Concerned citizens are questioning a recent policy decision by Mount Pleasant Fire Chief Larry McRae regarding responding to incidents outside the City of Mount Pleasant.
McRae, who has been fire chief since 1984, has been backing a proposal to expand the fire department force and build a third fire station. McRae asserts the Mount Pleasant Fire Department is making a disproportionate number off calls outside the City in response to mutual aid agreements because volunteer fire departments have been experiencing a decline in members.
Discussions about the fire department expansion plan have been ongoing since the fall. The subject is still being considered by the county commissioners.
Observers note that McRae - in what has been perceived as a negotiating tactic - recently put the new response plan in place, which states mutual aid for VFDs in the county will be dispatched only from the Central Fire Station on South Ferguson, adjacent to Dellwood Park.
On the evening of Thursday, March 23, a Mount Pleasant ISD school bus, carrying male athletes who had participated that day in a track meet in Paris, was struck by an 18-wheeler truck on Hwy. 271 in Talco.
There were numerous serious injuries and two fatalities, that of the truck driver and high school coach Angelica Beard, who was driving in her personal vehicle behind the school bus, which had swerved violently to avoid a head-on collision.
Bystanders assert that because of the new policy put in place by McRae - who is the county's emergency management coordinator - Mount Pleasant's response only consisisted of equipment from the central fire stastion.
There is also concern - in light of the severity of the crash and the urgency of the response - because Fire Station #2 on North Jefferson Street is 2.3 miles north of the central fire station and that much closer to the scene of the accident in Talco.
No the policy did not affect the response. This is just a few people trying to stir the pot. All of the departments that responded did an outstanding job. I will go a step farther and say one of the reasons the incident ran as smoothly as it did was because of all the emergency drills Chief McRae has hosted every year. Shame on who ever is trying to politicize this tragedy for their own agenda.
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely ridiculous Chief McRea has served our community well for so long it is an absolute shame that someone would attack him and use this tragic event to skew people's perceptions of him. I have worked under him and I cannot imagine him doing anything but his absolute best to handle the situation properly and to the best of his ability keep everyone safe.
ReplyDeleteThis is totally absurd and disturbing. I know for a fact that Chief McRae and the MPFD care about the citizens and safety of our community more than anyone that I know. The policy had nothing to do with the response time nor the things that happened that terrible night. The MPFD and the County Departments have always worked together to provide the best services to all of us. This accident was horrible and everyone on the department and all who were on the scene will have those images in their minds forever and they will play the what-if game over and over. Arm chair quarterbacking, and politicizing a tragedy is a disgrace. God clearly was on the scene that night before any emergency units arrived because when you see the destruction and realize what could have happened, you have to know God was protecting. We will never understand tragedy and we will never be able to understand why some things have to happen, but when a community comes together and supports each other so much more is accomplished. Why would you want to criticize people who worked an accident effectively and worked together under the guidance of Chief McRae? The fact is there is only one rescue truck for MPFD so wherever the accident is, that truck has to be at the most central location. Please stop stirring stuff up to promote your agenda. Focus on the good things that people in our community do every day. Thank you Chief McRae, MPFD and every county department for all you do. We need all of you!
ReplyDeleteChief McRae and the staff at MPFD are not playing politics with anyone. If you have been involved with them in any manner you would know that every point made by the Chief is valid and we do in fact need more paid firefighters and a new station. I am a county resident who this affects and has affected in the near past. I fully support Chief McRea and his staff.
ReplyDeletePlease do not make a political issue out of our need to upgrade and fill out the fire department. If you know the Chief and any of his staff you would know they are 100 % for all of Titus County and to suggest that recent decisions affected the situation with the track team is absurd.
We should be about the work of building up and not tearing down.
If you are going to use our towns tragedy to stir some political pot at least sign your name to it. You're obviously not from here...
ReplyDeleteExactly!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI would welcome a call from any concerned citizen so that I can comment from the County's perspective. The County can absolutely attest to the fact that Chief McRae has always provided the county with more than our contract allows us. As demands on the city increase through annexation, retention of more city personnel for city needs becomes mandatory. Chief McRae's primary responsibility is to the city. The County understands this and the Commissioners' Court is diligently seeking solutions to supplement our volunteer fire departments with City services at a cost that makes sense and is fair to both parties. This issue is nothing new. I have reviewed numerous article over the past 30 years dealing with the same subject. The county is dependent on the professional fire fighters that are employed by the city that have the equipment, training, experience and availability that may not always be readily available in a volunteer department. The most efficient model for fire protection in the county is a joint effort between the City and the VFD's. We are blessed with great leadership from the city and within our Volunteer departments along with highly skilled and committed full time fire fighters and volunteers. Please let city and county leadership work out our arrangements without casting doubt or blame on any of our first responders.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Judge Lee. I appreciate your comments.
DeleteAs a former EMS provider in Titus Co., I would like to say that Chief McRae is a huge asset to the city of Mt. Pleasant and the county. People need to realize that one of the reasons the equipment came from Central Station is that that's where the necessary equipment is stationed. For a scene like that,special equipment is needed. As to the point of no "All Call" being issued, consider the possibility that another call came in while the crews were working the accident. Who would be left to work it if everyone was at the first scene? This was always in the plans during the yearly drill's we ran. In a county the size of Titus, putting all available personnel at 1 scene could have dire consequences. One last thought, instead of did Chief McRae's policy cost lives? How about how many lives were saved because of his leadership and training! Thank you Chief for all you taught me.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely not!Chief McRae has always and does his job at a high and professional level.It was a tragady that lives were lost but how it was handled saved lives.when things Likr this happens there is always someone who is looking to find negative in the situation.For what reason I'm not sure
ReplyDeleteChief McRae your town supports you in a job well done.
You know, Lou, that article is a complete shock! I cannot believe you'd use that tragedy to attack McRae and his department. Really low...
ReplyDeleteThanks Bob, your journalistic integrity is missed.
DeleteI wouldnt exactly say journalistic integrity 😒
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThank you Mr. Palmer.
ReplyDeleteI have been involved with Mt. Pleasant and Titus County for over 20 years. I was in Hopkins County and run many mutual aid responses and training execises in Titus County. As Chairman of the Regional Advisory Council-Trauma I had the Pleasure of working side by side with Chief McRae and Mt Pleasant and Titus first responders. Chief and I had a few disagreements over the year, always been professional ZERO politics involved.. Thank You all for what you do. Russell VanBibber LP
ReplyDeletePretty sad that someone would stoop so low as to stir up allegations like this after such a tragedy. You should be ashamed sir. J.Lee
ReplyDeleteI really think you missed it on your article on chief McRea . Not sure who ur source is but using the bus accident as an example missed completely. I was present on scene befor all passengers were removed from the bus and I did not leave till the uninjured were transport by bus to the hospital. The response of mtfd was more than sufficient and timely. Fact is there were way more first responders than victims. Organization of the first responders went well. It displayed how well city and titus county first responders have trained together for such a tragedy. Believe me as father of a child on the bus. A 30 year law enforcement veteran. And one who removed victims from the bus and assisted ems till every patient was loaded. This emergency was handled with an A+ rating.
ReplyDeleteFeel free to pass this on to whom ever the concerned citizen is. Someone who obviously was not on scene that night.