* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Harris
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Investigative Hearing - Baltimore Fire Academy - Training Safety
FOR the purpose of requesting the Chief of Fire and the Chief Safety Officer of the Baltimore Fire Department and the Director of Training of the Baltimore Fire Academy to address the City Council on the Academy's level of compliance with national standards for training supervision, safety protocol, and professional instruction; to present a detailed report on areas of non-compliance; and to submit a comprehensive report on procedures to be adopted to attain compliance and to ensure the safety of firefighter recruits.
Body
Recitals
The recent death of a 29-year-old city Fire Department recruit during a training exercise as she tried to extinguish a blaze set by instructors in a vacant three-story row house in Southwest Baltimore brought to light what appear to be serious lapses in safety procedures in the training program of the Baltimore Fire Academy.
This tragic incident calls into question the practice of using "live burns" - fires set by instructors in vacant buildings off-campus - as a way to give recruits "real" experience in putting out blazes, particularly when the exercises are not conducted in compliance with national regulations governing firefighter training.
Fire union officials are reportedly voicing concerns that this as well as other training exercises are not being carried out in compliance with standards set by the National Fire Protection Association - deviating from at least 2 of 25 requirements listed in national regulations that govern the way training fires are set and fought.
Public Safety personnel provide an invaluable service in protecting the citizens of Baltimore City - ensuring their safety as they train to preform this unselfish service is the very least we can do for the men and women who put their lives at risk each time they report for duty.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Chief of Fire and the Chief Safety Officer of the Baltimore Fire Department and the Director of Training of the Baltimore Fire Academy are requested to address the City Council on the Academy's level of compliance with national standards for training supervision, safety protocol, and professional instruction; to present a detailed report on areas of non-compliance; and to submit a comprehensive report on procedures to be adopted to attain compliance and to insure the safety of firefighter recruits.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Chief of Fire and the Chief Safety Officer of the Baltimore Fire Department, the Director of Training of the Baltimore Fire Academy, the President of the Baltimore Fire Officers Association, the President of the Baltimore Fire Fighters Union, the President of the Vulcan Blazers of Baltimore, Inc., and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
dlr07-1184~intro/22Feb07
ccres/Fire/nf
dlr07-1184~intro/22Feb07
- 2 -
ccres/Fire/nf