WASHINGTON CO. ROAD AND BRIDGE FACING QUESTIONS AFTER DENYING ASSISTANCE AT HOUSE FIRE
Some local volunteer firefighters are frustrated after being denied assistance by Washington County at a devastating house fire.
The house fire Wednesday on Hillside Lane in the Sandy Creek Estates required the help of six fire departments. According to firefighter Ronnie Perry, who was the incident commander at the scene, the fire burned down through the home’s attic, leading to the collapse of the roof which left some walls standing. Perry said a backhoe was needed to mitigate safety hazards and clear the site of debris.
(courtesy Brenham Fire Department)
Perry said he and other senior fire officials on scene put in a request for the backhoe to the Washington County Road and Bridge Department, who denied the request, stating they did not have an operator available to use the equipment.
Firefighters then contacted the county’s Emergency Management Coordinator and informed him of the denial, before reaching out for assistance again. This time, it was mentioned that a volunteer firefighter—and county employee—who was “well-versed” in operating heavy equipment was on scene. The request was once again denied.
The county Emergency Management Coordinator then contacted the City of Brenham’s Emergency Management Coordinator, who had a backhoe and operator sent out to the site. Perry said having the additional help shortened firefighters’ time at the scene “quite considerably”.
According to Perry, this is not an isolated incident.
A statement from County Commissioner Joy Fuchs defended the county’s decision to not send a backhoe Wednesday, saying both of the operators who had training in use of backhoes during a fire were “not at work” and were on vacation. She said it would have taken more time to get them to the scene than it took for the City of Brenham workers who were on duty.
Fuchs added that County Engineer Ross McCall “did not feel it safe to have an untrained employee take the backhoe and not be able to use it properly”.
When asked directly why the county made its decision to not send assistance, McCall replied “no comment”.
However, according to Perry, firefighters have been granted assistance by the county in years past, through the county’s emergency management plan. In addition, firefighters have offered to undergo training to avoid situations like these in the future.
Perry said he does not want this to hurt the county’s relationship with its volunteer fire departments, as they work well together for the most part.
In her statement, Fuchs thanked the City of Brenham on behalf of the county for their assistance in Wednesday’s fire. She said the county is currently working to put a training program into effect, in order to have more personnel trained to assist in these “very tragic times”.
Full statement Thursday from County Commissioner Joy Fuchs:
In response to the questions being raised concerning the house fire in Sandy Creek Estates Wednesday, October 23, there was a request to Washington County Road and Bridge to bring out a backhoe and an operator to the scene. The reason that the request was denied was that both of the operators who had training in use of backhoes during a fire were not at work. Our engineer did not feel it safe to have an untrained employee take the backhoe and not be able to use it properly. The City of Brenham was then requested to bring out a backhoe and took one to the scene. This is how things work between local governments. When help is needed we work together to get the job done. There have been times when the City of Brenham have asked for Washington County's help with structure fires and we had the proper personnel to take the equipment and Washington County assisted the Fire Departments. This was a time when Washington County needed help and the City of Brenham stepped up to help. Washington County is currently working to put a training program into effect to have more personnel trained to assist in these very tragic times. Washington County would like to thank the City of Brenham for their assistance and will assist as needed in the future.
I agree Steve Fogsby, armchair quarterbacks would definitely blame the county if something went wrong. No one wants to see an employee hurt. Key words: Volunteer Firefighter – means they are volunteering and trained for the risks. I agree with you that it would be a good idea for the firefighters to have a backhoe of their own, it would be a good asset for them; and would be available to them day or night at a moments notice.
When you have a supervisor who knows the county, the people, and how a business is run, the county works better. For years, the backhoe has helped in fire situations and assisted our local fire departments. So when the Road and Bridge department’s office personnel did not complete necessary paperwork for the county’s backhoe operator to perform his job, that he has done for over 10 years, and was told to take mandatory vacation until they reconciled the paperwork… there was a fire that he could not assist with, due to the mandatory vacation notice. How is it the supervisors Ross McCall and Vincent Henson do not know how to operate the backhoe? Shouldn’t supervisors and engineers know how to perform all duties expected of all employees too? When a fire was next to a commissioner’s house, the backhoe was DEFINITELY there to make sure we saved her house. Why should the citizen’s of Washington County be treated any different, we pay taxes too??
Based on some of these comments it appears that a BACKHOE might be needed to fight fires. Maybe the city and VFDs should go in and invest in one. Maybe it will come to good use in other situations like wildfires or flooding.
What if the “well versed” volunteer fighter killed himself, caused uneeded damage, destroyed the backhoe or killed someone else. Who do the armchair quarterbacks blame then? It was the right call and no one in the county should apologize for it.
Anyone that lives in the country assumes the risk of total loss if they live outside the city. Its they way it is. The VFDs have been effective in the past but that was based on a culture that believed and practiced self sacrifice for others and the greater good. That culture has now for the most part aged out with few replacements to carry on. It has been replaced by multicultural ideals that just don’t favor the family and community. A culture that would file suit on the county for allowing a “well versed” operator use a backhoe that accidentally injured someone or destroyed something.
Thank you to the workers and taxpayers of city of Brenham!
What the county should do is provide the public with the truth as to why that operator wasn’t available. It’s not because the operator was on vacation as they make it out to be; it’s because the road and bridge department did not fill out that employees CDL paperwork correctly, so that employee was forced to take vacation time until the correct paperwork was processed. So the employee had to burn vacation for an error that wasn’t his to begin with.
Wow – a Washington County Road and Bridge employee – who can run a backhoe and offered to help – was onsite as a volunteer firefighter and his “boss” still denied sending it? Seems like a poor decision by Mr. McCall. Everyone agreed with him when it came to the Burton roads…what about now?
Would be interesting to see which county employee’s they are referring to? “both of the operators who had training in use of backhoes during a fire were not at work” “This time, it was mentioned that a volunteer firefighter—and county employee—who was “well-versed” in operating heavy equipment was on scene.”- You had pretty good training right there it sounds like. I would bet none are trained maybe not even the city employees, more than the volunteer fire fighters that were on scene. I hope nothing every happens to “these” people’s places, property…yes the fire fighters will come, but will the extra assistance then show up?! You can bet your bottom it will, because of whose place, property it belongs.
Volunteers are just that, they do it because they have a passion and want to help out, so do not knock them down when they are trying to help out your fellow neighbors. Remember they do not get paid or FREE time off for this. Support ALL your local non profit organizations, they do not get money from the tax payers, it is all fundraisers that pay for your safety and protection in the county.
Thank you Josh for helping get the word out on this issue, we greatly appreciate the help!