By Brady Gervais
Pioneer Press

OAK GROVE, Minn. — An independent investigation has been ordered to review how the Oak Grove Fire Department handled a fatal blaze last month after a firefighter publicly criticized the agency's response.

The Oak Grove City Council agreed to hire a private consultant to take on the probe at a meeting earlier this week. It is in response to a list of questions posed by firefighter Jon Faanes at an earlier meeting. Faanes attacked the department's handling and follow-up of the March 5 fire in which an 86-year-old man died of smoke inhalation.

About 30 firefighters from nearly a half-dozen departments fought the blaze that killed James Blackford. State fire marshal investigators determined the fire was caused by a child playing with a charcoal lighter.

"This call has been very difficult on me as well as ... many other firefighters," Faanes told the council.

He condemned the lack of a critical incident stress debriefing and critique of the case — standard procedures in a situation such as this, he said.

He also said the council should question:

• Why it took the department 30 minutes to enter the house and search for a victim
  
• Why he was told not to enter the structure without a backup line or hose
  
• why no walk-around was performed to evaluate the scene
  
• Why a ladder was never placed against the house to rescue the victim, who was at the farthest point from the flames
  
• Why a firefighter from another department performed the rescue.

Faanes informed the council that some firefighters left the department following the incident.

"If this city does not look into the upper management of this department, you will be losing several more," he warned.

At the same meeting, Fire Chief Tony Hennemann Jr. officially announced he would retire in January. Faanes said that date seems too far away. City officials said Hennemann had talked for months about retiring soon.

Some wonder if politics within the Fire Department may have prompted Faanes to address the council.

Council Member Brad LeTourneau, who supports the investigation, said Faanes has had issues with command staff. But he didn't know whether the firefighter had ulterior motives for going to the council.

"I don't question anybody who brings forward these types of allegations. I think Mr. Fannes' heart is in the right place. I don't think he's trying to cause trouble for the department or the city," he said.

The council approved the investigation Monday following a discussion and a workshop covering the allegations. Mayor Jim Iund said Monday that if Faanes' allegations prove to be false, the firefighter should be disciplined. Iund accused Faanes of going "outside the chain of command" by taking his concerns directly to the council.

Iund declined to comment on whether the allegations were politically motivated.

Neither Faanes nor Hennemann returned calls requesting comment.

Jim Blackford, the victim's son, said it appears the Fire Department may have made a mistake, and he hopes it learns from the incident.

"I wish things would have been different, but they aren't," he said.

Copyright 2008 Pioneer Press