Lack of Answers in NY Firefighter's Death Upsets Parents

The parents of a New York firefighter who died following a training exercise at the state fire academy in March is upset that they still haven't received answers about their son's death.

“Something went wrong, and nobody is talking,” Stacy Morse, the mother of Watertown firefighter Peyton Morse, told WWNY-TV.

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Peyton Morse, 21, had been participating in a drill involving breathing gear March 3 at the New York State Academy of Fire Science in Montour Falls when he experienced a medical issue. He was taken to a Pennsylvania hospital and remained in intensive care unit before dying March 12.

Dave Morse, Peyton Morse's father, said he was worried about his son attending the academy after hearing the stories he would tell during his time there. In some cases, Dave Morse felt the environment included bullying and hazing.

"His stories worried me," he said. "I never thought in this day and age that I would have to worry about my son at the fire academy. I expected it to be closely monitored and the necessary help and resources being there."

The Morses believe that the investigation into their son's death has gone on too long without providing any clues into what happened during the training exercise. They still have many of the same questions they did when the medical emergency initially occurred. 

“I would have never imagined that if someone dies, that you don’t have a right to find out why,” said Stacy. “It has been 3 months. I don’t think it takes that much time to ask someone who was in that room.”

Despite the investigation, the academy remains open and continues to train recruits. New York's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, which runs the academy, would not comment to WWNY while the investigation is ongoing.

The Morses' biggest fear is that Peyton's death will be forgotten and what actually will remain a mystery to them. While they are waiting, though, the grieving parents have said they will try to make sure this doesn't happen to another firefighter.

“We can’t have back what we want, so we will do what he would have, which is to help those around him," Stacy said. "So we will do everything in our power to get the truth. "

Asked if the academy failed their son, Dave Morse told WWNY: “Yes, they failed him, and they are failing us.”