How the Law Prevailed in Worcester Massachusetts

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The Worcester cold storage fire that occurred in Worcester Massachusetts on December, 3 1999 provided us with another tragic example to the lurking dangers to the United States fire service. The Worcester fire claimed the lives of 6 firefighters who came to work that morning not realizing that this would be their last shift . The strategic and tactical lessons that were learned from this fire need to be heeded by fire department nationwide. However another important lesson is not as well know. The lesson learned by the Worcester Fire department is that the law is very instrumental to emergency services operations.

In the Worcester Cold Storage fire the defendants were initially charged with six counts each of involuntary manslaughter. However the Superior Court dismissed the incitements because the court declared that the defendants did not have a duty to act (report the fire) and that their actions did not satisfy the standard of wanton and reckless conduct required for a manslaughter charge. However, in the appeal the commonwealth presented evidence that the defendants did have a duty to act and their behavior at the time of and after the fire shows a pattern of wanton and reckless behavior.

The commonwealth outlined several behaviors the defendants displayed as basis for their appeal. The first fact presented by the commonwealth was that months prior to the fire the defendants had been trespassing in the cold storage and been living there. The defendants used the second floor as a makeshift apartment that was lighted by candles and kerosene heater. The next fact presented was that the defendants accidently started the fire and they tried to extinguish it before abandoning their efforts. Another fact present...

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... of our title and what we do that we are exempt from litigation. Recent times has slapped us in the face with the harsh reality that we can and will be held liable.

Recent lawsuit case that was revived New York State in regards to the explicitness of the National Incident Management System doctrine and the immunity of volunteer firefighter explicitly the competencies of its officers. The lawsuit will continue after initially being ruled dismissed.

Whether criminal or civil the laws enacted from state to state are present to serve the overall good of the community. These laws are present to protect the innocent and punish the guilty. Although sometimes the justice system scales seem to need calibration from time to time. I feel the justice system in its theory is a balanced and fair system. However as proven in the past justice does not always prevail.

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