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

[Cannon6]

Your are right about that. There should be "Mutual Aid" agreements with all surrounding departments. In my area, for sturcture fires, two outside departments always respond regardless of where the fire is.

[Cannon6]

Your statement "No fire department puts out fires outside their Jurisdiction" Not true. Many areas have "Mutual Aid" agreements and city, county, district, paid, volunteer, it does not matter, respond.

[Freedom of Speech Wins]

I agree with the firefighter's argument.

Why should they risk death to protect the material items of someone outside their jurisdiction.

Seems some Republicans these days feel people should work without being paid, ala Bush and his immigration policy.

If the homeowner is scared to rush in to protect his material items why should the firefighters from another jurisdiction.

The homeowner should shut up and collect insurance proceeds.

[backtobasics]

"Hey sheriff maybe that isn't always such a good idea"...Mayberry's City Attorney :)

LOL!

[flutters]

This reminds me of another incident that happened a while back. A man's apartment was on fire and his dog was trapped on the 2nd floor. The fireman wouldn't rescue his dog. After pleading and begging the man broke away, jumped on the balcony, broke the sliding glass door, and rescued his dog. The man was arrested for something (can't remember what). I would have done the same thing. Fireman or not, sometimes one has to act even when you're not supposed to.

[Consort]

Now illegal firefighters are going to cross the border to do the jobs that American firefighter refuse to do.

[bvw]

Funny! And not, too ...

[bvw]

Yeah, well he put HUMAN life at risk for the sake of a dog. Not just his own -- the firefighters. He should be charged and convicted, yet some leniency in the sentence.

[rolling_stone]

Sounds like the movie Turk 182

[GladesGuru]

Your argument is well correlated with your Red Block screen name. Only a true 'crat mentality could come up with the "when a firefighter's dead he's dead forever" non sequetor.

Think, once dead, all are dead forever, with the possible exception of a Jewish carpenter of long ago. Just how much risk is there in a single family home fire event, anyway? We're not talking high rise buiilding here, nor business property with unknown chemicals, blah, blah, blabber, blabber.

This is bureaucracy at it's worst. Add in the worst of unionism, and viola! Instant burned house.

Next you'll be posturing about why we should honor the cop 'cause his is such a risky job. When's the last time you tipped your hat to a fisherman or a logger? Both of their jobs are more risky that the cop's.

Beware the preliminary stages of creeping police state mantality. "It ist der law" is the bast*rd brother of "It is the rule" out of "Not my job", sired by "Trust us, we're from the overnment."

[Ben Chad]

You know your movie trivia!!