Cal Fire Places Sixteen on Leave Amidst Sex Scandal

Posted by: Curt Varone December 30, 2014 2 Comments

Sixteen Cal Fire firefighters have been placed on administrative leave following the release of a preliminary investigation by California Highway Patrol into allegations that personnel had sex with prostitutes at the Cal Fire Academy in Ione.

The investigation began after the bizarre murder of a woman allegedly perpetrated by a Cal Fire battalion chief earlier this year. The chief, Orville Fleming, allegedly left his wife to be with former escort, Sarah Douglas, 26. When that relationship soured, he killed Douglas and fled, abandoning his job. He was arrested two weeks later.

Meagan Fleming, Chief Fleming’s ex-wife, claimed she saw a videotape of Douglas having sex with firefighters on fire trucks. Those allegations prompted the CHP investigation.

Here is more information on the case of Orville Fleming:

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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