It appears that Augusta Fire Department Chief Antonio Burden has taken a page out of Sheriff Richard Roundtree’s playbook and has gone into hiding.
The investigations of three accidents that totaled three Fire Department vehicles and cost the city (taxpayers) upwards of $500,000 has revealed that the vehicles, especially the braking systems, are not being maintained properly.
Thankfully, no one was severely injured or killed in any of the accidents.
Investigators determined that brake failure was a factor in two of the wrecks; however, instead of acknowledging the problems, the investigators chalked the accidents up as human error and suspended the firefighters involved.
One of those suspended was a highly regarded 29-year veteran of the force.
Now, fellow firefighters are speaking out and saying that the top brass has told them if the Fire Department’s vehicle shop says the vehicle is safe, then they are not to ask questions. At the same time, if the fire fighters are in an accident where brake failure occurs, then they are punished.
There is no way that Burden is not aware of the mechanical issues. Ladder fire trucks are sophisticated pieces of equipment that need constant maintenance, and no one should be forced to be driving a two ton vehicle with caution tape on the seats.
Over the past two years, the Augusta Commission has been giving out ARP funding like candy on Halloween and never once did Burden appear before the body and ask for funding to maintain his vehicle fleet.
Instead, Burden waited until a near disaster occurred and then blamed his own men.
Burden seems to be generally liked among the fire fighting force, but with his latest policies, he is likely to see that good morale plunge.
If the fire trucks are in such bad shape that firefighters do not want to drive them, then Burden needs to come out of hiding and ask for the funding to fix the problems.
