By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

• Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins filed a defamation lawsuit June 22 against the Professional Fire Fighters Association of South Carolina and its president over public statements the union issued following the May 2023 death of Irmo Firefighter James Muller.
• The association issued a June 19, 2023 press release and social media posts alleging Jenkins’ leadership was responsible for years of neglect and deficiencies that contributed to conditions at the fatal apartment fire.
• Muller died during a three-alarm fire at the Tropical Ridge Apartments in Columbia when a fourth-floor loft collapsed through multiple floors, trapping his crew.
• The lawsuit alleges the defendants falsely claimed Jenkins’ administration caused severe staffing issues, nonfunctioning apparatus, delayed response times, and NFPA safety violations.
• Jenkins also claims the association falsely accused him of making misleading statements about the fire’s cause and misrepresenting facts to outside investigators.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins sued the Professional Fire Fighters Association of South Carolina and its president Tuesday, alleging defamation over public statements the union issued following the May 2023 line-of-duty death of Irmo Firefighter James Muller.

The lawsuit, filed in Richland County, targets statements the association made in a June 19, 2023 press release and related social media posts issued shortly after the fatal fire at the Tropical Ridge Apartments in Columbia. The fire was a three-alarm structure fire in which a fourth-floor loft collapsed through multiple floors, trapping Muller’s crew. A mayday was declared during firefighting operations.

According to the complaint, the defendants stated that the fatal fire “exposes years of a chief’s neglect and deficiencies” and that Jenkins’s leadership had resulted in what the union characterized as “severe staffing issues, nonfunctioning apparatus, delayed response times, NFPA safety violations.” The defendants further represented that Jenkins “continues to put residents, businesses, and firefighters at extreme risk,” according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also alleges the defendants questioned Jenkins’ honesty and competence and accused him of making false or misleading statements about the fire’s cause and the role of outside investigators in examining the incident.

Jenkins contends that the statements made by the firefighters association and its president constitute defamation and seeks damages in the lawsuit. The allegations have reignited debate over responsibility and accountability following the firefighter’s death, which has been the subject of investigation and scrutiny in recent months.

A NIOSH investigation into the incident previously made 13 recommendations to the department, including findings on the department’s mental health response activation following the death. The Irmo Fire District and Columbia-Richland Fire Department have been engaged in ongoing communications regarding the circumstances surrounding Muller’s death and the fire response.

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

• Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley filed a defamation lawsuit Tuesday against Mayor Karen Bass personally, alleging the mayor made false statements on the campaign trail to shift blame for the January 2025 Palisades Fire and protect her own reputation.
• Crowley claims Bass falsely blamed her for inoperable fire engines, budget shortfalls, and the alleged removal of 1,000 firefighters from duty during critical fire-suppression operations.
• The Palisades Fire on January 7, 2025, killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes; Bass was attending a ceremony in Ghana when the fire began spreading amid extreme red-flag fire conditions.
• Crowley’s lawsuit alleges that Bass, while campaigning for reelection, “orchestrated a campaign of retaliation” and knowingly spread misinformation despite being aware that Crowley had publicly and privately opposed budget cuts the mayor authorized.
• Bass fired Crowley on February 21, 2025, six weeks after the fire, stating she learned additional firefighters could have been deployed on the day the blaze ignited, which Crowley disputes.

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. — Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley filed a personal defamation lawsuit Tuesday against Mayor Karen Bass, alleging the mayor made knowingly false statements while campaigning for reelection to shift responsibility for the catastrophic Palisades Fire and shield herself from public scrutiny.

Crowley’s lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, contends that statements Bass made on the campaign trail were not protected by government immunity because they were made in Bass’ personal capacity as an election candidate rather than as a government official.

According to Crowley’s legal complaint, Bass spread misinformation regarding the Palisades Fire response, LAFD resource allocation and deployment decisions, and Crowley’s performance as fire chief. The complaint alleges that Bass “sought to avoid accountability by shifting blame and lying — including by falsely claiming that she was not aware of the nationally anticipated weather event.”

The January 7, 2025 Palisades Fire erupted amid fierce Santa Ana winds and ultimately killed 12 people, destroyed thousands of homes and resulted in billions of dollars in damage. Bass was attending an official ceremony in Ghana on January 7 as the fire spread across Pacific Palisades. Although authorities allege a Florida man currently on trial started the fire, decisions by LAFD leadership and the mayor before, during, and after January 7 have come under sustained scrutiny.

Crowley’s attorneys, Genie Harrison and Mia Munro, point to a televised debate on May 6 during Bass’ reelection campaign in which the mayor allegedly blamed Crowley for inoperable fire engines. The lawsuit states that Bass falsely attributed engine downtime to Crowley’s management decisions when, in fact, the engines were not repaired due to insufficient funding for mechanics that resulted from Bass-authorized budget cuts.

The lawsuit further alleges that Bass told debate viewers that Crowley had sent home 1,000 firefighters who would have been in the area during the fire—a claim the former chief characterizes as false and “maliciously and intentionally exploited.”

Crowley previously sued the city in February 2026, alleging that Bass “orchestrated a campaign of retaliation” and removed her as fire chief to deflect mounting criticism of the mayor’s absence from Los Angeles as the fire spread. Bass fired Crowley on February 21, 2025, six weeks after the fire. Initially praising Crowley’s response, Bass later stated she had learned that additional firefighters could have been deployed on the day the fire ignited and that was the reason for Crowley’s termination. Crowley disputed Bass’ characterization of events.

According to records obtained by the Los Angeles Times, shortly before releasing an after-action report on the Palisades Fire, the LAFD issued a confidential memo detailing plans to protect Bass and others from reputational harm. The document detailed coordination between LAFD officials, representatives of Bass’ office, and public relations consultants hired to shape messaging about the fire.

The Times further revealed that the city’s after-action report had been altered during the editing process to deflect criticism of the LAFD’s failure to predeploy fire engines and crews to Pacific Palisades, among other identified shortcomings.

Crowley’s lawsuit emphasizes that she repeatedly warned city leaders before the fire that budget cuts, aging infrastructure, surging emergency calls, and shrinking staff had left Los Angeles at risk. Crowley told a local television news station three days after the fire that the LAFD was “screaming to be properly funded,” which prompted Bass to summon Crowley to her office, according to the complaint.

Before Crowley’s dismissal, the city’s top financial analyst challenged Crowley’s budget-cutting narrative, asserting that spending on the Fire Department actually increased during that budget year, particularly through a package of firefighter raises that added approximately $53 million to the department’s budget.

Crowley is seeking unspecified economic and compensatory damages from Bass personally. She has served as a career firefighter with the LAFD for more than 26 years.

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

• A 10-month independent study by MissionCIT recommends Montgomery County, Virginia add three fire and emergency response stations and hire a dedicated county fire marshal to address population growth and declining volunteer staffing.
• Recommended station locations include Peppers Ferry Road, Roanoke Street, and Radford Road areas, with facility acquisition representing the first funding challenge to implementation.
• Montgomery County currently operates ten separate fire and EMS departments serving Christiansburg, Blacksburg, and unincorporated communities, with emergency response systems organized around historical boundaries rather than strategic coverage.
• The county has increased public safety employment from two full-time emergency responders in 2021 to fifty today as population growth has accelerated and volunteer availability has declined.
• County supervisors discussed potential tax incentives for volunteer emergency personnel and a dedicated “fire levy” on real estate to fund emergency services.

CHRISTIANSBURG, VA. — A comprehensive assessment of Montgomery County’s fire and emergency response system delivered Monday recommends the county build three new fire and EMS stations, hire a county fire marshal, and restructure operations to improve countywide coordination as population growth strains existing resources.

The study, commissioned by Montgomery County supervisors and completed by MissionCIT, a Virginia-based emergency services assessment firm, identified the three proposed station locations based on response coverage gaps and projected population growth. Stations on Peppers Ferry Road, Roanoke Street, and Radford Road would serve areas currently beyond acceptable response-time standards. The county faces the challenge of acquiring suitable land for the facilities before design and construction can begin.

Frank Edwards, MissionCIT’s senior director, told the board of supervisors Monday that hiring a county fire marshal should be implemented immediately. While the municipalities of Christiansburg and Blacksburg operate their own fire inspectors, Montgomery County currently relies on state fire marshals for facility inspections. Edwards stated this arrangement works well for high-density structures but allows smaller buildings to remain overlooked due to limited time and resources at the state level.

The county currently operates with ten separate fire and EMS departments serving different jurisdictions. Edwards characterized the emergency response system as fragmented into organizational “silos” that evolved over decades. One example, he said, involves response districts reflecting historical boundaries rather than which fire department is geographically closest to emergency scenes. Edwards emphasized that integrating these departments into a strategic, countywide system represents one of the county’s highest priorities.

The study documented rapid growth in public safety staffing demands. In 2021, Montgomery County employed only two full-time emergency responders; that number has grown to fifty today. This expansion reflects both population growth and a nationwide decline in volunteer firefighter availability. According to the assessment, declining volunteer numbers will continue to pressure the county to shift toward paid, full-time personnel to maintain emergency response capacity.

The report’s intermediate-term recommendations include improving recruitment and retention programs for volunteer emergency personnel and developing a countywide funding allocation model to distribute resources more effectively.

County supervisors immediately discussed one recommendation during Monday’s meeting: providing a tax break to volunteer emergency personnel. Any tax exemption would require public advertisement and board approval at a future meeting before implementation.

Supervisors also debated the study’s recommendation of a “fire levy”—a dedicated property tax on real estate or personal property that would create a separate funding mechanism for fire and EMS services. The board would set the levy rate, and Edwards presented four alternative funding options in the study report. A fire levy would provide stable, dedicated revenue separate from general operating funds.

The complete study, exceeding 370 pages, will be made available on the county website beginning Wednesday. County officials indicated they anticipate numerous work sessions to review the findings and begin implementing recommendations. The study recommendations will also be presented to the Christiansburg and Blacksburg town councils for their consideration.

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

• Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, stands trial in federal court on arson charges for allegedly sparking the deadly Palisades Fire in Los Angeles on January 1, 2025, which became one of California’s most destructive wildfires.
• Two Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters delivered conflicting testimony Monday about whether fireworks were heard before the blaze, a central point of contention in the defense’s theory that incidental fireworks ignited the brush fire.
• LAFD Firefighter Robert Appleford testified he heard and saw fireworks around midnight, while his captain, Dave Sanders, testified he did not hear or see fireworks, contradicting earlier statements to a fire investigator.
• The defense called expert witnesses who testified fireworks were the most likely cause of the fire, while prosecution experts characterized the fire as intentionally set.
• A juror was dismissed after thanking Appleford for his service outside the courtroom, prompting the judge to rule the juror exhibited bias toward the fire department.

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. — Federal prosecutors continued building their case against Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, on charges of arson in connection with the Palisades Fire, though Monday’s testimony from Los Angeles Fire Department witnesses delivered conflicting accounts that undermined key defense assertions about the fire’s origin.

The brush fire ignited January 1, 2025, in the coastal Pacific Palisades neighborhood and subsequently expanded into one of the most destructive wildfires in California history. Prosecutors have portrayed Rinderknecht as mentally unstable and vengeful toward society, while his defense attorney, Steve Haney, has consistently argued that New Year’s Eve fireworks ignited the blaze.

Firefighter Robert Appleford, stationed in Pacific Palisades, testified that he observed flashes of light and heard fireworks beginning around midnight on January 1, with the sounds continuing into the early morning hours. Minutes after the fireworks ceased, the fire department received a call reporting the brush fire now attributed to Rinderknecht.

Captain Dave Sanders subsequently testified that he neither heard nor observed fireworks that evening. When Haney questioned Sanders about prior statements to fire investigator Kyle Brown indicating he had heard fireworks, Sanders denied making such statements. The contradictory accounts between the two officers directly challenged the defense’s fireworks theory.

The defense presented its own expert witnesses who testified that fireworks represented the most probable cause of the ignition. Prosecutors spent considerable time on cross-examination attacking the experts’ methodology and credibility. Additionally, Haney called Ari Sallus, a veterinary student who lost his family home in the fire, to testify that he observed a flash of light and heard a loud bang while hiking near the fire’s reported origin point. Sallus stated he subsequently saw a small orange light growing steadily in the same direction and immediately called 911.

Prior witnesses called by Haney included a neighborhood security guard and a Pacific Palisades resident who both testified they heard fireworks and observed a group of teenagers running down a trail near the area where authorities determined the fire began.

The conflicting testimony prompted a separate courtroom incident when Federal Judge Anne Hwang informed attorneys that a juror had thanked Appleford for his service as he departed the witness stand. Hwang ruled the interaction “entirely inappropriate,” noting that the juror’s expression of gratitude despite Appleford’s testimony not addressing his firefighting work demonstrated prejudicial bias toward the fire department. The judge excused the juror and seated an alternate.

The trial additionally addressed evidentiary limitations placed on the defense. Haney initially sought to argue that the fire department bore responsibility by failing to extinguish the initial January 1 fire. Depositions from a firefighter and state park ranger indicated the blaze remained visibly smoldering when first responders departed, with personnel reporting hot spots in the burn area. However, Judge Hwang ruled that evidence of fire department negligence in responding to the January 1 fire was irrelevant and inadmissible, stating such evidence could confuse the jury.

The trial continues with prosecution experts scheduled to provide further analysis of the fire’s origin and cause.

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

• Tyler J. Russell, 24, of Endwell, was charged Monday with six counts of second-degree manslaughter and one count of fourth-degree arson in connection with a fire at the Knights Inn that killed six people and displaced dozens of residents.
• The fire erupted shortly after 6 a.m. Sunday at the motel on East Main Street, fully engulfing the 24,000-square-foot structure and prompting a response from ten fire departments.
• The Broome County Department of Social Services had placed most of the motel’s residents at the facility as temporary housing before the fire destroyed the building.
• Russell previously spent two years in state prison on a grand larceny conviction and was released on parole in February before being charged in this incident.
• The Red Cross is assisting displaced residents and accepting donations of clothing and hygiene products.

ENDWELL, N.Y. — Tyler J. Russell, 24, of Endwell, was charged Monday night with six counts of second-degree manslaughter and one count of fourth-degree arson in connection with a fire that destroyed the Knights Inn motel and claimed six lives Sunday morning.

State Police said several callers reported the fire at the Knights Inn, located at 2603 East Main Street in Endwell, just after 6 a.m. Sunday. Responding firefighters found heavy black smoke and flames emanating from the building, which burned for hours before being fully extinguished. Ten fire departments and several ambulance services responded to the incident.

The Broome County Department of Social Services had placed most of the motel’s residents at the facility as temporary housing. The fire rendered the structure uninhabitable, and the county is working with the Red Cross to assist those displaced by the blaze.

The Knights Inn consists of 24,000 square feet with 76 units. The property was purchased by Hiland Hospitality LLC in 2005 for approximately $1 million, according to Broome County property records.

Displaced residents were provided temporary shelter overnight at Vestal United Methodist Church on Main Street in Vestal. The Red Cross is accepting donations of clothing and hygiene products but not food items at the church location. Additional displaced residents relocated to stay with family and friends in the area.

Russell previously spent two years incarcerated in state prison on a fourth-degree grand larceny charge and was released on parole in February 2026, according to state prison records. He is being held at Broome County Jail pending arraignment. As of the time of reporting, state authorities had not released the identities of the six deceased victims.

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

• Longview, Washington city council approved a fire station levy for the November ballot that would fund construction of a third fire department station on Ocean Beach Highway and additional staffing.
• The proposed station would reduce emergency response gaps in Columbia Heights and the Highlands neighborhoods, which currently fall outside the five-minute response-time standard and take up to six minutes for emergency crews to reach.
• The property tax levy would cost residents $1.15 per $1,000 of assessed valuation beginning in 2027, or roughly $38 monthly for the median-priced home in Cowlitz County valued at $399,900.
• Fire Chief Brad Hannig emphasized that response time directly saves lives, noting that modern construction materials and design have cut average fire escape times from 17 minutes in 1980 to four minutes today.
• Mayor Erik Halvorson cast the sole dissenting vote, citing a city survey showing 88 percent of residents felt overburdened by recent tax increases.

LONGVIEW, WASH. — The Longview City Council voted Thursday to place a fire station and staffing levy on the November ballot, marking the culmination of a decade-long push to build a third fire department station and address persistent emergency response-time gaps in underserved neighborhoods.

The third fire station, to be located in the 2700 block of Ocean Beach Highway, would serve parts of Columbia Heights and the Highlands—areas currently unable to meet the city’s six-minute response time standard in certain locations. The national standard for emergency response is four minutes, according to Fire Chief Brad Hannig.

The department currently operates two stations: one downtown on Commerce Avenue and another in West Longview on 38th Avenue. The existing stations leave portions of the city outside the five-minute reach that fire officials recommend for life safety.

“The bottom line is response time saves lives,” Hannig told the council, “and that’s why strategically placed stations and staff make a difference.”

The property tax levy lid lift would cost fire district property owners $1.15 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, effective in 2027. For the median-priced home in Cowlitz County, valued at $399,900 according to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research, the annual cost would be approximately $460, or $38 per month.

Call volume for the fire department has increased substantially over the past 15 years. The department responded to 6,088 calls in 2024, up from 4,037 in 2010, though down from a peak of 6,555 in 2022. The proposed station would not include a training center due to budget constraints, though one could be added later if additional funding becomes available, according to city spokesperson Angela Abel.

Mayor Erik Halvorson cast the sole dissenting vote against sending the measure to the ballot. He cited a city-issued survey showing that 88 percent of respondents felt overburdened by recent tax increases. The council had recently approved a nonexpiring sales tax adding one cent to every $10 purchase to fund police and public defenders.

Councilmember Kalei LaFave noted that the survey included responses from only about 300 residents out of a fire district population of approximately 36,000, suggesting the results may not reflect broader voter sentiment.

Councilmember Wayne Nichols argued that further delays would increase costs for fire equipment and services. He referenced the May 26 Nippon chemical spill response, stating the incident demonstrated the urgency of expanding fire department capacity.

Councilmember Mike Claxton characterized the fire levy cost as minimal compared to health insurance, noting that living within five-minute response time essentially provided better protection than paying less and risking inadequate coverage.

By MES Dispatch Staff

The Briefing

• Anchorage Fire Department has responded to more than double the number of 911 calls over the past decade, reaching 50,000 for the first time in 2025, yet the department’s staffing level has remained flat at approximately 350 firefighters.
• Without additional personnel to distribute the growing workload, firefighters and dispatchers report mounting burnout, physical injuries, poor mental health, and increased reliance on voluntary overtime that cost the municipality more than $6.5 million in 2025 alone.
• A 2023 staffing analysis indicated the city needs as many as 57 additional full-time firefighters to reduce its unsustainable reliance on overtime shifts.
• According to a union survey of the International Association of Fire Fighters, more than 70 firefighters—approximately 20 percent of the department’s workforce—are considering or actively applying for employment elsewhere.
• Fire Chief Doug Schrage acknowledged the department suffers from burnout and morale problems while the city grapples with budget constraints that have prevented the hiring necessary to address rising call demands.

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA — Firefighters and emergency dispatchers in Anchorage are warning of severe burnout and physical deterioration as the fire department’s call volume has surged without corresponding increases in staff, prompting a workforce exodus and raising questions about the sustainability of current operational levels.

The Anchorage Fire Department’s 911 call volume has more than doubled over the past decade, with responses increasing by 60 percent. The calls peaked at 50,000 in 2025 and are expected to set another record by year’s end, according to Anchorage Firefighters Union President Justin Mack. The municipality employs approximately 350 firefighters, a number that has remained unchanged despite the dramatic rise in emergency responses. The number of fire engines and ambulances dispatched to emergencies has also remained constant.

Dispatcher Frances Robinson, who has worked with the department for more than two decades, described the psychological toll of handling rapid-fire emergency calls without adequate recovery time. She stated that answering calls involving people screaming and reporting life-threatening situations causes her heart rate and stress response to spike, with no opportunity to decompress before taking the next call.

The demanding pace has affected her mental health, eating habits, and sleep patterns. Robinson’s shifts, typically 12 hours, frequently extend to 2 a.m. if colleagues call out and no one accepts overtime, disrupting her subsequent days off while she balances parenting two children with her husband, also a firefighter.

Captain Jeff McDonald, 54, returned to active duty in May after a seven-month injury recovery period. A suspect attacked him in 2025, tearing his hamstring tendons from his hip. During his 25 years with the department, he has sustained multiple serious injuries, including reconstruction of three levels of his lower spine after a back injury in 2004 compounded by four back-to-back calls that prevented recovery.

McDonald attributed his injuries to the department’s reliance on three-person frontline units rather than the four-person standard recommended by the National Fire Protection Association. The reduced staffing means fewer personnel to divide patient resuscitations, equipment carrying, and hazard mitigation during fire suppression. Firefighters often lack time to warm up or decompress between calls.

Firefighter Matt Carlson, 29, works at the busy Midtown Station where crews respond to nearly one call per hour on their heaviest days. On certain shifts, Carlson does not make his bed because he expects no time to sleep. He described feeling physically and emotionally depleted on days off, falling asleep by 6:30 p.m. without energy to socialize or pursue personal activities.

The municipality spent more than $6.5 million on overtime within the fire department in 2025, a figure reflecting the department’s heavy reliance on voluntary overtime to meet call demands. A 2023 staffing study commissioned by the city revealed that voluntary overtime shifts have become increasingly unsustainable due to employees’ desire to maintain work-life balance and growing awareness of chronic physical and mental health impacts associated with firefighting.

That same study projected the municipality needs as many as 57 additional full-time firefighters to reduce reliance on overtime. Fire Chief Doug Schrage acknowledged the department experiences significant morale problems and burnout and said department leadership has attempted to right-size responses by relocating ambulances to spread call volume among stations.

The municipality launched a Mobile Crisis Team staffed with eight newly hired clinicians to address behavioral health emergencies and frequent 911 callers, intended to reduce pressure on firefighters. However, operations are supplemented by firefighters working overtime shifts, limiting the program’s capacity to address the underlying staffing shortage.

An International Association of Fire Fighters survey distributed to members last year indicated more than 70 firefighters were considering or actively applying to positions elsewhere—representing approximately 20 percent of the department’s 350-member workforce. Carlson confirmed he is among those exploring other employment options.

The Anchorage Assembly requested an analysis of the fire department’s projected call volumes and current staffing model as part of a budget amendment this spring. The commissioned study will build on the 2023 analysis that found the city’s overtime model unsustainable.

Chief Schrage stated he feels strongly the fire department should expand but does not expect growth in the near future. Mayor Suzanne LaFrance has emphasized that the municipality is facing a fiscal cliff that may necessitate additional cuts to public services unless changes are made to the city’s funding structure, leaving limited resources for fire department expansion.