SOUTH CAROLINA FIRE CHIEF DIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY FOLLOWING HOUSE FIRE
The Secret List www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
We regret to advise you that the Fire Chief of the Elgin (SC) Volunteer Fire Department died this morning after returning from a house fire in Lancaster. Chief Dennis Cauthen, who has served as a Volunteer Firefighter for more than 30 years, died in the Line of Duty at the age of 54. The fire call at the abandoned Lancaster dwelling came in at 0245 hours this morning. On the way to the call, Chief Cauthen was complaining of stomach pains, but remained at the fire for three hours. Around 0600, after returning, Chief Cauthen reportedly passed out and died. Our sincere condolences to all affected.
HERE is the EVFD Facebook Page: http://tinyurl.com/4xkpj45
MEMORIAL SERVICE SET FOR DALLAS FIRE LIEUTENANT TODD KRODLE
Memorial services are set for Dallas Fire Lt. Todd W. Krodle who died in the Line of Duty on Sunday at an apartment complex will be held Friday in Greenville.
The funeral for Krodle will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Highland Terrace Baptist Church in Greenville and burial will follow at Memoryland Memorial Park.
HERE is the EVFD Facebook Page: http://tinyurl.com/4xkpj45
MEMORIAL SERVICE SET FOR DALLAS FIRE LIEUTENANT TODD KRODLE
Memorial services are set for Dallas Fire Lt. Todd W. Krodle who died in the Line of Duty on Sunday at an apartment complex will be held Friday in Greenville.
The funeral for Krodle will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Highland Terrace Baptist Church in Greenville and burial will follow at Memoryland Memorial Park.
===THE BUILDINGS IN THAT COMPLEX HAVE A (Lack Of) SAFETY HISTORY
The apartment complex where he died has a history of “numerous and persistent” code violations. Lt. Krodle fell through that second story roof of the Ridgecrest Terrace Apartments on Sunday. It took obvious time for DFR Firefighters to rescue him from the burning unit below, and he was later pronounced dead at Parkland Memorial Hospital.
The fire was one of two fires at the complex Sunday that were both blamed on electrical problems. Tenants and outreach workers who helped residents with landlord complaints said better attention to ongoing maintenance problems could have prevented the fires and the roof accident. Residents of both apartments that burned Sunday said they complained to the landlord about electrical problems before.
Problems with the roof are among the concerns noted in city inspection records as recently as August 2010. The city filed lawsuits in 2004 and 2008 against a prior owner of the property for code violations. A February 2009 aerial photo of the property available at the Dallas County Appraisal District website shows a dozen blue tarps on roofs of the property, evidently to cover leaks. The 2008 lawsuit was settled in 2009 and a January 2010 city inspection found problems had been corrected. But an August 2010 inspection found numerous problems again, including the roof issues on several buildings. At that point, the property was sent to the city’s SAFE team for more intense inspections. The SAFE team includes police officers, fire inspectors and code enforcement officers who review crime prevention and code enforcement issues.
Records show the property was transferred to a new owner in September 2010, Potomac Realty Capital in Boston. Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Sipes said the new owners have been cooperating with the city and a May 2011 inspection found that problems had been corrected. Residents said they had complained to the landlord but not to the city about their recent electrical complaints. Roof defects were obvious from the ground at other parts of the complex Monday. It is certainly unclear at this point whether the above discussed building issues played any role in Lt. Krodle’s death.
Take Care-BE CAREFUL.
BillyG
The Secret List 8-16-11 / 1000 Hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
The apartment complex where he died has a history of “numerous and persistent” code violations. Lt. Krodle fell through that second story roof of the Ridgecrest Terrace Apartments on Sunday. It took obvious time for DFR Firefighters to rescue him from the burning unit below, and he was later pronounced dead at Parkland Memorial Hospital.
The fire was one of two fires at the complex Sunday that were both blamed on electrical problems. Tenants and outreach workers who helped residents with landlord complaints said better attention to ongoing maintenance problems could have prevented the fires and the roof accident. Residents of both apartments that burned Sunday said they complained to the landlord about electrical problems before.
Problems with the roof are among the concerns noted in city inspection records as recently as August 2010. The city filed lawsuits in 2004 and 2008 against a prior owner of the property for code violations. A February 2009 aerial photo of the property available at the Dallas County Appraisal District website shows a dozen blue tarps on roofs of the property, evidently to cover leaks. The 2008 lawsuit was settled in 2009 and a January 2010 city inspection found problems had been corrected. But an August 2010 inspection found numerous problems again, including the roof issues on several buildings. At that point, the property was sent to the city’s SAFE team for more intense inspections. The SAFE team includes police officers, fire inspectors and code enforcement officers who review crime prevention and code enforcement issues.
Records show the property was transferred to a new owner in September 2010, Potomac Realty Capital in Boston. Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Sipes said the new owners have been cooperating with the city and a May 2011 inspection found that problems had been corrected. Residents said they had complained to the landlord but not to the city about their recent electrical complaints. Roof defects were obvious from the ground at other parts of the complex Monday. It is certainly unclear at this point whether the above discussed building issues played any role in Lt. Krodle’s death.
Take Care-BE CAREFUL.
BillyG
The Secret List 8-16-11 / 1000 Hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
