A high-ranking Dallas Fire-Rescue commander has been transferred after he was roundly criticized for his handling of a blaze last year that left a firefighter dead, department officials confirmed Monday.
Deputy Chief Bobby Ross, a 30-year veteran of the department, has been temporarily shifted to a “staff position,” according to department spokesman Joel Lavender. He would not give specific details of Ross’ new job.
“Dallas Fire-Rescue does not discuss personnel moves, transfers or reassignment,” Lavender said in an email. He did not elaborate or respond to follow-up questions.
Another high-ranking department official familiar with the situation said Monday that Ross has been placed on what amounts to desk duty and would no longer serve as a fire scene commander. The official asked that his name not be used for fear of retribution from his superiors.
Ross’ transfer came roughly a week after the release of two investigative reports — one by Dallas Fire-Rescue and one by the state fire marshal’s office — detailing a May 2013 apartment fire that killed firefighter Stanley Wilson.
The reports highlight miscommunication, botched decisions and general chaos at the scene. Much of the blame fell on Ross, the incident commander.
Barry Hasten, an attorney for the firefighter’s widow, Jenny Wilson, said he had heard rumors of Ross’ reassignment. But Hasten knocked fire officials for not talking about the move publicly.
“My first question is, is the reassignment a promotion for Bobby Ross?” Hasten said.
Fire Chief Louie Bright III issued a statement after the release of the reports suggesting that critical errors were made at the scene of the fatal fire by both commanders and firefighters. But Bright said that “no one person bears all responsibility” and that he does “not believe discipline is merited.”
The chief has declined subsequent interview requests from The Dallas Morning News.
Wilson, 51, died after a building collapsed on him as he fought the blaze at Hearthwood Condominiums in far northeast Dallas. At the time, Wilson and other firefighters believed Ross had ordered them inside the burning building to rescue residents. No residents had been pulled out for more than an hour, but Ross told investigators he believed firefighters were still pulling people out by then.
The building had been pounded by water from ladders with powerful hoses for more than an hour. Two of the ladders were blasting up to 8 tons of water each minute. The reports and experts say that tactic made a search inside the building extremely dangerous because the water and fire weakened the structure.
Ross denied to investigators that he ordered firefighters to go inside the building. But he said he did direct them to break windows in hopes that anyone who might still be inside would hear it and call out for help. He has declined to comment about the reports through Lavender.
None of Dallas’ three firefighter associations had publicly called for Ross to be reassigned. Association representatives will soon meet with fire commanders as part of a working group to discuss changes to training methods and firefighting methods in light of the fire.
Hasten, the attorney, said his client doesn’t believe fire officials are being completely forthcoming. He said he could have filed a lawsuit months ago if that is what Jenny Wilson wanted.
“For Jenny, she wants the truth to come out in the hopes that it can protect other firefighters in the future,” Hasten said. “But I don’t think we’ve gotten that yet.”
