CLAREMORE, Okla. — The widow of a fire captain killed during a flood rescue operation has filed a lawsuit against the city.
Claremore Progress reported that the lawsuit states damages sought by Shelli Farley, the widow of Claremore Fire Department Capt. Jason Farley, in excess of $75,000. Capt. Farley was killed on May 23, 2015 when he was pulled into a flood 36-inch drainpipe located in a front yard that had no gates, barriers or markings.
Farley is suing for negligence, wrongful death and is also seeking “injunctive relief requiring the city to comply with the training standards set forth by NFPA 1670,” according to the report. The lawsuit alleges the City of Claremore doesn’t comply with standards defined by NFPA 1670.
The lawsuit states that a formal training program supporting swift water rescue was not in place within the city. Claremore hosted the first swift water rescue class after the death of Capt. Farley.
The lawsuit claims if training had occurred before, Capt. Farley “wouldn’t have drowned because his colleagues would have safety been able to rescue him from the drainage pipe”
The city didn’t respond to the notice of the claim.