May 11, 2007 11:19 pm US/Eastern
Baltimore City Fire Graduates Remember Cadet
by Kathryn Brown
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
An emotion graduation day for a group of Baltimore City firefighters after the death of one of their own. That death prompted department-wide changes.
Three months after fire recruit Racheal Wilson died in a training exercise, her class graduates with tough lessons for the entire department.
The graduation ceremony for 55 fire recruits is bittersweet. Class 19 leaves the fire academy without classmate Racheal Wilson. She died in a live burn training exercise in February. An investigation later revealed dozens of safety regulations were not followed that day.
It's a tragic lesson no one in this class can forget, least of all Wayne Robinson. He was in the burning building with Wilson that day and tried to pull her to safety.
"We really drew on each other and our strength," he said.
Wilson's father and two children accepted her diploma and later in the ceremony, a plaque renaming the fire academy auditorium after her.
"Just reflecting on how everything they said about her is so true. Loving young lady, mother, sweet daughter. We're so proud of her. We're just overwhelmed," said Wilson's dad, Ambrose Slaughter.
Wilson's death sparked major safety changes within the department. Now some are calling for Chief Goodwin to step down.
Mistakes were made, unacceptable mistakes," said Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon.
"We were grieving like a family. There was pain, anger and blame," said Baltimore City Fire Department Chief William Goodwin, Jr.
In the wake of Wilson's death, a slew of new safety regulations, including radios for all firefighters, bi-weekly safety meetings instead of monthly ones, and more trained safety officers.
"I think it's made a big difference. We don't do anything, not unless somebody's there or we have enough instructors," said FPA Daniel Miller.
"It's really given us a sense of comfort and security," said Robinson.
The fire academy still does live burn, but they are only on academy grounds. Safety regulations will be passed out to everyone, not just those at the top.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments