An outside expert will review emergency procedures at a Stafford County house fire this week, in the wake of a conflict between paid and volunteer units responding to the blaze.
Eleven units, paid and volunteer, answered the call from Rosedale Drive in the Rock Hill area Tuesday. County spokesperson Cathy Riddle said there are allegations about the responders' "behavior."
Fire and Rescue Chief Rob Brown asked County Administrator Steve Crosby to hire the third-party reviewer.
"We want the most objective review possible and the best way is to bring someone not involved," Riddle said.
The review comes amid lingering turmoil between fire and rescue's paid and volunteer workers.
Many volunteers believe paid people are not held to the same high standard they are. Career staff dispute that, saying recent efforts to expand paid positions and punish suspected rule violators is in the interest of improving emergency service.
Lt. Erick Kling, union president for Stafford County Professional Firefighter's Association, said he is "pleased to know there will be a review of the conduct for the fire that happened on May 15."
Kling, along with a number of other county officials, declined to comment further on details of the fire.
But fire department sources say a number of officers, volunteer and paid, were on the scene before the the first engine--Mountain View--arrived within 12 minutes of the 3:08 p.m. 911 call. Stafford Volunteer Fireman's Association--or Company 2--which sits next to the courthouse, arrived second.
Stafford's standard operating procedures say the first responder usually begins to attack the fire and assumes incident command. The second team usually follows the first team's direction and supplies it water.
Two paid fire and rescue workers said volunteers from Company 2 refused to be the backup water supply, pulled its own hose and "raced" Mountain View into the home.
"If that is the case, and I have a fireman in my station that refuses to pick up water, I will personally take them down right then," said John McDonald, volunteer Chief for Company 2.
He was not there for the Rosedale Drive incident. But after a few days of collecting information about it, he believes the events unfolded differently.
Great Job by Responders(posted by
Dock
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
I have no information concerning the technical aspects of who were assigned what duties, but the owner of the home, who is a personal friend of mine, had nothing but praise for these brave men. "They saved my home," he said. From his personal account, these men moved quickly and professionally into a very hot garage, in the dark, and did a great job of putting the fire out and saving the home.
We thank all these men and pray that everything will be worked out for the best.
Time to get rid of Brown, it is not always what he can do for you!(posted by
CoruptGov
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
These problems may have existed for years. But how many houses burned down to the ground as the result of a failed volunteer/career system in Stafford? How many people died as a direct result of a failed volunteer/career system in Stafford? These recent problems did not arise in Stafford until Brown came into the picture. Why was he terminated in Boone County, prior to getting the job in Stafford? Seems like Stafford just got a problem individual that is ruining the volunteer/career system in Stafford!
Volunteer system(posted by
fireandems
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
These problems that are plaguing Stafford's Fire / Rescue system is not a surprise. They are becoming more frequent within the volunteer ranks throughout the region and state. It is no secret that the vol. system is reducing in size and less people are volunteering. Stafford has many vols that are loose cannons and only want to follow their rules and only when they want to. It is my belief that Stafford needs to be a predominate paid professional dept with vol suport as an auxiliary.
There is always friction between paid and volunteer(posted by
travelin_bone
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
in every locality but anyone who allows that to get in the way of their performance on scene, they should be let go. It's inexcusable and shows a lack of professionalism. Judging from the stories that come out of Stafford EMS, the leaders have not taken a strong approach to solving these issues. It's senseless bickering. I'm a vol in another co. and I've never seen the pissing contests that take place in Stafford.
Leadership Not Dictatorship - The Solutuion to Change(posted by
leadership4u
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
I have been following the various stories associated with the fire and rescue service in Stafford. I commend Chief Brown for his desire to improve the system and at the same time I criticize him for the way he's going about it. Due to his apparent lack of knowledge regarding leading and implementing successful change he is creating more problems than he's solving.
