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Boston’s Bravest

Try to put a fire out. Boston Herald: 

The city’s top fire official is challenging a Boston Fire Department report released this morning that claims that drug and alcohol impairment did not play a role in the deaths of two firefighters in a West Roxbury blaze last year.

Fire Commissioner Roderick J. Fraser Jr. is disputing the findings due to the “investigative omissions,” a City Hall source has told the Herald.

The 134-page Fire Department Board of Inquiry report probed the Aug. 29, 2007, deaths of firefighters Paul Cahill and Warren Payne at the Tai Ho Restaurant.

Investigators did not review autopsy and toxicology reports, which sources have told the Herald show Cahill was legally drunk and Payne had traces of cocaine in his system.

Instead, the report is based on interviews with dozens of firefighters, police officers, EMTs and civilians. The report reveals that Cahill went into the building without a department-issued face mask and left his radio at the station. Also, Cahill was wearing older-model bunker gear because he never picked up his new-issue gear, the report says.

The controversial report, which also makes recommendations, was written by a panel of Boston firefighters. The Board of Inquiry recommends that the department and union “take the necessary steps to immediately implement a drug testing program,” as well as “substance abuse training.”

The report stops short of recommending mandatory alcohol testing.

The Boston firefighters union is holding a press conference later today to discuss the report.

The authors concluded that “no factual indications supporting that alcohol/drug impairment contributed to or caused these two firefighters to become disoriented or inhibited in their ability to perform the firefighting duties assigned to them.”

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office has not received a request for Payne or Cahill’s autopsy reports, which can legally be provided to next-of-kin, an investigative body or parties to a civil lawsuit.

“To date we have received no such request from an authorized party,” said spokesman Jake Wark.

Everyone loves firefighters. They risk their lives to save us. My father-in-law was a Boston jake. His brother is a Boston jake. My brother-in-law is a jake south of Boston. Hair-raising tales when they sit down to talk about it.  And a lot of booze in the old days, too. But a quick show of hands. Who thinks it is too much to ask that those we count on to protect us, our children and our property do it sober? Also, who thinks the labor union should get to make the call? 

UPDATE. Fire Commissioner determines a broom makes a lousy firefighting tool, sends report back, tells panel do it right this time

Topics: Boston, booze, drugs

  Posted by Jules Crittenden at 10:56 am on Friday, February 22, 2008

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