Firefighters fired over response to fatal house fire
A mother, two of her children and her boyfriend died in the fire Nov. 9. A third child rescued by an off-duty police officer was seriously injured.
Firefighters Marshall Miller and Tony Russell were fired Monday by the city manager based on video of the fire scene from a police cruiser and witness statements.
Miller was accused of not immediately trying to join the rescue efforts after his engine arrived at the scene.
“This is inexcusable given the fact that a Loudon police officer arrived at the scene after your engine and was able to enter the structure and make a rescue before you entered the house,” city manager Barry Baker wrote in a statement of disciplinary action dated Monday and obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.
Video showed Russell was not wearing all his gear, which prevented him from helping in the rescue, even though firefighters are required to wear full gear for all fires. He also was chastised for using a hose that was too small to fight the fire, according to documents.
Russell, an interim training officer, had three reprimands earlier this year.
The firefighters have 20 days to request a review.
Connie Torres, Rafael Pena and Torres’ daughters Karlissa Torres and Samantha Stephens died.
Amanda Torres, 10, who was rescued, has been released from Shriner’s Hospital in Cincinnati.
Four other people survived the fire.
Investigators are still looking into what caused the fire, Loudon fire chief Mike Brubaker said Thursday.