Wikimedia / EMWMEDFORD (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) A group of Medford firefighters have been disciplined following an investigation into their failure to respond to a call for medical assistance that resulted in a fatality.
An investigation revealed that a fire alarm operator on duty on July 13 "presumed" that a fire apparatus was already at the home where the call for help originated. Armstrong Ambulance and the Medford Police Department responded, but the Medford Fire Department did not.
In spite of the operator's presumption, they still alerted the neighborhood fire station by using the radio system. However, the alert was not heard by three firefighters who had their radios with them at the time. The radios were deemed to be in working condition.
The fire alarm operator received a 96-hour suspension for failing to use the correct system of contact and for "presuming" the apparatus was on location when it was not. The three firefighters were issued a written reprimand by Fire Chief Giliberti.
