PRESS RELEASE….VFD…2/9/09……..
‘PRESS RELEASE LBTS VFD
Town Manager
Ms. Ester Colon
Lauderdale By The Sea, Florida 33308
Re; Fire 4501 N. Ocean Blvd.
Dear Ms. Colon,
On the 9th of February 2009 at 1:46 AM, a fire was transmitted for the fire and police building adjacent to town hall. The report was a complete power outage and a smell of smoke in the building. Deputy Chief McIntee the first firefighter on the scene may the initial size up of light smoke showing and strong smell of electrical type fire.
Immediately the arriving firefighters under the Command of Chief Perkins went to the station to get the in house equipment out of the fire building. The major problem they had at this point was that the power had terminated the use of the power overhead doors and they now had to be opened manually to get the fire engines out of the bays. This was done with great effort by several firefighters. All equipment went to work protecting the building from further damage and controlling any fire spread. One line was used to attack the fire if necessary, another major line was layed to a nearby hydrant and charged, to give the fire equipment at the scene a water supply.
It was determined that there was a major breakdown in the main circuit breaker box and this was the cause of the smoke and power outage. The total damage to the building is estimated at $10,000.00 plus, the vast majority being the cost of replacing the complete circuit breaker box and its components.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Chief Robert Perkins
Lauderdale by The Sea Volunteer Fire Department’
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BC – So here we have a second “press release” in 2 weeks…with a second announcement of…the “Deputy Chief” 1st on scene….But the question is…at 1:46 AM? …The Vice Mayor lives in the North end of town!…How would he be the 1st on scene?…Didn’t we just spend $2 million for a Public Safety Complex…to “house” 24/7 VFD ….putting them within walking distance of this fire?…
What gives?…
” A good leader is supposed to put the troops first…and Jerry McIntee the VFD Deputy Chief puts himself first…in these press releases”…was the response from a public safety professional…
The concern is…. We are faced with secrecy, half-truths…and ongoing acts of behavior in direct conflict with VFD Bylaws…Due to the “comfort” of invincibility felt by those in charge of the VFD at the present time with 3 Commissioners to count on and a Town Manager “in their pocket”….also told to this writer by a concerned citizen of this town….
The real question for the VFD is this….
What happens in 2010…if the Vice Mayor and Comm. Silverstone lose their seats…and the majority on the dais shifts?….
Will the VFD see their own demise…because of these harmful acts?….
To hang their hats on a referendum……may be their “safety net”…but any referendum…needs to include a “safety clause”…of allowing for the Commission and/or Town Manager to enact a professional Fire Chief/Deputy Chief along with the other Cape Canaveral addition of an Emergency Ordinance for a “State of Emergency” …( previously posted LBTS agenda/meetings category…. 2/10/09 agenda).
more to come….
Tags: Public Safety, Scoops, VFD
