No funding set aside for fixes to county fire, rescue

For months since Kyle R. Wilson, 24, died in the early morning of April 16, Fire and Rescue Department officials have been investigating what happened and trying to develop recommendations to improve responses.

The tentative budget outline supervisors approved last week does not fund the fixes that are expected in the exhaustive report.

With property values plunging dramatically, even a proposed 28 percent increase in the property tax rate would not provide enough new revenue to pay for improvements in the fire and rescue budget, Assistant County Executive Melissa Peacor said.

The cost of other county priorities could sap extra money targeted for new programs like the report, officials said.

Wilson’s death was the first in the history of the county’s fire and rescue department, and new Fire Chief Kevin McGee expects the report’s recommendations to become a fundamental feature of his leadership.

“We have an investigation team that has basically been locked up in a room every day going over what happened,” McGee said in November. “We’re going to be focusing a great deal of the fire and rescue energy on implementing the recommendations of that report in an effort to enhance the safety of all of our first responders.”

Wilson and a rescue-ladder truck officer were in the second floor of the burning house when he became disoriented and separated from the officer, according to a U.S. Fire Administration notice. Firefighters were unable to reach Wilson’s maydays as conditions worsened, and he died at the scene. Two other firefighters were injured and the home’s seven occupants escaped unharmed.

While no more information about the investigation’s recommendations or scope will be released until the report is released next month, department spokesman Randy Earl said Wednesday, county officials expect the report to bring new costs.

dgenz@dcexaminer.com