What is shocking is firefighters have already died and others are dying at this very moment as a result of this inexcusable and disgusting safety violation. The Berry administration knows about the violations and continues to allow it to occur.
There are multiple national safety regulations that require fire
stations to have extraction systems to remove the highly toxic and carcinogenic
diesel fumes emitted by firefighting apparatuses from the environment that
firefighters work and live in. Extraction systems redirect the exhaust fumes which are highly toxic outside where they will not poison the firefighters inside the station. Ninety percent of these mandated extraction
systems in all AFD stations are non-functioning and have been non-functioning
during the entire Berry administration. Top level personnel such as Rob Perry and Chief Breen have also been made aware of the situation but have refused to take any action to correct the problem.
Chief Breen’s administration is acutely aware of this
intolerable situation and has failed to have AFD’s extraction systems repaired
or even maintained. AFD currently has a firefighter suffering from a serious
and potentially fatal health conditions which are directly attributed to the
non-functioning extractor systems. These
same firefighters have repeatedly filed “exposer reports” to the AFD’s
administration to no avail.
In this story you will see pictures of the
non-functional extraction systems currently in the Albuquerque Fire Department
stations. These systems have been in this non-functional state for the ENTIRE
RJ Berry Administration, while Breen has been chief. We keep stressing this because Berry
and Breen have known about this problem and have done nothing to
address the problem or fix it. This situation is so egregious that new AFD
units are not equipped with a magnetic puck.
The cost of a puck is around ten-dollars. The pucks are required for the extraction
hoses to connect to the units. The pictures are hard facts and proof of this
assertion.
Berry and Breen are no better than the Syrian government. Knowingly and willing, “gassing” the
firefighters on a daily basis with known toxic carcinogens, amounts to crimes
against humanity. This is what Hitler did to the Jewish population. Yet,
neither Berry nor Breen care.
The toxic pollution from the AFD trucks enters the living
and sleeping quarters of our firefighters. At Station #6, the exhaust from one
of AFD trucks literally enters directly through the door of the firefighters’
bunk room. That is where the firefighters sleep.
Below you will see pictures of an AFD station that is not equipped with
an extraction system at all. Question is
who wrote the extraction system out of the budget? At least the other stations
have a non-functioning one.
We here at the Eye can provide an unlimited amount of
Albuquerque Firefighters who will provide testimonials as to the truth of all
assertions made in this story. What is
shameful is everything stated in this story is common knowledge at AFD. RJ Berry and Chief Breen have proven that
they do not care about the men and women; the same men and women who risk their
lives every day to serve the citizens of Albuquerque.
This is not an argument about salaries or benefits; this is
about our public servants becoming ill and going home to their families because
of the negligence of RJ Berry and Chief Breen. Their refusal to adhere to
mandated safety standards is literally killing Albuquerque Firefighters.
Below are some links to stories about a couple of the AFD firefighter
swho have fallen as victims of this outrage and hideous practice. These links also will provide related
information about the required extraction systems for fire stations.
Please call RJ Berry and your City Councilor and AFD Chief
Breen and demand that they immediately address this criminally negligent
situation.
RJ Berry
http://www.cabq.gov/mayor/contact-us
City Councilors
http://www.cabq.gov/council/councilors
AFD Chief Breen
505-768-9300
The following are current pictures of the non-functioning extraction
systems at the AFD stations:
This is diesel soot (smoke debris) on the wall (pictured below) of one of AFD’s stations. Can you imagine what the firefighters lungs look like?
Here is what is truly disheartening; this Thursday,
September 5, 2013, public safety (police and fire) are jointly holding a
Mayoral forum. Mayoral Candidates, Paul Heh and Pete Dinelli have agreed to
participate; Mayor Berry has refused.
What does this tell you about the current mayor? We here at the Eye On Albuquerque completely
agree with Mr. Heh: Mayor Berry, we call “Bullshit” on you! This is absolutely unacceptable
and is appalling. Berry should be in
handcuffs; he is ultimately responsible for this entire disaster.
SIDEBAR
The APOA has decided not to endorse any mayoral candidate
which we find pusillanimous. The good
part of this is the APOA is supporting the IAFF Local 244 and participating. Fortunately, 244 had the esprit de corps to be united and the camaraderie to step up to the plate
and take action.
END SIDEBAR
We hope some of our true city leaders step up to the plate
and champion for our firefighter personnel.
The entire city council should be 100% behind fixing this heinous
violation against our firefighters. If there is any person on the council who
opposes correcting this problem immediately; they should be admonished and
resign! Sorry Brad Winter, Trudy Jones, Janice Arnold-Jones, Don Harris, Roxanna Meyers
and Dan Lewis; you will not be able to hold your party lines loyalty to your
chosen God; Republican Berry.
This is unequivocal proof Berry is anti-public safety. Berry’s lack of action on such an important
issue strongly suggests he is anti-American. Berry could care less about the
citizens, let alone, our firefighters who are willing to make the ultimate
sacrifice for the rest of us citizens; each and every day.
31 comments:
I hope you guys get media coverage on this. The photos are glorious as to showing what is wrong !
I and other officers have made numerous requests, for extractor repairs, that are documented on the fire department's Share Point computer software. None were completed. I was told by a company that worked on the extrators that there was a bid of around $100,000 to bring all extractors to working condition. The contractor employee stated fire admin refused to budget the repairs. One fire station has two who developed cancer and one has died.
Deputy Chief of Operations Dave Downey should be able to provide an explanation as to the poor state of the extractors through out the Albuquerque Fire Department.
Kinda like when APD knowingly issued armour below NIJ standards only so that Nate Korn could get to double dip on inventory. APD and AFD brass could give a fuck about their core personnel.
Admin won't give a good explanation. They refuse to own the problems with this department.
Hell, we have had three station inspections this year and the discrepancies never change. What a waste of time.
Ask Curtis Green for an explanation. Wasn't he the jackass in charge of station repair prior to being promoted to Deputy?
Just shows, you save some coin at the expense of health and safety of firefighters and you get promoted!
Tour fire stations in other cities and you realize very quickly that AFD is a shithole for working conditions.
We can't even get enough cleaning and maintenance supplies from soap-nazi Carl Martinez to keep up on cleanliness.
Even the trucks look like shit and always break down. Notice how our spares are always in use. Haven't seen a scheduled PM done to a truck in four years. Instead we wait until it blows up or catches fire to do a PM.
I heard they are sending a drunk over with a table saw to fix those extractors.
I see law suits all over this men..
Tell you what...I say they fix them all...install them all...then make it instant termination if any FF is caught not using it...period...no appeals.
How many APA elementary school kids on field trips have been exposed to this??
All of them!
Someone should send the Eye a story exposing Breen for banging all kinds of chicks as a commander in the station. That is common knowledge around the department and can be confirmed by the crews that witnessed it! Breen is a total disgrace. Deny this to our faces, bitch!
What about Deputy Chief Downey openly sexually harassing academy staff? This also cannot be denied, he did it in front of other academy staff and administration knows all about it! There are two sets of rules, the ones they fire rank and file firefighters with and the ones they protect each other from their illegal actions with!
What is the county's position on these?
I do not understand why new trucks were not spec'd with equipment necessary to hook up exhaust extractors. Was the spec changed? There are a few generations of the new trucks, do any of them have it? What an incredible oversight on half million dollar equipment!
@ 5:00PM
Three words for you Mr. Legend in Your Own Mind: find another job?
KARMA
Tell that to the firefighters that have cancer!! Are you saying cancer and sickness is a scam?? Are you on Berry's payroll? You probably wrote this post from inside the Mayor's Office. You're the pathetic one.
Breen, you looked like a dumbass on the news once again. Way to represent your troops by showing the world you didn't care until now!
You can't fund anything in AFD without dingleBerry's permission and the union has to get funding and apparatus for you, yet, you come up with money for extractors when called out by the news. Should have done something years ago when advised of the situation. And don't act like you didn't know about all of this as a Captain and BC. Your deputies know of this shit as well.
If Green and Santistevan spent any time in the field, they would have totally different attitudes about the issues. Collectively, they have about what, 15 calls under their belts while waiting for career desk jobs. Tell them to not introduce themselves as firemen.That totally disrespects the rest of us.
Can't wait to see what all of you do and say when the subpoenas go out. Risk will be busy this upcoming year. Hope Berry has millions set aside for firefighters and families.
Curtis (Fire Marshal Bill)Green and Gil (MIA)Santistevan will probably pee on themselves since they knew of this issue years ago.
Go sit on Berry's lap while everyone else goes to the public safety debate.
To 8:58,
You must be Curtis Green or a Curtis Green wanna-be. Only a moron like Curtis would say something like that.
Can't you call OSHA and have them investigate? Any one can call you dont need to get permission..just call and ask for an inspection.
NM Occupational Health & Safety Bureau
The New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Act assures that employees have the right to work in a safe and healthy environment. Employees or their representatives have the right to file a complaint requesting an inspection if they believe unsafe or unhealthful conditions exist in their workplace.
A complaint can be generated by employees or employee representatives. Complaints from employees and their representatives are taken seriously by New Mexico OSHA.
The scope of NM OHSB's jurisdiction includes all private industry and public entities such as city, county, and state government.
http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/Ohsb_Website/Compliance/Employee2.htm
That is despicable! I am SO sorry guys! If I was a millionaire I would fix it! Why is this aloud to go on?! Where is Osha!?!? They came to my job sites almost every week?!
WTF? Breen doesn't want to attend the debate either? What about Tinagero?
Or did Berry order all suck-ups to stay away?
Breen, have you noticed that not one firefighter is on here challenging any of our assertion? You know why that is? 1. Because what you are accused of is 100% true! 2. Because even those few dip shits that kiss your kiss in person know that you are garbage and know what we have said is true.
FMB / FJB
Fuck Mayor Berry / Fuck James Breen!
Carl, we don't see you like the other chiefs. Don't sell out. Stay true to your ethics and show those rats what being a man of integrity means!
@Bob Villa, 9/3; 2:53 am:
Sorry, Mr Bob -
Table saw need Medecine Man real bad. Drunk buffalo pass out on table saw. Now just saw parts and kindlin' wood.
Fire APD APS Library Water Solid Waste (NOT THE BERRY TYPE) all need to be here exposing everything they know about the city admin criminals.
Good point 0703. Berry uses his Hero of the Week crap for political gains. He doesnt show up for the Public Safety event because "we" dont like him. Despise is a little closer to the truth, whatever pussy. Refuse to go and stop being manipulated by the "cowardly lion". I saw several cops refuse to go when they were told about it in briefing, nothing happened to them. Put on ur big boy panties and stand up for yourselves.
Where's Jeff Proctor at? Isn't he the freelance queen these days? Maybe he could come in and suck on a few exhause pipes and do a story about the short term effects of diesel fuel inhalation. Oops. I'm sorry, he only writes fiction in between his Barbara Walters impersonation classes. Isn't that right Marbles?
Karma is right
Poor Proctor doesn't have Ron Olivas feeding him all his juicy stories that's why we haven't seen him.
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