Dallas Chief Says No Discipline for Blunders in LODD Blaze

Despite the official release of two reports that pointed out numerous blunders by Dallas fire commanders that led to a firefighter’s death last year, Dallas Fire-Rescue Chief Louie Bright III said Friday that nobody will be held responsible.

Bright did not take questions from the media about the reports or his response, and one of his aides restrained a radio reporter who tried to follow the chief into a public hallway after an afternoon news conference.

During his statement at Dallas City Hall, the chief said several breakdowns caused the May 20, 2013, death of firefighter Stanley Wilson in a six-alarm blaze at a condominium complex in the 12300 block of Abrams Road. But he said “no one person bears all responsibility” for Wilson’s death.

“There has been a lot of talk of potential disciplinary actions for an employee or employees,” said Bright, who was flanked by his command staff. “The report revealed that many firefighters at the scene, including those with decision-making authority, should have handled things differently that night.”

Bright said he believes everyone did all they could.

“I do not believe discipline is merited,” he said.

Retired Dallas firefighter Jim Crump — Wilson’s longtime friend who has publicly decried the department and its commanders’ response to the fire — said he was “stunned” that Bright didn’t dole out any discipline. And he said Bright should have to answer for it.

“This is a complete and total lack of leadership,” Crump said. “This is why the fire department has the trouble it does.”

City Manager A.C. Gonzalez did not respond to a request for comment. City Council members reached by The Dallas Morning News on Friday declined to comment, saying they had yet to read the two reports — one from the state fire marshal and the other a Dallas Fire-Rescue line-of-duty death report.

Condo blaze

The investigations featured accounts from several firefighters who said Deputy Chief Bobby Ross ordered a battalion chief that morning to take a crew — including Wilson — and quickly search a burning condo building for people. By then, an hour had passed since the last civilian was rescued from the building, and other firefighters had been pounding the partially collapsed structure with water from aerial ladder pipes for nearly two hours.

Three firefighters narrowly escaped the building before it collapsed. Wilson, 51, did not.

Ross has denied ordering the firefighters inside. He told investigators that he simply asked them to go around the outside of the building and break windows. He has said he believed that the sound of breaking glass would have alerted anyone who may have been inside the structure.

The investigations also detailed miscommunication, confusion and problems with Ross failing to stay at his command post.

Bright said other firefighters should have asked questions if they didn’t understand their orders.

“Regardless of how dangerous and chaotic an emergency scene may be, all firefighters must communicate clearly,” Bright said.

He said safety is vital in the profession. Firefighters are given the authority to speak out against orders that put them at risk at a fire scene, he said.

‘Truly sorry’ for family

Ross was the incident commander at the fire, putting him in charge of all firefighting operations. The State Fire Marshal’s Office report states that the incident commander “has responsibility for the operation and safety at the incident scene.”

Ross remains a deputy chief. He joined the department in 1984.

Bright said he was “truly sorry” for Wilson’s family. The chief vowed to address training and tactical issues as well as policies. The state report pointed to several of the problems, including the fire department’s policy that allows offensive and defensive fire operations to happen simultaneously. The state fire marshal called those tactics “extremely dangerous.”

After Bright’s statement, as the chief walked away from the lectern, Lt. Joel Lavender, a Fire-Rescue spokesman, grabbed a reporter who tried to follow the chief into the hallway. Lavender did not respond to a request for comment.

Bright’s statement came a day after Barry Hasten, an attorney for Wilson’s widow, Jenny, released the reports to news outlets.

Jenny Wilson declined to comment Friday. She hired Hasten to help her obtain the report after she said she was tired of waiting on Dallas fire officials.

Hasten said in a statement Friday that Bright’s lack of discipline for commanders was not his concern.

“But if there are multiple failures, as stated by the chief, that would seem to run straight to the top,” he said.

He said he still doesn’t believe the department is being completely forthcoming.

“It’s my job to get at the truth, and it’s my job to determine if there is additional evidence out there, and if there is evidence that has been hidden, pushed aside or redacted, and that’s just what I intend to do,” he said.

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