Councilman: Fire Pole Incident To Result In Firings, Suspensions
POSTED: Thursday, April 21, 2005
SAN ANTONIO -- San Antonio Fire Chief Robert Ojeda plans to take disciplinary action against a group of firefighters and paramedics in connection with a fire pole incident that resulted in the alleged injury of a woman, KSAT 12 News reported.
District 1 Councilman Roger Flores Jr., who represents the area where Fire Station No. 10 is located, told KSAT 12 News on Wednesday that he was briefed by city staff about the pending disciplinary action.
According to Flores, two firefighters and a paramedic based out of the fire station at 1107 Culebra Road will be terminated pending a civil service hearing and five others will be suspended for varying lengths of time.
Fire officials would not comment on the pending disciplinary action, saying the investigation was ongoing, but did say an announcement was possible early next week.
The fallout comes six months after some off-duty firefighters invited 30-year-old Grace Estrada and several other women to the fire station, where some private interludes allegedly occurred.
Estrada, who is suing the City of San Antonio, said she hurt her back after a firefighter asked her to climb on his shoulders so they could slide down a fire pole together.
According to the lawsuit, Estrada lost her grip and fell about 12 feet to a tile floor.
Estrada's attorney, Kevin Stouwie, said Wednesday night that he is "encouraged" by the pending firings and suspensions.
"The department certainly needed to take some action," he said.
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