Panel urges sweeping changes in safety, training, leadership at fire department
Updated 10:51 a.m., October 17, 2007
The Post and Courier
Thomas and Charleston Mayor Joe Riley comment in October 2007 on the fire report to be conducted by a panel of experts.
CHARLESTON — Bringing the tradition-bound Charleston Fire Department in line with modern firefighting practices could take years, cost millions and require fundamental shifts in attitudes toward safety, training and leadership, if the recommendations of an independent panel of firefighting consultants are adopted by the department.
The city hired the six-member independent panel of experts in August to recommend improvements in the wake of the June 18 Sofa Super Store blaze that killed nine of the department's firefighters.
Mayor Joe Riley said he views the report as a "management analysis" that provides the city with a "opportunity and responsibility to allow our excellent fire department to move toward a new level of achievement."
The 38-page report issued Wednesday paints a stark picture of an insular department where leaders stifle dissent, rely on outdated methods and lack sufficient training and education. The department's culture does not sufficiently emphasize safety and concentrates too much authority in the chief's office.
While it does not refer to Fire Chief Rusty Thomas or any department leaders by name, the report makes it clear that commanders do not place enough emphasis on training or keeping pace with current firefighting tactics and practices.
Video
Riley/Thomas Press Conference
Mayor Joe Riley announces the findings of the six-member independent panel of experts hired to recommend improvements in the wake of the Sofa Super Store blaze
The panel's recommendations touch on virtually every area of the department's management, organization and procedures and raises serious questions about the extent to which city firefighters were prepared and equipped to handle the fatal sofa store fire.
While panel members say their report was written as if the sofa store fire never occurred, several of the panel's recommendations deal with issues that firefighters and experts from around the country have said played a role in the tragedy.
The panel has yet to tackle the specifics of the sofa store blaze that's planned for phase two -- but its report offers a detailed snapshot of the inner workings of the department at the time of the fire.
Panel members noted that the report is "directed toward identifying areas of concern."
City firefighters lack some basic equipment and conveniences to perform their jobs, from inadequate flashlights and hazardous work uniforms to worn out protective gear, outdated air tanks and fire trucks without air-conditioning.
The equipmentrelated issues range from relatively minor ones such as upgrading flashlights to costly purchases such as outfitting the department's existing fire trucks with air-conditioning.
Other items won't cost a dime, but are likely to be contentious, such as a recommendation that Thomas open a dialogue with "local organizations that represent the interests of firefighters." The primary organization that does that is the local firefighters union. The two sides have long had a prickly relationship and some union members have called for Thomas' ouster in the wake of the fatal blaze.
In all, the panel's report contains nearly 200 separate recommendations, organized by subject area and priority. Among the issues identified as top priorities that should be implemented immediately or as soon as possible:
-Increase manpower by 15 percent to ensure fire trucks have enough firefighters aboard to battle blazes safely and effectively.
-Provide more training and education throughout the fire department.
-Replace or upgrade a hodgepodge of protective gear that doesn't meet current firefighting standards.
-Ban dangerous tactics at fire scenes and adopt a culture in which "safety must become a primary consideration for all fire department activities."
-Spread leadership among department commanders and encourage rank-and-file firefighters to participate in decision-making and feel free to offer critical opinions.
-Establish an organized approach for responding to fires, based on severity.
-Upgrade equipment, such as buying larger supply lines and attack hoses that will allow firefighters to dump more water on fire more quickly.
In coming years, the panel recommended, the department should: Hold public forums that allow residents to share their perceptions and expectations regarding the fire department. Update firefighting manuals and textbooks at all city fire stations. Purchase a simulator to educate firefighters about the warning signs of flashover, a process in which super-heated contents or structures spontaneously ignite. Create a multi-acre, state-of-the-art training facility and invite area departments to participate as part of a regional training program. Seek national accreditation through the Center for Public safety Excellence, a process that could take years.
Several of the panel's other recommendations are tied to guidelines issued by the National Fire Protection Association, a fire prevention organization on whose reports many firefighting standards are based.
Some of these standards were cited in the recent violations issued against the city by the state office of Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Riley and attorneys representing the city have argued that the city can't be held responsible for the association's standards unless they have been specifically adopted into state law.
The report also delves into fire protection issues in other city departments. For example, the panel recommends that the city's building inspectors work more closely with the fire department to check existing structures fire code violations. The panel's report recommends that the fire department assign a liaison to coordinate with city building inspectors to reduce the risk of fires before firefighters have to respond.
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Comments
bruce (anonymous) says...
Bringing the Charleston Fire Dept.into the 21st.century may take longer than most of us have left.Bring in NEW leadership from outside & shake that place up quick before more firefighters die,& the lawsuits bankrupt the whloe city !!!
October 17, 2007 at 11:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
burton (anonymous) says...
Wow! If this doesn't get the lame duck Chief fired I don't know what will!!! Do the honorable thing and retire Chief! Let the city bring in some new leadership to implement these new ideas that will bring the CFD into the 21st century! Please don't wait for the lawsuits that are coming to force you to step down. Do it for the good of the men in your dept and the citizens of Charleston!
October 17, 2007 at 11:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bickleseagrave (anonymous) says...
I agree with both Bruce and Burton, WOW. if these recommendations are followed it will bring the CFD up to the level that most progressive departments in North America enjoy today. RT and Joe better either get moving on this stuff or get out of the way.
Kudos to the committee, although we all know that this document just lays out how any normal 21st century department is equipped and run.The committee members seem well versed in todays fire service! Nice work gentlemen.
October 17, 2007 at 11:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mspm47 (anonymous) says...
The Chief has to leave now. No way can we allow him to continue. He was the problem so how can we have confidence he will fix it? or even have the ability to fix it.
I say we have to start a campaign and let our voices be heard. I am firing off an email to Mayor Joe next.
October 17, 2007 at 12:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
exorcist_pencocky (anonymous) says...
The only thing left for the city of charleston mayor, joseph p. riley, jr. and his lapdog fire chief rusty, is to "RESIGN IMMEDIATELY".
October 17, 2007 at 12:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nitelite (anonymous) says...
Wow.... Gregorie took some heat for his early stand but according to the last two reports he was right on the money!
October 17, 2007 at 12:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
localff (anonymous) says...
Please understand that this lack of leadership, training, standards, equipment, pre-planning and more lead to the death of nine firefighters. The report is excellent and the goals can be obtained, but only with new leadership...nothing would have changed without the public outcry. Change must happen now to prevent further lost of life of both citizens and firefighters.
October 17, 2007 at 12:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charleytowngirl (anonymous) says...
HA! Spin that, Mr. Mayor!
October 17, 2007 at 12:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charleytowngirl (anonymous) says...
God Bless the Charleston 9 - We will NEVER forget!
And the citizens will continue to voice our opinions so that NOTHING like this EVER happens again.
To the CFD captains and FFs.....hang in there guys. It can only go uphill from here. Embrace the changes that are coming and keep a positive attitude. Don't let anyone stand in your way of being the best that you can be once your are given the proper tools and training!
To Rusty and Mayor.......it's about past time for you to go..........
October 17, 2007 at 1 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yeahright (anonymous) says...
I was one who posted a negative remark regarding Gregorie...I felt he was using a tragedy to inject his name into the mayoral race. I was wrong. I guess even the all-knowing Joe Riley realizes it'd be useless to try and fight a team of consultants he hired, unlike his approach to the OSHA report. We need new leadership.
October 17, 2007 at 1:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ssm (anonymous) says...
If there is no accountability for the events of June 18th, all of the changes in the world will not begin to heal this department.
October 17, 2007 at 1:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
vesta (anonymous) says...
Almost all of us posting on these sites knew that the CFD was operating in the last century. The issue is now going to become one of IF the current administration in both the city and the CFD WILL begin PHYSICALLY implementing these changes and HOW SOON most of these changes can take place. By saying it will "take years" to bring the CFD up to minimum standards certainly sounds to me like they (current administration in both the city and the CFD) are leaving themselves open, legally and morally, to (God forbid) future LODDs due to lack of minimum standards. This would be one sound reason to bring in new administration in both the city and the CFD with modern, innovative ideas and top notch training. Riley and Thomas have been spouting off that ISO #1 rating at every opportunity. Having enough fire hydrants means nothing if you are trying to pump that water out to garden hoses. To the CFD firefighters---we are still here for you until we are certain these changes are physically being made (not by memos). Get the training that you have been entitled to all along, ask questions, request answers and remember that we are not the only ones watching out for you.
October 17, 2007 at 1:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Fire_Inspector (anonymous) says...
I wonder how come we haven't heard yet from the varied "Rusty is great" people?
I was on Facebook and there is even a group (organized by a relative) that is trying to protect Rusty!
None of the stuff mentioned is unfamiliar to anyone that has been reading these entries...
October 17, 2007 at 1:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CHRISJIII (anonymous) says...
Well I guess that the other shoe has fallen. Time to go fellas!!!!!!!
October 17, 2007 at 1:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Local (anonymous) says...
"Mayor Joe Riley said he views the report as a "management analysis" that provides the city with a "opportunity and responsibility to allow our excellent fire department to move toward a new level of achievement.""
This statement leads me to believe we can expect more denial and inaction from the Mayor. Everyone's posts today are right-on. It is time for new leadership in the CFD.
October 17, 2007 at 1:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Local (anonymous) says...
I would add that just the fact that Rusty attended and spoke at this press conference indicates he is here to stay. (I'm basing this on the photo attached to this article.) I'm starting to lose hope that anything will change.
October 17, 2007 at 1:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Zarclone (anonymous) says...
riley and rusty have been trying to make it look like they have been running the department by standards and up to date training..hell when i was in there if you said something to rusty about the training or ricky about the training either one of the would tell you .."we do it this way..if you dont like it , hit the highway, this is the way rusty and russel sr want it done so this is the way its gonna be done"..well it was done and it cost us 9 good men...only way for the cfd to get better is with a change in mayor, change in chief and some changes in the assistant and battalion chiefs..i said all this 2 months ago..i knew the report was gonna be bad for city hall and rusty..hell that was rileys on hand picked crew and they laid the bad crap down on the city..but most of you will be long gone before the recommended changes are in effect
October 17, 2007 at 1:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Fire_Inspector (anonymous) says...
A few additional comments:
1) Why should Charleston bother with Heavy rescue? The Volunteer Rescue Squad does this for FREE!
2) No mention here about coordinating LDH threads and sizes with a regional standard. It'd be sad if Charleston has 4" pipe thread while NC has 5" stortz etc.
3) No mention about TESTING the existing staff to determine if they require additional training.
4) In what way does CFD need maritime training? DO they have a fire boat? Does the Coast Guard do this? How about local tug services? Char ResQ? NWS in Hanahan? Sherriff? Mt P or Folly?
5) I notice that they rather obviously didn'y SAY Rusty should be fired. They just implied that he is incompetent and needs extensive retraining...
I'll think of more when I sleep on it.
October 17, 2007 at 1:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charleytowngirl (anonymous) says...
I hope you are wrong, Local, but I certainly see where Rumplestiltzkin would like to spin this report until it disappears from sight!
If I were the Mayor, I would stop publicly embarrassing myself by calling the chief and the fire department "EXCELLENT". The department isn't there yet, but hopefully one day it will be.
I don't think the chief will ever measure up to the word "Excellent" as far as the position of chief goes. He may be an "excellent friend or father or husband" but definitely, "excellent" is a huge stretch for Fire Chief.
October 17, 2007 at 1:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
concerned_NC (anonymous) says...
Joseph, I'm boycotting spending any money in the City of Charleston, while you and Rusty are still in office.
You make me so ashamed of the City of Charleston.
October 17, 2007 at 2:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
FiddlerCrab7 (anonymous) says...
Kudos to the panel for the detailed, prioritized report. The term "immediately" appears often, and there are many "Priority A" recommendations. There are sweeping planning and budgetary considerations.
According to the report, Priority A means: "should be implemented without delay or as soon as possible." Priority B "should be implemented after the 'A' recommendations (generally within 6 months to 2 years)."
I hope the city takes the recommendations seriously, with more than memos and training-tower drills. For example, the firefighters won't be able to pump optimum volume until the large diameter hose is actually ordered and in place.
October 17, 2007 at 2:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nickiegarbeil (anonymous) says...
Nearly 200 recommendations...No one, even in the circle of "opposition" as we have been called, could have imagined that nearly 200 recommendations would be included in this report. It is, and has been, my opinion that Rusty Thomas needs to go.
October 17, 2007 at 2:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
FIRSTDUE (anonymous) says...
The city of Charleston has just spent alot of money, paying this panel to beat the crap out of them. It would of been a hell of a lot cheaper to pay a couple of thugs to do this. The panel has done a great job of organizing this tremendous list of deficiencies. But if CFD was so great they wouldn't of had to pay a panel to prepare such a huge list!
October 17, 2007 at 3:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MtP (anonymous) says...
I still support the Chief and the Mayor!
How many of you are actually live in the city of Charleston to vote for a new mayor? Maybe you should worry about your mayor and your chief to make sure they are up to date instead of making sure that the chief and the mayor are fired.
October 17, 2007 at 3:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
burton (anonymous) says...
The lame duck Chief is a poster child for the Peter and Paul Principles! Read up on it and you will know what I mean! As far as King Riley, what more can be said. It is sad knowing that he is going to be re-elected in Nov because the Charleston voters are afraid of change. My heart goes out to the men of the CFD that have to deal with this incompentence day after day. Hang in there fellas! I hope things get better for you!
October 17, 2007 at 3:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charleytowngirl (anonymous) says...
MTP: UP TO DATE???? What the heck do you think citizens have been screaming about for 4 months? The fact that they aren't UP TO DATE is exactly why we have 9 dead men.
If you want to continue to support the chief and mayor, good for you.
I won't support anyone that won't listen to their own employees that have been trying to get changes done BEFORE 9 men died! And since 6-18-07, hundreds of citizens have written comments begging for change!
That, in my opinion, is exactly why the Chief, the asst. chief and the mayor all need to go. None of them are up to date. Keep in mind that these recommendations are to bring the dept. up to MINIMUM standards practiced in other departments countrywide. CFD is NOT up to date! But, they have one good thing going for them and that is the dedication and heart of the rank and file ff's!
October 17, 2007 at 3:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nickiegarbeil (anonymous) says...
MTP,
I have ALREADY done just what you suggested with my City of Summerville...guess what? THEY ARE UP TO DATE!!! You can also look to the OSHA report and see that no other fire department was cited for ANYTHING that night...just CFD.
Now...with that being said, I am fighting now for MY FRIENDS working in this department, to ensure that none of them die as their brothers have died!
Support who you want, I'm sure they will need some moral support throughout their lengthy retirement.
October 17, 2007 at 3:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fyrmnjim (anonymous) says...
MtP, Your right, I don't live in the city. I have no vested interest in the affairs of the city other than the support of my fellow brothers and their quest to provide their citizens with the best protection that they can, in spite of Rustys efforts.
In regards to my dept, I must say that I did find about 10 or so of the reccomendations that would apply to my dept. Most of these are financially related and none are firefighter safety related. Although, I must say, we do have a very strong union here that keeps an eye out for us and holds the chief and mayor accountable for their actions.
As for the report itself, nothing more needs to be said. It speaks volumes of the condition of the CFD and the city of Charleston.
October 17, 2007 at 3:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
vesta (anonymous) says...
MtP: An INITIAL report by a city hired, independent panel with 35 pages of recommendations to bring the CFD up to minimum standards, including the CFD being about 42 ffs short of what is needed, says it all. By the way, other fire departments may also have their own deficiencies, but have not lost nine of their firefighters. In addition, most who have had even ONE LODD will immediately (the day after) call for a review to assess what happened. They, unlike the CFD, don't wait two months. Read the report....it will take years to get to minimum standards (standards which, by the way, will have changed even more by that time) because both a chief and a mayor who are responsible and accountable for making certain that their fire department is adequately equipped, staffed and trained in order to protect the lives of their fire fighters did NOTHING.
October 17, 2007 at 4:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oldcap (anonymous) says...
It's what was reported at Firefighter Hourly and the local for the past 3 months.
Rusty is gone - he just doesn't know it yet.
October 17, 2007 at 4:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
Nickie, in a past post someone mentioned that Awendaw FD was cited. Do you know if that's true and for what they might have been cited?
October 17, 2007 at 5:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Reader (anonymous) says...
MtP - Since you think it is important, please know that I live in Charleston. Joe and Rusty (esp. Rusty) need to go. Now!
What would have to happen for you to think that Rusty needed to be fired? Both the City's own hired experts and OSHA have said that the department had BIG problems. Who WOULD you blame for the problems?
October 17, 2007 at 5:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rjahopp (anonymous) says...
Dear MtP,
Take heart.
Many of the Comments to this article seem to indicate that most of these individuals, including the P&O authors of the article, have (1) forgotten that these same reporters documented on August 18 that the head of the Post Incident and Assessment Review team complimented the Charleston Fire Department's firefighting skills and said the list of recommendations the team made is not a direct result of what happened or didn't happen on June 18 (that will be covered in the Phase 2 Report due in three or four months) and (2) they either have not read or have not understood the Phase 1 Report.
In Mayor Joseph P. Riley's view the report is a "management analysis" that provides the City with an "opportunity and responsibility to allow our excellent fire department to move toward a new level of achievement."
The citizens of Charleston applaud the City's proactive move to seek outside professional guidance in the face of an unforeseeable accident.
October 17, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Reader (anonymous) says...
RJAHOPP - The accident was unforeseen, but it was not unforeseeable. That is why Rusty needs to leave.
October 17, 2007 at 5:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nickiegarbeil (anonymous) says...
RTC,
On the document that I saw from OSHA, Awendaw was not mentioned in a citation anywhere. Now, that is not to say that OSHA did not go to Awendaw as a result of their involvement in this situation (they went to ALL responding FDs ) and find a deficiency there...that would probably not be documented on the one we have seen...
October 17, 2007 at 5:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yeahright (anonymous) says...
rjahopp:
Proactive: adj. Acting in advance to deal with an expected difficulty; anticipatory.
This move hardly seems "proactive". Before 6-18-07 would have been proactive. 200 separate recommendations? If that's proactive, I'd hate to see what you consider negligent.
October 17, 2007 at 5:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charleytowngirl (anonymous) says...
The whole reason the panel was hired to do an assessment of the fire department IS because of the tragic events of June 18th.
Surely some of you don't think that Mayor would have spent the money on the department had it not been for this tragedy. Why would he? In his world the fire dept and the chief are "Excellent"!
Wake up, Mayor and Chief....this ain't Kansas and this isn't the Land of Oz!
The citizens of Charleston demand and expect more than a dept. that doesn't meet the basic standards of the rest of the country's fire departments.
It is just so tragic that it took the loss of 9 men for the public to become aware of this.
October 17, 2007 at 6:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nickiegarbeil (anonymous) says...
As referenced on another page by a poster in that forum, I think this is applicable:
Page 2 of the report:"The project is being conducted in three phases, BEGINNING with an organizational
analysis of the Charleston Fire Department. This review was conducted BEFORE undertaking the detailed analysis of the Sofa Super Store incident, so that the City and
the Fire Department may begin the process of implementing the first set of recommendations, WHILE the incident analysis is being conducted. The DETAILED ANALYSIS of the SOFA SUPER STORE INCIDENT is the SECOND phase of the
project. The incident analysis should take three to four months to complete and is expected to produce additional recommendations. The third phase will be conducted after the incident analysis has been completed. The Review Team will work with the City of Charleston and the Charleston Fire Department to develop a strategic plan for the following 5 to 10 year period, which will take into account all of the recommendations from the first two phases".
This paragraph came from the recommendations themselves...
Thank you fyrmnjim for posting this on www.firefighterhourly.com...
yeahright, you are absolutely correct...
The panels job is not to recommend anyone for retirement or removal..that job rests squarely on the citizens of Charleston...
October 17, 2007 at 6:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JC (anonymous) says...
"Spread leadership among department commanders and encourage rank-and-file firefighters to participate in decision-making and feel free to offer critical opinions." This WILL NEVER HAPPEN! If any employee of the city, not just in the fire department, gave their critical opinion they would probably be standing in the unemploymentline, and participate in decision making - they have got to be kidding. This is a political arena not the corporate world. You do what you're told. PERIOD. Not only are they not interested in what you have to say, they don't even want to hear it.
October 17, 2007 at 7:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rjahopp (anonymous) says...
"Proactive" can have varied meanings.
In the context of my previous Comment, it is referenced as to the City taking action "in the face of an unforeseeable accident.", meaning to take responsibility for enhancing the safety needs of the City and its fire department rather than looking for causes in outside circumstances (i.e. the City has taken action prior to the completion of all of the investigative reports which may take months to conclude).
October 17, 2007 at 7:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yeahright (anonymous) says...
It depends on what your definition of "is" is.
It has become fairly obvious over the past several months that the CFD has been anything but proactive in bringing the department up to nationally acceptable standards prior to the SSS tragedy, regardless of your definition of the word.
October 17, 2007 at 7:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
the_white_owl (anonymous) says...
You know what nikie, after seeing what is in the report, issued today, a person would have to be a real idiot or a jackass to try to defend Riley or Rusty now.
October 17, 2007 at 7:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
exorcist_pencocky (anonymous) says...
the_white_owl -> I have to agree with you!
October 17, 2007 at 8 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jdfirre (anonymous) says...
With this report, it looks as though Charleston is just starting up their Fire Department...with the sheer number and the basic fundamentals that are listed...it will be a brand new department, IF the report is followed....hopefully most of it will be at the very least.
Good Luck and Stay Safe!!!!!
October 17, 2007 at 8:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cfdiaffman (anonymous) says...
Rusty made me sick today as he stood there at city hall saying "I'm ready" and "I wish we could start today". Well, why the he** can't you start today Rusty? You supposed to have already started Bubba. He said "it was the first time he felt that the firefighters could be a part of decision making. Why's that Boss Hog? Could it be that YOU have never allowed them to do it before now? Sorry Rusty but your hick like performance just isn't cute anymore. We had 9 reasons for you to go into retirement and today the panel gave us over 200 more.
October 17, 2007 at 8:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
concerned_NC (anonymous) says...
The citizens of the City of Charleston have been taxed all these years, to fund a #1 fire Department. I wonder where all that tax money went to?
Maybe someone needs to go to City Hall and check under the rugs, behind the curtains or up in the attic.
October 17, 2007 at 9:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fyrmnjim (anonymous) says...
rjahopp, Exactly which planet do you come from?
cfdiaffman, hang in there bro, the horsesh!t and lies are starting to pile up on ole Rusty.
October 17, 2007 at 9:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rjahopp (anonymous) says...
Be assured that Mayor Riley and the City are committed to enhancing the CFD and they are cognizant that the department, similar to the CPD a few years back, may need new leadership in order to carry out key initiatives highlighted in the Phase 1 Report.
Nevertheless, Mayor Riley and the City are correct in supporting Chief Thomas and the CFD in regard to the SSS incident. The Chief has done a commendable job to date.
But, if he does not display the wherewithal to manage the magnitude of recommended changes, he will become Chief Emeritus of the CFD.
Chief Thomas has a wealth of knowledge and experience with the department and, in that event, hopefully he will have the opportunity and will consider working with the department in the future.
October 17, 2007 at 9:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yeahright (anonymous) says...
spin it, man, spin it.
October 17, 2007 at 9:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
the_white_owl (anonymous) says...
See. What more proof does anyone need.
October 17, 2007 at 9:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charleytowngirl (anonymous) says...
rjahopp said: "Be assured that Mayor Riley and the City are committed to enhancing the CFD and they are cognizant that the department, similar to the CPD a few years back, may need new leadership in order to carry out key initiatives highlighted in the Phase 1 Report."
Just curious, is this fact or personal opinion? And if it's fact, can you reference your source, please.
October 17, 2007 at 9:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jammer (anonymous) says...
ditto what Local said, my instant thoughts as well
nothing will change, Joe just said it when he mentioned his already excellent fire dept
how much more do you need to hear to know he thinks we'll all let this pass by in time and no real change other than some a/c and uniforms is really needed
I don't see anyone admitting wrong and apologizing
atleast they could say sorry we screwed up and we're doing our best to turn this around so it doesn't happen again, many would be on board with that kind of honesty I believe
but like most of our local govt, they all pretend everything is ok and no one really see's how bad they screw up
I don't expect change, other than a little lipstick and rouge as they say in a field of dreams
October 17, 2007 at 9:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
vesta (anonymous) says...
Jim: IF the CFD keeps its current administration, one of the areas which has me a little concerned is the fact that the CFD is so far behind the norm and their administration so narrowly focused, that they will rigidly follow the panel's recommendations without regard to changes that are constantly being made. I fear that the panel might be taking the intelligence (or lack of it) on the part of the CFD administrators for granted, and might be assuming that the administrators would realize the CFD not only needs to make the panel's recommended changes but also keep current with new changes that are being made each year as the fire service continues to grow. This is certainly a unique scenario....a fire department being brought out of the dark ages and into the modern world with hopes that the fire department's ranking personnel will realize they need to continue to READ about new techniques, TRAIN in new procedures and PURCHASE new equipment as changes continue to be made. No brainer: if a fire department keeps current with new fire procedures, training and equipment, there is less of a financial burden, and emotional burden than trying to make total changes after 20 years.
October 17, 2007 at 9:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charleytowngirl (anonymous) says...
Jammer, you are right...I've been saying all along that if they just admitted the mistakes in the beginning and worked to prevent future mistakes, then the Chief would probably not be subjected to so much criticism now. Unfortunately, he did just the opposite immediately after the fire and the arrogant attitude was the first thing that changed my opinion of him.
In order to fix mistakes, you first have to admit that there was a mistake. Didn't we all learn that as children?
October 17, 2007 at 9:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charleytowngirl (anonymous) says...
Excellent point Vesta!
October 17, 2007 at 10:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nickiegarbeil (anonymous) says...
White owl...there is an overabundance of those in these here parts! LOL
October 17, 2007 at 10:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fyrmnjim (anonymous) says...
Vesta, Although the report doesn't come out and say it, it's not their job to. The meaning is clear that this dept cannot move forward under an administration that has kept it in the 70's and forward thinking and cooperation are discouraged and ridiculed. Look for more of this in the following reports, especially the one pertaining to the SSS fire itself.
As for rja's comment about Rusty: Chief Thomas might have a wealth of knowledge, but not a damn bit of it has to do with fire service!
October 17, 2007 at 10:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charleytowngirl (anonymous) says...
Fyrnnjin: You are so right!
October 17, 2007 at 10:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
FIRSTDUE (anonymous) says...
Chief Rusty Thomas is not the man to lead the department through these changes. He is not qualified. He doesn't have the classes to work as a tailboard ff in any department in the tri counties, yet Riley believes he is qualified. Get someone that is educated and has qualifications and certifications.
October 17, 2007 at 10:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Reader (anonymous) says...
RJAHOPP said, "Nevertheless, Mayor Riley and the City are correct in supporting Chief Thomas and the CFD in regard to the SSS incident. The Chief has done a commendable job to date."
That is simply not true. The City's own team found 200 problems with the department including many that were characterized as urgently in need of a fix. Admittedly, some things were completely beyond Rusty's direct control, but most were not. If that is a "commendable job," what would he have to have done for you to say that he had done a poor job? Take off the blinders.
October 17, 2007 at 11:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nickiegarbeil (anonymous) says...
Reader...let us not forget this is just phase two...to reorganize and upgrade the department entity...the next phase is the incident itself...nearly 230 deficiencies BEFORE we get to the fire...amazing
October 18, 2007 at 12:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nickiegarbeil (anonymous) says...
Reader...Phase one...my misstatement...brain is elsewhere at the moment...
October 18, 2007 at 12:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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