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Union chief defends ‘the nineteen’
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Related Topics: BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - When Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon last week announced her disciplinary actions in the Baltimore City Fire Department stemming from the death of fire recruit Racheal Wilson, she singled out 19 firefighters to receive the blame.
“There were at least 19 firefighters assisting with the burn, at least half of them experienced, veteran firefighters,” Dixon said. “... None of these members stepped up when they knew things weren’t right. Nobody said anything. And maybe if someone had ... Wilson would be alive today.”
Those comments, and others like them, have drawn the ire of Stephan Fugate, president of the city firefighters’ union No. 964, who says Baltimore City Fire Department Chief William Goodwin Jr. fed Dixon bad information.
Fugate on Monday posted a fiery message, called “STOP Blaming ‘The Nineteen’!!!!!,” on the union’s Web site condemning the statements.
“How many times since its concoction have you heard or read of the ‘… nineteen members …’ who allegedly stood mindlessly by and, by implication, sanctioned the death of FPA Racheal Wilson?” Fugate wrote. “The fact of the matter is that a significant portion of that ‘nineteen’ were on the scene by chance, were in no way participating in or aware of the particulars of the training exercise being conducted, and had absolutely no control over the consequences aside from perhaps assisting to avert an even more tragic result.”
Fugate, who agreed with the city government to avoid discussing Wilson’s death in the media, said he refuses to sit around and watch his members blamed.
“The consequence of a press blackout is the kind of thing is being bandied about,” Fugate said. “That wasn’t part of the deal. I can’t sacrifice 19 members’ reputations to maintain any agreement. The fact of the matter is most of those members were there by chance and not by design. They were innocent bystanders. Had they not been there, the tragedy would have been much worse than it was.”
A spokesman for the fire department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
5:42 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008 re: "Fire could summon 14th-century fear"
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12:16 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008
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12:41 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 11, 2008
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10:06 PM MST on Tue., May. 20, 2008
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12:14 PM MST on Sat., Apr. 5, 2008
re: "Firefighters uncover marijuana at Mission district fire"
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8:11 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 18, 2008
re: "Fire spreads through Mission apartments"
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7:22 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 17, 2008
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10:08 PM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008
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10:53 AM MST on Fri., Dec. 7, 2007
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6:33 PM MST on Wed., Nov. 28, 2007
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12:18 PM MST on Sun., Jul. 29, 2007
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3:43 PM MST on Mon., May. 14, 2007
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7:05 AM MST on Mon., May. 14, 2007
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7:17 AM MST on Tue., May. 8, 2007
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Albert Franklin said:
75,000,000 died during the Black Plague starting with 1354! What percent of this were European Christians? How does this play with America's and West Indian's Christians who were also exterminated because of their Christianity? What dreaded diseases brought them down from San Francisco to Gilroy and who is responsible other than France? If October 31 marks "All Saints Day" in Europe, why do we call Mexico's "Days of the Dead," not "All Saints Day" when it begins on the following day: 1, 2, and 3 November?
8 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
This story reveals yet more fear mongering propagated by the media. The real story here is not the possibility of a plague, but the desperation of an Examiner reporter looking to scoop a story. Give me a break.
10 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
he should have let it burn ... only section 8 drug dealers and illegal aliens lived in the apartment
456 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
that's too bad. wish him the best of luck
11 agree | 9 disagree
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Seven said:
In the Mission, the surprise would be if they DIDN'T find marijuana.
10 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I live just one block from the Valencia fire i would like to give massive credit to the SFFD for the way they handled this fire.. Way to go guys and gals...
18 agree | 11 disagree
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Eddie House said:
I would like to know why the police & fire department refused to investigate and take action against the tenants that discarded cigarettes onto my boat cover, on the dry grass area around my stack of firewood. On two occasions I found burned wood laminate strips placed on my deck and dry grass near the boat. But most of all want to know why after 12 or more false calls of burning trash “ and the city knows damn well they were FALSE CALLS as they broke into my home only to find firewood in the EPA woodstove” WHY DID YOU CONTINUE TO HARRASS ME ? AND NOT TAKE ACTION ON THE TENANTS THAT MADE THESE FALSE CALLS OF TRASH BEING BURNED?
495 agree | 10 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
When your being evicted from your apartment, you go out with a blaze of glory ? Or just another attempt to set fire to his boat that went all to wrong ? No cleaning or security depost refund for you ! But you are entitled to free room & board at the county jail !.
276 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I better watch out! I'll try not to cry... When Santa Claus comes to town I'll be wearing a frown when reporters get wind that; Citizens "took" gifts...instead of ; Citizens "received" gifts... Geeze!
181 agree | 189 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Very interesting and informative article. In Nashville Tn group home providers with less than 8 clients with disabilities are now required to have sprinkler system and many will close due to a lack funds. Who can I contact to get assistance? Perrion Gordon
196 agree | 197 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
i am allans daughter kaitlyn and i just wanted to say that he will be forever missed and that he loved doing wat he was i never loved any one theway a daughter loves a father. love, kaitlyn roberts
421 agree | 272 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Who cares?
362 agree | 365 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Why is this a story? It was $1,200 and the city reviewed and approved. Sounds like someone is trying to make something out of nothing. Shame on you.
508 agree | 364 disagree
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Precious Jenkins said:
i am one of the nieces of the decreased and the cousin of the mother. this is and was a terrible fire that took 5 members of our family. annette was my father's youngest sister and one of my godmother. my father just had lost a sister 1 year and 4 days before. and now he only have one sister. this fire made our family feel that life to short to be walking around and not talking and loving your family members. a family that prays together says together!!!
770 agree | 399 disagree
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