Local fire community reactsCompiled by Tenisha Waldo
Friday, May 16, 2008
Charleston Mayor Joe Riley and retiring Fire Chief Rusty Thomas shared the report's findings with firefighters during a two-hour meeting Thursday at the Gaillard Auditorium. Afterward, many firemen walked away with solemn faces. Here's what a few had to say: Firefighter Kevin Prin of Station 6 on Cannon Street fought alongside the nine firemen who died June 18. Prin couldn't say what surprised him most in the report's findings, but he did say he thought the panel did a "fine job" of evaluating what happened that tragic night. "A lot was disseminated in there," Prin said. "The most difficult part is dealing with the turmoil within our department. Mixed feelings, mixed emotions. Everybody, I think, at this point has come to the realization that perhaps things could have been lifted to a higher level. But there's still no way to conclusively say that the turnout would have been different. Obviously, there's always room for improvement." Related storiesReport: Fire Department's culture, store's code violations created time bomb After 11 months, origin of blaze still not known Capt. George Gardner of Ladder 5 also was at the Sofa Super Store scene. Gardner walked out of the meeting about 20 minutes after it was started, his head hung low as he frequently rubbed his temple and eyes. He wouldn't say what he thought about the report. Gardner approached Riley after the meeting and asked him to ask Thomas to stay. "I told him, 'He is this fire department.' " "I agree that we need changes in this department very much. We all agree on that, and we're getting them. Him leaving, I don't agree with. I really don't." Capt. Pete Salvo of Station 17, who also walked out of the meeting, said the report's findings weren't a surprise. "It's not. It's what everybody's been saying all along," he said. Salvo was critical of the city-appointed panel of firefighting experts that did the report but wouldn't cite specifics. "Everybody thinks they know more than they really do." Salvo also expressed his support for Thomas. "The fire department is Chief Rusty. Chief Rusty is the fire department. This fire department will never, ever be the same now that he's gone." International Association of Fire Fighters General President Harold Schaitberger, who wasn't at the briefing Thursday afternoon but has seen the report, said the analysis contained "sobering and powerful conclusions." "This union's biggest concern now is for the future and the safety of the tenth family in the June 18 tragedy — the firefighters of Charleston who are still on the job." |
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Comments
This article has 11 comment(s)
Posted by bootlicked on May 16, 2008 at 12:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah Pete and George will probablly never see another promotion. If you can't hack it get yo' jackets . That is why he has made it as long as he has because of blind loyalty. It is a shame you won't never be able to suck-up to him again. Need some tissues? They will probablly bring in someone to teach ya' dat' yankee firefighting stuff. Huh George?
Posted by gcs on May 16, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bootlicked-
Bad things are gonna happen to you!! Karma is a BIOTCH!!
Posted by ColdBeer on May 16, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So let me get this straight... the city holds a meeting to discuss the improper fire department actions that resulted in the deaths of 9 firemen and TWO Captains walk out of the meeting? They have nothing to learn?
They should have fired on the spot.
Posted by MARK on May 16, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
BOOTLICKED
THAT YANKEE TRAINING MUST WORK THERE NOT IN THE PAPER LIKE WE ARE. LOOK AT LOWERY THE REPORT IS PUT OUT AND HIS NAME IS ALL OVER THE CITY INSPECTION REPORT, BIT HIM IN THE ASS.
Posted by cfdiaffman on May 16, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Salvo and Gardner were two social promotions made by Rusty. They are afraid they may not be able to cut it under a new educated chief. You two should not ever speak of my nine brothers again since you choose to disgrace them by your comments about the person that did nothing that fateful night to protect them. FOOLS, the both of you.
Posted by ColdBeer on May 16, 2008 at 12:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm just flabbergasted that they walked out of that meeting. I cannot fathom a leader/supervisor walking out of something like that. Everything else put aside, this was a “lessoned learned” meeting. Lives were lost and lessons learned need to be disseminated. Salvo and Gardner should be fired immediately.
Posted by palmettochik on May 16, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Blind loyalty"? Give me a break. Chief Thomas is an upstanding man morally and ethically. He would have never done a thing to intentionally harm those guys. I think it's time for the "family" of firefighters to quit trying to seek revenge on Chief Thomas for something that he could not have prevented. And "get yo jackets?" Really? If the fire dept's chief and equipment were THAT bad, why didn't all of you complainers "get yo jackets?" I'm so sick of hearing whiners, when you could all come together and try to make something positive out of this horrible circumstance. Every business has room for improvement, but forcing out the chief out of spite isn't going to bring those guys back. Stop being negative and turn it around. I'm sure your families would agree that if you'd try to make peace with the situation, you'd be much easier to live with.
Posted by ColdBeer on May 16, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by palmettochik: "quit trying to seek revenge on Chief Thomas for something that he could not have prevented"
Talk about head in the sand syndrome.
Posted by Wilmot on May 16, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What's really funny is that Salvo has always done a really halarious song about the Thomas's. It's his words with the tune of the Beverly Hillbillies. He does it at parties and sech. (such for the non hillbillies out there.) Now he's all touchy feely with Rusty since he got the gold badge. As for George, he's just too dumb to know any better. Prin, get off the fence and pick a side buddy. Watch closely when the new chief is hired and you'll see alot of these same guys stuck up his (or her) butt too. Hey that reminds me , there a certain chief that does a pretty good job in the IOPFD that is looking for a council that will give her the funds to run a FD like it should be.
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on May 16, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
MARK- "yankee training" wasnt so perfect in Mass? You recall the firefighters killed there?The testing positive for cocaine and alcohol?Public Service in a brotherhood."yankee" or southerner.Who cares?
Posted by a_set_love on May 17, 2008 at 12:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Riley, I hope you remember that a simple majority vote by city council can call for a special election ballot question on changing Charlestons form of government.
Its "State Law" Mr. Riley, you remember don't you.
What better timing than Novembers General Election, whilst everyone votes for a new president.
A change from strong mayor weak council, to strong council with a city manager or weak mayor.
Its coming Mr Riley, do you hear it in the wind, its the cries of the Charleston 9 demanding justice.
What better justice, after what you have done to them and Charleston, than to be made an empty figurehead.
The "Perfect Storm" approaches fast, Mr Riley and change is in its wind.