DC Fire Investigators Say Botched Investigations Led To Demotion

Two fire investigators are now checking fire hydrants because they spoke out about botched fire investigations in Washington, D.C.

According to local reports the two men say they were looking for an arsonist while Chief Dennis Rubin told the public the cause of the Eastern Market Fire was electrical in nature. According to ABCNews7:

While crews continue to rebuild Eastern Market, Chief Rubin won't discuss the disaster that nearly toppled a national landmark. Instead, when probed, he referred to the official report which lists the cause of the fire as "undetermined." 

While Chief Rubin also won't discuss why Pennington and Bowyer are now turning hydrants, one of his top deputies referred to the two investigators as "internal terrorists."

Still, despite their demotion, Pennington and Bowyer say Eastern Market isn't the only botched investigation. "These cover-ups happen often and frequently," said Bowyer.

Pennington and Bowyer said the fire department recently filed administrative charges against them in a different case, accusing them of "interfering with the integrity of government operations." Both men strongly deny the allegations.

This is interesting for several reasons. First, if the fire department did botch an investigation one of the high profile chiefs in America may have to answer for it. It would stain what has been a remarkable career.

Could it have been a communications breakdown? It's possible. It could also be possible the entire story is made up and this is a direct attempt to have the chief removed. Odds are the truth is somewhere in the middle.

Comments

[uk-fb-buff]

Jay;

You're correct here.
On one hand why would Chief Rubin risk his well known reputation on a series of "Cover-Up's" relating to bad fire investigations.

On the other why would these fire investigators make the claims?

Viewing this through the "Prism" of the FDNY Deutchbank fire
it makes one think of a need to have an Outside Investigation
Occur to get to the bottom of claims/denials.

[ffjoe]

Rubin is very big on shining lights on things that others may have covered up.I have to agree with uk-fb-buff, why cover up anything.
When he first came to AFD Atlanta TV news was running stories about why Turner field had not been inspected in years,& why the Fire Marshal & several fire inspectors worked high $ side jobs with the Braves.
He investaged that for months had APD seal off the inspections section as a possible crime scene.Some retirements came right away,but no crime.... just lazy inspectors.

Doesn't sound like his style.

[CFP3692]

After reading another FF Forum (geographic specific to DC), the firefighters up there believe that "it doesn't take a fire investigator to know that the fire was NOT accidental and that it started at a dumpster."

Another interesting thing, apparently they had a suspect in custody for unrelated charges and believed that he was responsible for dumpster fires in the area of the Eastern Market but before he could stand trial for the other charges and be questioned about the dumpster fires, he died (of "natural causes"). Interestingly enough, after he died the dumpster fires quit.

As a side note, I don't get the impression that the DCFD folks think too highly of Chief Rubin!

[uk-fb-buff]

"CFP". Since I'm in California, can't really say much about Chief Rubin.

He has authored a Book:"Rubes Rules"
in which he highlights some of his working history, which includes being a FF in DCFD and leaving for a Promotional position in an adjoining agency.