Dalton Select Board Express Concerns for Firefighter Saftey
DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board will be discussing the safety of the town's firefighters during a future meeting.
Concerns were raised during the board's meeting last week by Chair Joseph Diver. Diver claimed that he had spoken to both former and current members of the Fire Department who expressed safety concerns when responding to situations.
"I would like to begin the process of how we as a Select Board, as town management, address those concerns when we don't oversee the fire department," Diver said.
"... I've asked both to go public with a concern but as they've been presented to me, it's a concern enough that I could present it here as a safety concern. I don't know what to do next with it."
In response to these allegations, Board of Water Commissioners Chair James Driscoll told iBerkshires via email that he has told the Select Board several times the district is on top of all calls for emergency services and that there are no staffing issues.
In June, iBerkshires reported on allegations of misconduct in the department when former interim Fire Chief Chris Cachat announced his retirement.
We received emails purportedly sent with the consent of a number of firefighters describing "unprofessional" and at times unsafe behavior and a lack of leadership following James Peltier's tenure as chief. Peltier was fired in May.
One safety concern raised to iBerkshires was a verbal altercation between a commissioner and a full-time member of the Fire Department.
"He backed the full-time member into a corner so he could not leave until the fire chief separated this incident. This all took place during public hours of operations," the email said.
Another incident described was a Dalton Fire Explorer using hydraulic cutters to cut through an airbag cylinder, "which is the most dangerous thing you could do with hydraulic tools," the email said.
"... Not only are they completely disregarding the department policies but they are teaching unsafe operations of the Hydraulic tools to a minor while doing so without the proper safety equipment."
The email also alleged other safety issues including non-state certified first responders going on medical calls, including a 17-year-old Dalton Fire Explorer, and firefighters shooting "firecrackers" at each other in the bathroom.
In June, Driscoll confirmed at least one alleged incident — that firefighters were shooting "firecrackers" at each other in the bathroom. He said a group of individuals were disciplined but not what that entailed. Cachat said he'd heard rumors about the incident.
In regards to other allegations, Driscoll said he was unaware of them but would be looking into them.
iBerkshires also requested that the firefighters go public with their concerns but they feared retaliation.
"We think it's very peculiar that [Peltier] was let go on allegations against him but this stuff goes on without repercussions. Sounds like retaliation against the chief and we are afraid of the same," one email said.
Former Pittsfield Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski stepped in as the interim chief in June.
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