. Here's the story.
A good lesson on handling a bad story: It is never good news when you learn a firefighter has been busted for drugs and money laundering and may have been doing some of the dirty work on the job. But it appears to me, based only on what I have seen and read about the story, the Albuquerque fire chief has made many of the right moves in dealing with this unfortunate set of circumstances. Click here.
Three vehicles & fire engine in fatal wreck: FireTruckBlog.com has the story of Saturday's deadly wreck in Denver.
Firefighter rescue video on the web: I only recently discovered (thanks to a loyal reader) that video from the rescue of a New Hyde Park, New York firefighter after a flashover just short of a year ago, has been on YouTube for a few months. It is now posted on STATter911.com.
Freedom of speech & social media issues abound: I have put together a series of links and information about a sudden influx of stories involving freedom of speech in the firehouse, cameras and social media.
The Geezer becomes THE Fire Critic for a day: Some nerve of Bill Schumm to move in on the territory staked out by Preston Fleitz at FireCritic.com. But Bill takes on television and its portrayal of fire and rescue types and possible promise for a new series.
NVFC has some awards to give out: The National Volunteer Fire Council is now accepting nominations for the NVFC Lifetime Achievement Award and the Fire Prevention Award. Click here for details.
Fatal fire in Syracuse: One of our readers alerted us to a fire in Syracuse, New York early Friday morning that left a woman dead. Read the story. Watch the story.
Special message from Chief John Salka on an upcoming fundraiser for an important cause: "Listen up! Come out and support two FDNY veterans who are fighting the biggest battle of their lives, CANCER!! My two friends Lt. Patrick Sullivan and FF Steve Troche, both of TL-58 in the Bronx are both battling cancer. The Brothers at E-45, L-58 and B-18 are stepping up and running 'Firefighters Fighting Back Against Cancer' on Saturday, Feb. 25 at MULCAHY'S PUB in Wantagh NY. For all you L.I., NYC and NJ guys and gals, come out for a great night with beer, food, beer, raffles, beer, auctions, beer and a 50/50 raffle. Come out and join the 'Vyse Guys' for a night of brotherhood and support. See you there!! Questions, call 718-430-0245."
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Listen to the interview with Kyle and Gene McGetrick
Address to send patches – Barnegat Fire Company No.1, P.O. Box 539, Barnegat, New Jersey 08005 (write "Kyle" on the envelope)
Read original story with hundreds of your comments on Glenn Usdin's FireTruckBlog.com
I hope many of you heard the interview with 11-year-old Kyle McGetrick last week on Jim Duffy and Anthony Avillo's Fire Engineering Talk Radio show. If, like me, you listened to every word of it, you realize what a remarkable young man Kyle is. Here's the link, in case you missed it.
For those who don't know, Kyle is the son of Barnegat Fire Company Firefighter Gene McGetrick (while overshadowed by his son during the interview, you will find that Gene is pretty amazing himself). Kyle has been fighting an extremely difficult battle with cancer since he was four. The prognosis is not good, but Kyle's outlook and bravery are something to marvel at. During the interview, his father told the recent story of how Kyle wanted to get back home from the hospital right away when having a PICC line inserted into his chest. Rather than wait for an anesthesiologist, which would delay his departure, Kyle insisted on getting it done without anesthesia.
When Jim and Anthony were talking about a recent large fire in New Jersey, without missing a beat, Kyle immediately asked them if all the firefighters got home safely. While we are worried about him, Kyle's focus is on the firefighters.
For those who may not be familiar with our coverage of Kyle, the Barnegat Fire Company put on what they thought would be a small pre-Christmas parade of fire trucks in front of the boy's house. Before it was done, 100 fire vehicles from Ocean County, New Jersey went by the house. Then, after Glenn Usdin's FireTruckBlog.com brought that story to the fire service, a virtual parade started as firefighters from around the world sent hundreds of messages and patches to Kyle.
Kyle said he's received more than 500 patches. Kyle greatly appreciates the generosity and loves going through the patches, but said on the radio show that the one from Station 11 (Barnegat Fire Company) is still his favorite. Who can blame him?
Now comes word that you can purchase a Courage for Kyle bracelet.for $5 each. Here is the link.
And here is the official message of thanks from Kyle that is posted on Station 11's website:
Kyle would like to tell thank you to everyone who sent patches, shirts, and helmets. He enjoys having his dad reading the letters he received, and loves seeing where all the fire departments are from. Humbled and affected by such an outpouring of support from our brothers and sisters.
But if you want to hear Kyle and his dad tell you themselves, I encourage you to take the time to listen to the interview.
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Just a look back that someone posted to YouTube yesterday.
That's a nice headline. Fortunately it is being heard around the country because of attention a house fire Thursday in the Village of Loch Lloyd in Missouri has received. The fire has made the news outside of Kansas City because the people who own the home that burned in the Cass County gated community live near Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel. And their famous neighbor was the one who spotted the fire.
Neighbors told KMBC 9 News that Cassel's wife first spotted the smoke and flames coming from the home's chimney. Cassel ran to his neighbor's house, rang the doorbell, pounded on the front door and started to circle the house until he saw the woman who lives there come outside.
The woman said she didn't realize her house was on fire until the Cassels acted.
No one was hurt in the fire. Late Friday night, Cassel called a neighbor and gave permission for the man to relay a message to Judy.
"I wasn't heroic at all," Cassel said. "I just ran up to the house and alerted them. The real heroes are the firefighters."
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Based on the TV stories I've watched, and what I have read on various new sites, Albuquerque Fire Chief James Breen is providing a good lesson on how to handle the bad news. On Thursday, one of his firefighters was arrested as part of a large drug and money laundering ring. Often when these things happen there is a tendency to circle the wagons with chiefs looking for any excuse to delay or not to talk. Reporters are told, "it's a personnel matter" and "it's currently under investigation". None of those phrases came from Chief Breen.
The chief made sure his voice was heard in the original stories on Thursday, providing a clear statement about his dissatisfaction upon hearing the news. On Friday, he met with reporters and had some very strong statements about the impact of this arrest.
In addition, it appears the chief helped reporters verify an aspect of this story that has to be very troubling for the department. The chief let it be known that AFD is investigating deposits as part of the money laundering scheme that may have been made while Firefighter Steve Chavez was in uniform, on duty and on a fire truck.
As long as there are no bombshells involving Firefighter Chavez's employment the department is not disclosing, I am giving the chief an "A" for getting the bad news out and behind them as soon as possible.
You may recall Chief Breen also had to recently deal with an engine company that was spotted out of district, apparently to handle a water leak at a firefighter's residence. Breen also made STATter911.com when a TV station, looking at labor management troubles, focused on one of those text to movie videos that was quite critical of the chief.
Watch the interview above with Chief Breen and read the quotes below on the latest issue.
From the AP:
Federal authorities said Friday they've taken down two major drug trafficking and money laundering operations in different parts of New Mexico, one involving an Albuquerque firefighter and the other southern New Mexico pecan growers.
In one case, 15 men living in the Albuquerque area were named in a 29-count federal indictment that was announced Friday by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Gonzales.
Prosecutors said those arrested included Steve Chavez, 32, a seven-year veteran of the Albuquerque Fire Department.
The department said Friday it has not heard from Chavez, who was scheduled to report for duty Saturday morning.
Officials said his future with the department would be decided soon.
"Firefighters stand and fight for what is good and honorable in this world and if these allegations are true, firefighter Steve Chavez has betrayed his profession and his fellow firefighters," Fire Chief James Breen said in a statement.
“Apparently Mr. Chavez had a secret life that nobody knew about,” Breen said. “Some of the allegations state he may have some connection with drug cartels.”
“If these allegations are true, then Firefighter Steve Chavez has not only betrayed his profession but also his fellow firefighters,” Breen said. “I can say that the Albuquerque Fire Department has no tolerance for criminal activity within our ranks.”
"I've been with the Albuquerque Fire Department for 21 years and the allegations, the information contained in the indictment, are the most serious I've seen in my time,” Breen said. “And it's absolutely shocking."
Two deposits for $9,000 in August caught the eye of AFD.
"There is one day a deposit was made he was on a 24-hour shift,” Breen said. “So whether he, or he had a representative make a deposit we don't know that yet. But there was a deposit made in his name when he was on duty."
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This video was uploaded to YouTube in September. Judging by the low number of views it has received, it must have not been noticed by the fire service media (that would include the editor of this site). One of our loyal readers pointed it out to us yesterday.
It is from a fire last February 4 at a home on Sixth Avenue in New Hyde Park, New York (Nassau County). Six firefighters were hurt and one of them, Firefighter Max Devane, had to be rescued from the basement. The firefighter is removed from the home at 6:40 in the video above.
Here are still pictures and details from Firefighter Close Calls.
Here's how WCBS Radio described what happened:
Nassau County Fire Marshal Vincent McManus says two of the firefighters were in serious condition, while the other four were treated at area hospitals and released.
McManus says the firefighters were carrying a hose into the basement of the home when a sudden eruption of flames knocked them over.
Three of the firefighters immediately escaped up the stairs. One climbed out a basement window and the most seriously injured was rescued by colleagues.
Above is an earlier video from the fire.
The New Hyde Park Patch had a report last April on Firefighter Devane's recovery and details about a fundraiser. Here's an excerpt:
Max required five weeks of hospitalization and rehabilitation to recover from his injuries and is continuing his recovery at home. Max was forced to withdraw from his college classes and has missed an entire semester of school due to his hospitalization and ongoing recovery.
Also hospitalized after the fire was Firefighter Sean Carton.
Above is video shot at the command post.
In December, New Hyde Park Fire Department Chief John Willers talked about the fire with The Island Now's Richard Tedesco:
"We take what we learn and try to not let it happen again," he said. "Hopefully our guys learned a lesson from that."
The fire department took suggestions from a state inquiry conducted on the basement fire and has instituted new procedures to deal with such situations, Willers said.
Below is additional video shot after Firefighter Devane was removed.
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Our friend Zach Green at MN8-Foxfire, who has those extremely unique and useful illuminating products for firefighters, has teamed up with IronFiremen.com and FireCritic.com to do something really nice this week. They are raising money for the FDNY Rescue 2 Mayday Fund to help Firefighter Robert Weidmann and Firefighter James Gersbeck who were burned in the fire in Crown Heights on December 19. From today through midnight on Monday January 30, MN8-Foxfire will donate 50 percent of all product sales through the company website to the FDNY Rescue 2 Mayday Fund. There will also be a way to directly donate.
CLICK HERE FOR THE MN8-FOXFIRE WEBSITE
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This is a neighbor's video of a house fire last night that took the life of a 92-year-old man.
From the AP:
Fireplace ashes have been blamed for a fatal house fire in Scottsbluff.
Deputy State Fire Marshal Mike Turner said the ashes were improperly disposed on the house's back porch Thursday.
The fire was reported a little after 8:20 p.m.
Deputy State Fire Marshall Mike Turner says hot ashes from a wood burning stove caused the Scottsbluff house fire Thursday evening that claimed the life of 92 year old Sal Blanco.
Blanco's body was found in the kitchen area according to Turner.
Gering and Scottsbluff rural firefighters assisted the Scottsbluff fire department in fighting the blaze, which was reported at 8:23 p.m. at 1715 5th Avenue.
The house in the center is the one that burned last night. Click here for the Google Maps Streetview of the neighborhood.
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This week there have been a number of stories that relate to some of my favorite topics. These include free speech and social media. Here's a summary of the various news items and links to read more.
New York, New YorkFDNY is dealing with a bit of an evolving controversy over an order last month from Commissioner Salvatore Cassano that banned “material presenting opinions or viewpoints” inside the firehouse. When the union complained, it prompted a revised order. The latest order still has the union riled. Here are some excerpts from an article by Al Baker in The New York Times:
Stephen J. Cassidy, the union president, consulted Ronald L. Kuby, a civil rights lawyer, and put the department on notice that he believed that the order, issued Dec. 29, was a violation of his members’ constitutional rights to free expression, even in the workplace.
He then did what he said was a first for his labor organization: He issued a memo on Monday directing roughly 8,000 firefighters simply to ignore the order from the fire commissioner, Salvatore J. Cassano.
On Wednesday, two days after Mr. Cassidy issued his memo, a Fire Department spokesman acknowledged that the order was too broadly worded, and said a new directive had been issued. The spokesman, Francis X. Gribbon, said that fire officials did not intend to keep firefighters from bringing opinion materials into the firehouse; the order was meant to prohibit the posting of opinions on any walls in the firehouses. Posting unofficial materials on bulletin boards has always been prohibited.
But the new language was of even greater concern to Mr. Cassidy, who said he would fight any effort to ban the posting of any written materials that are not official business on the walls of the city’s 350 firehouses.
My non-legal mind reminds me of a similar story I covered in 1992 in the District of Columbia. Captain Larry Watts, with the help of IAFF Local 36 and the ACLU, was successful in court fighting disciplinary action after Watts posted a political cartoon in the firehouse that depicted well known athletes with some very public baggage and a firefighter. The caption read, "Kids! Find the positive role model". The cartoon was considered a problem by some because the athletes were black. Click here to read more about Watts v. Alfred.
Twenty-six of 28 recruits for the Jackson Fire Department failed a State Certification exam. So, what does that story have to do with free speech or social media? Nice of you to ask. After the word leaked out on the Facebook page of a former assistant chief, and then reported on Tuesday in the Jackson press and by my friend Bill Schumm at Firegeezer, an even more interesting story surfaced on Wednesday. Here are details from ClarionLedger.com's Therese Apel:
Jackson Fire Chief Raymond McNulty has put his firefighters on notice not to post inaccurate information or comments harmful to the department on their social network sites.
They also cannot post photos of themselves in uniform or posing with city equipment.
McNulty confirmed in an email the number of recruits receiving their certification on the first try. He, however, would not grant an interview to The Clarion-Ledger.
When asked in writing about the memo he responded, "This memo was established to make our firefighters aware of the official rules and regulations of the City of Jackson."
City spokesman Chris Mims said the city does not have a social media policy yet.
McNulty says in his memo that firefighters shouldn't publicly discuss information that could be detrimental to JFD or its employees; shouldn't post content that is inconsistent with the duties and ethics of a firefighter, such as racist or sexist comments or rumors; and shouldn't use aliases.
In addition, McNulty advises his firefighters to clearly state that what they write is their own opinion and not that of the department.
Officers are allowed to comment on issues of public concern but not personal grievances.
Firefighters also are encouraged not to post information regarding off-duty activities that may bring their reputation or that of the department into question.
Captain Tony Schelske faces demotion and a suspension over cell phone video he took at a January 6 apartment fire and posted on YouTube. Schelske has the right to appeal after the Board of Public Safety upheld Chief Howard Buchanon's recommendation to bust Schelske back to first-class firefighter and give him a nine-day suspension.
FireCritic.com wrote about this earlier in the week.
Here as an excerpt from an article by Tom Moor at the South Bend Tribune:
“I made it clear to all captains that this is something you don’t do, and he did it,” Buchanon said. “He had a task to do, and he wasn’t doing it. Instead he was shooting video.”
Buchanon said the punishment has less to do with social media and more to do with the fact he was not doing his job while he was recording the fire.
“He was supposed to be working,” he said. “You’re in special assignment to be captain. We hold you to a higher standard.”
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Click here to follow STATter911.com on Facebook (hit "like")There is a very interesting column on Huff Post Chicago by Alden Loury the publisher of The Chicago Reporter. It is about the latest dust up between Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Robert Hoff and Inspector General Joe Ferguson. You may recall the pair previously battled over how discipline would be handled after the IG's investigation found members of the Fire Prevention Bureau had falsified mileage reimbursements. Hoff also told Ferguson to basically butt out when the IG urged a cutback on the minimum staffing of fire apparatus.
The latest disagreement is over ride-alongs. Here's how Loury describes the issue:
Investigators with Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson's office discovered that a battalion chief took an adult son along on fire emergencies and allowed him to stay overnight at a Chicago firehouse for a period of nearly two years. Ferguson recommended a 20-day suspension for the battalion chief, who "recklessly exposed the City to liability," according to the OIG's office.
But Commissioner Hoff ignored that recommendation and gave the battalion chief — whom city and fire officials wouldn't identify — a "verbal reprimand" with no time off, in the process creating more friction with Ferguson's office. (This is at least the third time in the past few months that the commissioner and Ferguson have squared off.)
CFD spokesman Larry Langford says Commissioner Hoff cited progressive discipline as his justification for the verbal reprimand, pointing to an otherwise good record for the BC.
Langford also had to tell Loury that Commissioner Hoff's childhood did not weigh heavily in the decision making on this one. Loury was talking about Commissioner Hoff, his brother and father being inspirations for the 1991 movie Backdraft. Alden Loury begins his column by describing the opening of the film where the younger brother rides along on a fire that ends up taking his father's life.
While that is a fictionalized account of the 1962 death of Commissioner Hoff's father, Loury continues with the ride-along theme by citing a quote from the Commissioner's interview with the Chicago Sun-Times last year after the death of his firefighter older brother Raymond, whom he lived with as a teenager. "I was 14. Every weekend he took me to work with him. He showed me everything."
As for the rules on CFD ride-alongs, here's more from Loury:
Langford said requests for ride alongs are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but approval is typically reserved for individuals with a legitimate interest in firefighting activity or research — such as journalists or academics. Anyone approved for a ride along must complete a waiver of liability (which apparently was not filled out in the case of the battalion chief.) Langford said the department also has a program allowing medical students to ride along in ambulances as a part of their educational process.
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Click the image to watch the video from TMTV.net.
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Help out the FDNY Rescue 2 Mayday Fund with MN8-Foxfire safety equipment
This video was shot around 7:00 this morning in Nelson, British Columbia. There were no injuries.
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