DeKalb Captain Reinstated

Posted by: Curt Varone July 12, 2010 1 Comment

DeKalb County Fire Captain Sell Caldwell has been ordered reinstated to the department by a hearing officer. Caldwell was one of five firefighters terminated after the fire death of 74-year-old Ann Bartlett on January  24, 2010.

Crews were called to Ms. Bartlett’s house at about 1:00 am, when she claimed to have accidentally started a fire with her oxygen mask. The crews allegedly found nothing and returned to quarters without dismounting from their apparatus. Crews were called back to the scene at 6:40 am by neighbors to find the house well involved.

The decision was issued last Friday, July 9, 2010. Two other firefighters had previously been reinstated after hearings. The county plans to appeal the hearing officer’s decision.

For more.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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