DC FEMS Sex Scandal Update; Ward Takes on PGFD’s Kentland Restrictions; Houston Report Out; More Mt. Airy Pictures; Blackwell to Wichita

Mount Airy VFC has dozens of pictures like the one above from the weekend 3-alarm fire. There is also a detailed account of the fire. Click the photo for more.

Criminal charges expected against former DC FEMS sergeant. Noon news conference on prostitution investigation. Department confirms STATter 911 report of overtime for sex accusations.

Update 2:40 p.m. These are the words a newsman hates to say, but here goes. There is not much news from the noon press conference at Engine 27. Even though sources continue to tell us that the arrest of the former sergeant involved in the exposure case will be soon, it was not announced by Mayor Fenty, Chief Lanier or Chief Rubin. The overall theme was that the department will investigate the allegations thoroughly and announce the results when the probe has been completed. The trio of city officials would not provide any details about the allegations. The only other thing to note is the announcement of periodic background checks for current DC FEMS employees. Chief Rubin and his four assistant chiefs have had their check done and they are all still on the job. I’ll have more on TV at 6.

As we first told you yesterday afternoon, criminal charges are expected to be announced as early as today against the former DC FEMS sergeant who claims a prostitution ring is being run by department employees. The sergeant resigned a few days after he was accused of exposing himself at the quarters of Engine 8. A department spokesman is now confirming what we first told you on Friday, that the former sergeant has also been accused of trading overtime for female employees in exchange for sex.

Mayor Fenty and his fire and police chiefs are scheduled to be at a noon news conference at Engine 27. They are expected to discuss the initial criminal charges and the allegations about the sex ring allegedly centered around the firehouse on Minnesota Avenue, NE. We don’t know if they are ready to talk about our report that sources indicate the scandal could extend beyond D.C. Fire and EMS, but STATter 911 will be there to ask the question.

Matt Cella, who broke the prostitution angle on Friday has a story in The Washington Times today with reporter Gary Emerling. Pretty much the same information we are reporting.

The Washington Times also has an editorial urging Chief Dennis Rubin to “put out this fire”.

Apparent sex scandal of a different sort developing in CA.

Here is the lead to the San Francisco Chronicle article:

The San Francisco Fire Department is investigating a tailgate party involving about 30 off-duty firefighters outside a soup kitchen run by nuns with Mother Teresa’s order – and the rumor that a booze-fueled firefighter may have groped a female kitchen volunteer, then dropped his pants in front of a second volunteer in a bathroom.

More from KPIX-TV.

Report now available on Houston fire that killed 3 and sparked a dramatic mayday.

We have a link to the report and stories from a Texas TV station that pursued the story.

Kentland under investigation for call bidding after they were sent on box alarm out of the first due.

Kentland VFD met Tuesday night to discuss the latest on the ambulance situation and to talk over this latest issue. Mike Ward, aka FossilMedic, has written many words about this dispute. He has more to say today on FireGeezer.com. Ward writes this latest action, ” reinforces FossilMedic’s feeling that this is part of a multi-front effort to beat Kentland into submission”.

Ward, who also has been critical of Kentland, believes PGFD is not an innocent bystander in all of this: “That PGFD is refusing to put anything in writing creates a red flag in terms of bureaucratic behavior. If the Kentland volunteers were able to be members of IAFF Local 1619, they would appear to have cause to file an unfair labor practice complaint”.

He didn’t need ruby slippers to take him back to Kansas.

Congratulation to former Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Chief Ron Blackwell who has been named chief in Wichita, Kansas. Details here.

Charleston command officers to head north to MD.

It’s not an exaggeration to say Montgomery County Fire and Rescue has a lot of toys at its new Command Development Center. Fire Chief Tom Carr has offered to share those toys and the department’s expertise with some of the top brass from the City of Charleston Fire Department. It all starts today.

Here is excerpt from the press release:

Montgomery County Command Officers will be joined by Charleston Assistant Chief Larry Garvin and Battalion Chiefs Joe Ackerman, Buddy Aytes, and Tommy Thomas. Hands-on training will begin on Wednesday, September 5. The Charleston Fire Department will be sending groups of four chiefs to Montgomery County for the next six weeks.

Also, The Post And Courier has an interview with the owner of the Sofa Super Store where 9 firefighters died on June 18th.

Don’t forget Firefighter Hourly and SConFire.com keep on top of developments in Charleston and beyond.

On the web.

WithTheCommand.com has school bus crash in Florida, presidential politics and Pennsylvania morning into the standard ID for first responders.

VAFireNews.com has the story of one of the first full-time firefighters hired in Rockingham County 28 years ago.

FireGeezer is talking about surgical fires and medical mistakes.

Fire in Sacramento, CA. Appears to be from Sunday.