Fire photo sparks inquiryWhy full gear not in use investigated The Post and Courier
Originally published 12:00 a.m., March 27, 2008
Updated 03:20 p.m., March 27, 2008 
Grace Beahm This photo, which shows the two firefighters at left without air packs, has led to a Charleston Fire Department internal investigation into apparent safety lapses. Firefighter CoverageIn our special section with photos, videos, interactives, donation information and every story written about the tragedy.Press conference videoClick here for live streaming video during the press conference at 10:30am. The Charleston Fire Department has launched an internal investigation into apparent safety lapses after firefighters responding to a potentially toxic car fire failed to wear full protective gear, including new air tanks the city recently purchased for nearly $1 million. While department leaders moved quickly Wednesday to find out why procedures were not followed, Tuesday's incident has some questioning the department's commitment to safety improvements recommended in the wake of the Sofa Super Store fire. The failure of some firefighters to wear air packs and full protective gear at the sofa store blaze was among the concerns the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited in its investigation of the fire that killed nine firefighters. The latest incident comes as national fire union leaders are in town to speak with city firefighters about the status of the department and the pace of change. International Association of Fire Fighters General President Harold A. Schaitberger is expected to address those concerns at a briefing this morning. On Tuesday afternoon, a Post and Courier photographer snapped a shot of three firefighters dousing the car blaze atop the Doughty Street parking garage in downtown Charleston. The photo was posted on the newspaper's Web site Charleston.net on Tuesday and soon was picked up by a local blogger who has been critical of the Fire Department's progress since the June 18 sofa store blaze. "That was brought to the chief (Wednesday) morning and they are investigating it," said Mark Ruppel, department public information officer. Chief Rusty Thomas and safety officer Bryan Kleskie will be involved in the probe, he said. "The big thing is breathing apparatus," Ruppel said. Many of the firefighters who responded to the car fire are not scheduled to return to work until Friday, so that will delay the investigation to a degree, Ruppel said. Kleskie said the department policy is that firefighters must wear air packs at all fire-related emergencies. "I'm very concerned about it." He declined to name the individuals or station involved. A chief-level officer was acting as incident commander on the ground at the parking garage and would have been the highest-ranking commander in charge, Kleskie said. Kleskie said he will conduct the investigation and submit a report to Thomas and the city's human resources department, and it will be up to them to decide what, if any, disciplinary measures to take. "We are going to have a full investigation and will take care of the problem." Gordon Routley, who heads a panel of firefighting consultants recommending ways to improve the department, said Wednesday that the lack of full protective gear was "disappointing." Smoke and soot from car fires can be toxic because the burning plastics, paint, fuel and other liquids spew dangerous chemicals and by-products into the air, he said. Still, Routley said he doesn't believe it reflects the department's overall attitude toward change. "It concerns me when I see firefighters exposed to products of combustion. It doesn't surprise me that within an organization of 250 people that some may not have gotten the message. Some guys get it the first day. Some guys, it takes a little longer." Routley said it will take time for firefighters, particularly the older ones, to unlearn old habits. "I think the Charleston Fire Department is going through that transition. It's unrealistic to expect instant change." Following recommendations from Routley's panel, the city has embarked in recent months on an ambitious top-to-bottom overhaul of the department's tactics, training and equipment with eye toward improving safety. The most-recent change came Wednesday with the hiring of a new chief training director for the Fire Department. Battalion Chief James T. Ghi of the Fairfax County (Va.) Fire and Rescue Department will take over a newly expanded training division with help from three captains. Ghi is a veteran firefighter with 30 years of experience in Virginia and Maryland. In Virginia, he most recently supervised five fire stations and 63 firefighters. He has also served as a field training officer at the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Academy. Some, however, remain skeptical of the changes. Jay Lowry, a former Charleston firefighter who writes the Internet blog Firefighter Hourly, pounced on the photo Wednesday, saying that it demonstrates a "casual disregard for safety" by the Fire Department's leadership. Commanders need to make sure firefighters are wearing air packs, particularly since the city just shelled out more than $800,000 to outfit the department with state-of-the-art breathing equipment, he said. "Why spend the money if you're not going to wear the equipment?" he asked. Roger Yow, head of the local union representing about half of the city's firefighters, said the photograph is evidence that "nothing has really changed" in the Fire Department. Emotions remain raw, morale is low and firefighters remain frustrated with the pace of improvements, he said. "The fire chief and their public relations officer are singing a good tune about firefighter safety, but they aren't practicing what they preach," he said. At Yow's invitation, Schaitberger and a team of union leaders arrived in Charleston on Wednesday to meet behind closed doors with city firefighters about the state of the Fire Department. Reach Glenn Smith at 937-5556 or gsmith@postandcourier.com. Reach Ron Menchaca at 937-5724 or rmenchaca@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 45 comment(s)
Posted by mac0cm4 on March 27, 2008 at 5:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Until Chief Rusty is gone, this culture will not stop - this has been stated again and again. The same crap will occur because that's what he's bred into them and they know no different, despite their training.
It's nice to see them using an 1 3/4" line, instead of the booster line though. 10 months ago that's what they'd be using.
Posted by moonpie on March 27, 2008 at 5:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm shocked!
No mac0m4 the firemen our gone! Crap runs down hill not up.
Posted by Paul on March 27, 2008 at 6:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When will the people wake up and get rid of Riley and Rusty for allowing this mindset/culture to continue. This proves nothing will change until they are gone !
Posted by bribetaker on March 27, 2008 at 7:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If I've been given training and gear and I don't use it, then that's my fault.
Posted by iculukin on March 27, 2008 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Those firemen aren't stupid. They are trained to wear them as is anyone else. They CHOSE not to put them on. If I didn't lock out a piece of equipment I was working on, my boss isn't going down for it, I am.
Posted by ccfirefighterchick on March 27, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Two firefighters get photographed not wearing SCBA gear, and it's the chief's fault??? It's the individual firefighters' fault for not putting it on. There are air packs in their seats in the fire trucks, and all they have to do is strap them on when they get out. How difficult is that? This is a good picture of a bad judgement call by two firefighters.
Posted by native1 on March 27, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am a nurse. Last year, our facility went to "gowning and gloving before entering patient rooms", instead of just putting on gloves. Gowns were provided outside EACH patient room. We had inservices explaining why we need this protective gear.
Many of my colleagues didn't don the gear before entering a room. They gave a myriad of reasons why........takes too long, it is too hot/cumbersome to wear, don't want to, forgot, it is a dumb idea so I am not going to....etc.
It is a two way problem: the staff member needs to be accountable as well as the management. The staff member needs to have a paradigm shift and learn to use the new gear. The manager needs to keep inservicing, documenting compliance, positively reinforcing those who wear gear, punishing those who don't etc. until compliance is at the acceptable level.
Same thing with the firefighters. The individuals not wearing what they are supposed to should be held accountable. The management/chief should be educating staff and documenting such occurrences so they are accountable, too. If the firefighter won't wear it, then there will be consequences. If the chief doesn't bring up compliance, then there will be consequences. It is very simple, actually.
Now where I work, most folks wear the gear. It was a long process, not an event.
Posted by BobH1962 on March 27, 2008 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Should we be surprised that this happened, absolutely not. Until there is a policy of "NO TOLERANCE" in place and swift, severe disciplinary action follows negligence like this, events like this will continue to be tolerated. How many more firefighters need to be injured or die because of the lack of following proper procedure?
Posted by ThePhink on March 27, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ID the ones in the photo and suspend them. That will get attention. Not everything is Rusty and Joe's fault. Witch Hunting is still alive and well.
Posted by burton on March 27, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Karma! Wow! This is the beginning of the end for Chief Rusty Thomas. He eptomizes the Peter Principle. Management sets the safety tone for the organization.
There is no way these firefighters would not wear their new air packs if they were told they would be fired immediately; especially, with the tragedy that led to the deaths of nine of their fellow buddies. Incredible!
Posted by raregar67 on March 27, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Paul...you are so right. An old song said..."after changes upon changes; we are more or less the same." getting rid of Riley and Thomas should be priority #1. A condition exists because it is tolerated at the top. A truism for any organization.
Posted by jifdeng3 on March 27, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The captain needs to be held responsible, period.
Posted by Ham on March 27, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You mean you're not going to blame George W. Bush?!?!?
Lay off Rusty and Riley!
These firefighters do whatever it takes to save another person's life.
Posted by pompusmaximus on March 27, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ahh it's good to see the typical Riley/Rusty bashing morons are in full swing this morning.
Anyway, I don't know if I speak for myself, but I really don't think this is that big of a deal and the two firefighters should be given a slap on the wrist.
Posted by Thomas1776 on March 27, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Toxic photos, indeed.
What's that saying? "You can't teach a dog new tricks"????
Seems to me these guys in the photo just don't care about RULES and following them. This merely echoes the Super Sofa fire .... the ranks just seem to not have any respect. It's not training .. it's not equipment ... It is jerks who don't care.
Posted by ashmh1988 on March 27, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lay off people... So you have never had a bad day at work and forgot to say or do something in the heat of the moment? Firefighting is a stressful job and they are doing it to save our lives. Yes he should have thought a little more about what he was doing however it not Rusty or Riley’s fault you try to follow 250 firefighters around all day and make sure they don’t step out of line. It's not that easy and they are all still healing from 6/18/07.
Posted by Thomas1776 on March 27, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ThePhink,
I agree ... suspend the fire fighters without pay 3 days. You have to make an example of them. Had not these photos beens taken, nothing would be known about it or said about it among their ranks.
Punishment is in order. Does Rusty have the balls to be a real man?
Posted by Puzzled on March 27, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow - never have so many spoken so much about which they know so little. No big deal? All fires are toxic, all fires can kill the firefighter? Number 1 in the fire service - your own safety. Yes - they are responsible for their own safety, they can don the equipment, but when the overwhelming culture treats you like a moron for wearing the gear, peer pressure can kill. It's the culture. They recently required recruits to sit in a smoke filled room with no SCBA on at all. Riley's going no where. There wasn't enough outrage to oust him in the last election. The public doesn't care. James Island is proof of that. Firefighters are expendable.
Posted by BillytheKid on March 27, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It don't look good for Rusty. His fire department that got him into trouble at the SSS. This is a straw on the camels back, will it be too much?
Posted by wpc3iop on March 27, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds to me like there is fault from the top on down...
Posted by jifdeng3 on March 27, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ashmh1988
Please dont take my comments out of text. Im not trying to offend or mock, just inform. I have been a firefighter for 12 years and guess what the first thing I learned how to do was? It was to properly put on my turnout gear and SCBA (air pack). I practiced until I could do this under two minutes to pass my basic firefighting class. It is ingrained from day one in the fire service and in the thousands of calls ran since then I have not forgotten to put on my SCBA when responding to a fire. Im sure the officer on the rig has been to enough fires that a simple run of the mill car fire would not have gotten him wound up. This was a delibrate(sp) act and the parties involved need to be punished. Simple as that.
Posted by bootlicked on March 27, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If they get suspended the Chiefs not wearing PPE at the SSS need to also be suspended period.
Posted by FunandGames on March 27, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Instead of punishment that will further lower morale, why not make it a learning experience for everyone?
Have the crew and the IC prepare a 30 minute class on the toxins found in the smoke from a car fire and the acute and long term health effects of inhaling them. Include the proper ways to attack and extinguish a car fire, following NFPA and pre-established industry standards, keeping a focus on fire fighter safety.
Present the class to the entire department.
Posted by kma71 on March 27, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I like Fun's idea!! That might be an eye opener for the whole dept!! GREAT IDEA!
Posted by allwoman on March 27, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, let them see that it is all "fun and games" until someone looses a lung! Sorry, I couldn't resist. It is a good idea though.
Posted by allwoman on March 27, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
loses* not looses!
Posted by pompusmaximus on March 27, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who cares about this? I mean you people act like you have never forgot anything in your lives. Rusty can only do so much. Should we implant all 250 firefighters with computer chips to keep tabs on their behavior?
Posted by captivated on March 27, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I once worked in a parking garage in Charleston. We had a car fire once on the 7nth level and when the FD responded, there fire hose was too short to reach the fire. We had to put it out with extinguishers. I think FunandGames has an excellent idea. Incidents like this would be valuable teaching aids for new and old firemen, showing what not to do in an emergency and how to be more prepared in the future.
Posted by seriouslyb4real on March 27, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
fire chief Rusty thomas and Mayor riley failed again, how many chances can we give them?
resign now
Posted by ashmh1988 on March 27, 2008 at 2:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jifdeng3
I get your point I am a vol firefighter I had to go through all the same training to. I didn’t say what they did was right or that it should be over looked, but did it really need all this publicity??? All I am saying is there is a lot of other thing these reporters should be coving like how well these guys protect us.
Posted by ThePhink on March 27, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Licked you need to seek help so you can be a happier person. Yellow Pages will help. We are talking about NOW. Being the UNION guy you are you know darn well you can not go back and suspend someone for something that happened 9 months ago. You guys always talk about moving forward then suspend the guys who are BREAKING the rules NOW not 9 months ago. So you are saying we want to move forward but we won't while Rusty is in charge. Sounds like something my child would think. These guys are the ones that are wrong. If you want to blame someone in command blame whoever was in charge at THIS scene. The NOW scene.
Posted by Thomas1776 on March 27, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you can't obey the rules, get out of the profession before you get fired.
Punishment is used as a deterrent. Punish them or fired them. Life savers ... stressed out ... good guys ... family man .. good husband .. bitter and belligerent antagonist with sour grapes in their mouths ... whatever. They have clearly and willfully demonstrated total disregard and disrespect for procedures and rules mandated by law. I don't care a thing about any good character that they may have. They have to be made an example out of punished with at least 3 days suspension from their shift without pay. If Rusty can't do this, he is no real man at all. He is just a whimp. And by no swift action, more of this will go on just like it apparently has been.
If firefighters have trouble following rules, then replace them with REAL men who can and will. Keeping slackers around invites trouble ... like the deaths from ignorance and disrespect at the Super Sofa fire.
Now I praise those who can, in part, follow and abide by firefighting rules. But for those that can't, get out of the profession and go work doing something else. Things are going to change. And if slackers like these can't change and think they can keep on bucking the rules, you will end up fired.
Posted by carolinapanther on March 27, 2008 at 3:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Of course, it is always Riley and Rusty's fault. You people that like to put blame on everyone else are stupid. If you choose not to wear your gear than it is your fault! It is that simple, lets not try to make it more complicated than it is. All the riley and rusty bashers continue to sing the same old song. I have a feeling that you are looking for excuses to make the CFD look bad instead of finding positives.
Posted by LPhoenix98 on March 27, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Last time I checked OSHA mandates any person operating in a Toxic or potentially toxic atmosphere must wear the appropriate personal protective equipment. In this case that would require full turn-out gear and a SCBA. When I became a firefighter fifteen years ago this OSHA mandate was department policy, a volunteer department. I have never approached any scene where a potentially toxic environment existed without full PPE. Even a car fire at noon in the middle of August, FULL GEAR. Firefighters are trained by the SC fire Academy to protect themselves FIRST. If you aren't protected and safe you cannot expect to help anyone else. There has been a great deal of Chief Bashing here and I don't care much for Riley but come on folks. This is a case of personal responsibilty. Those firefighters CHOSE not to don the full PPE and the officer on the truck let them make an attack without it. That to me is much worse than choosing not to protect yourself. If the guys were rookies and the officer on the truck didn't make them don the SCBA they have just picked up a bad habit that could cost them or the people they protect their lives. If these are veteran firefighters THEY KNOW BETTER and so does the officer in charge of that truck and those firefighters. Nine men are gone, close to a million dollars spent on new SCBA's as part of a plan to improve safety and they get left on the truck. Unacceptable. I fully agree with fun though, this should be used as a training exercise but there needs to be a little steel in the glove so to speak. The officer in charge of that truck should be gone. If these are veteran firefighters they should be too.
Posted by Harpo on March 27, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The buck stops on Rusty Thomas' desk for this one. Apparently
he has not instilled safety as a primary concern in his own
department even to this day. His cowboy firefighting
philosophy lingers on and we're bound to lose more fire
fighters with him continuing in his tenure. No, the buck has
to stop on the fire chief's desk for lapses like this.
Get rid of Rusty Thomas now.
Posted by palmettoruckus on March 27, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Idiots will be idiots, even fighting fires without proper gear. even HIDING behind a P&C comments section also.
Posted by walleyedwoman1215 on March 27, 2008 at 6:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I suspect the men didn't wear their Scott paks for the same reason I've seen battallion chiefs smoke at house fires. They believe they're bullet-proof (lung disease, anyone?) and that and Jesus and John Wayne are on their sides.
Posted by lexylady on March 27, 2008 at 6:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe the firefighter knew he was being photographed, and deliberately left the gear off so Rusty would take the heat..so to speak! I don't know, just speculating!! A lot of those guys don't like Rusty, i'm told.
Posted by Ralph on March 27, 2008 at 8:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If it is an accepted practice do the same things the same way for many years it is very difficult to flawlessly convert to new ways of doing things over night. I seriously doubt the firefighters INTENTIONALLY failed to wear their airpacks. It might be that these guys have been around awhile and it is not yet automatic. I am not saying that it makes it ok, just easier to understand. Give them the benefit of doubt. Try using 10 codes for 25 years and then overnight quit using them, it is harder than it sounds. In order to effect change, everyone from the top down needs to believe in it. It is easy to say you believe in change, but you must support it at all times and practice what you preach. I think the FUN guy has an excellent idea. Now if that does not make an impression, a day off without pay might just be in order.
Posted by bootlicked on March 27, 2008 at 9:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why blame the ones in charge at this scene because you didn't blame RT and he was in charge at the SSS ? These men shouldn't be suspended becuase this is how they were trained. Carolina Panther I would love to see you join the CFD or did you and get fired before you started ? Get your tissues handy RT supporters because you will probably be crying soon enough. The famous words of RT " We love nepotismn" and who's an idiot know? I'm sure if you died needlessly you probably wouldn't have many people making someone pay the price for being your incompetent leader. They would probably just forget about you.
Posted by devilsadvocate77 on March 27, 2008 at 9:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When is someone in the CFD going to be held accountable? When is someone going to be disciplined, terminated, something for their casual attitude toward fighting fires?
Posted by bravecharleston9myspace on March 28, 2008 at 1:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
MY HUSBAND IS A FF. IF HE IS CAUGHT NOT WEARING APPROPRIATE GEAR AT ANY GIVEN TIME....HE GETS BUSTED...
FACT IS...WHOM EVER IS IN CHARGE OF THAT FIRE SCENE AND THOSE GUYS NOT WEARING THEIR PROPER GEAR...THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE BUSTED...
IT'S BLACK AND WHITE...
I AM TELLING YOU THOUGH. THE PUBLIC WON'T KNOW WHO GETS IT AND WHO DOESN'T AND WHY SHOULD THEY? NOT IN THIS SITUATION...
I AM STILL MAD THAT THE OWNER OF THE SSS WAS ABLE TO OPEN A NEW STORE NOT EVEN MONTHS AFTER OUR NINE GUYS WERE KILLED!!! HE IS STILL OUT THERE LIVING A GREAT LIFE!!!! WE NEVER HEAR OF WHAT HE IS BEING MADE TO DO RIGHT!!! HE SHOULD HAVE SOME CHARGES.... WHAT IS UP WITH THAT????? A MAN WHO CHAINS HIS DOORS AND NINE MEN DIE???? REMEMBER, ONE OF THE FALLEN NINE WAS FOUND AT THAT DOOR!! COME ON!!!
ugh...ok....i will get off my soap box...
never forgetting together,
missy - a local firefighter's wife
Posted by Harpo on March 28, 2008 at 7 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Post & Courier:
Time for an interview with that SSS owner, I think. Let's
hear what he's gone through and has to say to us. What was
he charged with, if anything? I don't remember.
Posted by bravecharleston9myspace on March 28, 2008 at 4:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
AMEN!!!
:o)
Posted by bootlicked on March 31, 2008 at 10:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rusty must leave to move forward. If you live in the city your taxes went up to pretty much keep his handsome salary of over 100,000 and he doesn't do a damn thing.Oh and wait until it is all said and done they will definitely have to increase your taxes again to bring CFD into the 21st century. Riley turn your hearing aid up. Got it up ? RUSTY MUST GO AND THE FIRE DEPT. SUPPORTERS AREN'T GOING AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!