Thomas MacMillan Photo
Grant: We’re covered.
The city hasn’t had a fire marshal in over two years. Now it has something else: a lawsuit.
The city firefighters union is suing the city for not promoting a permanent fire marshal since former marshal Joe Cappucci retired in July 2011.
“Chief [Michael] Grant is breaking the law and he should be held accountable,” said Jimmy Kottage, head of the firefighters union.
Paul Bass File Photo
Cappucci, at right, keeping an eye on a 2010 Bill Clinton political rally at Wilbur Cross.
After Capucci stepped down, Deputy Fire Marshal Faustino Lopez was appointed acting fire marshal. He held the position until the end of July of this year, when he asked to be relieved of the responsibility, according to the union’s lawsuit.
It’s a violation of Connecticut General Statute 29 – 297 to have an acting, non-permanent fire marshal for more than 180 days, according to the lawsuit.
“Technically there’s no fire marshal at the moment,” Kottage said. “Now they’re just breaking the law by not having someone in that capacity.”
Chief Grant said the city does have a fire marshal. In fact, the city has several, he said.
“Currently, there are three individuals in the New Haven fire department fire marshal’s office who have State of Connecticut fire marshal certification,” Grant said. “Historically, in the absence of the fire marshal and deputy fire marshal, the life safety compliance officer has assumed responsibilities of the Fire Marshal as is now the case.”
Without leadership in the marshal’s office, required inspections are not being done, Kottage said.
The fire marshal’s office is responsible for inspecting buildings and vehicles to ensure they’re safe, and determining the cause of fires.
“They’re not following the law. It’s reckless,” Kottage said.
Last week, the city promoted six firefighters to be fire inspectors in the marshal’s office. Previously, the marshal’s office had only four staffers.
“The City of New Haven has a steadfast and unwavering commitment to fire safety, having promoted six firefighters just last week to address vacancies in the Fire Marshal’s Office,” city Corporation Counsel Victor Bolden stated in an email. ‘Moreover, the City expects to continue strengthening that office and its capacity. The lawsuit will be addressed at the appropriate time.
“We want them to test immediately or as soon as possible for a fire marshal,” said Kottage.
The firefighters are not suing us because we are doing anything dangerous. They are not suing us because we are not already paying them enough. They are suing us because, they claim, we are "technically" in violation of a law, and they see this as another chance to get money out of us. Let's privatize these clowns and be done with this perpetual nonsense.