Tag Archives: alcohol

Fire Law Roundup for August 8, 2022

In this episode of Fire Law Roundup for August 8, 2022, Brad and Curt discuss a New Jersey lawsuit alleging firefighters responded to a fatal fire after drinking at a local event; a ruling that dismissed a lawsuit challenging Los ...

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Indiana EMT Claims Gender Discrimination Over Discipline

An EMT with the Wayne Township Fire Department has filed suit contending that her discipline for failing a random breathalyzer test was substantially harsher than that given to similarly situated males. Kimberlie Neal filed suit in US District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

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NJ Firefighter Injured By Apparatus Following Celebration Files Suit

A New Jersey firefighter who was injured last year in a mishap with an engine following an out of town celebration, is suing the department and several firefighters. Brian Smith was part of a three-person crew from the South Hackensack Fire Department that took an engine to attend a “wet down” party at the Fair Lawn Fire Department on June 23, 2018.

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Newark Firefighter Loses Appeal of Termination

A Newark firefighter who was terminated in 2016 after falling asleep in a firehouse kitchen, missing a run, and testing positive for drugs and alcohol, has lost his appeal to the Appellate Division of the NJ Superior Court. Antonio Cruz had asked the court to overturn a decision by the NJ Civil Service Commission

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NYPD Investigating Non Arrests in FDNY Medals Day Brawl

NYPD has opened an internal affairs investigation into why no FDNY firefighters were arrested after a brawl broke out at a Bronx bar following medal’s day celebrations last week. The fight at Billy’s Bar near Yankee Stadium last Wednesday was between members of Rescue 3 and members from Ladder Company 49 - Engine Company 68.

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San Francisco Investigating On-Duty Drinking Incident

The San Francisco Fire Department is back in the headlines with another news report about on-duty personnel drinking. The department is investigating an incident that occurred last September at Station 11 where on-duty personnel were hosting a party for a member who was being transferred.

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DC Firefighter Assaulted At Scene Accused Of Being Impaired

A DC firefighter who was assaulted by several people at the scene of an emergency involving an injured child, is now being investigated for being under the influence. The incident occurred yesterday when firefighters responded to a 3-year old injured in a fall, but the child’s parents refused to allow a firefighter to treat the child because he appeared to be impaired.

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Michigan Fire Department Sued For Whistleblower Violation

A Michigan firefighter who was terminated last August has filed a whistleblower suit claiming his dismissal was retaliation for reporting the fire chief for responding to an alarm after drinking. Matt Halicek claims his problems began last November when Clare Fire Chief Jim Chapman responded on a mutual aid run with alcohol on his breath.

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Fired Texas Cadets Seek Reinstatement

In August, the San Antonio Fire Department took disciplinary action against six cadets for allegedly drinking during a lunch break. Four of the cadets resigned and two were fired. Two of the six cadets are now talking about what happened, and have indicated they are asking for their jobs back.

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Intoxication, Reports, Facts And Conclusions

Today’s Burning Question: I am a firefighter paramedic and we were told that noting in a patient care report that we suspect that a patient is under the influence of alcohol can get us into trouble. In fact one paramedic reportedly got ripped apart in court by even using the word alcohol in his report. What are we supposed to do? If I write in my report that the patient smelled of alcohol am I really sticking my neck out?

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