NORTH CHARLESTON – The home on Purity Drive is no longer in shambles. It's been rebuilt since a fire that ripped through it last summer. The wife of a firefighter who was injured in the blaze says the same can't be said about the North Charleston Fire Department. John Bolton was one of three firefighters injured in a fire on July 5th, 2010.
His wife Olivia says he had second to third degree burns and spent three days in the Augusta Burn Unit after he jumped through the upstairs window after his hand caught fire. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited the department last year.
OSHA, which monitors work safety practices, said NCFD violated the two-in-two out rule as well as the incident command system and accountability.
City fire department leaders have hired an attorney to fight the citations.
Almost a year later, Olivia Bolton wants people to know she feels her husband is becoming the scapegoat and the fall guy for the problems she says could have killed her husband the day of the fire.
"They need to look at their procedures," Bolton said. "They need to look at who was running that fire that day. What they could have done differently. They shouldn't be reprimanding the people who were just taking order that day."
She's worried about her husband's future at NCFD.
"The fact he has this reprimand in his file, yes I'm worried he's not going to have a job anymore which means he's not going to be able to support us," Bolton said.
Sandra Senn, the attorney representing the City of North Charleston Fire Department says NCFD training is up to standards and that firefighters are trained "far above state and OSHA standards."
"As to the Purity Drive fire or the disciplinary matters, we cannot discuss those as we don't discuss personnel matters and because there is pending litigation," Senn said in a statement.
The hearing between OSHA and NCFD is scheduled for September.
by Natalie Caula – WCIV-TV Channel 4
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My 2 cents from calif.
"NCFD training is up to Standards and that firefighters are trained far above state and OSHA Standards"
Sandra Senn Attorney for City of North Charleston.
Wow! Almost four years ago to the day , Former Charleston Chief (?) R.T. and their mayor Riley,said almost the same thing after the Sofa Super Store Fire.
Same sounding language , but different situation.
This is giving the "Brown End of the Stick" to a FF who should be properly recieving his Workers Comp benefits and looking foward to returning to work.
But then again, South Carolina is a :"Right to Work State" and he may not have an effective Union Representation.
Sorry state of affairs, Looks like:Command Incompetence being "Protected "again at the expense of the Rank and File FF.