BOSTON -- Fire broke out in a restaurant ceiling and smoldered
above diners and employees for an hour or more before erupting,
killing two firefighters and injuring 10 who became disoriented,
officials said. A paramedic was also injured, but no employees
or customers were harmed in the four-alarm fire at the one-story
Tai Ho restaurant. The blaze also damaged a block of businesses.
When workers first saw the fire, they quickly evacuated the restaurant
and called 911. But while the fire smoldered unnoticed in a grease-filled
crawl space above the drop ceiling, toxic and flammable gases
had collected, Fire Chief Kevin MacCurtain said, and what looked
at first like a routine fire quickly turned deadly. The firefighters
likely became disoriented and could not find their way out, he
said.
WASHINGTON -- Washington, D.C.'s new fire chief recently
asked police to launch an investigation after a tip that some
fire department employees turned at least one fire station into
a prostitution house. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin wants to know if
any of his staff are involved- jumping into a heated debate early
in his reign.
D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty said he was "troubled" by the
reports and admits that there needs to be better background checks
in the fire department.
City officials and investigators won't confirm details, but reports
include allegations that a prostitution ring was referred to as
"D.C. Fems," a play on the acronym for the city's fire
and emergency medical services department. Investigators are also
reviewing whether female paramedics performed sex acts for money
in the bunkhouses of fire stations.
HIALEAH, FL -- Police investigated several fire stations
in Hialeah.
Officials at the Hialeah Police Department said they received
information that there may be drugs at the firehouses in the city.
The mayor took the tip seriously and had all the firehouses in
the city of Hialeah searched. According to Mayor Julio Robaina,
information came forward that one firefighter was involved with
drugs. Police questioned that firefighter and Robaina said the
firefighter asked for help in dealing with his drug issue. That
firefighter said other firefighters may be involved, which is
why Robaina ordered all the firehouses to be searched.
"This is not a reflection on the men and women of the Hialeah
Fire Department, or any employee of the city of Hialeah,"
Robaina said. "This is a very isolated incident. Our No.
1 priority, again, of safety and service will continue."
CINCINNATI -- Police in Cincinnati say a woman who had
been in and out of drug rehab is accused of stealing syringes
and other medical equipment from two unattended ambulances parked
outside a hospital.
Twenty-two-year-old Leann Kidd was arrested by University of
Cincinnati police Saturday night after an officer said he saw
Kidd walking near University Hospital with a plastic bag containing
medical supplies. Police Captain Karen Patterson says drivers
don't always lock the doors on ambulances when they run into the
hospital. Kidd was charged with two counts of theft and released
without bail yesterday. Drugs stolen from the ambulances included
Benadryl, an over-the-counter antihistamine, and other nonprescription
drugs, Patterson said.
