I’ve always said there’s three sides to every story: one side vs. the other- then somewhere in the nebulous mix, the truth is rooted. Three sides.
I’m going to modify my adage now following further revelations concerning the storm clouds engulfing the DeKalb County GA fire department.
You may recall the tragedy in Dunwoody on January 24, 2010 in which Ann Bartlett, 74, died when a fire swept through her home after firefighters responded to her early morning emergency call and left when they couldn’t find a blaze. Five hours later, they responded to a second 911 call from neighbors and found the home fully engulfed. Her body was found in the home’s remains after the fire was extinguished.
Less than a week later, acting officer William J. Greene, Capt. Tony L. Motes and Battalion Chiefs Lesley Clark and Bennie J. Paige were fired for “neglect of duty” following an investigation into fire response time in the Jan. 24 fire. A little over a week after that, Fire Chief David Foster resigned
Before it was all over, a total of five firefighters and their leader- gone.
Hmmm.
The incident was the focal point of a lively discussion featured on Firefighter NetCast this month. A similar refrain was heard during those discussions: “This is too bizarre, there has to be more to the story that we haven’t heard.”
Hence, the fourth side of the story: that which we don’t know.
As the days and weeks progressed, little bits of information have bubbled to the surface. Fourth sides.
Two of the four officers initially fired are looking to be reinstated. They say they were fired for violating a department guideline in that they failed to establish command during the initial response. They claim they could not establish command because they had no scene yet.
Now a story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting another fourth side to the story. A. Lee Parks, the lawyer for former fire chief David Foster, claims the resignation was retaliatory.
“It was not voluntary”, Parks said.
And if any of us fell into the trap that he was resigned due to the Dunwoody fire, we may need to pull ourselves up and out of that conclusion.
It seems that other dark storm clouds had been gathering before the cloudburst at Dunwoody.
According to DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis, the chief and county administrators have been talking for several months about a number of problems in the fire department. Ellis declined to identify those issues, saying they are now the subject of an internal investigation by the county’s human resources office.
Ellis confirmed that one of those issues was the Dunwoody fire.
“I had some concerns about his handling of things and the aftermath,” Ellis said. “It wasn’t the sole factor.”
Another factor may be that the chief had filed a discrimination claim two weeks before he was resigned.
As these new developments emerge, more questions are raised, including:
Why was the chief resigned?
Were the four other officers who lost their jobs and careers pulled into the developing rift between Ellis and Foster?
Is there any culpability in how the call was handled by the dispatchers?
And, I still maintain there HAS TO BE MORE to why the responding crews were unable to locate a burning building called in by its terrified occupant!
Maybe these fourth sides of the story will continue to surface. Until then, best to hold off on your conclusions!
Stay stoked!
-J
Also on Fire Daily…
- Video: Fire officials tell public to “SHUT UP!” at meeting. See how well that went over… – January 12, 2012
- You can’t win if you don’t play. You In? – February 9, 2011
- Video: Worst Fire Department in the United States? – January 19, 2012
- Lighten Up, Francis. – January 2, 2012
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