Glenn E. Rice
The Kansas City Star
(TNS)

A Kansas City firefighter who pleaded guilty to three counts of involuntary manslaughter in a 2021 crash in Westport that killed three people wants his job back.

Dominic S. Biscari, who was driving the truck that struck a car with two people inside, killing them and a pedestrian, was placed on probation for three years after his plea in February.

• Kansas City (MO) Firefighter Guilty of Manslaughter in Fatal Fire Truck Crash

The fire department said at the time that Biscari, 22, had been placed on unpaid leave and that it was seeking termination.

On Tuesday, the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 42, which represents Kansas City firefighters, EMTs and other medical personnel, filed a grievance on behalf of Biscari.

Union officials alleged that the city violated various provisions in its collective bargaining agreement as well as KCFD rules, policies and practices. They said the city did not conduct a disciplinary investigation before it sought to have Biscari terminated.

Kevin Regan, an attorney who represented Biscari in his criminal case, said his client should be reinstated and allowed to return to his job as a firefighter.

“Dominic worked hard to become a community servant and to serve our community as a firefighter,” Regan told The Star. “He earned the right to serve our community. The city is now wrongfully trying to take that right away from him.

“Every night Dominic has been asked to answer the bell for folks in need. He answered the bell. And the city has failed to answer the bell for Dominic and his fellow firefighters and they know it.”

Biscari was driving a Kansas City Fire Department truck on Dec. 15, 2021, when it struck a Honda CRV at the intersection of Westport Road and Broadway Boulevard. The force of the crash propelled the vehicles northwest, causing them to hit a pedestrian before slamming into a building.

Jackson County prosecutors said the truck driven by Biscari was going 51 mph in a 35 mph zone and had a red light at the time of the crash.

Michael Elwood and Jennifer San Nicolas, who were in the Honda, and Tami Knight, the pedestrian, were killed. San Nicolas and Elwood worked at the restaurant Ragazza and Knight was a Kansas City Public Schools employee.

Tim Dollar, who represented Elwood’s family, declined to comment.

In their grievance, the union said that on the day of the plea hearing, KCFD released a statement to the news media that it was seeking to terminate Biscari. They said Biscari did not receive a formal letter from fire officials that he had been suspended and faced termination.

Several days after the Feb. 21 hearing, Local 42 president Dan Heizman received an email from Jean Young, an assistant to the fire chief. The email informed the union that Biscari had been suspended without pay as a result of being charged with three felony counts of involuntary manslaughter,

While responding to a call March 1, Command 2 was involved in a personal injury collision on Three Notch Road at New Market Turner Road, Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department said in a news release.

Squad 2 was just behind Command 2 when this occurred and notified the communications center of the incident at 12:15 p.m. Squad 2 remained with this incident, and Squad 1002 was alerted for the initial incident. Engine 23 also responded on the call.

One driver was transported to a local hospital by ambulance, and the other driver self transported to be checked after the incident.

Maryland State Police is investigating the incident.

The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced March 3 the recipients of the 2023 Small Equipment Grant Program, according to a news release. A total of $1.5 million was awarded to 64 fire departments/districts and EMS providers across the state. The program was established to provide grants of up to $26,000 each for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment.

This program is an innovative approach to a problem that has long caused difficulties for fire departments and not-for profit ambulance services in Illinois, particularly those that have hardships in generating the necessary revenue for small equipment. The purpose is to allow eligible applicants the opportunity to purchase small equipment that they may otherwise not be able to purchase. The OSFM received 296 applications, requesting around $4.5 million in funding for this grant period.

“The OSFM continues to remain committed to our mission of helping departments and districts purchase essential firefighting or EMS equipment that will help not only their members to stay safe, but continue to provide lifesaving services to their communities,” said Acting Illinois State Fire Marshal Dale Simpson. “Budgets remain tight, and the cost of firefighting equipment continues to rise, that is why programs such as our Small Equipment Grant are a great resource, especially for our smaller and rural volunteer fire departments across the state.”

“As we all know, volunteer fire departments all around the state are struggling to maintain a safe work environment due to the lack of funding. The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Small Equipment Grant Program has provided us the opportunity to purchase a thermal imagining camera we desperately need that will help keep our firefighters safe,” said Colona Fire Chief John Swan.

“The Harristown Fire Protection District is thankful to receive the OSFM Small Equipment Grant. With this grant, the Harristown Fire Protection District will be purchasing 8 sets of turnout gear (Coats & Pants) which will be free of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

In addition, the district will be purchasing 8 particulate blocking hoods which cover the head, ears & throat to protect our firefighters from harmful fireground carcinogens. Three firefighter helmets will also be purchased to replace helmets that have passed the 10-year life. With the rising costs of PPE, this grant will reduce the strain on the district’s budget allowing replacement of other items needed to continue daily operations,” said Harristown Fire Protection District Chief Steven Gambrill.

“The Salem Fire Protection District covers approximately 124 square miles. That includes U.S. Highway 50, two state routes, and thirteen- and one-half miles of Interstate 57 that have significant personal and commercial traffic. This results in our department responding to numerous motor vehicle accidents with occupant entrapment. Receiving this small equipment grant will provide us with the funding needed to purchase rescue tools that will enable us to perform life-saving motor vehicle extri

The Eagle River Fire Protection District this spring is asking voters for financial help, vaildaily.com reported.

The district at the May 2 election will ask voters for a 2 mill property tax increase, the report said. The increase would raise roughly $2 million per year. If approved, the money will be used exclusively for equipment and maintenance, along with facility maintenance. The increase would be just less than $12 for every $1 million in assessed value.

A fire official said the equipment list includes both replacement and new gear, according to the report.

The replacement items include a new ladder truck and self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighters. New gear would include wildland firefighting equipment including both large and smaller wildland trucks, the report said.