Conn. Fire Department Incidents Under State Scrutiny

Oct. 04--NEW HAVEN -- The city this week received notice that the state Department of Labor will investigate claims from unnamed firefighters that department leadership lacks proper training, specifically that Fire Chief Allyn Wright "is not a certified firefighter and has not had any training in more than 10 years."

The notice from the state Department of Labor's Division of Occupational Safety and Health lists 10 alleged safety and health hazards, including claims the Fire Department has "no incident command" and as a result "endangered more than 200" firefighters responding to the August blaze that consumed Delaney's Tap Room and Restaurant in Westville.

The notice also alleges one firefighter in training "was in a coma after doing P.T. (physical training) and two (2) more fell off a ladder last week, this endangers more than 200."

Labor Department spokeswoman Nancy Steffens said Friday the name or names of those who filed the complaint will remain anonymous. She also declined to discuss specifics of the notice, citing the fact it is an ongoing investigation.

Wright was sworn in as chief in July following confirmation from the Board of Alders. Mayor Toni Harp appointed him to the post in late March. He first joined the department in 1975 and served two years as assistant chief before retiring in 2000.

In the years between his 2000 retirement and 2014 appointment he worked as a security consultant and private investigator.

Mayoral spokesman Laurence Grotheer said city officials are carefully reviewing the allegations made to the state.

"The city's appropriate response will follow that review," Grotheer said.

Harp meanwhile is due Saturday night to receive an award from the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters. Her appearance will coincide with the organization's convention at the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale.

Grotheer said Harp on Friday would be unavailable for comment, citing a busy schedule of meetings.

Records show the complaint was filed with the state on Sept. 10, one day after Board of Alders President Jorge Perez, D-5, received a letter outlining similar allegations.

The letter penned to Perez was also anonymous and was signed under the moniker "Firefighters Interested in Restoring Excellence."

The letter criticizes Wright and Assistant Chief Pat Egan, who earlier this month was placed on paid leave amid claims he mismanaged the response to the Delaney's fire and other claims from the NAACP accusing him of discriminating against black firefighters.

The letter asks Perez to take the complaints seriously and urges him to "bring it to the attention of the full BoA (Board of Alders) for an investigation.

"Don't let others paint a different picture and stick to those in IAFF Local 825 (and) not other civilian city employees to help the NHFD."

Fire Union President Lt. James Kottage could not be reached Friday for comment. Calls placed to the union's Ferry Avenue office went unanswered and a message could not be left as the organization's voicemail inbox was full.

Perez on Friday said he could not comment on the veracity of the anonymous letter.

"I have full faith the Board of Fire Commissioners will look into the allegations and am confident it will take the right actions," he said.

Other allegations in the state Department of Labor notice include claims that new battalion chiefs are "not training to supervise and lack advanced firefighter training," that "lieutenants and captains lack proper supervisory training" and that "many firefighters are working with expired EMT status."

Wright had not returned a message left Friday requesting comment by deadline.

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