United States News
See other United States News Articles
Title: Fire Chief Arrested For Preventing A Cop From Making A Fire Worse — House Burns as a Result
Source:
Free Thought Project/Law Officer/WEHT-7
URL Source: http://thefreethoughtproject.com/fi ... ire-worse/#fDjgLsEhyEPwAcyC.99
Published: Dec 30, 2016
Author: Matt Agorist
Post Date: 2016-12-30 19:39:35 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 19253
Comments: 140
Cannelton, IN – Volunteer Fire Chief Christopher Herzog was recently arrested for attempting to prevent a police officer from making a fire worse. However, the police version of the story makes it sound like Herzog was some crazed assailant attacking heroes. Now, the firefighter is facing a felony. When kindergartners are taught to “stop drop and roll,” they are also taught that fire feeds on oxygen and that sometimes a suddenly opened door or window could cause a fire. Unfortunately, Cannelton police officer Ryen Foertsch did not get the memo. Foertsch was at the location of the fire and in plain clothes, not dressed as an officer and was attempting to smash in one of the windows of the house, a move that could have obviously made the fire far worse. Herzog arrived on the scene to witness the blunder, and attempted to prevent the officer from literally adding fuel to the fire, and tried to get him away from the house. Sensing that his authority was being threatened, Foertsch arrested the fire chief as the house continued to burn. To make matters worse, as the house burned, the police ordered the remaining fire crew off of the property, preventing them from doing their jobs and putting lives and property at risk. Officer Foertsch claims that Herzog was shouting obscenities at him and shoving him. However, Herzog says that he was simply attempted to diffuse a dangerous situation, and even if he was shouting at the officer, he had every right to considering the circumstances. Chris Zukeschwerdt, the man who owns the house that was burning, was horrified by the encounter that he witnessed. “I was in shock. When I saw the faces of those firefighters – to see their leader being pulled out of here while he was fighting a fire was just unreal,” Zukeschwerdt said. Zukeschwerdt said that he heard the chief yell to the other firefighters to stay and make sure the fire was put out, as he was dragged away in handcuffs. However, he says that next the police officers took over the scene and ordered the firefighters to leave. “We’re in charge of this scene now,” Zukeschwerdt says he heard an officer say. Zukeschwerdt said at that point, “a lot of the fire department guys started saying let’s grab out gear and go.” Sadly, after the chief was arrested and the other firefighters sent away, the police officers did nothing and allowed the fire to completely destroy the house. Herzog was taken into custody and lodged in the Perry County Jail on a charge of battery against a public safety official, a level 6 felony. Soon after the arrest, Herzog was bailed out of jail by Cannelton Mayor Mary Snyder. It is important to note that the National Incident Management System, which sets national standards for first responders in emergencies such as this, states that the first fire unit arriving on the scene of a house fire are the ones to take command of the incident, which means that Herzog was within his rights to take charge of the situation when he arrived on the scene. It seems that officer Foertsch was more concerned with his own ego and perceived authority than he was with saving lives, which is a dangerous consequence of giving a person unlimited power.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 56.
#1. To: Deckard (#0)
Strange. Be interesting to hear " the rest of the story "
I found it interesting that the comments from the linked "Law Officer" site were opposed to what officer Ryen Foertsch did at the scene. And these guys are cops. Here's one - Breaking windows and letting more oxygen into a fire is a no no. It sounds like the chief might have gotten carried away but he is the supervisor and the highest Authority on the scene and everyone else needs to follow his commands.
I find it absolutely wildly bizarre for you to post something from LawOfficer.com, a website whose Editorial Team consists of law enforcement officers with a combined experience of over a century in the profession….from street cops to supervisors to upper management. Have you set a precedent here that we all may regard as an example and guide to be considered in your future posts? We can only vaguely hope so and that this is a prelude to you becoming truthfully objective …
Common sense tells anyone that this is a fact.
Common sense tells anyone that this is a fact. Each PD, FD and EMS has published procedures to follow….or definitely should have….and each department coordinates with the other departments in establishing those procedures. There are a number of these procedures posted on the internet. All are basically the same, especially when relating to task priority. I randomly picked one to quote for you, it is from Phoenix: The first-arriving company officer at the scene of a multi-patient or mass casualty incident shall establish Command. The initial Incident Commander (IC) shall remain in Command until Command is transferred or the incident is stabilized and Command is terminated. Command is responsible for the completion of the tactical objectives. The general tactical objectives, listed in order of priority, are: [….] The cops arrived on the scene, recognized that, and the were following the procedure accepted as the published norm….they were checking for endangered occupants. Something the volunteer fire chief should already have done….but obviously had not since he violently tried to stop the cops from performing the correct task. The volunteer fire chief was apparently too shot in the ass with his authority and position to follow standard procedures and he got belligerent…..like might be “expected from an uncompromising drunkard.” And the rest of the statement is pure BULLSHIT for you don’t blindly follow orders [as you have said numerous times] when you know those orders are totally incorrect, completely asinine and lives may be endangered. The fire chief was wrong….and the fire chief was arrested The cops were not wrong and the cops were not arrested. Hey, asshole, stop with your damned whining …
And the cop-haters are proceeding on the assumption that the home was on fire when the fireman committed a felony assault on the police officer. Reports indicate that the fire was extinguished at that point, but reignited later.
These cop-hating assholes are oblivious to checking facts….they ignore them. All that matters is their agenda and personal opinions. Disgraceful …
Proving that the Fire Chief was right, and the arsonist cops fueled the fire, and rekindled it, and burned the house. The Fire Chief will be found, NOT GUILTY. The fact that he was arrested is just further testimony to the incompetence and malice of the scofflaw pigs.
Most likely due to the "police officer" breaking the windows. I say let the experts handle a fire, the cops should only be there to direct traffic.
Besides, you need to read and comprehend the yellow journalism article you posted.
You probably should have checked the links and watched the video. “I was in shock,” says Chris Zukeschwerdt, whose house was on fire.”When I saw the faces of those firefighters – to see their leader being pulled out of here while he was fighting a fire was just unreal.” Zukeschwerdt has spent 40 years as an EMT and says, “I've never seen anything like it in my life.” Humphery recorded the aftermath on her cell phone. She watched first responders in blue and red butt heads, while a fire burned in the background. “They pulled the fire chief out,” Zukeschwerdt said, while the fire was still smoldering. Humphrey saw him arrested and put in handcuffs. Neighbors there say police officers then told Cannelton firefighters to pack up. A firefighter can be heard on video telling his crew to pick up the hoses and leave. “We're in charge of this scene now,” Zukeschwerdt says he heard a police officer say, “and a lot of the fire department guys started saying let's grab out gear and go.” Zukeschwerdt says he heard the assistant fire chief tell his firefighters to stay put and “make sure this fire is out.” Well, it wasn't. The house caught fire again, and torched the rest of the house.
#59. To: Deckard (#56)
So the fire was OUT when the police were looking for possible victims. What a great foot shot!
First, Zukeschwerdt said : “… their leader being pulled out of here while he was fighting a fire.” Then a couple line down, Zukeschwerdt said: “They pulled the fire chief out,” Zukeschwerdt said, “while the fire was still smoldering.” Then a link stated as the handcuffed volunteer fire chief departed, he said to his crew: “Check to make sure there are no hot spots.” [meaning of course, that the fire was out]. Now, please tell me….which link should I probably have checked? Stop making up shit and trying to slip it in….that is so typical yellow journalism and easily spotted.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#4. To: Stoner (#1)
(Edited)
Strange. Be interesting to hear " the rest of the story "
#8. To: Deckard, Roscoe, Vinny (#4)
Breaking windows and letting more oxygen into a fire is a no no. It sounds like the chief might have gotten carried away but he is the supervisor and the highest Authority on the scene and everyone else needs to follow his commands.
A cop said this and you believe it? How striking unique of you to believe ”anything” a cop says.
#12. To: Gatlin (#8)
Breaking windows and letting more oxygen into a fire is a no no. It sounds like the chief might have gotten carried away but he is the supervisor and the highest Authority on the scene and everyone else needs to follow his commands.
#22. To: Deckard, Roscoe, Vinny (#12)
Breaking windows and letting more oxygen into a fire is a no no. It sounds like the chief might have gotten carried away but he is the supervisor and the highest Authority on the scene and everyone else needs to follow his commands.
First Responders don’t operate on “common sense” [as you so ignorantly suggest] when arriving at the scene of a fire. They are trained to operate by follow procedures. Procedure
As the IC, the volunteer fire chief was not following the tactical objectives. 1. Remove endangered occupants and treat the injured.
Breaking windows and letting more oxygen into a fire is a no no.
Screw that! “Breaking windows” might cause the house burn faster but a house can be replaced. The life of an unconscious person who may be in the room the officer was breaking the glass for entry….cannot be replaced. It sounds like the chief might have gotten carried away but he is the supervisor and the highest Authority on the scene and everyone else needs to follow his commands.
He definitely got carried away!
#23. To: Gatlin (#22)
#25. To: Roscoe (#23)
And the cop-haters are proceeding on the assumption that the home was on fire when the fireman committed a felony assault on the police officer. Reports indicate that the fire was extinguished at that point, but reignited later.
#29. To: Gatlin, Roscoe, Deckard (#25)
the cop-haters are proceeding on the assumption that the home was on fire when the fireman committed a felony assault on the police officer. Reports indicate that the fire was extinguished at that point, but reignited later.
#36. To: hondo68, Gatlin, Roscoe (#29)
Reports indicate that the fire was extinguished at that point, but reignited later.
#48. To: Deckard, Roscoe (#36)
Reports indicate that the fire was extinguished at that point, but reignited later.
There is no report that the fire reignited later. The author is taking yellow journalism liberty here. Local news reports that as the handcuffed volunteer chief departed, he instructed the firemen to “make sure there were hotspots remaining. Again, no remaining hotspots were reported to be remaining and the house had already burned down.
Most likely due to the "police officer" breaking the windows. Foertsch was attempting to smash in one of the windows of the house….
That was when the volunteer fire chief got into the fray with the cop. There is NO report that the window was ever smashed. I say let the experts handle a fire, the cops should only be there to direct traffic.
I say that if the volunteer fire chief had been an expert, then he would have followed published procedures and checked the house for occupants. He did not. The cop was doing that, the duty unfulfilled by the irresponsible volunteer fire chief.
#56. To: Gatlin (#48)
There is no report that the fire reignited later.
Replies to Comment # 56. The house caught fire again
#71. To: Deckard (#56)
You probably should have checked the links and watched the video.
I have. The house caught fire again, and torched the rest of the house.
There is no quotation marks encompassing that statement.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 56.
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]