There's a hot debate and a potential PR nightmare for the Fulton FD after fire destroyed a residence recently.

The property oweners were threatened with arrest if they entered the premises after the fire was extinguished to retrieve valuables. Under orders, the home was demolished immediately after, apparantly due to "hot spots".

Questions are being asked about the response times of the FD, levels of training, tactics used, etc.

See the video and read more at http://www.fultonkynews.com/firedestroys.html (Check out some of the comments below the article from local residents) but as usual, there's two sides to every story, and I don't beleive both sides have been heard yet....

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The IC made a "lonely at the top" kind of decision
Just rereading and saw this again- I like this statement. Must remember it as it sums it up nicely and is so true....
Yes, I agree, this could turn into a potential PR nightmare for the city of Fulton, KY. I did a little "online research" and came up with the following information regarding the FD and the location of the structure fire.
It was stated on the webpage that the first tones were at 2:44 pm and the first apparatus arrived on scene at 2:49 pm. (The FD has one central station and it is located approx. 1.5 miles from the house) Given this information and the fact that the dept. is staffed with both paid and paid on call FF's I'd have to say from the time of the first tones to the arrival on scene is good timing. As far as the other apparatus arriving 24 minutes later, does the general public in Fulton KY realize that unless the crew on duty can drive two vehicles at once, they have to wait until additional help arrives to man the second vehicle and arrive on scene?
Regarding the threat of arrest of the homeowners for attempting to salvage whatever they could from the home, do the persons' who made the comments on the webpage realize that IF the fire dept personnel had allowed these folks to enter the home and something happened, they would be accused of not warning them of the dangers of entering a structurally unsafe building.
Personally, I believe there is "more to the story" then is being published on the web. It sounds to me as if there just may be a little ax-grinding going on in that town. It appears that this probably isn't the first time the citizen's have called the fire dept and/or the city on the carpet for something.
Personally, I believe there is "more to the story" then is being published on the web.
I agree- there's two sides and only one is out there at the moment....
I'm no-one. My ideas or ideals should be regarded with no more emphasis than a dog on the street. I DO think though that if that dog were to piss on the remains of the front porch after that fire, and someone took offense, there would be a bunch of face licking going on to show that no malice was intended. Then again, what do I know about dogs, much less cats.
I am horrified beyond words that ANY firefighter on here would look at that video and respond with such a disgraceful comment as "burn baby burn" .

Family memories....gone.
Family home....obliterated.
Potential of life lost.....high.


Reaction to "burn baby burn" ....there are simply no words adequate to express how absolutely appalled I am by that statement.


We are given the responsibility to respond and protect. We honor that responsibility by taking on a tragedy like this with professionalism. respect and a sincere and abiding NEED to safeguard life and property.

We train, we learn. we respond without regard to personal schedules, family responsibilities, or any other day-to-day distractions. We get up and answer the call at all hours of the day and night. We answer the call in 90 degree heat, rain, snow,and sub-zero temperatures. We answer the call at 3:00 a.m. when others are abed. We forfeit family time and joyous occasions. We answer the call without regard to our own safety and livelihood.

I spend my days at my job praying that I don't recognize a name in The Secret List's daily emails re: LODD's. I work, I endeavor and I strive on a daily basis to keep our brethren safe and ensure that they receive the training that they so badly need to fight fires like this....to fight the good fight.....to conduct their search and rescues, to save life hearth and home, and to go home every single time to their loved ones.
Burn Baby Burn?
Shame on you.
You're right Capt- I also said the same about the video. It is heavily editted....
I wish I was smart enough to know who first said it, many have.

"With freedom, comes responsibility".

Is it not our responsibility to keep the face of the fire service untarnished? We have the freedom to say what we will. The question is, do we have the will to be able to curb our own freedom for the greater good? The last thing i would encourage is the release or tightening of our personal freedoms. That would be a huge leap to the rear. What we need is a degree of decorum not displayed in your post.
http://www.w-body.com/forum/index.php?topic=70446.0

I know its a car forum but in that thread, it was the guy's family home.

I am 92GPSpeeder, trying to defend the FD, I just hate the flat out attacks, I am not saying they are guilt free but they are being out right attacked. I may have not done the best job but I did MY best using my limited knowledge.
Some interesting comments being made such as "My mom told me a little bit ago that at one point they had the fire fairly contained, then instead of finishing it off, they ALL, EVERY SINGLE FIRE FIGHTER sat down (turned the water off too) and ate Wendy's. My family didn't eat until 1am. "
Yeah right....

Dad said even the wall sections looked fine. I mean, all my Dad wanted was a partial demolition of the back of the house where the fire was.
The video I saw showed pretty much front to rear was burning....
Yeah that's why I believe i made the comment, that you can't really take peoples word after a traumatizing situation because they are not thinking/acting/speaking rationally. Especially when they are the center of it. With the ladder getting there so much later, I just think people expect us to teleport to the station and get there at a moments notice. Before I got in the service there were times my dad would have to drop me off at home after a practice before he could go on station, or other things. You can't really have a one man ladder crew.
I read the comments by the son and understand how the family felt about how things were going but I really have a hard time beliving the fd shut down for lunch, I have had to keep families out of scenes for long periods of time waiting for the State Firemarshal to get here (days some times) I know its hard on families but its just as hard to have to be the one telling them you cant get to your possions. I have luckily never had to tell anyone that they couldnt enter because we didnt think it was safe enough that would be just awful. In the years ive been in the fire service every fire so far has been out quick enough to be somewhat structural sound or they have been pretty much destroyed. I am sure there are firefighters there second guessing themselves right now but if you dont then you cant learn and grow. There is always if we would haves but that doesnt make your actions wrong it just means you are looking for better ways next time.
I am just a firefighter with some officre experience here and I watched the video read the posts. I personally would have made an aggresive attack from what i seen. But on the other hand we did not get a good 360 of the dwelling to see what was happening all over. As firefighters our main job is to prevent fires. A good public education would help with preventing. Alot of fireifhgters may disagree with me but hey that is how I feel. I think if we can teach the public about fire and what we do it would help the public understand a little more about us and what we do and why we do the things we do

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