Two Firefighters Arrested For Obstruction

[Viper 139]

Two arrested for obstruction in tunnel fire incident

By SAMANTHA PERRY Bluefield Daily Telegraph Tue Jul 29, 2014, 04:58 AM EDT

BLUEFIELD — Two out-of-state volunteer firefighters were arrested after they took an emergency vehicle and entered East River Mountain Tunnel during a tractor-trailer blaze.

ARTICLE: http://www.bdtonline.com/local/x1027611676/Two-arrested-for-obstruction-in-tunnel-fire-incident

VIDEO: http://www.wvva.com/category/137959/video-landing-page?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=10407587

[sueg 77]

Per the attachment in the article, Jane Dunn (wife?sister?mother? of Colin?) appears to have another take on the events rather than letting it be seen as theft of a county vehicle and freelancing in the extreme. The only question is, was she there and witnessed their "heroic" actions, or did he relate his acts to her by phone or electronic media after being taken into custody? Guess we need more investigative details.............................

Must have been more to it than what she says for them to press obstruction charges, you would think.

Edited July 29, 2014 by sueg

[AFS1970 504]

If they did in fact go to the IC and "tag in" then they were at least at that point not freelancing. I think the telling thing is that they did not get charged with stealing the vehicle, which tells me that someone probably told them to use it. I would bet that this whole thing stems from a confusion over incident command. If the IC was willing to use them, but their gear was not recognizable to other departments, I can see confusion getting the better of folks. Let's not forget that we are frequently told to be on the lookout for fake responders, and someone I did not know in unfamiliar gear would be the first one I would look at if I were involved with scene or perimeter security. IF the side bar is even close to being correct, I would bet this all gets worked out quietly and swept under the rug.

[Dinosaur 844]

If they did in fact go to the IC and "tag in" then they were at least at that point not freelancing.

If they were not requested, not dispatched, and not in their jurisdiction they most certainly were freelancing.

[v85 212]

What if they weren't dispatched, but asked the IC/ other person in authority if they could help and were told 'yes'? Maybe not so much with the fire service but it happens in police work all the time (i.e. a trooper drives by a local officer or deputy on a car stop and stays to help or provide backup)

Also, if they were allowed to tag in, wouldn't the officers who arrested them check with the IC first before making any arrests or expelling anyone from the scene?

[Officer Ed 59]

_{I don't trust ANYTHING I read in the media, except maybe the weather report. Today's media is little more than entertainment, not "news." They intentionally withhold facts, twist the truth, and outright lie in order to sensationalize incidents and create controversy.}

_{As they say on XFiles, "the truth is out there." But you'll rarely get it from the "mainstream" media.}

Edited July 30, 2014 by Officer Ed

[Dinosaur 844]

_{I don't trust ANYTHING I read in the media, except maybe the weather report. Today's media is little more than entertainment, not "news." They intentionally withhold facts, twist the truth, and outright lie in order to sensationalize incidents and create controversy.}

_{As they say on XFiles, "the truth is out there." But you'll rarely get it from the "mainstream" media.}

YESTERDAY'S weather maybe!

[Dinosaur 844]

What if they weren't dispatched, but asked the IC/ other person in authority if they could help and were told 'yes'? Maybe not so much with the fire service but it happens in police work all the time (i.e. a trooper drives by a local officer or deputy on a car stop and stays to help or provide backup)

Also, if they were allowed to tag in, wouldn't the officers who arrested them check with the IC first before making any arrests or expelling anyone from the scene?

Your law enforcement example doesn't apply. The cops backing each other up are in their geographical areas of employment and aren't really "doing" anything. If it was a NY cop going to a burglary in progress call in MD it would be freelancing.

[SOUSGT 357]

If they were not requested, not dispatched, and not in their jurisdiction they most certainly were freelancing.

And you have never stopped at the scene of an accident on your way home?

Also, I assume you were on scene to determine that they were not requested to help.

It would be prudent to wait until the investigation is complete before we rush to judge.

Sorry, I forgot that with the age of sensationalism media we can’t wait.

[dwcfireman 656]

If you're far enough from your own jurisdiction or mutual aid districts, just stay in the car and keep driving. It's the safest thing to do, and it avoids all the confusion and BS of a story like this.

The only exception I would make, and this is a bit hypocritical of my above statement, is if someone's life was seriously in danger, such as a serious accident happens in front of you while you're driving down the highway. You have to stop anyway because the road is blocked, so you might as well check on victims to give the local 911 operators a better scene size up for the incoming IC. Once the FD, PD, and EMS are on scene, back away and let our brothers and sisters do their job.

[recoiloperated 16]

If I'm driving down the road and witness an accident where I can potentially render aid, then I would certainly stop if safe to do so. If I'm driving down the road and see local emergency crews on the scene of an accident, I'm going to keep on driving. I find it hard to believe that the IC was so desperate that they abandoned everything they know about ICS, department guidelines, state laws, and insurance liability and just threw two unknown people from out of state who claimed to be firefighters on a rig. This was a vehicle fire, not a Russian invasion.