Fire Departments and Fireworks Shows

My uncle was a firefighter in Colorado where some of the state's fire departments coordinate and run the July Fourth pyrotechnic shows. I believe the Salida Fire Department does a fantastic job of putting on a helluva entertaining fireworks show annually where Doug Bess in the man in charge.

We drive through Roswell New Mexico coming from Midland, Texas when we are vacationing. The Holiday Inn Express provides a complimentary copy of their newspaper. The headline article recently indicated the widow of a Roswell Firefighter, who died in the line of duty, is filing a lawsuit against the city.

The Roswell firemen were handling some fireworks located in an airport storage unit for last years Independence Day Extravaganza when a match lit and caused  fireworks shells to explode. This caused the remaining fireworks to explode seriously injuring  the widows husband who later succumbed to his injuries in Lubbock. 

The widow, Reba Stroble, is suing the city for wrongful death. 

Without intending to offend the family of the deceased, fireman are trained to handle explosives and other potentially hazardous material. I know the guys in Salida are certified to run lengthy fireworks exhibitions. Plenty of fire departments around the country run their fourth of July celebrations. The lawyers complaint said the city forced the firemen to do the show. If employee does not want to do what he is ordered to do, then he can resign so nobody was forced to do the job.

 

Also, why did you wait so long to sue? A lot of lawyers lining up for a big day and you waiting around for the best of the best to take the case?  I heard the city paid for a very nice Memorial at the convention center. 

If I have any of the facts wrong, please forgive me  but some jobs are riskier than others. Oilfield workers, police officers, and fireman all know what they have signed up for. Taxpayers don't like paying for high dollar litigation.