Homeowner shoots firefighter

[nickel plate]

One of the local Fresno TV stations reported this morning that no charges will be filed against the homeowner.

[Samuelx]

Read the article. Fire fighter was attempting to climb through the window, the alarm woke up the home owner.

That makes a Little more sense - figures the media wouldn't get the story right.

Did they trying calling the location prior to making entry?
Did the homeowner give a verbal warning?
Either one of those could have helped...

[MaHoTex]

Maybe the same one that started the thread about firefighters tress passing looking for brush clearance compliance..

Edit: Something about the bright yellow firefighter gear and hard hat would tell me not to shoot..

And the big red truck with flashing lights. Yeah, I did read the article and the posts about the investigation. Just making a wise crack.

[M&P40FAN]

That makes a Little more sense - figures the media wouldn't get the story right.

Did they trying calling the location prior to making entry?
Did the homeowner give a verbal warning?
Either one of those could have helped...

When did a verbal warning become a requirement to self defense?

[hermosabeach]

Verbal

When did a verbal warning become a requirement to self defense?

Verbal is not required

But deadly force might need to meet the immediate fear of serious bodily injury or death requirement.

[Samuelx]

When did a verbal warning become a requirement to self defense?

Did I say "needed to" "had to" or "should have"?

[Doheny]

I can’t count the number of times I’ve done what this guy did, sans getting shot. It’s an “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” type of alarm. You can’t just ignore it; some old lady could have fallen or be stuck on the toilet. It would be bad form to just blow it off and hurry back to the recliner.

Ideally, entry is forced after banging on the doors and windows, looking in all the windows and having dispatch call the residence. You also want to have dispatch ensure it’s just a Medic Alert type alarm. Some are combination Medic Alert and panic or just panic, which the resident would push if a bad guy was breaking in (the cops handle those.) We usually try to make access via windows because many people leave them ajar or if you have to break something, a widow is cheaper to replace than a front door.

The picture in the OP shows him wearing his PT shorts. The article said he was in his turnout pants, which are the bulky yellow things we wear. He likely had them over his shorts and the bullet went through both (a little further west and it really would have hurt.)

It’s hard to imagine the homeowner couldn’t figure out this guy was a fireman, based on what he was wearing. Plus, hopefully the FF was verbalizing “fire department” loudly so that the resident would hear him. Apparently the resident didn’t hear them pounding on the front door, so I guess he wouldn’t have heard someone yelling “fire department.”

The homeowner may have escaped charges but his actions were reckless. If he couldn’t figure out the guy in yellow was a fireman, he wouldn’t have figured out a guy in dark blue or tan was a cop who could shoot back. Things may have turned out much worse in that case.

.

[M&P40FAN]

Next time someone is breaking into my house I'll be sure to check his credentials before I defend my family.

[ChaoSS]

Just something to point out, I don't know how thins work in Fresno, but a bit to the south, in Tulare county, it's not uncommon, in many areas, for the volunteer fire fighters to show up to a scene before a truck with lights and sirens.


Also, if the guy is climbing through a window without identifying himself, (not relying on the guys at the front door to do it, I mean, yelling out who he is himself and asking if anyone needs any help) then I think the guy would be quite justified in taking the shot.


I would be interested in hearing how they got a medical alert from a residence with no medical alert system.

[Big D]

I blame the militarization of our fire and EMS services. These types of no knock rescues need to stop. I saw a firefighter the other day, and his turnout pants had cargo pockets on them. Firefighters don't need cargo pockets.

[jonc]

WOW!!

[TRICKSTER]

Simple solution for these anti government types. Cities and counties should establish do not respond list for EMS and Fire calls. Those who do not want the services should be able to sign a waiver, be put on the list and Fire and Medical will never respond to their home. They would also not be allowed to have any type of alarm system that triggered a response from a government agency. Of course they would still pay taxes just like everyone else because Fire would still need to respond and stand by to make sure that the fire from their burning house didn't spread to someone else property. Problem solved and they won't have to worry about someone coming onto their property to save them or one of their family member's lives. And of course, their insurance companies would also be notified of their decision to opt out.

[ffjdh]

I blame the militarization of our fire and EMS services. These types of no knock rescues need to stop. I saw a firefighter the other day, and his turnout pants had cargo pockets on them. Firefighters don't need cargo pockets.

I agree that this call could have been handled better. I don't know why you think firefighters don't need cargo pockets though. I have my turnout pants cargo pockets full of tools, most of which are there to help me if i become entrapped, need to bail out of a building or assist with a rescue

[Doheny]

I agree that this call could have been handled better. I don't know why you think firefighters don't need cargo pockets though. I have my turnout pants cargo pockets full of tools, most of which are there to help me if i become entrapped, need to bail out of a building or assist with a rescue

Brother, change the batteries in your sarcasm detector.

[ffjdh]

Brother, change the batteries in your sarcasm detector.

My bad! I'm so used to having to defend LEO, EMS, and Fire sometimes I forget I'm on a forum with people who are like minded.