Controversy After Fire Destroys Fulton Residence

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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Permalink Reply by Billy Lovell (Skinny) on August 16, 2008 at 10:48am

Many people may look at my statements as one sided as I am a proud member of the departmet but this should put a few things at rest with people that know our line of work. I was nbot on scene of the fire but I come on shift to releave the crew that was on duty. (1) All the video that was shot of the fire as been EDITED.
If you go to CNN the clip only shows the house from the rear and not from the front were the crew made the attack and other crew was staged to go in,nor dose it show the three other lines and the blitz fire nozzle that is set up. If I remember correctly the rporter stated that he arrived on scene (shortly) after the fire department but he will not state how short shortly is. (2) The (lunch break) was part of rehab for the crew that had been on scene for several hours as the fresh crew was working. (3) As for the structure it was a 2 story house that was built sometime in 1900's and was getting it's 10th!!!!!!!!! layer of shingle's ,and most of the second story was on top of the first floor+the weak floor from the fire + the water= the call that was made do to the risk of the loss of a life. (Risk little to save little , Risk alote to save alote) In my opinion material thing are not worth a persons life. I am sorry if that makes some people mad,that is not to say that i am not sorry for the person or persons that lost there belongings.

Permalink Reply by Patrick on August 16, 2008 at 11:02am

I work for Fulton FD and was on scene that day. Our first engine was on scene @ 14:49 and is only 5 minutes after the call came in, which considering our department only runs three men out of the station on shift, I thought that was a pretty decent time. The family states it took us at least thirty minutes to get on scene. I know in a panicked state, seconds pass by like minutes, but now the city itself, not personnel, but communities, are breathing down our necks. We did eat Wendy's because the one in our city was nice enough to send us 80 hamburgers and cheeseburgers 7 1/2 hours into the fight when most of us were famished. We STILL however had four fresh men on 2 inch and a half lines and a man on a boom taking care of hotspots durin this rehab time. One of our guys even went in and saved one out of two cats only for the homeowner to tell him he grabbed the wrong one that he didn't want that one and the other had perished. We had Water Valley Fire, Cayce Fire, South Fulton Fire, Union City Fire, Martin Fire, and our Engine and Ladder truck working this operation. We saved everything that didn't have direct fire damage and even some things that had smoke and water damage, as for hopes to prove to the owner we salvaged everything we could. But this was not enough. We tried to even allow the homeowner to back his vehicle into the warm zone to help him load his personal belongings only to be told they didn't NEED our help. The roof had about four layers of shingles and they were adding another when the fire started. By the time we decided to knock it down it was 9 hours into the attack, the roof was in the living room with no hopes of entrance with fire underneath, the den had so much water in the above room causing the ceiling to sag about three feet, and the basement had about 8 foot of water in it. The only way the city manager saw to put out all hotspots was to put the roof in the basement and let the house extinguish itself. Not to mention that area is a historic district and both houses on either side had already assumed more damage than needed. We, in all honesty, did all we could. But the demolition, in all aspects right or wrong, was out of our hands.

Permalink Reply by Wes Anders on August 16, 2008 at 11:03am

I just commented on a post by a Nigiarian firefighter about what he needs to do to bring the fire service there up to other departments in other countries, pay abilities so on and so forth and all I could say is be the best at what you do. Train hard, work hard and do you best. Be a part of the community as a department. Do community service as a group in uniform. This will build the image of your department but it will take a long time.

The issue with this Fulton fire is that it will take years to build the fire service back up in the public eye and I am not saying they did anything wrong but as I tell my 4 daughters your reputation takes years to build and one moment to lose and it doesnt even have to be your fault.

Permalink Reply by Wes Anders on August 16, 2008 at 11:12am

I think you did all you could do and understand this is a hard issue to deal with I hope it all works out for the best.

Permalink Reply by Wes Anders on August 16, 2008 at 11:13am

The bad thing is the news media are only going to play the drama not all the facts.

Permalink Reply by Brian Dumser on August 16, 2008 at 9:46pm

I'd like to say to Patrick and the rest of Fulton F.D. that I'm sure they did all they could. The average homeowner has no idea about how to fight a fire. They often question everything we do as if we're doing it all wrong. Obviously, if the building was in danger of collapsing, it would not be wise to send in Firefighters to try and save valuables, (risk alot to save alot/risk a little to save a little). Also it would be inexcusable to allow the homeowners to be put at risk going back into their home.
As for the "Burn baby burn" comment, I am a firm believer in freedom of speech. I've even defended that right as a soldier in the U.S. Army. That being said, I am appalled that someone on this site who is either in the Fire Service or associates with those who are, would be so thoughtless as to say a comment like that after viewing the video!
Cat, I hope that if you are in the Fire Service, that during the coming years as you gain experience and wisdom, that you will come to regret making that statement. Stay safe everybody!

Permalink Reply by Dre on August 17, 2008 at 3:48am

Be advised that department now routinely search forums like this as part of background check. Are you only representing yourself?

Permalink Reply by Brian Dumser on August 19, 2008 at 9:48pm

Has anyone heard from Catherine "Firecat" Lemmons? She kept saying that she was going to justify her "burn baby burn" comment, but she seems to block anyone from her page that doesn't agree with her! WTF?

Permalink Reply by Jim Seargent on August 19, 2008 at 10:10pm

Al bluster, no substance.

Permalink Reply by Brian Dumser on August 19, 2008 at 10:21pm

Apparently so.

Permalink Reply by lutan1 on August 20, 2008 at 6:03pm

The "visitor radar" is interesting on our profile home page- I've had quite a few Fulton FD members checking out my profile.

I hope these members are also reading this discussion in its entirety. I've tried to be very clear that there's two sides to this mess and that I'm not highlighting percieved deficiencies or questioning the FD response...

I do however stand by my original statements, that regardless of the outcome, the FD has an uphill battle to rebuild public confidence (As would any other department faced with these same circumstances).

Permalink Reply by Justin Buck on August 20, 2008 at 6:18pm