Chris Kangas Update

[Diane E]

For those unfamiliar with the story, you can do a forum search for Kangas.

MEDIA RELEASE
Contact: John G. Tomaszewski
(202) 225-2011 • john.tomaszewski@mail.house.go v

KANGAS RULING A VICTORY FOR HIS LEGACY AND JUNIOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

UPPER DARBY, Pa. (29 Mar.) – On Monday, almost four years after the death of junior volunteer firefighter Christopher Kangas, a U.S. federal appeals court ruled that Kangas is eligible to receive Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB). U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), vice chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and founder of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, hailed the ruling as vindication for Kangas’s family and the thousands of junior volunteer firefighters across the country. Weldon is introducing a congressional resolution to recognize the Kangas family on their victory and urge that yesterday’s ruling not be appealed.

In May 2002, Kangas, a 14-year old junior firefighter from Brookhaven Fire Company in Congressman Weldon’s District, died en route to a fire emergency. The Department of Justice (DOJ) ruled that Kangas was not eligible for the PSOB federal benefit provided to public safety officers injured or killed while on duty, because he did not meet the statutory definition of a firefighter.

Congressman Weldon, a former fire chief from Marcus Hook, Pa. and the fire service’s leading advocate in Congress, testified for Kangas at the initial hearing to appeal the DOJ ruling. He also introduced bipartisan legislation preventing the DOJ from denying firefighter eligibility for PSOB status because of age or duty restrictions as long as the person is an official member of a fire department. The Christopher Kangas Fallen Firefighter Apprentice Act (H.R. 1456) calls for a retroactive application of PSOB benefits from the date of Kangas’s death and would ensure that he and thousands of other junior firefighters across the country receive the recognition and benefits they deserve.

“The future of America’s fire service is in young people like Christopher Kangas and we cannot let them be forgotten. As the number of volunteer firefighters decline each year, more departments are depending on young people to fill in the ranks,” said Rep. Weldon. “Monday’s ruling is a significant step toward ensuring that our nation’s junior volunteer firefighters will be afforded the same recognition and privileges that their colleague’s already receive. I urge the Justice Department not to appeal this ruling, and for Congress to pass the Kangas Bill.”

"In order to protect their communities, firefighters have to put themselves in harms way. When Christopher Kangas responded to a fire call and died tragically as a result, he was no different than any of the more than 100 firefighters who die each year risking their lives to protect the lives and property of others,” said Philip C. Stittleburg, chairman of the National Volunteer Fire Council. “Yesterday’s federal court ruling validates Christopher's status as a firefighter and, I hope, will provide some comfort to his grieving family. I urge the DOJ to accept the court's judgment and move swiftly to process the Kangas family's rightful claim to the PSOB.”

On April 6, 2006, Congressman Weldon will be honored at the 18th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services dinner for his work on first responder issues in Congress.

###

[Bones42]

"In order to protect their communities, firefighters have to put themselves in harms way. When Christopher Kangas responded to a fire call and died tragically as a result, he was no different than any of the more than 100 firefighters who die each year risking their lives to protect the lives and property of others,”

Sorry sir, but you are wrong. A child riding their bicycle to the firehouse is very different than a firefighter having to jump out the window of a burning room.

[Diane E]

Sorry sir, but you are wrong. A child riding their bicycle to the firehouse is very different than a firefighter having to jump out the window of a burning room.

You're missing the point -- the intent of Congress was not to assign an age. An 80 year old "firefighter" can die on the scene and get PSOB. If the DOJ says a 14 year old isn't a FF, then there will soon be a time when there's a cap and say a 50 or 60 years old can't be either!

http://www.ojp.gov/BJA/grant/psob/psob_def.html

From the PSOB link above:

Under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program, a public safety officer is a person serving a public agency in an official capacity, with or without compensation, as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or member of a public rescue squad or ambulance crew. Law enforcement officers include, but are not limited to, police, corrections, probation, parole, and judicial officers. Volunteer firefighters and members of volunteer rescue squads and ambulance crews are covered under the program if they are officially recognized or designated members of legally organized volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, or ambulance crews.

He was recognized by Brookhaven Township and the Commonwealth of PA.

[CTVFDNJ]

Bones you just dont get it do you?

[BD6413]

Bones you just dont get it do you?

So True....Bones and for that matter everyone else out there who thinks that Junior Firefighters don't count I have to tell ya...you're wrong.

Bones you write:

Sorry sir but you are wrong. A child riding his bicycle to the firehouse is very diffrent than a Firefighter having to jump out a window of a burning room.

How so ? You're comparing apples to oranges - Where was it mentioned that Chris Kangas was jumping out a window ?

[Bones42]

It wasn't mentioned at all that he jumped out a window. What was mentioned was that he was riding his bike to the fire house to standby at the firehouse as that was what he was allowed to do. With this latest ruling, he is considered an "equal" to the FDNY brothers that were forced to jump from a burning room while fighting a fire. I see a big difference there. I think more people should see the difference there.

And I'm not missing the point at all. I firmly believe that the term "LODD" is getting severly abused nowadays. DianeC, your 80 year old FF example is more proof that the system is flawed. There are many other examples. And to go further, I'd consider a person that is 80 years old and has served with 20+ years very different than a person who has served less than a year and is not even allowed into a fire.

Can you blankly assign an age requirement? Not really, but how about some realistic fire ground abilities as a measure. You know, like actually being able to actively fight the fire, not serve coffee, not do traffic control, not changing bottles, etc. Yes, that stuff is important does serve a purpose, it just does not strike me as being equal in LODD status.

[emtbff927]

Can you blankly assign an age requirement? Not really, but how about some realistic fire ground abilities as a measure. You know, like actually being able to actively fight the fire, not serve coffee, not do traffic control, not changing bottles, etc. Yes, that stuff is important does serve a purpose, it just does not strike me as being equal in LODD status.

ALL duties on a fire scene aid in the fire being successfully fought. Not every firefighter on a scene can be on the hoseline at the same time or in the same place. An LODD is an LODD. How the individual dies on or enroute to the fire/incident scene should not be the issue. The issue is the fact that they were doing their duty as emergency personnel.

[CTVFDNJ]

I agree 100%

[LaFireEducator]

Bones ...

Generally I agree with you, but this is not about assigning a value to what they do or the task they were performing. Would it have made any diffrenece if it would have been a FDNY brother who was killed in an apparatus accident while the truck was doing a station move-up? That's a better nonm-essentail tak. Would it have made any diffrence if it was a fire police officer who was 2 miles from the building directing traffic? After all, he couldn't even see the fire. Or a member who just drives and pumps the truck killed by a downed power line? Is he a firefighter.. after all he just yanks valves and watches guages.

This is not about assigning value to the task at hand or the status of the member. The law is simple ... any recognized member of a fire department. It does not specify "well, just the important ones that go inside". A junior has just as much value as a "regular member", and quite honestly , some have more.

[Bones42]

any recognized member of a fire department

and that is exactly why I don't agree with the law.

[sfdffemt17]

Bones,
I agree with you, at issue here, is that the youth is being labeled as a "recognized MEMBER of the Fire Department." My concern is, he not a "member" he is a youth in the community that is allowed to participate in a program sponsored by the Fire Department. I am an Explorer Advisor for a Law Enforcement Explorer post. My youth are allowed to ride, but God forbid, if something were to happen to them while they are partaking in the department sponsored ride along program we would not seek any LODD benefits. My Department has a bona fide Explorer program that is sponsored and insured through the Boy Scouts of America. The BSA offers insurance for death and injuries. Another concern is within the article it is stating that the number of volunteers in the fire service is declining and, some departments are forced to rely on "junior firefighters." This is the true problem, if a department is forced to rely on kids to assist them, than they should re-evaluate how they go about thier business. I know some FD's have a "junior firefighter" program, if so, than they ought to be prepared to offer these youths insurance, and benefits. The problem is these youths are just that, youths and they can not be offered benefits because they are to young to be "employed" Any agency that wants to start, or sponsor a junior firefighter, or explorer program should make sure it is chartered and insured by the BSA, or another organization that offers insurance benefits for these types of clubs. I equate this very unfortunate death to that of a child who tragically dies on a football field, or at some other school/civic organization sponsored event. I applaud the effort, and enthusiasim of any youth who is interested in learning more about a profession they may be interested in, but the one thing people need to keep in mind is these are just kids, they are part of a group, or a club that is sponsored by a fire department. They are in no way Police Officers, FireFighters or any other Public Safety Officer. As I said, it is tragic that any innocent youth loses thier life, but it is also tragic that the men and woman who dedicate thier lives to public safety, and pay the ultimate price are compared to, and put in the same category as a 14 year old kid who was riding his bicycle to the fire station.

Jon

[LaFireEducator]

"Another concern is within the article it is stating that the number of volunteers in the fire service is declining and, some departments are forced to rely on "junior firefighters." This is the true problem, if a department is forced to rely on kids to assist them, than they should re-evaluate how they go about thier business."

Nobody is saying that a department should rely on junior firefighters for active firefighting operations such as fire attack, rescue and ventilation. However, I see no issues with the fire service using junior firefighters, the same as the use the 55 year old firefighter who no longer is physically able to make entry, to assist on the firground in non-fire attack roles such as filling bottles, making hydrants, lighting, laying lines, filling/dumping tankers and putting appartus back in service. To say that any of these roles are no less important than fire attack simply makes no sense. They are, period, and should be recognized as such.

Yes it is a tradegy that he was killed responding. But to say that he is not a worthy of a place of honor because of his age simply disrespects the efforts of all junior firefighters.

[Bones42]

But to say that he is not a worthy of a place of honor because of his age simply disrespects the efforts of all junior firefighters.

I'll agree, age has very little/nothing to do with it. The actual activities allowed and being performed are what should matter.

[emtbff927]

I'll agree, age has very little/nothing to do with it. The actual activities allowed and being performed are what should matter.

They don't matter.
Please see my above post and LaFireEducator's post right below that stating generally the same thing.
I'm curious to hear a response.

[Bones42]

Plain and simple, we fought fires successfully for about 105 years without "explorer" tasks being done. The last 5 years we added an Explorer post. If you can't handle fire scenes without someone serving you coffee (a necessary task by your post) then it's time to hang up your hoses. If you have a department that can't get enough manpower on scene that you have to have "untrained, unable to enter a fire building" people performing fireground tasks, you have a bigger problem.

I won't convince any to think any differently here and I'm not trying. I posted my opinion and have explained it, others have explained theirs. That's fine, I simply don't agree with them. I believe it's an insult to compare this unfortunate person as an equal to other LODD's.

It's not a slam on him in any way, I didn't know him and only know what was printed in the many threads/columns/articles, etc. He sounded like he was a great kid and had a bright future. It's a terrible loss and there is no way to correct that.

[LaFireEducator]

So Bones, thenm you would have no problem denying a FDNY or Boston firefighter LODD nenefits and honors if he was killed in an appartus accident while responding? How about a station move-up?

He was responding. I simply don't see the difference. But's that is just my opinion.

[Chief310]

Sorry Bones, but I've got to agree with all the other folks who are posting on this issue in every respect. To me, the bottom line is that it's really not up to you or to the federal government who is or who is not considered a "member" of an organization or how they staff an incident. It is up to the organization, within the boundaries of their state's laws. If Point Pleasant doesn't consider Explorers to be members of their organization, then fine, that's their choice to make. Brookhaven decided that Chris and his fellow juniors were considered members of their department and that they would be allowed to respond to assist at fire scenes.

It is indeed sad that some volunteer departments are so short of manpower that they have to rely on junior members to perform routine tasks, but it's a fact of life these days. Volunteers aren't as easy to come by as they once were, and many departments are faced with no choice. If you're from a place that doesn't have that problem, then you should be greatful, but please don't slam places that do. They're doing the very best they can with what they have.

Regardless of his age, Chris was a member of the fire department. He was killed while serving his community, and he was following the rules. Nuff said.

[Bones42]

LaFireEducator, FDNY and Boston firefighters fight fires. They are not people that aren't allowed into a burning building. They have been through firefighter training. They are capable of (or have already) actually fighting the fire. Chris did not get that opportunity. You don't see a difference, I do.

[nitsua98]

Bones, I assume that you were never a junior firefighter.

In my department, I am a member of the department. I can tell you right now that I dont spend my time getting coffee for guys. I don't feel that I am a part of a club, or group of kids that like to play firefighter once in a while. I do my best to learn as much as I can, and preform at my very best each time I am either at a drill or at an emergency scene.

When I hear the tones drop, I go to the firehouse. I put on my gear, get in the truck, and preform to the fullest extent that I may. I'm not pushing a hose line down a hallway, but I can tell you that i'm certainly at the front door making sure that line keeps getting fed to the guys inside. I am a junior FIREFIGHTER. Just because I'm not on Rescue 2 in the FDNY dosen't mean i'm an insignificant stain on the fire service fooling around and being useless. I get on the truck, and I do what needs to be done to get the job finished. I dont care about the LODD benefits, but I would like a little respect for my efforts and the work that I do. You are certainly entitled to your opinion and I respect it, and our rights to agree to disagree.

[captaincvfd]

Keep doing what you can you are respected in your dept. our juniors are held to a higher standard and are respected for there dedication and there willingness to do as told a lot of our members started as juniors