Dept. Cited in Fire that Claimed NC Firefighter

The Pineville Volunteer Fire Department received four citations following the April death of a firefighter.

The North Carolina Department of Labor (DOL) issued three serious and one non-serious violations to the department, according to television station WSOC.

Richard Sheltra, 20, died from smoke inhalation while battling a fire at the Edwin Watts Golf Store.

The citation noted that the department did establish a respiratory protection program and failed to comply with OSHA paperwork for three years.

At the deadly fire, the report found that crews did not remain in contact with each other and the two-in/two-out rule was also violated.

The citations carry a penalty of $6,100 and Fire Chief Mike Gerin told the television station he is working with the DOL on the violations.

"We always want to do better," Gerin said. "We always want to try and make it safer so that another fire department, another family, doesn't ever have to experience this."