Firefighters refuse to battle blaze, but watch

Tribune Chronicle ^ | 1/16/04 | JOHN GRANT EMEIGH

[mylife]

Firefighters refuse to battle blaze, but watch

By JOHN GRANT EMEIGH

Tribune Chronicle

McKINLEY HEIGHTS - Firefighters from Niles watched a Weathersfield house burn for about 20 minutes Thursday afternoon without attempting to put it out because the fire occurred outside the city limits. Jason Radcliff said most of the items in his home at 2782 Robbins Ave. may have been saved if the Niles firefighters had acted immediately.

Instead, the Niles crew waited for the Weathersfield Fire Department to come and put out the blaze. Radcliff said Niles firefighters had three firetrucks at the scene and could have easily put out the fire.

''You don't just sit there and watch someone's livelihood burn,'' Radcliff said.

Capt. Randy Ciminero of the Niles Fire Department confirmed his firefighters mistakenly were dispatched to the scene because the fire originally was thought to have been in Niles.

Since the fire was not in the city's jurisdiction, Ciminero said his firefighters just waited to make sure no one was injured.

Radcliff, whose house was no more than 200 yards from Niles city limits, was angry the Niles firefighters didn't help.

''Don't call yourself a firefighter if you do something like that,'' he said.

The Niles firefighters said they would have done something if there was someone trapped in the house, but Ciminero said his department was not obligated to fight the fire.

Ciminero said he didn't want his firefighters tied up with this fire when they could have been called out to a fire in Niles.

''I'm paid by the city of Niles. I'm paid to protect the property of the people of Niles,'' he said.

Radcliff, who has rented the house for the past five years, said the fire was contained to one room when Niles firefighters arrived. However, the fire spread by the time firefighters from the Weathersfield station arrived.

It takes Weathersfield firefighters longer to respond to fires because it only has part-time firefighters who usually are not at the station when called.

The Niles department was dispatched to the fire because the 911 call was made from a cell phone, and all cell phone calls go to the Ohio State Highway Patrol in Southington. The patrol dispatcher mistakenly notified the Niles department about the fire because Robbins Avenue also runs through Niles.

Firefighters from Weathersfield's Station No. 40, who were eventually called about 1:10 p.m., put out the fire. An official from the Weathersfield department said the fire was contained to a room and part of the attic.

The cause of the fire was undetermined, the Fire Department reported.

One Weathersfield firefighter was taken to a local hospital after suffering breathing problems and was treated and released that day.

Weathersfield Fire Chief Randall Pugh was not available for comment.

Radcliff said he and his fiancee and their three children will have to stay in a hotel.

jemeigh@tribune-chronicle.com

[mylife]

Im from this area, I'll bet a buck that these guys are union.

[RightWhale]

This happens all the time. Sometimes people are shocked to learn in this way that they are not inside city limits, although when it came time to pay property taxes they were highly cognizant of the slightest detail on their tax statement.

[Drango]

These firefighters are an insult to the brave NY 9/11 firefighters.

[shotgun]

How many went to volunteer in NY after 9-11, but they wouldn't drive 200 yards outside the city limits? I'll bet they sure like that hero label and the extra attention they get with it as well....

[LasVegasMac]

Ciminero said his department was not obligated to fight the fire.

If they feel this way, I question their "dedication".

Not my job, man.

Yep, sounds like union mentality.

I feel for the ex-home owner / renter.

LVM

[bedolido]

I saw this happen when I lived in Las Vegas. The house burned down completely and the LV city fire dept just watched. The owner borrow a shotgun from a neighbor and blew severals holes (about 3 separate shots)in the side of the fire truck then pointed it at the chief. They started to put it out when the county truck arrived. The man was charged but not convicted by a jury. This was in about 1961 or so. The house was a total loss and

[coloradan]

The Niles department was dispatched to the fire because the 911 call was made from a cell phone, and all cell phone calls go to the Ohio State Highway Patrol in Southington. The patrol dispatcher mistakenly notified the Niles department about the fire because Robbins Avenue also runs through Niles.

Firefighters from Weathersfield's Station No. 40, who were eventually called about 1:10 p.m., put out the fire.

You talk about people being cognizant of every detail on their property tax statement ... sounds like the 911 dispatcher and the State Highway Patrol (which depend on tax revenue for their existence) could be held civilly liable for the loss. And it also sounds like it's just too bad that there wasn't a private fire company that the person could call, who was their client, and who would come put out the fire - instead of depending on multiple levels of government functionaries to do so.

[Timesink]

You talk about people being cognizant of every detail on their property tax statement ... sounds like the 911 dispatcher and the State Highway Patrol (which depend on tax revenue for their existence) could be held civilly liable for the loss.

I agree. Sue the pants off them. Sad to say, but it's the only way left to get back at the government for stepping on you.

[bert]

I guess maybe it would haave been a good thing to be in the city and pay the taxes.

Life is a bout choices and responsibility for those choices.

[PurVirgo]

How about these apples - I was robbed at gunpoint when I worked at a convenience store.

The way the town I worked in was drawn, some parts are city of Houston, and the rest is Harris County.

From previous experience, I knew that 911 goes to city, but that we are in county.

So, when I called the Sherriff's office, they told me to hang up and call 911 so they could have me on record.

When I told them why I couldn't, they said "well, then, it is just going to take longer for us to find you"

Thank God I wasn't hurt.

But it was a good lesson that 911 doesn't always work

[RightWhale]

There will be a number of problems with E-911. Use of a cell phone probably exonerates 911 since cell phones are not in the system. The city firefighters are not allowed to fight fires outside their district unless so directed since they must be ready to respond to an emergency within their district.

[backtobasics]

I can just picture it......A big shiny fire truck, and a crew of firefighters just sitting idly by while someones house is burning down. Just dont make much sense.

"When you are dealing with people, you will find that it is a whole lot better to go..not so much by the book.......but by the heart"

Sheriff Andy Taylor

[mylife]

The house burned down completely and the LV city fire dept just watched. The owner borrow a shotgun from a neighbor and blew severals holes (about 3 separate shots)in the side of the fire truck then pointed it at the chief. They started to put it out when the county truck arrived.

I guess he must of felt strongly about the situation.

[Porterville]

It is much more complicated then that... it depends on what kind of agreement they have with the local community; And never ever under estimate the power of lawyers to keep firefighters from taking any unnecessary actions.

Besides, in general, sawdust plywood houses are just left to burn.

[RightWhale]

That's right 911 wasn't perfect and E-911 should be better, but it won't be perfect either. It's new tech and I don't see why it should be so difficult but it is.

[supercat]

I can just picture it......A big shiny fire truck, and a crew of firefighters just sitting idly by while someones house is burning down. Just dont make much sense.

My local newspaper once ran a photo of a bunch of smiling firefighters posing in front of a burning house. But those firefighters had an excuse: the house was being torched as part of a training exercise, and the firefighters were waiting for the fire to reach the proper level before going in to put it out.

[mylife]

Thats why we need to take our rights and responsibilities away from the government.

[Porterville]

You know what would have happened if something went wrong, he would have sued the Town claiming that the firefighters jumped in when they had no legal right to do so.

You forgot about NIASH and OSHA.... there are many bastards in the world, that are not the ground troops.

[cyborg]

You think the owner of that house has nice things to say about firefighters right now? I don't think so. I used to be in a volunteer fire company. Many brave men and women died VOLUNTEERING to go to the 9-11 fireground without a thought of getting paid for anything. I agree with you.