Inspector: regulations not followed in fatal call
By Nila Harris
FOSTER — Adam Fuller, a former member of the Northern Pendleton Fire Department, was sworn in as fire chief July 8 at NPFD Station 2.
Several firefighters, elected officials and audience members were in attendance at the NPFD Board of Trustees meeting.
Fuller, who served the fire department from 2015-18, recently retired from the Ludlow Fire Department.
Although he left NPFD in 2018, Fuller has actively assisted the department through grants he wrote and procured, which has earned the district much-needed equipment.
Fuller will be full-time at NPFD and will continue to pursue grants part-time for the station and other fire departments.
Five volunteer firefighters also were sworn in — Donavan Starr, Houston Crawford, Tyler Trumble, Max Nordheim (who also has his EMT certification) and Justin Reckers. Two additional volunteers were unavailable at the meeting.
According to Board Chairman Jason Bowling, this should get the department “pretty much back to full coverage in two weeks’ time.”
Bryan Kremer was sworn in as the firefighter elected position for the Board of Trustees.
JUSTIN BROWN
The Kentucky Office of the Inspector General issued its report on its findings in the March 4 run to the home of Justin Brown, who died. Family and friends had questioned the delayed response of the NPFD ambulance and how it factored into Brown’s death.
“We violated the reg (regulation) for depleting out resources for a mutual aid run, but a few regs about this one states you must have a mutual aid agreement and honor it. So either way, you are in violation,” Bowling said.
All area fire stations were at a 10-acre grass fire when the medical emergency call came in for Brown. Instead of the typical seven minutes, it took the ambulance 28 minutes to divert from the fire to Peach Grove.
The inspector general will submit the findings to the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services, which will determine whether a hearing on the department’s conduct is warranted, Bowling said.
“At this time, we again will not comment till we know the outcome from the KBEMS investigation,” he said.
OTHER BUSINESS
• An audit will be conducted, because any time a department brings in $500,000, there must be an audit.
NPFD was greatly impacted by an unexpected, essential engine repair at a cost of $27,000, but Bowling said he believes that the department is moving in the right direction.
James Beebe, Board representative, agreed with this sentiment, stating that he likes what he’s seeing from Fuller already.
• Following a break-in at Station 1, the decision was made to install security cameras at both Stations 1 and 2.
• Jimmy McCulley discussed the upcoming quarter auction taking place Aug. 6. The department is looking for donations of baskets and baked goods. Anyone who wishes to contribute may contact NPFD at 859-472-5127.
Bowling thanked McCulley, his family and others who worked hard at cleaning up both stations inside and out, and doing small in-house maintenance repairs.
• In his report to the board, Fuller said he will make a list of attainable and realistic goals for the department.
He also commented that he is happy to be back to a department with a family atmosphere and that he appreciates the diligence of the board, firefighters and others in attendance at the meeting.