Category: In The News

Feb. 3, 2023 Carroll County officials say it would be unfair to impose it on the 240 yet-to-be-hired personnel.

By Sherry Greenfield Source Baltimore Sun (TNS) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The International Association of Firefighters Local 5184 in Carroll County has asked county officials to recognize the union as the exclusive representative of firefighters and emergency medical services employees who will work in the county’s new Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.

But the union’s proposed legislation will not make it through this year, as the Board of Carroll County Commissioners has made it clear it will not support it.

Commissioners issued a news release Jan. 26 declaring their opposition to the legislation. On Jan. 27, Michael Fowler, the county’s legislative liaison to the Maryland General Assembly, also sent a two-page letter on behalf of the commissioners to the county’s delegation to the Maryland General Assembly, stating the commissioners’ opposition.

“The county is in the beginning stages of hiring for the department,” Fowler said. “It is inappropriate to confer ‘exclusive representation’ to a union and impose it on yet-to-be-hired employees.”

The International Association of Firefighters Local 5184 is the union that represents professional, full-time career fire and EMS personnel at 13 of Carroll County’s 14 volunteer fire and rescue companies. As the county prepares to hire up to 240 employees for the department in the next two years, the union is asking to continue to be recognized as the exclusive union representing firefighters and EMS.

In Carroll County’s form of government, the commissioners do not have the power to pass the bill. Members of Carroll’s delegation to the General Assembly must support and introduce the legislation.

Sen. Justin Ready, who represents Carroll County’s District 5, said the delegation has no plans to introduce the legislation at this time, since the county is still in the process of forming the new Department of Fire and EMS.

A union official, who declined to be named, said though the union was “surprised” the commissioners issued a news release announcing their opposition, the union understands the county’s and Ready’s positions. The union will seek to meet with commissioners in the future.

“We want to see this legislation move forward in a good way,” without any controversy, the official said.

The push to create a combination paid and volunteer county fire service in Carroll County began more than a decade ago. In 2018, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation allowing the county to establish the new department and in October 2020, commissioners unanimously voted to pass an ordinance creating it.

The department’s director and chief, Michael Robinson Sr., is in the middle of staffing the new department. The application period for hiring firefighters, emergency medical technicians, firefighter paramedics, paramedics and fire apparatus drivers, ended on Monday. Robinson said 32 of those hired will be assigned to the Westminster Volunteer Fire Company, 12 to the Taneytown Volunteer Fire Company, 24 to Sykesville, 32 to Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Department, 12 to the Manchester Volunteer Fire Company, and 12 to the Reese Volunteer Company in Westminster.

Commissioners said it is too early to have talks with union leaders.

“The county is in only the beginning stages of hiring and the bill could inappropriately impose conditions of employment on the yet to be hired employees, who would not have a voice in this option,” the news release from commissioners said.

Though the proposed legislation says the union excludes any requirement for collective bargaining between the county and the union, Fowler doesn’t see it that way.

“Although the proposed legislation purports to exclude collective bargaining from its grant of rights, in practice it operates in much the same,” he said in his letter to the delegation. “For example, the language does not define the subjects which would trigger a request to ‘meet and confer,’ and provides for written binding memoranda of understanding on wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment for the represented employees.

“In addition, there are no limits on the right to engage in protected activities,” he said. “Absent a prohibition on striking, labor shortages and picketing, the proposed legislation authorizes this activity.”

Finally, the legislation does state an employee has the right to “take part in or refrain from taking part in forming, joining, supporting or participating in any employee organization or its lawful activities.”

Feb. 2, 2023 Michael Duran said the city still refuses to accept responsibility for the death of his son, Apopka FF Austin Duran.

By Stephen Hudak Source Orlando Sentinel (TNS) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

A consultant’s review of the Apopka Fire Department, conducted in the wake of last summer’s on-duty death of firefighter Austin Duran, alleges firefighter health and safety programs have been neglected for years, according to a 45-page draft of the report.

Its authors, Gannon Emergency Solutions, commissioned by the city last year, suggested the 131-employee department “needs a reset.”

The document praised positive, recent changes in the Fire Department’s organizational hierarchy including adding a training chief and a life-safety chief, both new posts, but it also “identified deeper foundation deficiencies” that fuel concern as the city grows.

With a population of about 56,000 people, Apopka is Orange County’s second-largest city.

The draft, obtained by the Orlando Sentinel through a public records request, includes electronically inserted comments in the margins by Fire Chief Sean Wylam and City Attorney Michael Rodriguez, who disputed many of Gannon’s observations, conclusions and language.

“We didn’t edit anything out,” Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson said. “We just put in [comments] where they were wrong.”

Nelson, elected to a second, four-year term last March, said he was disappointed in the review. He said it appeared intended to persuade the city to award Gannon a three-year contract at $150,000 a year to help fix the problems they said they found in the department.

The report’s authors were out of the country on business Wednesday and unavailable for comment. They are expected to give a formal presentation on their findings at a future Apopka City Council meeting, the mayor said.

At Wednesday’s council meeting, Michael Duran, the fallen firefighter’s father, offered his view of the city’s response.

“No surprise,” he said. “The city continues … to push back and refuse to accept accountability.”

As required by law, the Duran family has notified the city it intends to sue over Austin’s death.

Austin Duran, 25, died July 15 from injuries suffered in an on-duty accident at a fire station when a trailer filled with sand tipped over and crushed him. Neither he nor a co-worker helping him had been trained on how to move the trailer.

Fire Lt. Alex Klepper, head of the Apopka firefighters union, assailed city leaders’ criticism of the consultants they handpicked.

“This company has gone from experts to enemy No. 1 for exposing the reality that the rest of us live in,” he said.

Under a section titled “Unacceptable and Requires Urgent Attention,” the consultants referenced the tragic lack of training.

“There is a prevailing and widespread culture of assumption and taking things for granted,” they wrote. “It was assumed that Austin Duran and his colleague knew how to hitch the trailer and it was taken for granted that they were capable of doing so. Better guidelines, training and supervision eliminate assumption and are critically important in such a young and inexperienced organization.”

Consultants noted many firefighters spoke with them anonymously, fearing retribution from department administration.

Administrators clapped back in a note attributed to ”fire staff” in the report’s margin.

“Again, these are serious accusations that AFD takes seriously, and ones we would NEVER ignore. We have never received a complaint regarding this statement,” it read. “Even with rumors of such, we developed a mentorship program to encourage everyone to say something if they see something.”

The consultants cited “major issues” with the department’s attention to health and safety, including a lack of accountability.

The report alleges the health and safety issue went beyond the Fire Department and faulted the absence of “a dedicated and experienced safety professional to ensure compliance with basic safety requirements citywide.” They recommended hiring a “change manager.”

Fire officials brushed off the guidance. “Infers that [fire] staff is incapable of driving change,” they wrote.

The consultants pointed out that firefighting is a dangerous occupation.

“It is accepted that a firefighter’s role will expose them to danger and unpredictable situations responding to emergencies in the field, but not at a fire station where workplace safety should be exemplary,” they noted. “City leaders, fire department staff, the Duran family and the community all want to see a thorough review of the circumstances and a progressive reaction to the findings. The outcomes of this report and the legacy should be a strategic plan and a process of change that puts in place measures to prevent something like this from happening again.”

Feb. 2, 2023 The rig sustained damage after it hit a pole and a street sign.

Source firehouse.com News

After wrapping up from a medical call at a hotel Wednesday night, Fort Worth firefighters headed to their engine. But it was gone.

They found it about a block away uphill near I-35W and Seminary Drive, according to Fox4. 

Tracks on the icy road showed it veered off the road, hit a pole and a street sign.

There was minor damage to the rig, and the thief was no where to be found. 

Feb. 2, 2023 Former Palm Beach County FF Elizabeth Genna Suarez faces up to 20 years and a $250,000 fine.

Source Firehouse.com News

A former Palm Beach County firefighter is facing up to 20 years behind bars and a $250,000 fine after her conviction in federal court Wednesday.

Elizabeth Genna Suarez, 34, was convicted by a federal jury on three of four counts of misappropriating $158,960 from a fund for people with cystic fibrosis, WFIX reported.

Suarez was a Palm Beach County Fire Rescue firefighter and EMT from March 2019 until her resignation in November.

Documents showed she married the Piper’s Angels founder and CEO in October 2018, and had access to his personal bank accounts and the charity’s business accounts. In 2019, she joined the board and started the bookkeeping duties.

She used the funds for cosmetic surgery, car improvements and sunglasses, records showed.

The couple divorced in 2020. 

Feb. 1, 2023 Volunteer fire departments provide coverage to approximately 46% of the population, but 76% have reported a decrease in volunteer service in recent years.

By Chris Bragg Source The Buffalo News, N.Y. (TNS) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Feb. 1—ALBANY — During her state budget presentation on Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul will roll out a plan to invest $10 million to support the training, recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.

Nine million New Yorkers live in communities served by volunteer fire departments. But the Covid-19 pandemic decreased participation in the programs, and municipalities have struggled to recruit and retain people to provide the critical services.

The new funding proposed by Hochul includes $6.5 million to provide stipends to volunteer firefighters who complete core training. The other $3.5 million would go to the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to administer the program and enhance training capacity.

In addition, Hochul’s budget also includes legislation that would allow municipalities and fire companies to pay volunteer firefighters compensation for response to calls and completion of training.

“Volunteer first responders put their lives on the line to support their fellow New Yorkers, and we are forever indebted to them for their heroism,” Hochul said in a prepared statement. “Many communities across the state rely on services provided by volunteer firefighters but need further support to recruit and retain people willing to serve their neighbors. With this proposal we are recognizing that it takes time, commitment and dedication to be a volunteer firefighter, and that we must provide resources to support those crucial, life-saving efforts.”

Volunteer fire departments provide coverage to approximately 46% of the population, but 76% have reported a decrease in volunteer service in recent years, according to Hochul’s office.

Between 1997 and 2020, according to Hochul’s office, there was a 29% increase in fire incidents in the state. This combined with the volunteer shortage has led to an increase in “mutual aid calls” in which the local “home” department must call on a neighboring department to help. According to Hochul’s office, this has strained the resources of not only volunteer departments, but also professional, career fire departments.

Hochul is set to deliver her second budget address at noon Wednesday at the State Capitol in Albany. The deadline for Hochul and the Legislature to strike an agreement for an on-time budget is April 1.

Feb. 1, 2023 Three tractor-trailers and three vehicles collided on snowy Interstate 94 in Chelsea and rescuers needed a heavy wrecker to help complete the extrication.

Source Firehouse.com News

Rescuers worked for 48 minutes to free the driver of an 18-wheeler who was trapped after striking another tractor-trailer in a multiple vehicle wreck in Chelsea, MI.

The crash, which involved three tractor-trailers and three vehicles, happened Monday morning just before 5 a.m. on Interstate 94, according to MLive.com.

The cab of one big rig was crushed between two trailers leaving the driver trapped. 

Multiple fire and rescue agencies were called in to assist as crews worked in cold, snowy weather. 

“We were unable to gain access to the passenger and driver’s side of the semi-tractor, as it was pinned between two box trailers,” Washtenaw County Technical Rescue Team Director of Operations Greg Payeur told Firehouse.com. 

“Extrication efforts consisted of tunneling from the rear of the cab and disentanglement from the front.”

A heavy wrecker was brought in from Manchester Towing to winch the box trailer away from the cab to give crews access to the driver’s side of the rig. On the other trailer, a grip hoist was used to pull the tractor away from the cab.

“Once access was gained, crew members quickly disentangled the patient, and he was transported to the hospital in critical but stable condition,” Payeur said. 

One person was listed in critical condition and several others were injured, the Michigan State Police told the Detroit News.

The initial investigation determined that an 18-wheeler jackknifed on the snow-covered interstate and caused all the other cars to collide.