This could only happen in Southampton, New Yawk

[NJFFSA16]

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) - An 8-year-old boy's leg was broken
during a July 4 parade featuring a golf cart decorated as the SUV
that Lizzie Grubman backed into a crowd.
The cart was driven by a firefighter wearing a blond wig to
satirically represent Grubman.
The boy's family has hired lawyer Andrew Siben, who also
represents one of 16 victims of Grubman's crash outside the
Conscience Point Inn in July 2001.
The boy, Nicholas Curcio, was watching the Independence Day
parade in Southampton when he was hit by the cart, which was
dragging a mock corpse and had the words "Blond is Blind" affixed
to it, Siben said.
Siben said the driver was zigzagging in the cart and continued
for 20 yards after hitting the boy, though he turned back and
apologized after he was told what had happened.
"It was simply just a terrible act of negligence and a poor
sense of taste," Siben said. "This was a July 4 celebration and
this idea of a satire of Lizzie Grubman was clearly inappropriate.
There was nothing patriotic about this."
The golf cart was part of a display by the North Sea Fire
Department, which typically prepares elaborate spectacles for the
parade.
In a statement, North Sea Fire Department Chief James Wilson
said, "From the officers and members of the North Sea Fire
Department, our thoughts go out to the Curcio family."
Wilson said the department is investigating the incident
internally. The firefighter, Donald Oliver, did not return calls
seeking comment.
Grubman's spokesman, Dan Klores, said she "feels the whole
thing was in incredibly bad taste."
The celebrity publicist served 37 days in jail after pleading
guilty to assault and leaving the scene of her crash.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[EFD840]

I wish it only happened in Southampton, New Yawk

Geez,

I don't know which is the worst detail:

The cart was driven by firefighter Donald Oliver, who was wearing a blond wig to satirically represent Grubman

or

when he was hit by the cart, which had the words ''Blond is Blind'' affixed to it and dragged a mock corpse behind it

or

he continued driving for 20 yards after hitting the boy, though he said Curcio turned back and apologized after he was told what had happened

I hope he limited his actions to an apology because others were already treating the child

We need to revamp our whole training stragegy. Before we ever talk about fire behavior, we need to spend hours and hours talking about fireFIGHTER behavior. The worst aspect of the whole story is

The decorated golf cart was part of a display by the North Sea Fire Department, which typically prepares elaborate spectacles for the parade.

This makes it pretty clear that the leadership knew about the plans. I guess they don't think they need to worry about PR.

The boy's family has hired a lawyer, Andrew Siben, who also represents Scott Conlon, one of 16 victims of Grubman's crash outside the Conscience Point Inn in July 2001.

I bet his other client thinks the float was a real riot, too.

NJ, I love your posts but sadly you're wrong. Things like this seem to happen everywhere. Just remember last weeks "I've never been to a fire caused by fireworks" quote. It wouldn't be so bad if it only impacted those directly involved but it doesn't. It hurts all of us.

[NJFFSA16]

Re: I wish it only happened in Southampton, New Yawk

Originally posted by EFD840
NJ, I love your posts but sadly you're wrong. Things like this seem to happen everywhere.

After some very brief thought, I do admit...I'm wrong. It seems like every day, we read something that some firefighter or department has done, that gives us bad PR. Whether it's on duty or off duty...it's bad for the way our public percieves us.

We are our own worst enemies!