A new issue appears to be on the table in the ongoing problems between DC Fire & EMS Department Chief Kenneth Ellerbe and some of his firefighters. It revolves around a verbal order transmitted Saturday through the chain of command to DC firehouses. It addresses the possibility of protests at Mayor Vincent Gray's State of the District speech to be delivered tomorrow night at the Historic Sixth & I Synagogue in Northwest.
The warning of potential punishment comes following the walkout by firefighters at Chief Ellerbe's January 24 speech on the state of the department.
Washington City Paper's Alan Suderman, who writes the column Loose Lips, say he has pictures from a half dozen log books from city firehouses documenting the verbal order that came via Deputy Chief Larry Jackson. But the word from the department spokesman denies the involvement of Chief Ellerbe:
Ellerbe spokesman Lon Walls says the whole episode is "much ado about nothing." Walls says that while Ellerbe expects his troops to behave professionally at the mayor's speech, he did not send out "any kind of directive like that."
Lon Walls, an FEMS spokesman, said “there was no directive” and explained a lieutenant who is also a union member “misconstrued” departmental discussions.
Walls said the department “respects their right to freedom of speech,” but declined to say that firefighters who wished to protest could do so without fear of discipline. “It would not be appreciated,” he said. “It would be frowned upon.”
The link above has audio from a fire just before 6:00 this morning at 1618 N. 20th Street in North Philadelphia. You will hear the evacuation ordered at 5:28 in the audio, followed by the call for additional medic units for injured firefighters.
(Commissioner Lloyd) Ayers identified the seriously injured firefighter as Lt. Marvin Melvin, a member of the department since 1999. He is assigned to Engine 27, located at 19th and Master streets.
Melvin was in critical but stable condition Sunday night in the burn unit at Temple University Hospital. Ayers said he was alert and talking to his family, and "doing well."
Bill Gault, president of Local 22 of the firefighters' union, said Melvin was burned on both arms and his back.
According to Philadelphia Fire Deputy Chief Michael Wahl, the call for the house fire came in at 5:58 a.m. at 1618 North 20th Street. Upon arrival initial reports were of heavy smoke and a couple trapped inside.
Upon entering the home, firefighters rescued two people while two others escaped on their own. Three women and one child were taken to Hahnemann hospital for treatment and were in stable condition.
Three firefighters were injured while rescuing the trapped victims. One member with first and second degree burns to his arms. Two other firefighters were transported with minor injuries. Four civilians were also transported with smoke inhalation.
From the AP:
Fire officials say a blaze in a north Philadelphia row home injured seven people, including three firefighters, one critically.
Authorities say the fire in the three-story building was reported just before 6 a.m. Sunday. Arriving crews have reported heavy black smoke pouring from the third floor. Firefighters battled the flames for about an hour.
One firefighter has been taken to a hospital burn unit in critical but stable condition. Two other firefighters are reported to be in stable condition.
Firefighters helped two people from the building while two others escaped on their own. All four had minor injuries that were treated at a hospital.
The Toledo Fire Department issued a brief report after investigating how a January 13 fire in an apartment building was handled. The report was ordered following the discovery of the body of 35-year-old Delano Fleming after the 12-unit building was demolished. The fire was reported at 3:45 AM at 3125 Meadowbrook Court.
According to the report, the fire started on the second floor and was rapidly extending to the third floor and attic. Firefighters rescued four children and an adult from the second floor and conducted a "high risk search" of the third floor without water. An adult on the third floor was also brought out safely.
A first floor search had not been completed when the order to evacuate came at 4:07. Left unchecked were apartment 37 and apartment 38, where Fleming lived. Firefighters were given indication by neighbors that everyone was accounted for but went back into the building after new information was received. Details from the Toledo Blade:
While the building was still burning, crews were told that “someone may be in the apartment on the left,” which was apartment 37.
Two firefighters and the on-scene commander went into the building to search 37. One firefighter went into 38 — which had an open door, the report states.
“It was dark and he [the firefighter] felt some heat in the hall near the bedrooms. He was unable to see any furniture from his position due to the darkness,” the report, prepared by Deputy Chief Gary Martin, states. “He did not search the apartment because of the belief that everyone was accounted for and they were inside to check apartment 37.”
“At that time, we still didn’t have any information that anyone else was missing, other than to go back after they were pulled out to check 37,” said Lieutenant Hertzfeld.
Ed Smith, president of Local 36 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said there were no political overtones intended in handing POTUS the shirt.
”Those were shirts we had made up last year, before the change,” he said. “Those are the shirts we wear when we’re out in the community, attending different events. … We try to look uniform.”
Lon Walls, an FEMS spokesperson, said he wasn’t reading too much into the giveaway.
“People give stuff to the president all the time,” he said. “I’m sure he doesn’t know what all the issues are.”
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We are so used to citizen video journalists turning into water supply officers or fire suppression experts on some of the videos posted on STATter911.com that this one caught my attention because it is so different. Listen to the narration from this early video from yesterday's natural has explosion in Topeka, Kansas and you will hear what I mean.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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 York
FDNY 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.
Jackson, Mississippi
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.
South Bend, Indiana
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.
“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.”
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.
The video above is news coverage of Wednesday's hearing involving Macon-Bibb County Lt. Stephanie Burke, who was demoted from captain by Chief Marvin Riggins after learning of Burke's involvement in a September 18 hazing using a fake gunman at Station 108. The clip below has a longer, unedited version of the video that prompted the punishment. Chief Riggins narrates that video explaining why he believes Burke knew more than she admitted. At the bottom is the video that was posted to YouTube.
During testimony Wednesday, a former Macon-Bibb County fire captain denied that she had helped plan a hazing prank at a fire station.
Stephanie Burke also denied that she told another firefighter to video the prank. The video was later posted on the social media website YouTube, prompting an investigation and subsequent disciplinary action.
Earlier in the hearing, Fire Chief Marvin Riggins testified that Burke’s reactions on the video did not indicate to him “someone who is afraid.”
Burke took the stand Wednesday afternoon to say she knew about the stunt in advance, but didn't know the details.
In fact, one firefighter texted her to say he couldn't find anyone to play the role of a shooter, so the stunt was called off.
When the masked gunman entered the station house that day, she said, she was scared at first, but soon realized that the prank was back on.
Earlier, a Macon-Bibb fire battalion chief defended Burke. James Wallace was the first witness for the defense.
He says Burke was good at her job as captain and he would be glad to have her back in that role. He said demoting Burke to lieutenant for her role in the hazing stunt was too harsh.
Five firefighters were disciplined in the case.
Wallace today said he had heard scuttlebutt that a prank was in the works against a new private at Station 108. He says he did not know exactly what was happening, he'd just heard talk of it.
Wallace says pranking rookies had been a tradition at the fire department.
Wallace says he was on the other side of the building when the prank happened. He found out about it when he walked back across and everyone was laughing.
He said he saw the video that night and told them they would end in the chief's office for that. He says he thought that would end it.
Wallace says if he had to recommend discipline for Burke he would agree with a 20-day suspension but not demotion.
"Her, or any of them, I would take them back today," Wallace said when asked if he would be willing to have Burke serve as captain again.
Earlier in the day, Macon-Bibb's fire chief testified that Burke lied to him about planning the videotaped shooting stunt.
Chief Marvin Riggins was the first witness today against Burke.
He said he talked to Burke the day after the videotaped hazing stunt. When he asked her if she knew about the prank, Riggins says Burke told him she was as surprised as the rookies.
Riggins then showed an unedited version of the hazing stunt. He stopped it at several spots to point out Burke.
He says he can see Burke laughing with other firefighters while it happened. She put her hands over her ears just as the firecracker was set to go off, and she jumped up to give high fives at the end. The chief says those actions show she was not scared and had to know about what was happening.
Riggins says after initial interviews, three firefighters gave additional statements saying Burke was more involved than she let on.
Riggins says he asked her repeatedly if she was involved, and she said no.
During cross examination, Riggins says firefighter Justin hill came to him saying he did not feel safe or comfortable at station and was having sleep issues. He was one of the rookies at the firehouse, he said.
Capt Tom Musselwhite was the next witness for city. He was ordered by the chief to conduct a criminal investigation on the incident.
Musselwhite says after looking at the video frame by frame, there was no doubt everyone but the rookie was involved.
He says Burke laughed, moved away from the camera so you could see the rookie, and she clapped at the end.
Burke's hearing began just after 9 a.m. at Macon City Hall.
In his opening statement, Judd Drake the city's attorney, said Burke is guilty of improper conduct, breaking city guidelines, dishonest and disgraceful conduct.
Drake says video and testimony will show Burke failed to accept responsibility and was dishonest to the chief.
Burke's lawyer says the captain is a 25-year veteran of the department, who has never been never been disciplined and worked through the ranks.
She says Burke lost two months' pay and was demoted. They're asking the judge to overturn Chief Marvin Riggins' decision, restore her captain's rank and repay the days lost
Two firefighters have already had their appeal hearings. Josh Brewer who video-taped the incident was demoted and suspended. Christopher Hughes, who says he brought the gun used in the video, was fired.
Firefighters allegedly staged the stunt as a hazing prank, and the video was posted to YouTube.
Chief Romeo Toro has told the New York Daily News the Aviation Volunteer Fire Department will continue to respond to jobs in and near the Classon Point neighborhood of The Bronx, despite the possibility of arrest. AVFD, which has been around since 1923, has had financial problems in the past and only recently began operating again.
FDNY told Aviation to butt out after a confrontation at a bus accident on the Brunkner Expressway last Thursday. NYPD ended up detaining the chief and one of his lieutenants for 25 minutes.
Despite a very clear letter from FDNY Commissioner Salvatore Cassano Chief Toro told the Daily News, "Yes, we will risk arrest". The chief says he will only listen to an order from the mayor or the Office of Prevention and Control.
“We hereby demand that AVFD immediately cease its operations and discontinue making any representations that AVFD is authorized by the City of New York or the FDNY to provide emergency medical and firefighting services,” he (Cassano) wrote.
The volunteers are “operating without the proper training, equipment and authorizations” and are endangering the public and city firefighters, Cassano added.
“The FDNY has advised its field personnel to prohibit AVFD from operating and to contact law enforcement if necessary,” he wrote.
Most Recent Comments