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Colorado Announces Investigation into Exam Scandal
The Colorado Division of Fire Safety has announced an investigation into allegations that several certification examinations for firefighters may have been compromised. Division Director Kevin Klein announced today that an exam proctor may have provided advance copies of certification tests to candidates. The exams were for Firefighter I, Firefighter II, HazMat Operations and Fire Instructor I. All certification testing has been suspended pending the results of the investigation, and the Division of Fire Safety is consulting with the state Attorney General and local prosecutors to determine if a criminal investigation should be launched. More on the story.
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LODD Widow Agrees to $250,000 Settlement
Lt. Robert Ryan was killed on November 23, 2008 when a collapsing ceiling dislodged his SCBA. He died of smoke inhalation.
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School District Sues Over FD Funding Cut
An unusual lawsuit over fire department funding in Bexar County, Texas has been settled. Last November, the Southside Independent School District filed suit against Bexar County Emergency Services District #6 after the district cut off funding for 2 volunteer fire departments that provide coverage to Southside’s schools. Officials from ESD #6 claim the funding was cut because the fire departments failed to file proper certification paperwork and submit to background checks. The two fire companies, Ata-Bexar VFD and Sandy Oaks VFD, claim the loss of funding prevents them from being able to respond to alarms. Here is a…
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British Firefighter Found Not Guilty in Fatal Apparatus Case
The jury has returned a not guilty verdict in the case I reported on earlier this week of Bedfordshire firefighter Robert Hulatt, charged with one count of causing a death by dangerous driving, and a lesser charge of causing death by careless driving. Hulatt was driving an engine company to a house fire on September 11, 2009 when his truck collided with another vehicle in an intersection, killing a 52 year old man and injuring 10 others. Hulatt was found not guilty of both charges. For more on the story, including a good account of Hulatt’s testimony, click here.
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PA Captain Accused of Having Sex with 13 Year Old Junior Firefighter in Station
A Carlisle, Pennsylvania fire captain has been accused of sexually assaulting a 13 year of female junior firefighter. Dana Franklin Jr., 22, has been charged with statutory sexual assault, indecent assault, and endangering the welfare of children. He was arraigned last week.
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New Mexico Fire Chief Arrested at Wildland Fire
Here’s a story we somehow missed last March, where a New Mexico fire chief was arrested following what appears to be some bizarre behavior at a 3 acre wildland fire. Fire Chief Eddie Velarde of the… you can’t make this stuff up …. Velarde Fire Department in the town of … you guessed it …. Velarde – apparently got a tad agitated – OK – hysterical – to the point that sheriff’s deputies had to intervene. They first attempted to calm the Chief down, and when that didn’t work they went with Plan B, arresting the Chief and taking command of the incident. In case you…
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Firefighters Sue Over Defective Gloves
Two FDNY firefighters have filed suit against the city alleging that their department-issued protective gloves were responsible for burns they sustained to the backs of their hands.
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Philadelphia Firefighter Gets Reprieve for Calendar Photo
Transferred, suspended, fired…. The final decision is in for Philadelphia firefighter Jack Slivinski, who’s sexy calendar photo done for charity got him in hot water with Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers. Watch the video
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British Firefighter On Trial in Fatal Apparatus Accident
A British firefighter is facing a retrial on charges stemming from a 2009 apparatus accident that killed a civilian, and injured 10 others. Bedfordshire firefighter Robert Hulatt, 28 was responding to a house fire on September 11, 2009 when his truck collided with another vehicle in an intersection. The accident fatally injured Abdul Lateef Kadri Sheikh, who died 25 days later. At the time of the accident, Hulatt had the red light. He was charged with causing a death by dangerous driving, and a lesser charge of causing death by careless driving. A jury failed to reach a verdict in…
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New Mexico Chief Caught DUI With Fire Vehicle
A volunteer fire chief in New Mexico was arrested for driving under the influence last week in a county vehicle. Fire Chief Henry E. Duran, 52, Garfield Volunteer Fire Department, part of Doña Ana County, was also charged with failing to maintain his lane of travel and having an open container in the vehicle. He pled not-guilty at his arraignment on Monday. More on the story from the Las Cruces Sun-News.
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Texas Firefighter Sues City Over Use of Criminal Files
A Texas firefighter who (1) was fired because of an off duty assault, (2) beat the assault charges, (3) successfully appealed his termination to an arbitrator, and then (4) battled the city to sustain the arbitrator’s ruling, has filed a lawsuit claiming that his constitutional rights were violated when the city illegally accessed his criminal investigation files. Beaumont firefighter James Mathews Jr. filed suit on April 29, 2011 against the City of Beaumont, Mayor Becky Ames, City Attorney Tyrone Cooper and Fire Chief Anne Huff alleging their conduct violated his constitutional rights. The assault took place on June 9, 2008 while Mathews…
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Fire Department Administrative Investigations and Discipline
PATC has scheduled me to teach two Fire Department Administrative Investigation classes this summer. The first class is being held at PATC Headquarters in Indianapolis on July 26-27, 2011 and the second is August 2-3, 2011 in Las Vegas at the Station Casino. The class takes students through everything they need to know about conducting a fire department administrative investigation, from due process to a firefighter’s right to remain silent. The target audience includes chiefs and fire officers who must conduct the investigations as well as union officials who need to be equally knowledgeable about how an investigation should be conducted.…
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Insider Theft in PA Volunteer Fire Department
Another volunteer fire department has been victimized by insider theft, this time to the tune of over $50,000. Ankur Patel, age 24, of the Rohrerstown Fire Company in Lancaster County, used a fire company credit card between July and December 2010 for personal expenses. Patel was a live-in firefighter and had been with the company for approximately four years. It is the 54th case I have tracked since 2008 where a volunteer firefighter has stolen large sums of money from his/her organization. Most of the thefts were committed by a fire company treasurer, president, or chief. In this case, Patel…
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