Alsen Man Says Firefighter Missing for Fire
Walter Jackson's small house on Old Rafe Mayer Road has seen four generations of his family grow up. But his children will have to find a new place to raise a family. All that remains of the home are burnt chards of wood. Jackson says when it caught fire, he immediately called the fire department - 25 minutes later, still no truck.
"When I called him again, the fella told me, 'I got your call." So I asked him 'what are you waiting on. The house is steady burning.'"
Jackson says it took 45 minutes to an hour for the truck to arrive with only one firefighter. Two were supposed to be working. The fire report shows the alarm time at 23:27, or 11:27 p.m. and an arrival time of 25:30. There is no such tiime.
The fire station is only about a half mile from Walter Jackson's house. And as a sign outside reminds neighbors to pay their annual dues, Jackson questions where his money is going.
Eleven of the 16 firefighters at the Alsen/St. Irma Lee station have been arrested for claiming hours they didn't work. Jackson says that's the reason his house is gone.
"He said just like this, I'll quote him. 'They're probably at home somewhere watching television.'"
Othere firefighters did show up later, but in the end, Jackson says it was too late. His house was totally destroyed.
"It could've been avoided. It could've been saved."
The firefighters are accused of showing up for work at Baton Rouge stations for 7:00 a.m. while they were still on Alsen's clock until 8:00 a.m. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's department should release the results of a time sheet audit early this week. Alsen Fire Chief Willie Johnson will wait for that to make a comment.