Firefighters Disciplined For Not Wearing Gear

Good on them! What good are they to the public if they pass out from fumes put off by fire?

well paid unprofessionals who love to hotdog it and not follow guidelines. sounds like south carolina standard operations for public service workers

Jose wrote:

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screw you, you wouldn't say that if they were putting out a fire with you in it. you would complain they were taking too long putting on their gear. get your head out of your ass.

when has a south carolina firefigher saved any human from fire in the last 20 years??? not many if any. I read about people burning to death all the time, but never that a firefighter in south carolina pulled anyone out. sucking up to heroes who are not really heroes does not make them heroes. you gotta save a life to be a hero fire fighter, otherwise its just a job

Tibbs wrote:

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when has a south carolina firefigher saved any human from fire in the last 20 years??? not many if any. I read about people burning to death all the time, but never that a firefighter in south carolina pulled anyone out. sucking up to heroes who are not really heroes does not make them heroes. you gotta save a life to be a hero fire fighter, otherwise its just a job

I hope you never need a Hero to come to your rescue. EVERY Firefighter, EMS, Police Officer is a HERO just because they are man/woman enough to step up and take that job (as you call it). They are put in the line of fire and danger every time they go on a call. There are MANY lives saved but the media would rather report the news that they think will draw better reviews.

February 6, 2008: Belton Firefighters rescue 2 people from burning building.
http://www.independentmail.com/news/2008/feb/...

I could honestly care less for the Charleston FD, but on June 18, 2007, not only did 9 firefighters die, but they rescued 1 worker from the store.

I mentioned this on another post.
I stated that the biggest thing about the Sofa store fire would be that the problems that arose would be fixed to prevent such a thing from happening again.
This was a case where it didn't or doesnt look like the problem was rectified. They are still doing the things that don't meet up to the codes and standards of fire fighting.
Yes the did Discipline... But to me there is a couple questions.
1. Would they have been disciplined if this hadn't made state wide news and blown up by a picture by the media press?
2. Would they have continued to have done so if they were not caught by the media press's snapshot.
They really had no alternative to take action. I seen Major Joe Riley on Television and got the feeling he was talking out his mouth not really sure what to do. How to explain this. After all they just went through a major tragedy in losing 9 firefighters, they just spent over a million dollars getting update quality tanks and equipment, then get caught not using them. Let Alone they were hit on prior inspections for the same thing. Did they learn. I wonder.

How many other fire fighters will go through the same problem of losing there lives because they fail to utilize the proper fire fighting standards.

Jose wrote:

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screw you, you wouldn't say that if they were putting out a fire with you in it. you would complain they were taking too long putting on their gear. get your head out of your ass.

A very eloquent response. Your level of ignorance is appalling. I would much rather them take that extra minute to put on their proper gear than to become victims themselves. I am a nurse. If I do not wear proper protective gear and get sick, whose fault is that? Do I have the right to then pass that on to others or take it home to my own family at the end of the day because of my own negligence? If a firefighter passes out in a fire due to lack of oxygen, he then endangers his entire crew because they will not leave until they have gotten him to safety. That was my point.

735 your'e Right. When you see the Fire Chief not wearing all of his gear and the firefighters see him do this , they'll do the same. It's about time OHSA start placeing Fines on them. Take a look at this web site. They have a spot in their forum on stuff like this.They have pictures too. You have to search for the pictures on there. Maybe it's time to start sending these photo's to OHSA. Been the firechief's , Training officer's and the safety officer's can't do their Job.

Here's the Web site...www.firenews.net

Reminds me of the protective vest issue. "Its too hot, uncomfortable, and keeps me from sitting properly". Then I remember what a senior friend said about the patrol. "Better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it". I think of this, every time I think I am not/could not be at risk.

I mentioned in the other post that Rusty should be disciplined for this if he is the over all head.

It should roll up hill as well as down.

The guys who were not wearing the gear should be suspended. The captain leading as well. Anyone that was senior to those were neglecting to adhere to standard procedures should be disciplined as well for not mentioning that this is what we are supposed to do, or at least bringing up the problem to there superiors. IF they don't wish to sqeal or rat, then they adhere to the discipline problems if caught.

IF Rusty is over all in charge of all the fire departments in the city, it falls under his watch. IF he has a fire department under his juristiction not adhering to policy, it falls un his watch. He should have a letter in his file on so. Enough letters that he hasn't maintained control through out, they should get someone in that can.

I mentioned as a store manager if Inventory failed or there was enough complaints. It didnt fall under my employees unless I caught them and fired them. But it generally fell onto me.

I am retired military. I was the Chief of the division. If my division failed my evals went to heck, I got displined, maybe even my career shot because I didn't maintain control of what was going on.

735 Stacey stated a lot the same more eloquently. Does someone else die because of the couple or few who don't want to adhere to proper safety.

By the Way, Rollup fire doors is what trap those fireman. I wonder, who did the pre-fireplans for that building and forgot to tell the fireman , Not to go through those big door openings.

How do you lose 9 men in a sofa store fire ? a school , home , i could see . what a waste. you would think they learned to don all their gear . doesnt sound like the chief is doing his job .

A police officer hits a guy: gets 3 day suspension.

A firefighter does not wear proper gear hurting/endangering no one but himself - 2 weeks suspension.

Justice?

Rusty Thomas will blame someone else, as usual. Joe Riley will talk (mostly out his behind) as usual.

The nine firefighters that died should not have. Lack of sprinklers aided in their death as did cheap funiture.

Yes, the firefighter probably should have worn all of his safety gear. But I am sure he was more concerned with putting out the fire than dressing out. Why punish him. Rusty will do whatever it takes to make it look like he's on top of his game when in fact, he should be looking to retire.

Columbia Grandmother you are wrong on one account.

Him not wearing his protective gear doesnt neccessarily harm only himself. It may harm or kill those firefighters around him, if he or she goes down.

What I am going to say may differ a little but it is an example.

I went into a burning building. Concrete, filled with fuel oil and then lit on fire for a training exercise. We didn't go in until it was totally engulfed. Now only an idiot would walk in there without proper gear. But your only protection is the water in front of you sweeping the fire to put it out. If a few went in with out tanks and went down and there wasnt enough to man the hoses or if they had to be taken out, that fire would engulf and kill everyone of them.

3 days for hitting someone may be light. But risking the lives of other fire fighters or people they are in need to rescue isnt uncalled for.

I agree when I seen riley talk he talked as if he was trying to blow steam up the peoples noses.It was like he knew he had to say something but what does he have to say to justify this wrong.

Ya'all, it's not like he was taking a leisurely stroll through the parking lot, saw the fire, and said "Hmm, a fire, I think I'll put it out."

He was dispatched to the scene, and as such, should have taken the time to prepare himself for attacking the fire (either while at the firehouse, or on the way to the scene).

His stupid actions lets his comrades deaths in the furniture store fire happen in vain, because he didn't learn a damn thing...

The punishment for this inaction is way out of bounds. I served as a voluntteer firefighter and an industrial safety engineer for 18 years and I feel that the Captain should know when to wear safety gear. I feel that the punishment here really outweighs the crime. A written repremand should be the maximum in this case.

James wrote:

The punishment for this inaction is way out of bounds. I served as a voluntteer firefighter and an industrial safety engineer for 18 years and I feel that the Captain should know when to wear safety gear. I feel that the punishment here really outweighs the crime. A written repremand should be the maximum in this case.

Who is he to determine which are the "real" rules and which ones he can bend to suit his needs. If it was a clear enough violation for OSHA to come down on the department, then I'd say he doesn't have the capacity to make the distinction. The bottom line is as other posters have pointed out... If he went into a situation unprepared, and himself became a casualty as a result of his unpreparedness, then why shouldn't he face stiff penalties? They got off lucky this time, but the next time they may not be so lucky (where their lives are concerned).

Doug from the creek wrote:

Columbia Grandmother you are wrong on one account.
Him not wearing his protective gear doesnt neccessarily harm only himself. It may harm or kill those firefighters around him, if he or she goes down.
What I am going to say may differ a little but it is an example.
I went into a burning building. Concrete, filled with fuel oil and then lit on fire for a training exercise. We didn't go in until it was totally engulfed. Now only an idiot would walk in there without proper gear. But your only protection is the water in front of you sweeping the fire to put it out. If a few went in with out tanks and went down and there wasnt enough to man the hoses or if they had to be taken out, that fire would engulf and kill everyone of them.
3 days for hitting someone may be light. But risking the lives of other fire fighters or people they are in need to rescue isnt uncalled for.
I agree when I seen riley talk he talked as if he was trying to blow steam up the peoples noses.It was like he knew he had to say something but what does he have to say to justify this wrong.

I stand corrected. I disregarded the fact that this was a dispatched call. In this case, he should have been following all the safety precautions. Time would have allowed it. But...at the same time, I still believe the "punishment" was too severe. A written reprimand should have sufficed.

I believe had it not been for the "Charleston 9", this would not even have made the news.

Rusty and Joe are trying to prove they are "still in charge" and know what is going on.

But as you said in a previous post, Rusty Thomas also should be held responsible for the actions of the men and women under his "jurisdiction".

But again, I really did not see the whole picture nor the consequence should the firefighter go down and the real risk to his fellow firfighters.

What is the difference in a report catching this and a report catching by accident again the Blythwewood High School practice last year in full pads. Pictures prove a lot and should be used as tool for additional enforcement.

I don't know if a letter will always fix the problem...

9 firefighters lost there lives at the Sofa store and they still failed to follow through on proper procedure....

Suspensions, taking money out of there pockets will make them think...

It's Rustys job to ensure all his departments are adhereing. HE needs to be held accountable for this pretty soon.

But I guess enough letters and they lose there job would help as well..

Just don't sound like this is being done. Seems like they are still are not adhering to safety regulations and policies. Seems like the Sofa store didn't teach them this importance.