By Rhonda Cook
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
DUNWOODY, Ga. — A hearing officer recommended the reinstatement of a second DeKalb County firefighter who was fired after a fatal fire in Dunwoody earlier this year.
Jeff Greene and four others lost their jobs after they failed to detect a fire after being dispatched to a Dunwoody cul-de-sac in January. The fire killed a 74-year-old woman.
When asked about a possible appeal, spokeswoman Shelia Edwards said Tuesday the county was “looking at its options.”
A hearing officer issued a report on Greene’s appeal on Monday. In early April, another firefighter, Capt. Tony Motes, was ordered reinstated. DeKalb is appealing that decision. The appeal of a third terminated firefighter, Capt. Sell Caldwell, remains pending.
Ann Bartlett died Jan. 24 in a fire that may have started because of a problem with an oxygen concentrator she used when she slept. She called 911 but the call was interrupted. The dispatcher called back but could not get Bartlett. Several units were dispatched to the 1600 block of Houghton Court North, arriving in 12 minutes, but they left moments later when firefighters saw no signs of a blaze, according to accounts of the call. A neighbor called five hours later, and when firefighters returned the house was engulfed.
The chief was forced out and five firefighters were terminated. Greene was fired for negligence and for failing to take command of the scene.
But hearing officer Robert Price said “no firefighter has ever been disciplined, much less terminated, for failure to take command of an incident or scene. This is especially true where, as here, no scene was ever established, as the fire could not be found nor could the dispatch address be found.” Price wrote that there was confusion over the address as there was also a Houghton Court South and there may have been a different outcome if the suffix “north” had been provided when dispatching rescuers.
Copyright 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution