Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Brian on November 20, 2008 at 4:13pm

hey you couldn't have known, you know we all get bored from time to time, there are safer ways to screw around and occupy yourself! shame on him we're in the business of saving/protcting life & property... god bless stay safe brothers and sisters

Permalink Reply by turk182 on November 20, 2008 at 6:16pm

Cathy you have nothing to be sorry about I know alot of the fire fighters from west brownsville. You cannot blame yourself for his actions he is the only one responsible and has to answer for his actions. I posted my post last night because when I heard the news and it upset me.

Permalink Reply by Terry Ingram, Sr. on November 20, 2008 at 7:18pm

UNFORTUNATLY, THIS ISN'T JUST A VOLUNTEER THING. IT HAPPENS AMONG THE PROFESSIONAL RANKS ALSO. THERE WAS A STORY ON THE MAJOR NEWS SHOW, I THINK IT WAS DATELINE, WHERE A FIRE INSPECTOR OUT IN CALIFORNIA WAS SETTING FIRES TO COMMERCIAL COMPLEXES AND MOST OF THEM HE INVESTIGATED. NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHAT BRINGS THE FIREBUG OUT IN PEOPLE, I GUESS IT'S JUST ANOTHER MENTAL ISSUE OR THRILL. A LOT OF VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENTS DO BACKGROUND AND CRIMINAL CHECKS ON APPLICANTS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN A LOT IF THEY'VE NEVER BEEN CAUGHT. YEARS AGO WE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON OUR DEPARTMENT, THE NEW GUY WOULD BE THE FIRST AT THE STATION WAITING TO GET IN???? HE SET 3 FIRES BEFORE BEING BUSTED. LUCKILY, THEY WERE ALL ABANDONED BUILDINGS. SO CATHY DON'T BLAME YOURSELF FOR WHAT HE DID.

Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on November 20, 2008 at 8:47pm

Cathy:
Like everyone else has said, there is no need for you to apologize.
I'm sure that HE will be very apologetic...
At his sentencing hearing.
TCSS.
Art

Permalink Reply by PA Firefighter on November 20, 2008 at 8:56pm

No need to apologize. How well do we really know our friends.

Permalink Reply by Rebecca on November 20, 2008 at 8:57pm

No need for you to apologize. People with personality issues like his end up fooling alot of people, until they're caught. You couldn't have seen this coming and it's not your fault so don't beat yourself up for it.

Permalink Reply by dj lee on November 20, 2008 at 9:00pm

Cathy you shouldn't feel responsible for for what he did. you thought that he was a personal friend and I'm sure if you knew he was like that you wouldn't call him a friend. He 's a big boy he just brought it on himself. So dont be so hard on yourself. GOD BLESS TAKE CARE MY SISTER!

Permalink Reply by Bulldozer on November 20, 2008 at 9:34pm

Cathy you did not know that he was going to do that. Do not blame your self for that. He may punched us in the mouth, but we forgive and go on. That's why we do what we do. All we can do is pray for him and his family. My heart goes out to all that know him. May God be with his family throughout this trying time. God bless us all and keep us all safe.

Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on November 20, 2008 at 9:52pm

I agree with the others, Cathy. No apology needed. There is no way anyone can know these things. I feel bad for you and you fellow firefighters.

Permalink Reply by Jennifer King on November 20, 2008 at 10:54pm

Good comment-Very true James- I wanted to say something something about that in my post, but opted to cut it short. 22 IS way too young for such a responsible position. I was involved for years with VFD's before becoming a paid FF and saw 1st hand spots being filled just to fill them."Kids", Rescue Randys, screaming around with light bars flashing, just because they figure they've been given the right to.I wonder if Dunker had been required to go thru a psych exam, like I did to get hired with the city FD if he'd still have made it? Who knows? Makes one appreciate responsible volunteers with their heads on straight even more.

Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on November 20, 2008 at 11:16pm

Cathy, Your words in regard to the fallen firefighter (literally) were from the heart. You did what all of us do, that is if we are real firefighters... we trust people and usually find ourselves looking for the good in people. The problem is, not all of us are good people. I don't think it much matters whether the guy was a volunteer or not. Inspector Orr from So Cal was another sick man and he was a full time arson investigator on a large department (Burbank or Glendale, CA). Orr and Dunker are basically sick puppies that needed to both be removed from public society as well as get help for their psychological issues... Thank God no one was injured or killed from these two fire sets. The problem may be that there could have been a number of fires that were set by this individual, hopefully none with negative consequences. The good news is that Brian confessed to what he did and this is the start for Brian helping himself. Dust yourself of Cathy, move on and don't apologize for something that was totally out of your control. The world is now a safer place where you live and work. TCSS, Mike from Santa Barbara : )

Permalink Reply by Tony P on November 21, 2008 at 12:55am

You suggested he join out of the goodness of your heart Cathy. Not your fault that he was hiding his true self from you! As Mike just said, dust yourself off and move on, no need for you to apologise. And personally I wouldn't accept an apology from an arsonist, so he needn't bother.

I hope you're reading all these respopnses Cathy, you can see that nobody thinks the worse of you, his crimes are not your fault.

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