Alameda Does An About-Face

That didn’t take long. Yesterday’s drowning death in Alameda, California prompted an about face today as the policy prohibiting firefighters from effecting a land based water rescue was reversed.

My question is – will those who made the “tough choices” back in 2009 to cut the budget – who no doubt reveled in the hold-the-line against taxes rhetoric – have the courage to step forward now, or will they shift their feet and try to find someone else to blame?

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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