FREEPETEY.COM

I'm sorry, but this man dropped the ball. IMO, though, Scopetta needs to go. IMO, he is the reason this happened. However, "Petey" needs to take responsibility for his NON actions. I have a recipe for him: Crow. Eat it, Peter. You messed up. Your department messed up. Now two people are dead and two more are injured. You are going to the Big Furnace down there. I hope you suffer.

Rachel, you are either clueless, or Mrs. Scoppetta in disguise. The truth will come out and the good Captain will be vindicated. Hang in there Pete. Justice will prevail.

As always, the politicians as forced to have a scapegoat to deflect attention from their mistakes. In this case it happens to be Capt.Bosco. It's time for Mayor Blameberg to utter the famous quote of Donald Trump to Comm.Scoppetta "YOU'RE. FIRED.

Rachel If the FD had intended E10 [Capt Bosco]to carry out frequent periodic BI's wouldn't you think they would have given E10 Hazmat Suits and some further guidance and training to inspect a contaminated site as the Deutsch Bank, which just about everyone on this planet, or at least in NYC and vicinity knew was contaminated, or were they looking to sacrifice the entire E10 workforce. Get your head out of the sand, Rachel.

hang in there capt.......the brothers are behind you all the way.....i wish i could do more than just offer my support for you and the 2 chiefs.....hopefully the scumbags at metrof--k & city hall will get what's comming to them.....

one more thing.........good luck suing their balls off.........hope your brother makes em all cry on the stand !!!!

First, to Rachel. The men with the nets are here.Secondly, where is the Chief of Dep't. The only time you see him is at a press conference with his nose up the mayors butt. I refer to Scarpetta as Mr. Magoo. He looks like him, and is equally as blind to the thingd going on around him. Good luck Pete. With a good lawyer, your brother, you'll be quite wealthy.

Where is all the attention on the real culprits?
The Lower Manhattan Developement Corp, the DEP and the sub-contractors? That was no ordinary building and those responsible for contracting out the work and doing the work should bear the responsibility for the deaths. If the workers were wearing proper respiratory protection at all times in the building - then they would not have physically been able to smoke. I think FDNY Brass knew about the building's dangers but crossed their fingers and hoped for the building to come down quickly and quietly,

It was fairly common in the 70's and 80's for demolition crews to disable the fire protection in buildings under demolition and then torch it. When they resumed there demolition it was now hazardous duty pay. I hope the marshalls are looking at this. also the EPA was probally responsible for ordering the building sealed like a tomb, blocking off all floors and staircases. creating a heavy fire load with no source of entry or ventilation. They have to be complete morons, for not realizing the hazard they created. My guess the order to keep the Fire Dept. out of the building came from the EPA or someone in the Mayor's office who is a friend of the people doing the demolition. Don't let them get away with what there trying to pull, and what's going on with the building dept. where is there responsibility in this matter.The mayor's office and the EPA know exactly where the blame lies with whoever was resposible for wanting to keep the FDNY out of the building. And whoever removed the standpipe protection should be tried for murder. They had to realize what they were doing.

Pete, You just happen to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time. When the "higher-ups" needed to divert their responsibility, they brought the ax down on you and your co-workers. Do you think they would look at their part in all this? It's unfortunate that two men lost their lives due to "The Cities" inadequate and conflicting placement of policies. Knowing how conscientious you are to do the right thing, there is no way you would jeopardize someone's life by not doing what you were suppose to. The fact that you did nothing wrong will show itself in time. Be strong Dolly, we're praying for you.

I think Rachel has a point.

The captain of the company whose administrative district is in (ANY building) has ultimate responsibility as to the proper inspection of it.

In a NY TIMES story last week, John Bosco is quoted to have said that the "members of Engine 10..." (the firemen) told Capt. Bosco that they don't inspect 130 Liberty St, for reasons left to be determined.

Is that the chain of command in the FDNY today---from the bottom up?

Did Capt. Bosco contact the Division or Battalion to find out if what his subordinates told him was accurate?

Can we see a copy of Capt. Bosco's report to the Division or Battalion recommending that the HazMat Company or Squad Company do the inspections?

Having said all that, Scoppetta is just as much at fault, too. Scoppetta set the tone on the job today: "Don't bother me with anything!" As long as it doesn't make the newspapers, get rid of the problem in the least visible way. And with his trusty 1st Deputy, "Zero" Cruthers, and do-nothing Chief of Department, Sal "My hands are tied" Cassanno, running interference for him, Scoppetta cared less about anything, as long as there were no fires still burning when he woke up from his nap and there were no DOAs.

There's blame all up and down the line.

R.I.P. Brothers.....

Perhaps a plea for help was passed up the chain of command asking for instructions about how to handle this unique toxic buidling before Pete Bosco was assigned to Engine 10? In the interim between the passage of the plea for help up the chain of command to the receipt of the answer from the top of the chain of command, is it any surprise that an unwritten policy would develop of non-inspection to safeguard the health of wellbeing of firefighters? You are concerned with the health and wellfare of firefighters. are you not?

It seems clear from all of the evidence in now that Pete honestly believed that the policy in effect at the time he was assigned to Engine 10 was a policy of non-inspection, the policy made sense for it safeguarded his fellow firefighters and himself and it was confirmed by the absence of any training and equipment to accomplish inspections. Perhaps further, although the evidence is not yet in, that questions about how to handle the toxic building were run up the flagpole so to speak and Pete thought because it had been rung up the flagpole that the policy of non-inspection was the result of it having already been run up the flagpole and hence Pete had not the slightest clue that it should be run up the flagpole again?

All of the documents have not been released on this matter. Dont be in such a rush to judge until all of the evidence is in unless you are Mr. Scopetta in disguise. However, I don't think you are because you seem to know more about the FDNY than he does

P.S. Being that you are so knowledgeable, can you show us where to find a written copy of the FDNY regulations that explain to firefighters on the line how to inspect a toxic building? Do they exist? Is it for Captains to figure out how to inspect toxic buildings? Or is it for those at the Very TOP of FDNY? Did anyone ever explain to Engine 10 what exactly were the nature of the toxins at 130 Liberty? If the Top Brass did not tell Engine 10 exactly what toxins were at 130 Liberty, How could Engine 10 possibly prepare on their own to enter it?

>>>>Is it for Captains to figure out how to inspect toxic buildings? Or is it for those at the Very TOP of FDNY? Did anyone ever explain to Engine 10 what exactly were the nature of the toxins at 130 Liberty? If the Top Brass did not tell Engine 10 exactly what toxins were at 130 Liberty, How could Engine 10 possibly prepare on their own to enter it?<<<<

All good points.

However, one would assume having reached the rank of Captain in the FDNY one would know how to find this stuff out, and who to contact for guidance in matters such as this. For a captain to just say, "No one told me..." or "I didn't know..." just don't hack it.

But, as you say, all the documents havn't been released yet. And I'm positive once Capt. Bosco's reports to his superiors asking these questions are released, he will be vindicated.

You are missing the point. It is not that he did not know. He did know what the policy was. Any conflicts between two policies in his mind were already resolved by the time he took command of Engine 10.

However, we are glad you say you will keep an open mind.

Any one with even a basic knowledge of the FDNY knows that these 3 guys are scapegoats. How about the Chief of Safety why didn't HE know how bad conditions were.What is is job description ? Are you kidding me? Bigger heads than these 3 should be rolling down the street.

To Ed Cavahaugh; How about the FDNY Report of the Top Brass visit to the site in April, soon after the Siegel Memo. When can we all see that REPORT or at least an attendance sheet, or are we all naive enough to think there was no such report???

Is there such a thing as Due Process in the FDNY? How the hell was Cap. Bosco relieved of his command without first being interviewed? I am willing to bet that the same people who removed him of his command are to blame for this fiasco. It has all the smell of a cover up! If this were a book or movie, the conspiracy to blame Cap. Bosco will end with the release of a smoking gun memo or a confession by a surprise conspirator. Scoppetta eventually gets fired and consistent policy is finally written to prevent any future disasters.
If he doesn't already have one, I hope that in the end Cap.Bosco also gets the girl. He deserves that, an apology and a big cash settlement for the deatruction of his reputation. If the Mayor is smart he will send Cap. Bosco back to his command pronto. Doesn't he see that Cap. Bosco's is being represented by a high powered law firm that is going to torch the FDNY for bazillions?

As I said previously the Commissioner just reports to the Mayor what the Chief of Dept. tells him. How come we have not heard a word from Chief Cassano (Chief of Dept.) concerning this fire and its lack of a viable fire plan? Also., If it is true that Chief Siegal is now a Deputy Assistant Chief than that would make him a Staff Chief and a higher rank than the first Division Chief. How come he did not investigate why his reccommendations were not followed and make sure they were carried out?

Ed Cavanaugh maybe you might have better luck receiving instructions from our Department on how we are to inspect buildings that are scheduled to, or are in the process of Hazard Abatement than our Officers can. From what I understand there are over two hundred sites city wide in which Hazard Abatement is taking place. Anywhere from a single room in a structure, to a building with multiple contaminated floors. And this certainly is not anything new. There are no plans in existence from this Department for any Captain of any Company city wide to follow. Take a moment to look at the mad scramble to come up with inspectional guidelines for buildings NOT undergoing a hazard abatement. We haven't been properly trained, staffed, or equipped to do our jobs for a long time. F.D.N.Y doing MORE...with a lot LESS