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Clack heckled at Convention Center

July 19, 2012 at 5:10 pm 1

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At the national Firehouse Expo being held in the Convention Center, Baltimore firefighters protested the city’s recent closure of three fire companies.

Photo by: Carol Ott

A national convention of firefighters being held in Baltimore this weekend was the setting for a morning protest by local firefighters angry about the recent disbandment of three fire companies in what Baltimore city officials said was a cost-cutting move.

Some 50-60 firefighters – many in yellow tee-shirts carrying signs that said “Our Chief Has Turned His Back” – mobbed Baltimore city Fire Chief James Clack today as he came out of the The Firehouse Expo this morning at the Baltimore Convention Center.

Firefighters have been angry with Clack for supporting Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s decision to permanently close Truck 15, Squad 11 and Truck 10 this year.

Drawing thousands of fire, rescue and EMS professionals from across the country, the meeting included exhibits of products and services, professional development courses, discussions of current fire and rescue issues and sessions with such titles as “The Challenges of Extrication Involving Vehicles with Advanced Steel” and “Creating and Inspiring Exceptional Fire Department Leaders.”

Firefighters angry about company closures surrounded Baltimore City Fire Chief James S. Clack as he drove away from a meeting at the Baltimore Convention center today.

Angry firefighters surrounded Baltimore City Fire Chief James S. Clack as he drove away from a meeting at the Baltimore Convention center today. (Photo by Carol Ott)

Baltimore firefighters protesting company closures briefly blocked Pratt Street today. (Photo by Carol Ott.)

Baltimore firefighters protesting company closures briefly blocked part of Pratt Street today. (Photo by Carol Ott.)

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  • Fire and Metal

    This is the type of reaction the Fire Chief should expect when against the very vocal requests of city residents, city business leaders and city firefighters he closes fire houses.  He relied on his very own flawed “study” to attempt to explain how less fire houses equals better response times and more safety.  Puhlease, the public saw right through it.  Chief Clack is lucky he lives in this day and age,  200 years ago he would have been tarred and feathered.

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