I wonder if he’ll have the same sentiments when the lawsuits start rolling in. The old “Fireman’s Rule” precluding lawsuits arising from injuries (or death) sustained in the line of duty by firemen and policemen is fast falling into disfavor in the Courts, and many jurisdictions will allow such claims these days. You can bet the sharks are circling those poor bereaved families even as this is being written. What a waste…should have just let it burn. Would it seem unkind if one were to speculate that these firemen were helping themselves to free furniture when they were trapped?
How can he say with a straight face he didn’t know furniture would go up in flames? Or that a sprinkler system would mitigate a fire? How big an idiot does he want us to think he is?
Clearly he is sick with guilt. He cheaped out and now he has to look into the faces of the widows & fatherless kids left in it’s wake. I wonder why sprinklers weren’t required. That’s the key. People won’t pay for it unless they have to. Also I hate blame the victims here but the fire dept needs to investigate what happened. If they could not save the structure, they are supposed to get out. Something either did not go by procedure or something unexpected happened there. And cigerrettes on the loading dock?! I wonder who else ids feeling guilty now. A tragedy all around. This is a good example of why one would pay for sprinklers! Let others learn from his hindsight.
He isn’t sorry he didn’t get the sprinklers. He’s sorry he didn’t get the sprinklers and got caught! If nothing had ever happened and he knew today that he needed sprinklers, etc., he still wouldn’t have them. “They weren’t required…” translates into “It would cost more money to have them, safer or not, but since I’m not REQUIRED to have them, I’m not going to pay for them.”
Buried in “sounding guilty’s” excellent comments is the real issue that the city and fire department have been more mute about than Liberace’s brother. What were these men doing in harms way when it was clear no one was trapped inside, and that the building was beyond salvage? There are times when good judgemnt and commone sense must prevail and that clearly didn’t happen here. They should have stood back, kept the fire from spreading to any nearby properties and let it burn out. What a waste of human life.
I believe he is completely sincere in his comments. How many of you go the extra mile (and dollar!) to be safe in your daily life? Do you hardwire smoke alarms or do you use batter operated? Do you purchase the safest vehicles or go for what is “in” right now? Do you purchase the healthiest (ie, more expensive) foods or go for the convenient fast foods? We know smoking is unhealthy but we do it. And we still drink and drive. This guy was in compliance with the law but still this horrible situation occurred. Of course hind sight is 20-20! Give the guy a break!
But Frankie, it isn’t the building owner’s responsibility to protect firefighters from the poor judgment of their commanders. Sprinklers are designed and intended to protect people who are inside when the fire starts.
Bill,
No doubt about that! A tragedy all around. But let’s not all pounce on this guy for being compliant with the law. He did what was required of him, albeit maybe skimped on the safety side, but he broke no law.
Got caught at what? He didn’t do anything (legally) wrong here. Every business attempts to save money and since he wasn’t required to have sprinklers, he didn’t have them. It wasn’t against the law so what was he caught at/with?
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I wonder if he’ll have the same sentiments when the lawsuits start rolling in. The old “Fireman’s Rule” precluding lawsuits arising from injuries (or death) sustained in the line of duty by firemen and policemen is fast falling into disfavor in the Courts, and many jurisdictions will allow such claims these days. You can bet the sharks are circling those poor bereaved families even as this is being written. What a waste…should have just let it burn. Would it seem unkind if one were to speculate that these firemen were helping themselves to free furniture when they were trapped?
Hindsight is always 20-20.
How can he say with a straight face he didn’t know furniture would go up in flames? Or that a sprinkler system would mitigate a fire? How big an idiot does he want us to think he is?
Clearly he is sick with guilt. He cheaped out and now he has to look into the faces of the widows & fatherless kids left in it’s wake. I wonder why sprinklers weren’t required. That’s the key. People won’t pay for it unless they have to. Also I hate blame the victims here but the fire dept needs to investigate what happened. If they could not save the structure, they are supposed to get out. Something either did not go by procedure or something unexpected happened there. And cigerrettes on the loading dock?! I wonder who else ids feeling guilty now. A tragedy all around. This is a good example of why one would pay for sprinklers! Let others learn from his hindsight.
He isn’t sorry he didn’t get the sprinklers. He’s sorry he didn’t get the sprinklers and got caught! If nothing had ever happened and he knew today that he needed sprinklers, etc., he still wouldn’t have them. “They weren’t required…” translates into “It would cost more money to have them, safer or not, but since I’m not REQUIRED to have them, I’m not going to pay for them.”
Buried in “sounding guilty’s” excellent comments is the real issue that the city and fire department have been more mute about than Liberace’s brother. What were these men doing in harms way when it was clear no one was trapped inside, and that the building was beyond salvage? There are times when good judgemnt and commone sense must prevail and that clearly didn’t happen here. They should have stood back, kept the fire from spreading to any nearby properties and let it burn out. What a waste of human life.
I believe he is completely sincere in his comments. How many of you go the extra mile (and dollar!) to be safe in your daily life? Do you hardwire smoke alarms or do you use batter operated? Do you purchase the safest vehicles or go for what is “in” right now? Do you purchase the healthiest (ie, more expensive) foods or go for the convenient fast foods? We know smoking is unhealthy but we do it. And we still drink and drive. This guy was in compliance with the law but still this horrible situation occurred. Of course hind sight is 20-20! Give the guy a break!
But Frankie, it isn’t the building owner’s responsibility to protect firefighters from the poor judgment of their commanders. Sprinklers are designed and intended to protect people who are inside when the fire starts.
Bill,
No doubt about that! A tragedy all around. But let’s not all pounce on this guy for being compliant with the law. He did what was required of him, albeit maybe skimped on the safety side, but he broke no law.
Got caught at what? He didn’t do anything (legally) wrong here. Every business attempts to save money and since he wasn’t required to have sprinklers, he didn’t have them. It wasn’t against the law so what was he caught at/with?