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Fired trainer: Brass knew of ‘live burn’

Mar 7, 2007 12:00 AM (636 days ago) by Stephen Janis and Luke Broadwater, The Examiner
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Related Topics: BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Former Baltimore City Fire training director Kenneth Hyde spoke out for the first time Tuesday, alleging he informed Fire Department Chief William Goodwin of the details of his “live burn” exercises prior to the death of fire recruit Racheal Wilson.

Hyde said he gave a PowerPoint presentation on the progress of Wilson’s class Feb. 1 to top fire officials that contained a section on his use of live burns, including the Feb. 9 fire that would prove fatal — a claim fire officials deny.

“We discussed live burns, and the chief safety officer questioned me about them, including the dates of the burns,” Hyde said.

But Rick Binetti, the communications director for Baltimore City Fire Department, said Hyde made no such presentation at that meeting.

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“At the meeting based on the minutes, and my recollection having been there, the discussion of live burns never came up,” he said.

At issue is how much top fire officials knew of Hyde’s activities in conducting live burn training exercises. Mayor Sheila Dixon fired Hyde after Wilson died Feb. 9 when a live burn training session got out of control.

Binetti said minutes of the meeting, which do not mention the Feb. 9 live burn, back up his memory.

According to the department’s report into the investigation, several major errors in the training exercise contributed to Wilson’s death.

Dixon has requested a panel of independent experts to review the department’s training practices and safety procedures. The panel will issue recommendations by March 30.

But firefighters union President Stephen Fugate said top fire officials cannot be trusted, because they lied to him during a recent meeting with Dixon.

Fugate said that during a meeting with Dixon, Goodwin told Fugate the department’s Chief Safety Officer Bill Jones ordered Hyde not to conduct the live burn training exercise that killed Wilson, but Hyde did it anyway.

But later, Fugate said, Jones and Goodwin denied an e-mail was sent.

“First [Jones] said he didn’t know what I was talking about,” Fugate said.

sjanis@baltimoreexaminer.com

lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com

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5:42 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008 re: "Fire could summon 14th-century fear"

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?

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12:16 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008 re: "Fire could summon 14th-century fear"

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.

12 agree | 10 disagree
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12:41 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 11, 2008 re: "Man’s grudge vanishes as blaze begins"

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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10:06 PM MST on Tue., May. 20, 2008 re: "Residents find their apartment complex garage up in smoke"

Examiner Reader said:
that's too bad. wish him the best of luck

11 agree | 9 disagree
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12:14 PM MST on Sat., Apr. 5, 2008 re: "Firefighters uncover marijuana at Mission district fire"

Seven said:
In the Mission, the surprise would be if they DIDN'T find marijuana.

11 agree | 9 disagree
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8:11 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 18, 2008 re: "Fire spreads through Mission apartments"

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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7:22 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 17, 2008 re: "Man’s grudge vanishes as blaze begins"

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?

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10:08 PM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008 re: "Man’s grudge vanishes as blaze begins"

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 !.

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10:53 AM MST on Fri., Dec. 7, 2007 re: "Chief took $1,200 trip from Motorola"

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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6:33 PM MST on Wed., Nov. 28, 2007 re: "Montgomery group homes seek help from county for fire safety"

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

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12:18 PM MST on Sun., Jul. 29, 2007 re: "Widow of firefighter remembers her husband"

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

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3:43 PM MST on Mon., May. 14, 2007 re: "Chief took $1,200 trip from Motorola"

Examiner Reader said:
Who cares?

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7:05 AM MST on Mon., May. 14, 2007 re: "Chief took $1,200 trip from Motorola"

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.

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7:17 AM MST on Tue., May. 8, 2007 re: "Five victims of Harford house fire identified by the fire marshal"

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!!!

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