DC Responders Fight at EMS Scene
For hours Monday afternoon DC Fire & EMS Department Engine 30 was out of service at the firehouse on 49th Street, NE. Inside the building, talking to department internal affairs investigators and members of the Metropolitan Police Department, were members of Platoon 1. The investigators were trying to get to the bottom of what happened between a captain and a wagon driver, two veterans of the department.
Sources have confirmed a fight occurred leaving the wagon driver injured. According to the sources, an ambulance run for the injured firefighter was initiated in the computer aided dispatch system, but no one was transported to the hospital.
Engine 30 was dispatched on a run to 251 56th Place, NE at 12:11 PM. Sources confirm the battle occurred at the emergency scene. By 1:08 PM the unit was out of service with the notation "administrative" in the CAD.
DC Fire & EMS Department spokesman Alan Etter will only confirm that an incident occurred requiring the services of the Metropolitan Police Department. According to Etter the incident also required the services of the department's internal affairs investigators. Etter says two members of Engine 30 have now been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation.
Tuesday, Dec. 2 Update: Chief Dennis Rubin releases statement on fighting DC firefighters. Patient speaks.
Dianne Neal is angry. Neal didn't see the fight between Engine 30's captain and wagon driver, but she knew something was up. Having trouble breathing, Neal was already in the ambulance when the crew from Engine 30 walked up. Neal says she heard the EMS worker treating her tell the firefighters to stay away from her patient.
Neal's relatives said it appeared the firefighters were angry with each other. DC Fire officials are still sorting this one out, but the two firefighters remain on administrative leave. So far no criminal charges have been filed in Monday's fight on 56th Place, Northeast.
DC Fire & EMS Chief Dennis Rubin officially confirmed today that they are investigating an argument between two members of the department. According to a statement from Chief Rubin, "Allegations have been made that one member struck the other".
According to sources the wagon driver is claiming he was struck by his captain.
STATEMENT BY FIRE CHIEF DENNIS L. RUBIN
Yesterday, the Department was made aware of an incident that, if true, is concerning. We were notified that, while on the scene of a medical call, two members of the Fire & EMS Department became involved in an argument. Allegations have been made that one member struck the other. That is a matter that remains under investigation.
Neither member was arrested nor was anyone one treated for any injury.
The Fire & EMS Department's Internal Affairs Unit has begun an investigation into the incident, and we are cooperating fully with Metropolitan Police.
While this matter remains under investigation, we can have no further comment.
