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Scantily Clad Women on Orlando Engine Prompts Investigation
Some Orlando firefighters have found themselves in hot water after a "concerned citizen" complained to the mayor about seeing aproximately twelve scantily clad women on a fire truck posing for pictures, kissing firefighters, spilling drinks, etc. The concerned citizen include a photo in a letter to Mayor Buddy Dyer. An investigation has been initiated.
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Old 911 Technology Alleged to have Caused 28 Minute Delay In Deadly NY Fire
On December 23, 2009, Zia Ansari lost his father and two sisters in a fire in Erie County, New York. He is now filing suit against local officials alleging that a delay in dispatching fire apparatus contributed to the outcome. The fire killed Faaiza Ansari and Saaiba Ansari, and their father, Mohammad. At 2:56 am, one of the sisters made a 911 call using a cellphone. However, it appears she was incapacitated and unable to speak. The call lasted 3 1/2 minutes, and all she could muster was a scream, but no explanation of the problem or address. "All you…
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Political Signs and Firefighters: 1st Amendment Case
A Federal Court in New Jersey last week ruled against a firefighter who claimed his department violated his 1st and 14th Amendment rights. Edison firefighter Peter Yackel parked his personal pickup truck in the parking lot of his firehouse on June 1, 2009 when he went to work. The problem was the truck bore a large political sign stating "Choi Lies! Save Public Safety In Edison." Also June 2, 2009 was election day, and Mayor Choi was seeking re-election. And city personnel rules prohibit engaging in political activities while on duty. Later that day Yackel was instructed to move the…
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Bailout Law for Firefighters
When someone refers to a bailout law these days, it’s usually got something to do with the current economic crisis. However, the state of New York State Department of Labor Code recently issued a new occupational safety and health regulation that requires fire departments to address firefighter self rescue and emergency escape. The law requires “an employer who employs firefighters”… [don’t you love bureaucrats…. an employer who employs firefighters….] to conduct a written risk assessment to determine if personnel at structure fires are “reasonably expected to be exposed to the risk of entrapment at elevations”. If the risk assessment indicates that…
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Theft By Firefighters From Volunteer Fire Departments
This video is about a recent theft that occurred in the Cattaraugus, New York Fire Department. While we like to think that such conduct is rare – it is occurring frequently enough that all volunteer fire departments need to take some precautions. Consider the following cases: Already this year, Jack Micah Feltner, the treasurer of the Oak Hill Volunteer Department in West Virginia was charged with stealing more than $375,000 in payments from the city of Oak Hill intended for volunteer firefighters. Also this year Henry Swincinski of the Windber, PA Fire Department was charged with stealing more than $284,000…
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Charleston Families Argue That City Should NOT Be Kept In Lawsuit
The June 18, 2007 Charleston Sofa Super Store fire is in the headlines again, this time on the civil suit side. On March 12, 2010, the South Carolina Court of Appeals refused to dismiss an appeal filed by the store owners over a trial court ruling to dismiss the city of Charleston from the case. The city was dismissed from the suit last summer because under South Carolina law it is immune from liability. The families of eight of the nine the deceased firefighters had asked the Court of Appeals to dismiss the appeal. The parties have 30 days to…
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Family Members Press for Criminal Charges in Charleston
The Charleston Post and Courier ran a story today indicating that state law enforcement officials were investigating possible criminal charges against the fire chief and fireground commanders in the June 18, 2007 Sofa Super Store fire that claimed the lives of 9 Charleston Firefighters. As we have seen in other cases where criminal charges have been filed against firefighters, it has been the family members of deceased firefighters that have been pressuring governmental officials to file the criminal charges. Recall the 30 Mile Fire in Washington state in July, 2001 that killed 4 Federal firefighters. Family members of the deceased…
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Residents Sue to Block Fire Station Renovation: But Why?
Plans to renovate and expand the fire station in the Village of Fayetteville, NY ran into some unanticipated legal difficulties last week when two Fayetteville residents filed a lawsuit contending that the expansion would violate certain restrictive covenants in the deed to the property. In June 2009 village residents approved a proposal to renovate the station. Officials say the upgrades are necessary to provide room for EMS vehicles and equipment. The plans call for tearing down part of the existing station and building a new, larger emergency medical services wing. The cost of the renovations is budgeted at $6.45 million. The property…
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Actual Malice: Fire Chief’s Suit Dismissed
Being a fire chief is not an easy job. It fact for many reasons it may very well be the worst job on the department. Bernie Becker was the fire chief in Clearcreek Township, Ohio for 11 years. During his tenure he was subjected to repeated accusations of misconduct by the union. In February, 2008 the union accused Chief Becker of sexual harassment, creating a hostile work environment and abuse of power in a written complaint made to township officials. The complaint alleged 15 different incidents, and somehow found its way to the hands of the media. Chief Becker chose…
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$1.2 mil More in Settlements for Charleston Families
Seven additional defendants in the tragic Charleston Sofa Super Store fire have settled out of court with the families of eight of the fallen firefighters, according to documents recently filed in Charleston County Court. The June 18, 2007 fire claimed the lives of nine Charleston firefighters and set off a barrage of lawsuit by families of the deceased and surviving members of the Charleston Fire Department. Defendants Overnight Sofa Corp., Pembrook Chair Corp., Hughes Furniture Industries, and Motion Eaze Recliners settled for a combined total of $400,000. Defendant Albany Industries settled for $500,000, Robinson and Robinson for $100,000, and Best…
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Federal Signal Found Liable for Q-Siren Related Hearing Loss
A Pennsylvania jury has awarded a Philadelphia firefighter $100,000 in damages against Federal Signal Corp. for hearing loss associated with the venerable Federal Q-Sirens. Firefighter Edward Smyl alleged that the Q-Sirens were negligently designed, unreasonably dangerous, and emited such an intense noise that they permanently damaged his hearing. Smyl had been a firefighter in Philadelphia from 1975 to 2007. The verdict was rendered on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 after four days of deliberation. The jury concluded that the Q-Sirens were not defectively designed, but that Federal Signal was nonetheless liable to Smyl under a negligence theory. On March 4, 2010 Federal…
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Widow Sues Shrevesport For LODD – Fall From Ladder Truck
The widow of a Shreveport, Louisiana battalion chief killed after a fall from a ladder truck has filed suit against the city for negligence in connection with the death. Traci Adams filed suit on February 19, 2010 for the December 12, 2009 death of Chief Tommy Adams. The accident occurred on February 21, 2009 at the conclusion of a Mardi Gras parade. The suit alleges that the members of the department were negligent in administering to Chief Adams, including not properly clearing his airway not giving him supplemental oxygen. not taking proper spinal precautions transporting to an inappropriate medical facility…
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Police Fire Wars Continue
There has been another skirmish in the Police-Fire Wars, the battle over who is in charge at emergency scenes. This time the skirmish occurred in a most unlikely place: California, the birth place of ICS, the system that was supposed to solve these types of territorial disputes. On February 15, 2010, Presidents day, a Montecito Fire Protection District battalion chief was handcuffed and arrested by a California Highway Patrol officer at an accident scene on a crowded highway. The officer apparently took offense that the chief refused to move fire apparatus to allow traffic to flow more freely. This exact…
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