Fire Chief Accused of Telling Volunteers to Damage Career Firefighter’s Home
A contentious restructuring of a combination fire department in New York that has already led to one lawsuit, just took a shocking turn as career firefighters accuse the volunteer fire chief of telling volunteers to break all the windows in the house of a career firefighter if it has a fire.
The controversy began several weeks ago when the Village of Port Chester made a decision to eliminate its eight career personnel. That prompted a suit by a neighboring community, the Village of Rye Brook, who claimed that Port Chester would be breaching a fire services contract between the two villages that requires career personnel.
As that suit plays itself out in New York Supreme Court, new allegations surfaced about remarks reportedly made by Port Chester Volunteer Fire Chief Edward Quinn that encouraged his firefighters to break all the windows at the home of a career firefighter from Harrison if it had a fire.
News 12 was given an audio recording of the chief’s comments, that reportedly includes the statement: “I hope we go there tonight and you guys better break every [expletive] window in the place.”
The career personnel are demanding his termination.
Here is more on the story including a video I was not able to embed.
Given how well the two towns worked together the night of the Gulliver’s Discotheque fire, it’s sad to see what it is now.
First; I’ve read where there will probably be a change in the ISO Rating, which means everyone’s fire insurance rates will go up.
Second; If the Village Council thinks they can dissolve the paid fire department and still operate with the volunteer’s, and still keep the Village of Rue Brook’s money, they are in for a big surprise. Breach of contract.
Third: If Edward Quin was “dumb” enough to say what he did, that’s “pre-planning a ‘Tactical Failure'” at the outset, because its clearly shown on numerous You Tube videos, what breaking out all of the windows in a structure does.
Which in my view is “Occupational Malpractice”.
Then again, he seems to have been recorded making these statements, which goes to show how “Felony Stupid” this guy is.
Fourth, so far I have not read about any re-call of the Village of Prot Chester Council members who voted for this change.
Mr 618
“Gulliver’s Night Club Fire” (wikipedia)
“June 30, 1974, with Port Chester and Greenwich, Conn. FD’s responding.
24 patrons killed, 19 patrons and 13 firefighters injured”
So, I guess the memory of that one incident is an ongoing “sore point” for those who live in that area?
Still, its a good “case history” to review similar to that of other more (in)famous fires such as:
The Station Fire, Beverly Hills Supper Club and Boston’s Coconut Grove.
Other local depts. also responded, due to the size of the fire. Port Chester and Greenwich were two closest, but 5-6 others responded, provided station coverage, or were on standby.