The injured Captain on Truck 1 was not mentioned in the press release to insure his privacy. Captain Rod Brovelli was the first due officer on Engine 4 and was assigned Fire Attack inside the structure and was NOT injured.

Rod is an amazing Captain and Paramedic but with 25 other people assigned to this emergency, we didn't need him to run all over the building, up and down, to try and do everything. Firefighting is a team activity and that's why we send multiple units to calls like these.

The injured Captain will next be evaluated at Valley Medical Centers Burn Unit next week. He's a tough guy and a battle hardened veteran of the organization. He would be back to work already if we let him! We appreciate the kind words of support from those who have reached out already.

Please correct the story.

Chief Schapelhouman

"The fire captain was earlier identified as Rod Brovelli,..."

Wrong - the Fire District did not name the Captain and the Almanac ran the wrong information because the Almanac failed to check it sources - a fundamental responsibility of a publisher/editor.

You know Peter, a good Chief I worked for long ago (Joe McNamara) had a good philosophy: Don't go to war with someone the buys ink by the barrel. Food for thought.

Chief McNamara is correct however even he would draw the line at the mis-identification of a public safety officer injured in the line of duty. Just imagine the impact on the family of the mis-identified officer of reading such a false report.

Peter, I might add another piece of advice to that of Menlo Voter's: You should avoid shooting first, asking questions later.

The Bay City News wire service story posted by the Almanac this morning reported the name of the captain as written in the press release from the district. Have you read the press release, Peter? After naming Rod Brovelli as the captain who played a key role in the event, and not mentioning a second captain on the scene, the press release states, in part:

<< The Captain (editor's note: THE captain -- not ANOTHER captain), a seasoned and battle hardened veteran with the Fire District and who is considered an expert in roof operations, had just guided the probationary firefighter on his cutting of a square ventilation hole in the roof of the building, when he decided to scout out another location for a second ventilation hole. As he stepped across the ridge, or top of the building’s roof, using a pole to “sound” or check for structural integrity of the roof, he felt the area underneath him get “spongy”.

He quickly told probationary firefighter Carlos Carpenter to “immediately get off the roof,” when suddenly, and without warning, the area underneath him gave way and he partially fell into the burning attic up to his arm pits. With his Captain essentially pinned in place, Firefighter Carpenter sprang into action, he quickly grabbed the shoulder straps of his Captains Breathing Air Pak and with all of his might, pulled backwards to roll him out of the hole.>>

Here is a link to the fire district's press release: Web Link

So Peter, how would you interpret that? Probably the same way the Bay City News reporter did. This information came directly from the fire district. Can you explain this? Can you explain your comment:

<< Wrong - the Fire District did not name the Captain and the Almanac ran the wrong information because the Almanac failed to check it sources - a fundamental responsibility of a publisher/editor. >> ?

Are you saying the Almanac and Bay City News shouldn't trust the fire district as a source in reporting the facts of an incident?

Peter doesn't have the common sense to avoid a fight and he certainly will never admit being wrong. It os for this and many other reasons that people are disgusted with the Menlo Park Fire Protection District and especially it's leadership. Looking forward to the next election when we can do so much better, I just hope that the damage done can be repaired.

"Are you saying the Almanac and Bay City News shouldn't trust the fire district as a source in reporting the facts of an incident?"

I don't know about you but I take anything that comes from the MPFPD with a grain of salt and anything directly from Peter with a salt lick!

The MPFPD press release did not name the Captain who was injured.

The MPFPD press release ( which evidently was not carefully read) clearly states that the Captain involved was from the second apparatus, not the first (Menlo 4)

"Menlo Truck 1 and their crew of 4, split up after laddering the building. Two members went
inside to perform a primary search, while the Captain and a probationary firefighter went up to
ventilate the roof using a chain saw to create openings so the smoke and heat could escape from
the attic, rather than bank down on top of the firefighters inside the building."


Sadly the Almanac appears to have relied on the Bay City News wire service for the Almanac's story.

Given that the Almanac covers the MPFPD it was irresponsible not to confirms the facts with MPFPD before posted this erroneous information.

Not only was a correction necessary but the individuals and families involved deserve an apology from the Almanac.

Editor states:
"After naming Rod Brovelli as the captain who played a key role in the event, and not mentioning a second captain on the scene, the press release states, in part...."

BUT the press release clearly states that there WAS a second Captain on the scene:
"Menlo Truck 1 and their crew of 4, split up after laddering the building. Two members went inside to perform a primary search, while the Captain and a probationary firefighter went up to ventilate the roof using a chain saw to create openings so the smoke and heat could escape from the attic, rather than bank down on top of the firefighters inside the building."

In fact the press release also states:
"In total, 5 fire engines, 1 ladder truck and two Battalion Chiefs comprising 26 personnel from the Menlo Park and Woodside Fire Protection Districts responded as part of a first alarm assignment." That means that there actually SIX Captains on the scene.

So who didn't read the press release?

I'm glad the injured fife Captain, whatever his name may be, will be ok and good job to the PO for bending the order and saving his Captain.

Some of these folks Here make the MPFD loom worse and worse every time they/he clicks "submit". SMH...

Perhaps Peter should just let the Chief speak for his crew and spend less time trolling these message boards for slights to his integrity. The almanac reports the news as presented to the best of their ability.

PRESS RELEASE

Menlo Park Fire Protection District 170 Middlefield Rd Menlo Park, CA 94025 650-688-8400 Fax: 650-323-9129
For Immediate Release
Date: August 19, 2017
Contact: Harold Schapelhouman, Fire Chief
Phone: (650)380-1006 Cellular

Menlo Park Firefighter Recovering After Partially Falling Through the Roof During a House Fire

On Friday evening, August 18, 2017, at approximately 1125 pm, San Mateo County Public Safety Communications (PSC) dispatchers received several calls reporting smoke coming from the roof and eves of a home located on Nassau Drive in the Unincorporated County Area known as West Selby, which borders the Town of Atherton and is within the areas protected by the Menlo Park Fire Protection District.

Menlo Engine 4 arrived at 1130 pm and Captain Rod Brovelli reported that he had heavy black smoke coming from the composition roof and the eves of a single story home located at 2005 Nassau Drive. In total, 5 fire engines, 1 ladder truck and two Battalion Chiefs comprising 26 personnel from the Menlo Park and Woodside Fire Protection Districts responded as part of a first alarm assignment.

A family of four that had been in the home at the time of the fire, self-evacuated after one of them discovered the fire. Fortunately, none of family members were injured. Captain Brovelli and his crew entered the home and could see active fire through ventilation and fan grates in the attic space above them. They started to pull the homes ceilings in an attempt to extinguish the fire which had spread throughout the entire attic space of the one story home.

Menlo Truck 1 and their crew of 4, split up after laddering the building. Two members went inside to perform a primary search, while the Captain and a probationary firefighter went up to ventilate the roof using a chain saw to create openings so the smoke and heat could escape from the attic, rather than bank down on top of the firefighters inside the building.

The Captain, a seasoned and battle hardened veteran with the Fire District and who is considered an expert in roof operations, had just guided the probationary firefighter on his cutting of a square ventilation hole in the roof of the building, when he decided to scout out another location for a second ventilation hole. As he stepped across the ridge, or top of the building’s roof, using a pole to “sound” or check for structural integrity of the roof, he felt the area underneath him get “spongy”.

He quickly told probationary firefighter Carlos Carpenter to “immediately get off the roof,” when suddenly, and without warning, the area underneath him gave way and he partially fell into the burning attic up to his arm pits. With his Captain essentially pinned in place, Firefighter Carpenter sprang into action, he quickly grabbed the shoulder straps of his Captains Breathing Air Pak and with all of his might, pulled backwards to roll him out of the hole.

The Captain sustained significant burns to one hand and moderate partial burns to the other. He and Carpenter cut one more ventilation hole in the roof in order to complete their mission, before they was able get down off the building and the Captain was transported by AMR Ambulance to Stanford Hospital’s Emergency Room

With his wounds cleaned and both hands bandaged, he was released from the Hospital early Saturday morning and will more than likely be off for an unspecified period of time until he regains full use of both of his hands.

The Fire District has launched a “close call” investigation into this incident. Fire Investigators estimated the structural damage to the hone at $100,000 but were unable to determine a cause of the fire, which was brought under control by 1155 pm. The Captain will be further examined next week by physicians at Valley Medical Center Burn Unit.

Fire Chief Schapelhouman said “fire ground roof ventilation operations are inherently dangerous but necessary. We feel very fortunate that the Captains injuries were not more serious, given what occurred. Probationary Firefighter Carpenter distinguished himself last night, making all of us very proud and grateful for his quick action. It’s not lost on any of us that this call could have had a much worse outcome”.

The Fire District was recently authorized by the FAA to use its fleet of Drones at night, but none of the operators were available during the fire. A Drone was used today (Saturday), to document and provide aerial photography of the roof area.

“It will be interesting in the future, as we get more Drone pilots trained up, to see if we can identify, through thermal imaging, if we could have avoided this type of problems through better situational awareness and real time heat sensors”, the Fire Chief said.


END

After reading the Press Release put out by the District I can distinguish the difference from Captain B. vs. the unnamed Captain that was injured. I can also see how some not familiar with the Fire Service would be confused thinking they were the same Captain.

But really Peter Carpenter and Editor rather than arguing I think it's time to act like adults. The Press Release from the District could have been in a way that would have been very clear and the article written could have not used Captain B.'s name at all and just said "The Captain" as the Press Release was written.

The Two other local papers got it right. Almanac, get it together. When an organization performs like the Almanac, it spears they're in $$$$$$ trouble. Too bad, I enjoy reading both on line and paper verison