A fire incident in my own town, created serious circumstances that could have easily become deadly serious. While we strive to be as transparent as we can with the public, it is also the responsibility of citizens to be transparent with us, especially when potentially deadly conditions exist on the fireground.
Yesterday we responded to a working garage fire. Our units confronted a structure with heavy black smoke showing. The homeowner, a retired New York City firefighter no less, told us a vintage car was on fire in the garage. A virtual hands and knees attack was needed to knock down the blaze.
The horrifying part of this incident is that when the smoke literally cleared and overhaul began, we realized that the garage was being used as the resident’s personal repair and restoration shop.
The homeowner failed to mention to us that the car in question was on a hydraulic lift and the shop was filled with pressurized gas cylinders and a large amount of oil, gasoline and other hazardous materials.
I leave it up to your imagination to think of the scenarios that could have taken place.
Unfortunately we see this lack of transparency by some citizens over and over again. I’ve been to car fires where after the fact we have found cylinders of propane on the back seat, MVA’s with vehicles containing hazardous materials, house fires with illegal occupancy construction that creates a virtual maze, without a peep from the homeowner or driver while the incident is unfolding.
Is it better to hide their little secrets or see responders dead at the scene?
Illogical!!
Also on The Fire PIO…
- Gen. McChrystal makes public information a priority in Afghanistan – February 23, 2010
- A recent Post plays Out – April 9, 2010
- As a PIO I try to Fill the Void – April 8, 2010
- Sketchy Characters on the Fireground – August 12, 2010
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