Elyria Fire Department waters school field
Lisa Roberson | The Chronicle-Telegram
ELYRIA — A decision by a veteran Elyria firefighter resulted in Fire Department equipment being used to water the football field at St. Jude School, where his son attends classes and the firefighter serves as athletic director.
The incident occurred when Lt. Chris Hayes, a 25-year member of the department, instructed firefighters to test the water pressure on a pumper truck near the field, allowing the water to wash over the grass. Hayes, who said he and the crew were at the school less than 15 minutes, characterized it as a bad call on his part.
“We were coming back from a training exercise at a location off East Avenue and stopped at the school to test the pumper,” he said. “It was a regularly scheduled test day, and we had to get it done before heading back to the station. I’ll admit I should have used better judgment in picking the location.”
St. Jude is in the fire district that is covered by fire station No. 4 on Abbe Road, the same station where the pumper was headed.
Hayes, whose son is a fourth-grader at St. Jude, has been the athletic director for four years. It is an unpaid position, and Hayes said he received no compensation for spraying the deck gun toward the field.
Interim Fire Chief Joe Pronesti said Hayes violated no departmental policy, although he did make an error in judgment.
Pronesti said he did not order Hayes to choose St. Jude as the testing site. He also has children who attend the school.
“I will be talking with Chris on Thursday and letting everyone know that although there are no set rules on where to test the trucks, it is always a good idea not to do it some place that looks bad,” he said. “I want my guys to be familiar with the equipment and the neighborhoods but not in a way that could be perceived as giving preferential treatment. Watering lawns in any way is not a service the department offers to anyone.”
Pronesti said pumper and ladder truck testing is done at locations at the discretion of the crew responsible.
Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.
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Filed by Lisa Roberson | The Chronicle-Telegram August 20th, 2008 in Local and State. Popularity: 6% |
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Comments
Comment from
me
August 20, 2008, 5:50 am
This is recycling, waste not, want not. It is in the same neighborhood. Who cares, it isn’t like they drove across town on overtime to water the football field.
Comment from
bobman1971
August 20, 2008, 7:42 am
Oh here we go….Lets compare this incident to Mayor Grace ordering the street department to spot pave and stripe Moen parking lot, on city time, using city vehicles, appliying city patch and paint, just so Elyria High Schools marching band could have summer practice. But then again, he IS Mayor William Grace, and “can do whatever he wants”. It is of no surprise that this story is in the Chronicle, this newspaper is in Graces’ back pocket.
Comment from
Tim
August 20, 2008, 12:22 pm
Good for Mr. Hayes. They had a job to do. He selected a location that would also benefit the public at large, instead of letting the water just run down into the sewer system and go to waste.
CBR:
Shut up and pay your taxes. You’re obviously not smart enough to understand things that are far above your pay grade and mental capacity.
Comment from
Lovinglife4me
August 20, 2008, 1:20 pm
I would MUCH rather see them do that, than see the water go to waste. If they were doing it once a week then there might be a problem.
Comment from
cbr900
August 20, 2008, 1:42 pm
so its ok to screw off while on duty?! thats my point. bet if some digging is done, one would find coaching is performed while on the clock..prob even OT
Comment from
Dan S.
August 20, 2008, 2:35 pm
Have we learned nothing from ‘Watergate?!’
***oh, the humanity!***
Comment from
taz_emt
August 20, 2008, 2:40 pm
This is for cbr900’s comment as far as firemen on duty and going to their childs games, extra activities, they have to get coverage or use kelly time. They do not participate well on the clock.. Not this fireman or any other fireman on this department. have you seen for a fact that they srew off on duty such as coaching while in uniform and on the clock? If not then maybe you need to investigate before running off at the mouth. They do a woderful service for our community and without them where would we be……
Comment from
art
August 20, 2008, 3:16 pm
Nothing wrong was done, the water went to a good use.
No humanity is the problem here, you get it from both ends no matter what you do!
Comment from
johnbear
August 20, 2008, 3:22 pm
I have a great idea. The next time. have them water all the Mayors flowers in town. I’m sure he would be pleased with this.
Comment from
BEN DOVER
August 20, 2008, 6:20 pm
Could you imagine watering the baskets…when the Snorkel needs tested!!
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