Local 58 leadership still protects their mayoral candidate, Eric Johnson, despite his ineffectiveness regarding TC Broadnax.
Johnson spoke to roughly two dozen members at Local 58 last night on several issues.
One member asked about the continued employment of Broadnax.
Jim McDade posted later ” (a) couple council members crawfished once it became political.”
McDade noted “you need 8 votes to terminate him.”
McDade is President of International Association of Firefighters Local 58.
In June, Mayor Eric Johnson surrendered his battle against TC Broadnax. In a post on Medium, Johnson said he will work with Broadnax moving forward. The two pledged a collaborative environment moving forward.
Less than two weeks prior Johnson said,” it was time for a change at the top of our city government.” Johnson now realizes he is short votes needed to remove Broadnax. Johnson has effectively boxed himself into a corner.
The strong mayor proponent is clearly not that strong, nor not that smart.
Local 58 Leadership and Meet and Confer
Meet and Confer refers to a law that passed in 2005 by the Texas Legislature. It is also known as Local Government Code 174. Texas law states fire fighters and police officers have the right to associate. This organization is as a fair and practical method to determine compensation. It also provides a seat to discuss other conditions of employment such as safety.
Most public employees do not have this right. The states purpose of Meet and Confer is for employee groups is to meet at reasonable times. It allows “good faith” discussion on compensation, hours, etc.
Local 58 leadership has been noticeably silent on William Carter – a firefighter paid to not work – despite being physically able to do so.
A Dallas building collapse displaced many families in one hundred degree heat. The building collapse in the 5700 block of Marquita Avenue displaced many families.
Dallas Fire Rescue units responded to the incident for an Investigation. The apartment complex is in the Lower Greenville section of Dallas.
On arrival, firefighters observed part of the two-story apartment building collapsed. Initial firefighters added HazMat and Urban Search and Rescue response responders. This was a precaution for potential Search and Rescue efforts.
The collapse effects twelve apartments in the building. Responders located the twelve residents living in those units. There have been no reported fatalities or injuries.
A neighboring building – attached by a breezeway – was evacuated for safety purposes.
Residents states they could hear bricks falling from the roof.
There are twenty-four total apartments effected by this incident. Thirty-one residents are now without their housing.
Dallas Fire Rescue is working with property management and others. City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and American Red Cross will assist residents.
Dallas Fire is helping residents retrieve pets and essentials from the second unit.
Once Dallas Fire operations conclude property management will secure the apartments. They will also have a structural engineer assess the buildings moving forward.
Resident vehicles are also parked in the buildings underground parking area.
A neighbor reported the foundation shifting causing a corner wall to give way.
Dallas Fire Rescue safety and city code enforcement were on scene. They would not comment on potential cause.
Construction began on the apartment building in 1930.
Police will block traffic between Marquita and Vanderbilt. This will remain in place until assessment by a building engineer.
East Dallas Building Collapse Update
City council member Gay Willis appears to have reached out prior to Dallas Fire Rescue. She contacted Mark Melton and the Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center for their support.
The East Dallas building collapse is an ongoing story and we will update as information becomes available.
East Dallas building collapse displaced multiple families in one hundred degree heat. The building collapse in the 5700 block of Marquita Avenue displaced many families.
Dallas Fire Rescue collapse units responded to the scene. There have been no reported fatalities or injuries.
Residents states they could hear bricks falling from the roof.
A neighbor reported the foundation shifting causing a corner wall to give way.
Dallas Fire Rescue safety and city code enforcement were on scene. They would not comment on potential cause.
The building was constructed in 1930.
East Dallas Building Collapse Support
Dallas Police on scene we’re unsure if Dallas Fire Rescue had called out Red Cross yet. Resources were being sought.
City council member Gay Willis appears to have reached out priot to Dallas Fire Rescue. She contacted Mark Melton and the Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center for their support.
This is a breaking story and we will update as information becomes available.
The page says Desoto, Duncanville, Cockrell Hill, Hutchins, and Lancaster fire units were required for a large grass fire. Dallas units did not respond and were out of service.
The comments follow a similar post just over two weeks ago referring to out of service engines in Dallas. That post prompted questions from City Council member Cara Mendelsohn who inquired about eleven reserve engines.
DFR Unable To Respond?
The reports of units out of service come shortly after the city reported responding to more incidents over July 4.
Multiple grass fires taxed Dallas Fire Rescue over July 4.
The City of Dallas has a consistent issue enforcing fireworks related nuissance crimes. Year after year Dallas Fire Rescue conducts public safety campaigns on fireworks. Year after year, fireworks are an issue.
More fires July 4, 2022 is the report of Jon Fortune, Assistant City Manager for Public Safety. The kicker is there was less enforcement by Dallas.
The City of Dallas has a consistent issue enforcing fireworks related nuissance crimes. Year after year Dallas Fire Rescue conducts public safety campaigns on fireworks. Year after year, fireworks are an issue.
Fireworks are illegal in the city limits and up to 5,000 feet outside of them.
More Fires July 4 – The Data
Fortune’s memo covers the usual potpourri of cherry picked data. The fire department responded to more reported structure fires, alarms and other incidents. Compared to last year, DFR responded to more than five times as many incidents.
There were more dumpster and trash fires than a year ago, but the biggest increase was in grass fires. Fortune notes that “further analysis is warranted” to determine causation.
This year DFR and Dallas Police issued nine citations for illegal fireworks. They also seized nine hundred thirty-eight pounds of illehal fireworks. Last year, the departments issues thirteen citations. They also seized almost thirteen hundred pounds of fireworks in 2021.
There was also a house fire in the 400 block of N. Peak Street last year which caused a criminal investigation.
The bottom line is more fires July 4, 2022 than 2021, but less enforcement.
Dallas Fire out of service per Dallas Firefighters Association Local 58’s Facebook page. Is this an emergency for Dallas citizens to receive prompt response?
City Council member Cara Mendelsohn noted that in February council was told there were eleven reserve engines.
DFA President McDade responded “that wasn’t true then.”
Dallas Fire has reportedly taken receipt of multiple new engines, but it is unclear their status.
Dallas Fire Out Of Service, Out Of Game?
The comments on city management failure come just weeks after Eric Johnson surrendered to TC Broadnax in a power struggle.
The Dallas Firefighters Association was opposed to Broadnax continuing as City Manager after he repeatedly failed to address their concerns. They were joined by a broad coalition of other organizations.
City staff have not responded to request for comment about delays in responding to city incidents. City management staff have not responded to questions about why engines are not available for calls.
Dallas Fire Rescue Sesquicentennial is being celebrated today from 9:00AM until noon. The Dallas Fire Museum will be hosting the event in Fair Park with the Fire Chief and others.
Dallas Fire Rescue was first named the Dallas Fire Department. The department, like most, was a fire suppression service then more than now. Currently, it’s primary focus is prehospital emergency medical transport.
The department also incorporates the all-hazards model meaning it provides many more services.
Those include hazardous materials response, technical rescue, and inspections and investigations.
Dallas Fire Rescue Sesquicentennial Celebrates History
In 2022, Dallas Fire Rescue has 2,000 members and operates fifty-eight fire stations. A fifty-ninth is being readied.
Dallas Fire Rescue covers 385 square miles. They provide service to over 1.3 million residents.
Dallas Fire’s Sesquicentennial website, www.dfr150.com for more information.
Apparel and souvenirs are for sale with proceeds supporting the Dallas Firefighters’ Museum.
Sesquicentennial Reminds Of Dangers Of Fireworks
Dallas Fire Rescue has also reminded the public of the dangers and potential criminal liability of using fireworks.
Dallas Fire Rescue is warning citizens of the potential for injury. They are working to keep illegal fireworks off the streets.
Fireworks are illegal in the city limits and up to 5,000 feet outside of them. They are also extremely dangerous, can result in serious bodily injury and significant property loss.
Fireworks 2022 prohibitions are back in effect. Dallas Fire Rescue is warning citizens of the potential for injury. They are working to keep illegal fireworks off the streets.
Fireworks are illegal in the city limits and up to 5,000 feet outside of them. They are also extremely dangerous, can result in serious bodily injury and significant property loss.
Fireworks 2022
As in years past, city staff say anyone in possession of, or using, fireworks will face penalties. Those include having them confiscated and citations. Fines can be up to $2,000.
In 2020, DFR and DPD together confiscated almost a half ton of fireworks (900 pounds). they issued only eleven citations.
This time the victim was LaDamonyon Dewayne Hall and it comes as the Supreme Court says a lawsuit can proceed against the City of Dallas in the death of Tony Timpa, by Officer Dustin Dillard.
LaDamonyon Dewayne Hall Situation
In late May, forty-seven year old Hall died after she was handcuffed and restrained by Dallas police officers and Dallas Fire-Rescue officials in East Dallas.
LaDamonyon Hall’s autoposy is pending, but in video released by Dallas police it shows responders pinning LaDamonyon Hall similar to the Timpa case.
Police officers responded to a 911 call for a disturbance near a car lot.
Hall can be seen in the video in various levels of responsiveness – sometimes answering officer questions, sometimes answering unintelligibly.
Per police, Hall became agitated, stood up, yelled at the first responders, and started removing her clothes.
Officers pinned her to the ground where she continued to “thrash about and scream” per Deputy Chief Terrence Rhodes, but Hall can be heard saying “you’re hurting me.”
She was put on a stretcher and into an ambulance. On the way to the hospital, Hall “became quiet and started to lose vital signs,” Rhodes said.
She is handcuffed and a hood is placed over her face. She appears unresponsive just before arriving at the hospital.
Dallas police have a General Order stating that video in these cases must be released within seventy-two hours, but police leadership waited nearly two weeks to do so.
Hall was transported to Baylor University Medical Center unconscious, unresponsive, and in cardiac arrest. She was pronounced dead at 2:05PM.
LaDamonyon Dewayne Hall Video
Video of the interaction can be seen here:
Dallas police are investigating the incident, but in numerous previous incidents, police are always cleared of charges despite starting an incident with a person breathing on their own and ending up dead.
Dallas Fire Rescue officials say they are also looking into the incident.
