Training

The family of a Hartford firefighter killed in the line of duty on October 7, 2014, has filed suit against the City of Hartford, Fire Chief Carlos Huertas, Deputy Chief James McLoughlin, and Lieutenant John Moree. Kevin Bell died of asphyxiation at a house fire on Blue Hills Avenue

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Today’s burning question: Are there cases out there where a fire department was held liable for not having a qualified chief officer(s)? Our fire board does not seem to care that our chief has no qualifications what-so-ever. Answer: Negligent selection, failure to train, and negligent supervision are very common allegations in law suits. The problem is the implication of the question: is the main reason we want qualified people to serve as chief officers because we are scared of being sued…

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Firefighters from two Florida fire departments are being investigated over allegations they gained access to test questions for a pediatric advanced life support certification program, and the media - who never wants to let a good headline go to waste - is suggesting that children might be in danger…

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Today’s burning question: I signed an agreement with my former fire department requiring me to repay them for the costs of my paramedic training if I did not remain with the department for at least two-years. A few months after I completed the training I was offered a position with a larger fire department, so I left. Can they really sue me?

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Its been a busy week in the fire law news. Let’s take a look at a few headlines. In North Carolina, the Providence Volunteer Fire Department has filed suit against the Town of Weddington claiming breach of contract after the ...

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A veteran Oakland firefighter who was seriously injured last year at Oakland International Airport when his ARFF vehicle overturned during a training exercise, has filed suit against the agency that operates the airport. Michael Ow filed suit last week in Alameda County Superior Court against the Port of Oakland.

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A firefighter-paramedic in Kissimmee, Florida who was terminated in October 2013, has filed suit claiming she was the victim of sexual discrimination and retaliation under state and federal law. Melanie Jerozal filed suit last week in US District Court for the Middle District of Florida. She was terminated just five months after she had been hired, and claims it was “because of her gender...

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A firefighter from Eugene, Oregon who was injured during a training exercise in 2012 is suing an SCBA manufacturer and a local vendor. David Pickett, 35, was injured on December 19, 2012 when an MSA Firehawk M7 SCBA malfunctioned causing an explosion that he claims seriously damaged his hearing.

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The family of a Texas firefighter who died while undergoing advance training characterized as “a fraternity-style hazing ritual [intended] to sort out which firefighters were ‘tough’ enough” has filed a multi-million dollar wrongful death suit against those responsible for the ...

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Legal Considerations for Fire & Emergency Services 730 Pages/Softcover/August 2014 ISBN: 978-1-59370-347-9 Price: $89.00 The third edition of J. Curtis Varone’s Legal Considerations for Fire & Emergency Services is an essential textbook for any course on fire service law as ...

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A plan by the Kansas City (MO) Fire Department to incorporate EMS personnel into the department and require them to work 53 hours per week instead of 40 hours has been found to run afoul of the Fair Labor Standards ...

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My friend Shane Furuta from the 50th State FOOLS has asked for some help in selling their fundraising T-shifts. All proceeds go to help underwrite bringing fire instructors from the mainland out to paradise. I GOT MINE!!!! Here’s the details ...

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The Baltimore County Fire Department is facing a lawsuit by a former recruit who describes herself as a “middle-aged woman”, and who claims she was illegally hazed, harassed, and forced to withdraw from the fire academy. Sharon Grant alleges that ...

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A Florida fire chief is in hot water after his boss accused him of not being fully candid over the department’s need for its own training facility. Leesburg Fire Chief Kevin Bowman has been suspended for five days and placed ...

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