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Sep 4, 2007 7:13 pm US/Eastern
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Testy Bloomberg: FDNY Right To Remove Commanders
Fire Unions Say Men Scapegoats For Deutsche Bank Fire
by Marcia Kramer
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Mayor Michael Bloomberg was on the defensive -- again -- Tuesday about the city's decision to remove three fire commanders from their posts in the wake of the Deutsche Bank fire tragedy.
CBS 2 HD reported exclusively last Friday that just six days before they got the ax after the Deutsche Bank fire, Capt. Peter Bosco of Engine 10 and Battalion Chief John McDonald were so highly regarded that they were given the ultra sensitive and ultra important job of developing plans to fight fires at Fitterman Hall and 130 Cedar St. -- the other two toxic eyesores at ground zero.
"What the fire department did is totally appropriate," Bloomberg said.
The fire unions argue that Bosco, McDonald and Chief Richard Feurch are being scapgoated, charged with not doing proper inspections of the Deutsche Bank building before the fire and somehow being held responsible for the fact that department brass had no plan for fighting fires in the building.
Bosco and McDonald showed just how efficient they were in developing the plan for 130 Cedar.
They found:
*The sprinkler system out of service.
*The standpipe system recently failed a test because the pipe was cracked in the basement.
*No working fire alarm system.
"Can't conceive of how anybody thinks we should leave anybody in a position where there's a question as to whether or not they were taking the steps to keep the city safe," Bloomberg said. "That's what their job is."
Uniformed Fire Officers president Jack McDonnell defended the three officers, saying they are not responsible. He says the blame goes all the way to Chief of Department Salvatore Cassano and Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)