Comment By Family Member Randy Hutchinson

Randy Hutchinson, brother of Captain Billy Hutchinson, left a comment on the blog this morning worth highlighting:

I agree, Rusty Thomas did nothing to improve himself or bothered to bring his dept up to anything beyond ISO-1 standards.  Just wondering if the dept. met those standards straight-up. 

He spent most of his time spying on his men creating a divide all along.  He feared people with brains and surrounded himself with people he could control.  He got that trait from somewhere. 

He spent much time doing community service and booster club activities.  While honorable, he should have spent his time wisely to learn Basic Fire Service Chief duties. He elected not to and laughed at other local dept's that started to move forward before he became chief.  Nothing changed unless he had his hands all over it.  `

I find it sickening that he states to the City Council that no person will ever know what happened in that fire inside the SSS.  I do not believe that he thinks that one small thing could have changed the outcome.  He still thinks it was plain ole bad luck. 

He was sitting there and rejecting what the Routley Panel was telling him.  Stubborn, maybe, Stupid, probably, In denial, definitely.   I am glad that the era of the Thomas family curse has finally left the top command positions of the CFD.  If anyone disagee's, one might want to re-read this paragraph and take a moment of silence for thought.  What a way to treat one's, "nine best friends."

Comments

[jifdeng3]

Well said.

[SpinDoc]

I agree with what you say. I also share some of the pain you feel in losing your brother and others due to poor leadership
and antiquated tactics. Let's hope that the new CFD will recieve full support from the mayor and council and can evolve to a modern efficient department.
Since Rusty will soon be delivering meals on wheels with Rueben in NC perhaps we need to start kicking another dog. I'm putting my steel toes on and going after a couple of assistant chiefs,town council and the mayor.
Who's with me?

[Paul]

Well said Brother Randy! I might mention one word here-it's one of the seven deadly sins : PRIDE.

[acc]

Well said Randy. Please accept our continuesd condolences and prayers for your family. I know that we have to get responibility back on the hands of Joe Riley and the city council. Heads need to roll. WE need to have a mayor that understands the need for a fire department and better pay for firefighters. We need to put on the pressure to get riley to step down. I really think he knew more than he lets on with low salaries, cut in budgets and knowing that Thomas wasa PRIDE hungry leader and did not accept change. Spying on staff is a trait of someone who cannot be trusted and that contributed to the lack of leadership to his men. HEADS NEED TO ROLL...RILEY time to man up and step down today.

[MA(former firefighter and state trooper)]

To Randy:
You are correct and may have seen in a previous post that I mentioned how management issues exist in private industry as well.

When I was in the fire service some years back (a very busy NY volunteer outfit outside NYC) I was an aggressive, training orientated fireman (that's what they called us back then!). I become an LT, trained the guys every week to be the best. Interest in training wained, so I declined to become their Captain. As busy as we were, training was low on the list, company dances, etc were 1st.

Then I moved west, tested, and went to work for a state highway patrol. Same thing, no dances. Yes, there were some guys promoted that were smart and good, but we had others that tested, got through the assessment center, and the good ole' boy network promoted them. We were extensively short handed, especially in the busy district I worked, but the upper echelon mind set was, let's work our tails off(with NO back up by the way) and the state legislators will give us more people one day. No, instead they cut our budget and what these bosses could'nt understand was when the work doesn't get done, then you get help. Good ole' boy network mentality. I was even sent out on the street of a ghetto community with no back up several times, while the Sgt's buddies did silly office work with him.

In private industry it can be just as bad. The "brown nosers" know when to impress the boss by being visible at the right times and those times only. But do they do a thorough job? No. Will they get promoted 1st. Yes.

I consider myself as a person whom recognizes faults and speaks up(politely NOT cynically)for positive change. But the powers to be turn around and say, "let's say something positive." And all the others sit at meetings silent with blank looks on their faces.

Is quantity and not quality recognized as important. Yes.

Randy, I can imagine how much this tragedy hurts as I represented the family at the funeral of a LOD(murder) of a fellow officer. I agree with your feeling that when you know for years that the wrongs are going to get somebody killed and you can't do anything about it until it happens.

I guess I sound like a chronic complainer but I can assure you I'm not. I compliment people on good work and truly care about them as people. But, not to sound like a bragger, I am sharp about operational procedures and about being thorough. The truth is many bosses don't recognize this and feel threatened by it.

I wish I could say something to ease your pain. The only thing you can feel is that your brother, and all the others, were heroes in more ways than one. Things are going to change out there for the better.

But I know what you feel and that you can't bring him back. Why did this have to happen to cause the change? All I can say is, YOU ARE SO RIGHT! You have the right to be angry but please don't let it destroy you. I hope soon that you and all the families will find some peace. Be safe and may god bless you all!

[Frank Serpico]

Jay, Ther was a reference made on the P&C comments about 2 CFD Captains( Chas. 9 members) not having a head stone yet. The last time I visited Capt. Billy's grave site he did not have one but that was at X-Mas. It's hard to believe that he does not have one yet. Can you or Randy make a comment on that? If there needs to be some kind of fund started or money taken from an exsisting fund, I think we should just honor the ones who don't have a stone yet by getting them one. Maybe it takes longer than I thought but if not this is heartbreaking.

[Capts,. Daughter]

FROMmy dad To all Capt Billy has a head stone.My personnal opinon is if the asst.ch. had set up the incoming engs. things might have been different.If the asst, chief had not open the door to the showroom the fire would not have entered that quick.If the asst. ch. and batt ch. had done their jobs things might have been different.If the asst. ch. had pulled our FFS.OUT WHEN ST. ANDREWS DID things would have been different/This would have happened before Rusty got there.Please I dont want to argue but ther is plenty of blame to go around.GOD BLESS ALL FFS.

[firedog]

CAPTS. DAUGHTER,you need to open your eyes and read that report.RUSTY was there in about 8 mins after eng 10,11 and ladder 5 and bat 4,car 2. got there so that means he was in charge at that time.but there is more cheifs that needs to quit to so you need to get over RUSTY.

[Randy Hutchinson]

Comments above noted, my mother and I appreciate your kind thoughts and concerns for all of the nine men lost and the pain caused by this incident to those other (8) families, the CFD, the 9's friends and this great community as a whole. It was a sad day in the U.S. Fire Service and the worst day to date for the Charleston Fire Department. Yes, it was the saddess day for the Hutchinson family.

There will hopefully be at least one real winner in this whole mess. That would be the resurgence of the CFD to what we would all love to see it become. You all must have great knowledge of the CFD and in the operating side of public service in some or many fashions. A progressive CFD is a plus for all of the neighboring depts. The Charleston Fire dept is rich in history and tradition. It must finally under new leadership advance into this century, to the head of the line, while supporting other local depts and taking care of their own.

I believe some people perceive my actions since the SSS loss based on anger and my just wanting to blame someone for Billy's death, remember (9) men died. I gave a free pass to "all" on this until the Sunday evening after fire. I knew errors had been made and things do go wrong at all fire grounds. We fully understand the nature of unforseen circumstances.

When Gino called for me to call LG, and LG stated that Billy was "missing" the first thought I had was that Billy was not missing, but dead. My question was not how, but how many? That is a key question to how I process info. The response from the A/C was that Billy was "missing." The "missing" of Billy was one key term that went over my head at first. I knew "missing" at a fire scene meant dead. I had heard that 2-FF's were "missing" on the TV while some doing paperwork. I asked who was the other dead FF.

My question of how many were dead, went unanswered and the response was repeated that Billy was "missing." The term "missing" was correct, unknowningly to me.

For all the naysayer's who are still about supporting the CFD SSS command, this is the first sign of "No Incident Command" at the SSS. The men were truly "missing" because it took over well over an hour for those who are responsible for the FF's safety, to realize that some of them were dead inside the building. Much longer for others because the "IC" did not have a clue as to where most of the (9) were located. Unknown to us and many, this fact also is the first of many facts uncovered that has led to the start of the emotional breakdown, general distrust and overall mental well being of many from the CFD. St. Andrews was having similar problems but distortion and control from above was not a factor as in Charleston.

The funerals, dealing with multitudes of issues, many questions from all, we both felt sorry for everyone. I felt especially sorry for the CFD as a whole. We accepted Billy's death quickly and realized that we could not play the if what, if only, how come, bad luck to reason his death. We accepted his fate and we appreciate all the kindness and affection recieved from many. Hurt, yes, head in the sand, NO!!!! There were (9) dead FF's.

What I had been told early on and what I started seeing and hearing did not match. Long story short, it was easy to see what probably caused their deaths. Some guessing with many blanks but good info and great video told the real story. It was real bad and we were did not want the real story to be covered up. We were not angry but we both became frustrated over time just like many of you, that things were not appearing proper. The SC OSHA problem, the city's editing the first Routley Report, delaying actions and no accountability for (9) men's deaths. We were two people, both ex-employee's, both lost family, I another classmate and mom working with (6) of them before she retired.

People must remember that Billy's mother gave (25)years of dedication to the CFD. She loved and excelled at her various jobs under Chief G. and then JR promoted you know who's son. Billy had retired at (28) years and returned to duty. I had spent (2) years and kept abrest of the FF's and learned of many activities and incidents after leaving. I played BB and SB for several more years after leaving. (It was the best job that I have ever had and loved, for many reasons)

So why all the info above? It is our story of why we felt compelled to speak out on behalf of the "missing men" that perished on June 18, 2007 at a building fire where they were abandoned and left to die with almost no chance to defeat the common enemy encountered daily in the fire service. There is No Excuse for this loss.

So many now can see what some have known all along. How could we know for sure? Many have known of the many problem's for many years, now we have, the city's own Routley Report confirming the dept's leadership and many shortcomings at the SSS, and then the most pitiful attempt to mask the real issues, the truth, as usall, which have been contained in two buildings that have a common side street named Meeting Street.

For the core of the CFD to move forward, leaders from the Company's that make up the real FF's of "your" department, it is not the chief's dept, you all must unite as one group with varying positive agenda's for the betterment and fairness of all.

Everyone must quickly emerge to accept the "Healing Cup" that you must all drink from. (Beware, it may taste bad for many but you must continue to sip from it and ask for refills from the city)

Chief officer's must now earn their place by their by supporting the men that they lead. It is simple for the chief's, either state that you will progressivly lead and treat all fairly or just leave!!!

This is a "Gift" not from your many peer's that came before you, but from your "Missing Nine Brothers" who will direct you, and the next generations of CFD leaders and firefighter's.

It took their lives to expose this city, the mayor and his dept. head as to why the CFD should become an Equal Opportunity Employer team based on one's ability and that all be treated fairly with written SOP's and requirements for all.

Miss Dot and Randy are sad but not angry. We have been frustrated but we have seen the bright light at the end of the tunnel. We have been reunited with past friends, made new friends and know that many people will do the right thing. The eyes of the nation are on "You" now. We wish everyone the best and will always support the CFD.

P.S. Captain Jamie, Who Cares??? Buzzardman has landed!!!

[Paul]

Randy and Miss Dot - I am here for you anytime. Brothers to the end !

[MA(former firefighter and state trooper)]

Randy,
Thank you for the kind response. A little bit of irony here. The family mentioned that I represented at the LODD funeral had a similar scenario to yours.

He(the murdered officer) decided to " un retire" as well, to continue for a little while longer to field-train new officers. That too, was after close to 30 years of service. Even further irony, his son(an officer with the Sheriff's Dept.), was the first on the scene to find his dad!

Bless you and your mom, stay safe.

[FFadvocate!]

I read the entire Routely Report (kudoos for a thorough and straightforward report) and it was like reading the worst Steven King novel yet. Except this one wasn't fiction. I was brought to tears so many times just realizing how trapped the FF's were and NO ONE, save Chief O'Donald, even realized they were BEGGING for a lifeline. In fact, it is evident that no one "in charge" (as if anyone actually was taking charge) was even really aware that they had anywhere from 9 to 16 FF inside a deathtrap. How could an entire station be inside and not be first and foremost the concern of the chiefs? (you know, the "basics" such as water supply, air and their safety first)

The "Ten Rules Of Engagement For Structural Fire Fighting" begins and ends with this phrase:
"NO BUILDING OR PROPERTY IS WORTH THE LIFE OF A FIRE FIGHTER"
What more could be said??

I agree, the rapid replacement of CFD and City of C staffing begins with Thomas, but there are MANY others who should bow out gracefully (and with much humility). Mr. Riley, you have spent the last 11 months in blind loyalty to your Godson.....his unmanned ship has sunk and you should go down with that ship. Your behavior and political dodging of bullets makes you a HUGE part of the problem and thus your "retirement" seems to be a part of the solution, as well.

In loving respect of the lost (but never forgotten ) nine and their loved ones, family and firefighters, I wish you all PEACE

[wayne]

randy,
I know it hard to lose a brother i lost nine of them that night i was there when theys brought them out of the building.
but i don't hear is how is wife and kid are doing. I know their not reading this because they be saying something not you.
I have know billy for 15 years because he cut my hair and we would sit and talk about the different departments we worked for and joke all the time about it.

[AEM]

I completely agree with ffadvocate, reading that report is like reading the most horrific novel ever, because not only is it a true story, it happened in our city. I am very emotionally affected by it, so I can't imagine how the families and close friends, as well as the people who were there that night(EVERYONE that was there, from firefighters to the chiefs in charge- everyone), must feel. I could not read the radio transmissions without bawling my eyes out.
It makes you re- evaluate what it means to be firefighter, and makes the risks associated with the profession very, very real. It makes me look at my friends and loved ones in a different light. These days I seem to not take a lot for granted. I hope other people can identify with how I'm feeling.
God bless every single firefighter at the CFD and every fire department everywhere. Please keep them and out of harm's way, and please make sure they make it home at the end of the day.
Amen.