NILES Officials investigate fire response
The city and township do not have a mutual-aid pact.
NILES -- City officials met today to investigate whether city firefighters acted appropriately to a Weathersfield Township fire last week.
Mayor Ralph A. Infante, Fire Chief Charles Semple, Emergency Management Coordinator Tom Telego and Safety Director Maurice Guarino gathered in city hall this morning to go over details of the fire and the responding crews' actions. None could be reached this morning to comment on the investigation.
The officials are expected to complete the investigation this week to ensure city firefighters properly followed procedure and city policy.
Niles fire crews were mistakenly dispatched to a fire at 2782 Robbins Ave. around 1 p.m. Thursday. Located near the city's west side limits, the home was determined to actually be in McKinley Heights, a portion of Weathersfield Township.
About four blocks of Robbins Avenue lie in McKinley Heights, between the Niles city limits and Youngstown-Warren Road (U.S. Route 422).
No mutual-aid pact
Because the city and township do not have a mutual-aid agreement, and because city firefighters determined no one was trapped in the home, crews stood by until firefighters from Weathersfield's volunteer department arrived.
Mutual-aid agreements between local fire and police departments allow officers and firefighters to provide extra manpower when needed.
Weathersfield crews were able to contain the fire to a bedroom and a portion of the attic. One Weathersfield firefighter suffered minor injuries while battling the blaze, but was released from a local hospital the same day, reports show.