NEWTON, Mass.-- Newton firefighters did not follow established procedures for identifying equipment problems, leading to a firefighter being seriously injured during a fire last month, according to a report compiled by Newton and state police.
Newton Fire Department Union President Fran Capello said the blame should be placed on a mechanical failure during the fire.
On May 15, Lt. Richard Geary, a Newton firefighter, suffered serious injuries when a 24-year-old fire truck reportedly slipped out of gear and ran him over early that morning.
Geary was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center where he was diagnosed with a compound arm fracture, a broken shoulder blade and a large cut on his head.
The accident occurred as firefighters went to a Dumpster fire between Medeiros Townhouse and Claver Hall on Boston College's Chestnut Hill campus at 12:20 a.m.
According to findings issued yesterday by Newton Police, failure by members of the Fire Department to follow established departmental procedures for identifying equipment problems were evident in the investigation.
Police say that all complaints of faulty equipment for the fire truck were verbal and no member of the fire department documented a written request for repair or attempted to take the fire truck out of service.
In its findings, the police department said Engine 13 did not have the right chock blocks under its tires which would have slowed the truck's forward movement.
Police also say the fire truck was not in the correct gear while preparing to fight the fire. According to police, the fire truck was not in "pump gear position" and the operator failed to recognize warning signs that the engine was not in that position but in fact was in "drive gear."
Police claim there are warning signs for the incorrect position of the truck, which are identified by a green indicator light in the front cab of the fire truck, a green indicator light on the side pump panel of the fire truck and absence of water pressure.
According to Capello, a mechanical error led the operator of the fire truck to believe he was in the correct gear for fighting the fire.
"You do certain steps when you pull up to a fire. The truck itself tells you your next step. The truck indicated to the operator he was ready to get water, when actually, through mechanical error, he was not ready to get water," Capello said in a phone interview. "The truck didn't switch gears the way it should. And the day before they had this same problem with the truck."
Yesterday's findings issued by Newton Police was the result of a joint investigation between the Newton Police Department's Traffic Bureau and Massachusetts State Police Reconstruction Unit and Truck Team.
According to the findings, on May 18 Newton Police Capt. Matthew Cummings received a call from Delores Hamilton, human resources director for the city, that the Newton Firefighter Association was asking for its own examination of the truck.
Cummings ordered the truck impounded and towed to a secure lot at Waltham Auto Tow, to ensure that all of the inspectors would have the same chance to inspect it.
On May 30, representatives from the Newton Police Traffic Bureau, Newton Fire Department, Newton Firefighters Association and the Massachusetts State Police Reconstruction Unit, among others, inspected the truck and tested all of its components.
Republished with permission of The Daily News Tribune.
