City officials want their own investigation into the death of a New York firefighter who died during a training drill at the state's fire academy last month.
Watertown firefighter recruit Peyton Morse, 21, had been participating in a drill involving breathing gear March 3 at the New York State Academy of Fire Science in Montour Falls when he experienced a medical issue. He was taken to a Pennsylvania hospital and remained in intensive care unit before dying March 12.
RELATED:
- NY Firefighter in Serious Condition after Medical Issue at Drill
- NY Firefighter Injured at Training Identified as 23-Year-Old Recruit
- NY Fire Recruit Dies after Training Emergency
- Family of Fallen NY Recruit Demanding Answers
- Fallen NY Fire Recruit Honored with Yellow Ribbons
- Watch Hundreds Honor Fallen NY Fire Recruit at Funeral
- Cause of NY Fire Recruit's Death Undetermined
The Bradford County coroner in Pennsylvania was unable to determine a cause of death following an autopsy. Pathology, toxicology and microscopic test results, however, wouldn't be available for a few weeks, and those could clear up the cause of death.
But Watertown officials want a private investigation into Morse's death, the Watertown Daily News reports. Fire Chief Matthew Timerman also has urged for a full investigation. If that probe finds the fire academy to be at fault, it could lead to a claim against the state training center.
“We want to find out what happened and what caused it,” City Manager Kenneth A. Mix told the Daily News.
During the March 3 incident at the academy, Morse became unresponsive during a mask confidence drill with SCBA gear inside a long plywood tunnel with tape covering the mask. His equipment's alarms went off, and he was found with no oxygen in his gear and wasn't breathing.
Ronald Morse, the firefighter's grandfather, and Stan Morse, his great-uncle, have picketed the fire academy to demand answers, according to the Daily News. Both men believe the academy's instructors were to blame for Morse's death.
