Latest news with #BCFD
CBS News
16-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
17-year veteran of Baltimore Fire Department dies in skills training session
A Baltimore City firefighter died in the line of duty on Friday, according to Baltimore Firefighters IAFF Local 744. Charlie Mudra, an emergency vehicle driver, suffered a catastrophic medical emergency during a skills training session while on duty at the Fire Academy, according to the post. Baltimore Firefighters IAFF Local 734 is deeply saddened to announce the Line of Duty death of Emergency Vehicle Driver... Posted by Baltimore Firefighters IAFF Local 734 on Friday, May 16, 2025 "Despite immediate advance life support measures being administered on scene, and transport to Johns Hopkins Hospital, EVD Mudra was declared deceased at 1042am," BCFD said in a statement. Mudra was recognized as a dedicated public servant and respected colleague after serving with the BCFD for 17 years. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and fellow firefighters. His service, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to the safety of our city will never be forgotten," the post went on to say. Mayor Scott also released a statement acknowledging Mudra for his service, saying: "Today, we're devastated by the unexpected loss of another BCFD hero. EVD Charles Mudra dedicated 17 years of service, risking his own life to protect the lives and livelihoods of Baltimoreans. Our city will forever honor the selflessness, bravery, and generosity he offered to our residents and his fellow members of the department. We join his loved ones, friends, and fellow firemen in grieving today—and we will continue to hold them in our prayers." Recent incidents This comes as a separate firefighter is currently on life support after suffering a medical emergency during a rowhome fire on Monday, May 12. Lt. Dranbauer fell nearly 30 to 40 feet down a ladder after responding to a three-story building fire on West Saratoga Street near Park Avenue. Dranbauer was taken to Shock Trauma in critical condition, where he's been since. Richard Choyce, a neighbor, told WJZ that he witnessed the medical emergency. "He was three-quarters of the way up that ladder, and I glanced away for a split second, and I looked back up, and he was tumbling backwards down the ladder, head over heels," Choyce said. On the same day, over 200 firefighters worked to contain a seven-alarm fire at a century-old West Baltimore warehouse. The massive fire disrupted Amtrak services from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore and forced residents to be relocated. Crews extinguished the blaze more than 24 hours after it sparked. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) is leading an investigation to determine the cause.
CBS News
15-05-2025
- CBS News
Baltimore Fire employee paid during jail time after failing to report criminal convictions, IG finds
A Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD) employee continued to receive pay while serving a prison and home detention sentence after failing to report criminal convictions, according to an inspector general (IG) report. The Inspector General's Office began investigating the matter after getting an anonymous complaint about an employee who failed to report a 2019 arrest for driving with a suspended or revoked license. The investigation also revealed a 2018 arrest for driving under the influence. According to the IG report, BCFD employees are required to submit a report if they are involved in any legal proceedings, including civil, criminal or traffic incidents. Under department policy, BCFD employees are also required to share details about any arrests. The IG's report details that the employee was sentenced in February 2020 and ordered to report for a jail sentence in March 2020. The employee was incarcerated for 24 days in March and remained under house arrest until the end of May 2020, according to court documents cited in the report. The investigation revealed that the employee did not report the arrest or the sentence they received. According to the report, the employee attended a BCFD disciplinary hearing during which he said he was unfamiliar with the policy for arrests. The hearing ended with a recommendation for a three-day suspension without pay. Baltimore Fire employee paid during jail time, house arrest The BCFD employee visited the Public Safety Infirmary in February. The office provides services for employees who suffer from on-duty illnesses. The employee was ultimately placed off-duty until June 2020. However, the IG's investigation found that the employee continued to receive pay from March 2020 until he was released from house arrest at the end of May 2020. While serving the sentence, the employee received both regular and sick pay, totalling $13,733. He returned to work in June 2020, according to the report. The inspector general referred the potential time theft to law enforcement for a criminal investigation. Employee promoted despite criminal conviction According to the IG report, the BCFD employee was promoted to a supervisor role in 2021, despite the prior conviction. According to the anonymous complaint, a mandatory background check should have made the employee ineligible for a promotion. Human Resources officials said the employee was given five days to respond to the findings from the background check, though the IG found that the employee did not respond. Human Resources explained that the hiring agency was responsible for the final decision. Investigation reveals another DUI arrest During the investigation, the inspector general learned that the employee was again arrested for a DUI in 2024 and was incarcerated for eight days. The employee again failed to report the arrest and conviction to the fire department. Baltimore City Fire responds The inspector general shared the findings with the Baltimore City Fire Department, and officials said they would launch an internal investigation. "Should BCFD's internal investigation uncover any potential wrongdoing or policy violations by other BCFD employees, [the Office of Professional Standards] will initiate investigations into those personnel in accordance with departmental policy," leaders said.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Bolivar City Fire is now alerting through Safety Cloud
BOLIVAR, Mo. — In an effort to enhance road safety and protect first responders and roadway workers, the Bolivar City Fire Department (BCFD) has integrated HAAS Alert's Safety Cloud digital alerting into its vehicles. This collision prevention service enables the delivery of real-time alerts to Missouri drivers when emergency services are active in the vicinity, according to a City of Bolivar news release. Safety Cloud boosts driver compliance with 'Move Over' laws by dispatching real-time notifications when responders are on the way to a scene, the release says. This digital solution minimizes the likelihood of collisions with responders. Call center volunteers urgently needed for Springfield-Greene County storm recovery Safety Cloud's digital alerting delivers immediate warnings to drivers of the proximity of emergency vehicles or road workers. This preemptive measure is proven to reduce collision risks by up to 90%, safeguarding both first responders and the public. Safety Cloud addresses delay reactions from drivers on the road by providing up to 30 seconds of preemptive warning, the release says. The alerts are accessible via the Waze navigation app and Apple Maps, compatible with mobile devices and integrated into the dashboard of many modern vehicles. Safety Cloud alerts are also available on the infotainment screens of millions of vehicles, specifically 2024 and newer models of Volkswagen vehicles and 2018 and newer models of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles through the Emergency Vehicle Alert System feature. HAAS Alert is actively working on broadening the alerts to more platforms and vehicles, the release says. 'Adopting Safety Cloud adds a layer of protection for our crew, facilitating operations with enhanced safety,' BCFD Capt. John Kendall said in the release. 'By providing drivers with additional time to respond appropriately, this service establishes a safer environment for both our crew and surrounding motorists,' Kendall added. 'We strongly recommend drivers utilize Waze and Apple Maps, both free-to-use apps, to benefit from these vital road safety alerts.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bulloch Co. Fire Department to host ‘smoke alarm blitz'
STATESBORO, Ga. (WSAV) — The Bulloch County Fire Department (BCFD) will hold a 'Smoke Alarm Blitz' on Saturday. The event is a partnership with the American Red Cross and aims to install smoke alarms in homes that do not have them. Residents may be permitted three smoke alarms at no cost to taxpayers. The Red Cross will assist with the installations, ensuring that as many homes as possible benefit from this safety initiative. The Smoke Alarm Blitz is part of a continuing effort to protect the community from the destruction and effects of structure fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association, over 3,600 civilian fire deaths were reported in the U.S. in 2023. The leading cause of death was home fires, accounting for 92% of these casualties. Fires in residential areas are reported every 95 seconds, and a home fire-related death occurs every three hours. The event will be held at Olney Station, located at 17257 Us Highway 301 North, on May 3. Those in area who wish to request smoke alarms can contact the BCFD at 912-489-1661. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Baltimore moves $68 million to cover overspending in city agencies last year
BALTIMORE — The Baltimore City Council Budget & Appropriations Committee is advancing nearly $68 million to cover overspending within various city agencies in fiscal year 2024. City Budget Director Laura Larsen on Tuesday described it as 'retroactive appropriations.' The appropriations include 11 total bills — which were read at the full council meeting last week — totaling $67,859,335. While the city still had a $46 million overall surplus last year, Larsen said this amount is greater than appropriations for fiscal year 2023 but less than appropriations for fiscal year 2022. One of the bills would provide the Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD) with more than $33 million to fund 'overtime due to sworn vacancies and unbudgeted EMS contractual services.' BCFD budget issues have become a major discussion point in recent years, as Larsen says the department has consistently run a $30 million annual deficit since the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of this deficit comes from tapping BCFD staff for overtime hours to cover other first responder shifts in the city, according to Larsen. 'Staffing shortages within EMS services are driving considerable overtime because we are re-deploying staff from our fire suppression service over to EMS,' Larsen told The Sun Tuesday. 'We then not only have to backfill the vacant shift on the EMS schedule, but then we also have the overtime expenditures that were accrued for EMS services.' A similar bill would authorize more than $3 million to 'provide funding for overtime due to sworn vacancies' within the Baltimore Police Department. But as Larsen noted, the staffing troubles went beyond the traditional realm of public safety personnel last fiscal year. Agencies like the Department of Public Works and the Department of Recreation and Parks also suffered from staffing shortages, the budget director said. Councilman Antonio 'Tony' Glover, who represents East Baltimore, suggested the city's overtime burden also extended to individual employees. According to Glover, BCFD paramedic David Lunsford earned $113,157 last year. But with overtime accruals, Lunsford's total compensation ballooned to $358,586, making him Baltimore's highest-paid city employee. City Council President Zeke Cohen — who is not a member of the Budget & Appropriations Committee but was present at Tuesday's hearing — suggested the city should invest more in growing and training its workforce to reduce its reliance on overtime and outside contractors, respectively. Greater collaboration with Baltimore City Public Schools on student apprenticeships should also be part of these efforts, Cohen said. 'I think it is both about being competitive on the salary side and also us being intentional with the school system … with all the agencies to make sure that we are home-growing our own workforce,' Cohen said. The city council president took a swipe at President Donald Trump's cuts to the federal workforce, saying he does not 'want to see that dynamic replicated at the local level' with Baltimore City employees. Larsen said the city must be 'past the point' of blaming transition to human resources software Workday, a process initiated in fiscal year 2023, for budget troubles. She agreed with Cohen's approach to growing the city's workforce and noted the strategy has been implemented to some extent within the Department of Finance's payroll personnel. 'In the fiscal 2025 budget, the council approved creating some restructuring of the staffing level for that service, and so they were able to create some additional accounting positions to support the payroll process,' Larsen said. 'And we've been able to see how they've been able to ramp down the use of the contractual service.' Larsen also expressed a desire to see the city further implement aspects of the city Department of Human Resources' 2021 'salary study,' which she said could lead to better wages for union employees in fiscal year 2026. All 11 bills passed by the committee will receive a second reading from Budget & Appropriations Committee Chair Danielle McCray at the next Baltimore City Council meeting, which is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24. Assuming the chair's recommendation is favorable, the appropriations bills will then head to Mayor Brandon Scott for enactment. ----------
