Firefighters Accused of Causing Explosion
Some NY firefighters are in hot water over an explosion that was caused by dumping gas down the sink (from Firehouse.com).
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y -- Two firefighters poured gasoline down a firehouse drain, leading to an explosion a few blocks away that badly burned two people, a prosecutor said Tuesday.Both firefighters were indicted on charges of assault, official misconduct, environmental crimes and other offenses, District Attorney Jeanine Pirro said.
Paul Cappello, 37, and Miguel Valle, 44, pleaded not guilty at their arraignments and were released on $5,000 bail.
The men poured gasoline from a fireboat down a slop sink at the Sleepy Hollow fire headquarters in 2004, Pirro said. They were allegedly getting rid of the gas because it had been contaminated with water.
The gasoline flowed through the sewer system to a public housing complex. Vapors were ignited later the same day by two maintenance workers using an electric pump. The explosion left both workers badly burned.
Flammable liquids must be disposed of properly, not dumped down the sink. I'll keep an eye on this one and post updates when they are available.
Comments
I am a former member of Sleepy Hollow F.D. (It was North Tarrytown F.D. back then). I was a member of Columbia Hose, we were in the same house as Pocantico Hook and Ladder of which Paul Cappello was a member. Miguel Valle was, I believe, a member of Union Hose across town. I remember both of these guys as dedicated and motivated and I would have and still would trust them implicitly. I moved on to another Dept. in 1989 and am a bit stunned by this.
Posted by: Jack Frost at December 22, 2005 08:37 PM
