E.R.A.S.E. Historical Interlude

Back in the 1960’s and early 1970’s, there were a slew of fires in major U.S. cities that were discovered to have been set by drug addicts and homeless persons hired by landlords to burn their buildings, buildings that had numerous housing code violations. The result of the fires were that the tenants had to vacate the buildings, landlords collected insurance monies, and the cities paid for tearing the buildings down that could now be replaced – along with the tenants. These fires were not controlled and some landlords were sued since the fires accidentally burned other buildings (like what happened to the church in Mt. Pleasant.) The big fire in Mt. Pleasant (March 2008) fits some of the description of these earlier fires: the building that burned had over 7,000 housing code violations; was due to to go court the next day (after the fire); but before the court appearance, the building burned; and the tenants have been vacated after enduring poor living conditions and without having gotten justice. The slumlord will likely get the insurance money; the building has since been condemned and is in process of being demolished.

An E.R.A.S.E. Interview with Rising Star DCFD Captain Vanessa Coleman, Trailblazer

E.R.A.S.E. – Captain Coleman, please tell us about yourself, how you came to be a firefighter and attained the rank of Captain.

Vanessa Coleman: I am 36 years old. I was born and raised in Washington DC. I graduated from DC public high school and went right into the DC Fire Cadet Program where I became a full-fledged firefighter in 1992, scoring at the top of my class. I took the first promotional exam in 1997, and was promoted to Sergeant in 1999. I took the second exam and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2004. Then I took the last required exam to be promoted to Captain and was promoted Captain in December 2007.

E.R.A.S.E. found Captain Coleman to be a true trailblazer, who embodies not just the qualities but the commitment that is often under-rated as a qualification for leadership here in the District.
E.R.A.S.E.: What are your aspirations as a firefighter?

Vanessa Coleman: I see myself playing a Chief role within the department, one who will regulate and promote department honor through excellence, integrity, and trust. I want to reassure our internal and external customers by the actions we (as officials) take…that ’everyone matters’.

E.R.A.S.E.: Have you found many challenges as a black woman in the Fire Department?

Vanessa Coleman: Yes, I have found it challenging being a minority in the classes of both race (African American) and sex (woman) to do my job effectively, without obstacles.

E.R.A.S.E.: Could you give us an example, Captain, in your own words about any particular struggle?

Vanessa Coleman: There are constant struggles that I’m presented with and yet have to overcome. One I’m struggling with at the present, is a situation resulting from the big fire that was fought over in Adams Morgan in March 2008, where I am being falsely accused of an operational error that rightfully was the fault of the battalion chief who was in command of all the fire ground operations. Specifically, it’s been claimed that I didn’t check the basement for fire. The real reason why the basement never got checked is because the chief interrupted and rerouted my company from completing this tasks of locating and checking the basement to that of another assignment on the 3rd floor of the building, where we were told to remain for the duration of the fire. Because the chief failed to back fill the basement tasks with another company, the basement fire momentarily remained undiscovered, thus allowing it to spread beyond control.

It wasn’t until the next day, after hearing reports that the fire started in the basement and after listening to the recording with all of the radio transmissions made, that I found out the basement check had not been reassigned to another company in the transition of my company’s reassignment, as I thought it would have been done by the chief. The book states that it is the commanding chief’s responsibility on every fire to assure and verify that a basement check is being/has been performed; and moreover, to inquire and record the basement check results on their Incident Command Form. If the chief would have been properly and accurately utilizing this form at the time he decided to deviate from standard procedures, this error probably wouldn’t have occurred, and the building would probably still be standing today.

Thus, as far as the books go, this chief should be at fault for neglecting his responsibility of ensuring that the basement was checked by the companies due to the rear/basement of the building. According to the book, these three companies (2nd and 4th due engine company, or the 2nd due truck company) are to enter from the rear/basement. If there is no fire/emergency evident, they are to proceed with standard procedures, or request their secondary assignment from the commanding chief. I shall note: The 4th due company never went to the basement but was headed to the 3rd floor (freelancing) when they were rerouted to check the basement (because fire was reported in the basement). Though this company officer failed to follow written protocol, he was not written up, either.

The fire officials know that the chief should be the main one held at fault for these errors, by not filling in his basis/assignments correctly. Yet, because he’s in the good ole boy network, they chose to cover him, and place the blame on the next “less popular” officer down the chain, myself.

E.R.A.S.E.: Captain, this sounds like the kind of injustice that we pulled together to fight against. E.R.A.S.E. always believes that any problems or infractions and the responsibility to assure quality is maintained by leadership who is always responsible for outcomes. Are you willing to fight back against this injustice? Will you let us help you?

Vanessa Coleman: I am fighting back, and I am proud to associate with your efforts to fight against this injustice, because as Martin Luther King, Jr., said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” and I believe the citizens of this great District, my home town, don’t deserve anything less.

E.R.A.S.E.: Captain Coleman, this has been a pleasure and an honor, and we are glad to fight by your side and tell your story, because the people have a right to know. And we will prevail!