Rogue Fire Brigade Member Arrested by Ramapo, NY, Police
A member of a rogue fire brigade has been charged following his response to a structure fire in Kaser.
Jacob Silberstein, 26, was charged with obstructing firefighter operations, second-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree obstructing government administration.
Ramapo police told lohud that Silberstein's actions could have delayed the response and jeopardized the safety of firefighters.
It was the second reported incident in three months in which actions taken by members of the brigade, Matzilei Aish, could have posed serious safety risks to the public, according to officials.
“This is a rogue fire department that needs to be brought to task. If they want to join a fire department, that is what they should do. We don’t know the abilities of this rogue fire department," Rockland County Sheriff Lou Falco told reporters after an earlier incident.
Matzilei Aish, has a couple dozen members who respond to Hasidic and Orthodox Jewish communities in Ramapo. It encourages people to call them instead of 9-1-1.
Ramapo police say that Silberstein approached the Monsey Fire Department truck, stretched the supply line and attached it to a nearby hydrant without alerting firefighters. When he opened the hydrant, the hose had not yet been connected to the fire truck, causing the line to fill the unconnected hose.
"These actions could have resulted in a delay in firefighting operations, caused injury to firefighters or further unnecessary damage to the building," Ramapo Police Det. Lt. Christopher Franklin wrote in a statement.
Susan Nicol | News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.
