By Amy Leigh Womack
The Macon Telegraph, Ga.
MACON, Ga. —Macon-Bibb County firefighters have six months to get ready for tests that could determine the fate of the fire department.
Results of testing performed in December by the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council and announced Thursday at the council’s regularly scheduled meeting show only 59 percent of 123 firefighters passed tests on basic firefighting skills.
Only 33 firefighters passed without having to redo tests of skills such as setting up an extension ladder or hoisting an ax by rope.
The council voted to table discussions about the fire department, giving firefighters six months to train before each of the 388 firefighters are tested again.
Ultimately, the council has the power by Georgia statutes to revoke the certification of firefighters and fire departments, meaning in the worst case scenario, firefighters who fail the last test could lose their jobs.
Lyn Pardue, the council’s executive director, said the Macon-Bibb fire department is the first in the state to face such intense scrutiny since the passing of a law in 2004 that made firefighter’s training much more stringent. Whatever decision is made by the council will be a precedent in the state.
Interim Chief Marvin Riggins, formerly the department’s assistant chief prior to being appointed as interim Thursday afternoon, said he stands behind his firefighters.
“We know what we’re doing and we know how to do it,” he said. “It’s not a competency issue. The issue is in the details.”
Mayor Robert Reichert on Thursday afternoon said he had not yet seen the test results. The mayor said the city must take the test results seriously and investigate what other training methods might address areas where training may be lacking.
Evaluators first visited the Macon-Bibb fire department Aug. 6 after discrepancies between supporting documentation and signed training reports required for firefighter recertification were submitted to the council, according to a case summary Pardue presented during the meeting.
After reviewing the records, council employees found the majority of the fire department had failed to complete training requirements for 2006 instituted by the state in 2005.
The fire department later provided extra documentation, but firefighters still were found not to have completed the required training, according to the case summary.
On Oct. 25, eight fire stations were visited and firefighters were tested on basic firefighting skills that had been signed off by the department as having been completed. Of 41 firefighters tested, 29 failed to correctly put on their protective coats, pants, helmets and other gear. Several failed when evaluated on air tank skills, hoisting an ax, forcible entry and other skills, according to the summary.
Evaluators returned to Macon on Nov. 26 and 27 and tested 202 firefighters. Again, 78 couldn’t correctly put on their firefighting gear. Of 122 tested on forcible entry skills, 50 failed. Firefighters also struggled with tasks relating to air packs, ladders and other skills.
The final test was performed between Dec. 10 and Dec. 13 on 123 firefighters, of whom 59 percent passed.
Thursday was Fire Chief Jimmy Hartley’s last day at work before beginning his retirement.
Sitting in a small conference room with several other members of his command staff, Hartley said it was hard to listen to results of the tests and the discussion of the council.
“This doesn’t happen on my watch without my taking responsibility for it,” Hartley said after the council meeting. He said he plans to remain involved with the fire department in an unpaid advisory role at least until the next round of testing is complete.
“It’s very frustrating,” Hartley said of his last day. “I’ve had very, very mixed feelings.”
In the years Hartley has been chief, he said no firefighters have died in the line of duty, no firefighters have been critically injured fighting fire and very few have been seriously injured.
Every day firefighters are on duty, they are required to undergo a minimum of two hours of training in basic firefighting skills in addition to the 24 hours of continuing education required each year by the state, said Donnie Mercer, the department’s training chief.
“There’s no structure or no life better protected than here in Bibb County,” Mercer said. “Our proficiency is above most.”
Since evaluators first visited Macon in August, Mercer said firefighters have been putting in additional training hours, and chiefs have performed weekly inspections of records and training.
Now, in preparation for the next round of testing, Mercer said firefighters additionally will be rotating in and out of the fire department’s training facility on Tinker Drive practicing for the evaluations.
“Everybody is going to be intensely training on these core competencies,” he said.
Upon hearing news of the council’s decision Thursday afternoon, several firefighters voiced displeasure that they would be tested again.
Lt. Nathaniel Rainey said he was one of the 33 firefighters tested in December who passed without a redo.
“I feel like it is wrong for me and the others to take this test over,” he said. “If you continue to give me a test, I may fail it.”
Rainey said firefighters have been studying and training hard in preparation for the evaluations, even performing drills on Thanksgiving Day.
Cpl. James E. Windhom Jr. said he doesn’t understand why firefighters fail the state evaluations by only missing one detail. “A doctor doesn’t have to make 100. A lawyer doesn’t,” he said. “We’re being held to a whole other standard. Where’s the justice in that?”
Riggins said he has faith in the department’s ability to meet the standards set by the council.
“We’ll face our issues head-on and one at a time,” Riggins said. “At the end we should do fine.”
Copyright 2008 The Macon Telegraph