A report by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is faulting the city’s Fire Department following the death of two firefighters last summer? Maybe OIB readers Ron Mackey and Andy Fardy, retired firefighters, can weigh in on this. Is the report fair? From Dan Tepfer, CT Post.
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Lennie, there are things in this report I greatly dispute. In the interests of their families I will not comment any further.
Lennie, this is hard to comment on at this moment after reading that article.
I met Firefighter Michel Baik a few times but never worked with him but all I ever heard about him was good. Lt. Steven Velasquez was different, we worked together for a number of years but more important we talked and we both listened to each other. As a firefighter, Steven Velasquez was the type of person who you knew had your back and it’s not that others didn’t but those who worked with Steve knew how hard he worked and how much he understood the need to be a part of a team and not a cowboy in fighting fires. Steve was a smart firefighter who was always reading, training and willing to help others. May God bless his family.
RESIGN NOW ROONEY, YOU WERE OVER YOUR HEAD FROM THE TIME FABRIZI APPOINTED YOU AND NOW YOU HAVE THE BLOOD OF TWO GREAT MEN ON YOUR HANDS. BE ACCOUNTABLE, YOU ARE NO MORE THAN A NARCISSISTIC FAILED LEADER. BE A MAN FOR ONCE! AND MEMBERS OF THE BFD STAND UP AND MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD FOR ONCE. BE MEN AND WOMEN OF CONVICTION!
DAN TEPFER, GET A COPY OF ROONEYS’ APPLICATION FOR FIRE CHIEF AND COMPARE IT TO THE OTHER TWO CANDIDATES AND YOU’LL SEE THIS WAS A MAILED-IN APPOINTMENT.
TC, THE REPORT IS NOT ABOUT THE FAMILIES … IT’S ABOUT FAILED LEADERSHIP–ROONEY. IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY … SAY IT.
I know damn well the report is not about the families. The content of the report in some respects does not answer a few simple questions. Bringing up those questions at this time could hurt the families. Your statement that the blood of these two heroes is on Rooney’s hands is bullshit.
Ron Mackey–This isn’t meant to be take as sarcasm but as a very serious question. Aren’t you supposed to check your safety equipment at the beginning of every shift? They do it in Norwalk.
Ronin, yes, you are to check your equipment & put on & test your Scott airpac & test it & check for damage. There is no doubt in my mind both of these men did check their safety equipment.
It is my understanding equipment is checked by on-duty personnel before, during and after use. However, the report points out the failure was at the physical/mechanical testing of equipment because testing didn’t occur prior to being given to on-duty personnel along with a host of other CRITICAL failures. I.e. chiefs/division heads. Another Rooney failure … the buck starts and stops at his desk, and a politically appointed Fire Commissioners Board that rubber stamps anything Rooney tells them.
Any jury that reads this report and hears sworn testimony would award a minimum of 3 million dollars in a lawsuit for each the families of these brave men. How do you sleep at night, Rooney?
DonTito, have you seen the report? You also said, “the report points out the failure was at the physical/mechanical testing of equipment because testing didn’t occur prior to being given to on-duty personnel.” Tell me what you are talking about.
Ron,
The full report is available on the CT Post website.
Failure to test SCBA in a timely fashion according to mandated standards (1-1/2 years overdue) and firefighter Baik’s radio was not functioning properly/not able to transmit. This was found after a quick first reading of the NIOSH report.
I could understand this if we were talking about a stranded crew on the 90th floor of the World Trade Center but this was a three-story walkup in BPT.
Thanks Grin and DonTito. DonTito, you said from the report that failure to test SCBA in a timely fashion according to mandated standards (1-1/2 years overdue). Who was responsible to have the testing done?
*** Sad to read the response timeline & all the failed events by the BFD leading to this tragic outcome. Sounds like there were many basic equipment and critical requirements not followed nor double-checked by BFD superiors. In my opinion some blame must be taken by all @ the BFD from top to bottom on what seemed to be a possible tragedy just waiting to happen sooner or later. Hope things will change for the better for the BFD, the residents of Bpt and last but not least the families of our fallen BFD heroes. *** RIP ***
Testing is the responsibility of the Maintenance Division, which has been run by a firefighter paid at Assistant Chief pay for over 10 years with Rooney and David Dunn’s backing and related to Council woman Lyons. Rooney is the only responsible person, he’s the know-it-all chief.
Here’s something I don’t understand. After the tragedy on 9-11 they knew communications failure was a major factor. Homeland Security was then created. The Federal Government then pumped 10s or 100s of Millions of Dollars nationwide into improvements including communications & other equipment. Now assuming BPT got something, what did we spend it on? Apparently not this equipment.