Denver Fire Assistant Chief Transferred Following Whelan Death
DENVER (CBS4) - CBS4 has learned that an assistant Denver fire chief is being transferred following the on-duty death of one of his firefighters, although the department insists it is a routine transfer and has no connection with the death of firefighter John Whelan.
Whelan was part of a crew on a routine dumpster fire June 28 near downtown Denver. According to internal fire department documents obtained by CBS4, fire department officials suspect the dumpster fire was intentionally set and was "suspicious." The fire was quickly extinguished but Whelan and other firefighters were sent onto the roof of a building at 3860 Blake Street to make sure the fire had not spread to that structure.
Whelan and his colleagues were using a thermal imaging camera to check the roof for fire when Whelan stepped on a skylight and fell about 25 feet. He died from his injuries about three weeks later.
Whelan is survived by a wife and young son.
According to the internal report, "This building has several very lightweight skylights that appear to be made of fiberglass. These skylights are not elevated above the roof deck, but are at the same level and follow the same contour and shape as the roof decking. It would be extremely difficult," says the report, "if not completely impossible for firefighters operating on the roof, especially at night, without the benefit of sufficient light, to identify and avoid stepping on these."
Following the incident fire department sources say the department has ordered the transfer of District 2 Assistant Chief Dave McGrail, who was incident commander of the operation.
Melissa Taylor, a public information officer for the Denver Fire Department, insists moving McGrail had nothing to do with the June 28 incident.
"The incident involving Firefighter/Engineer Whelan remains under investigation and I can assure you no transfers have been made as a result of actions taken at that incident. We have experienced a large number of transfers across our organization in recent months including assistant chief assignment changes in districts 2,3,4,5 and DIA. These reassignments are the result of retirements and promotions. We align our staff in a manner that allows the strength of every member to be utilized fully."
But multiple fire department sources, who asked not to be named, said numerous rank and file firefighters were extremely upset with McGrail's actions the night of June 28 and some said they had lost confidence in his decision making, triggering the sudden transfer.
One firefighter, speaking on the condition of anonymity, defended McGrail, saying he was extremely safety conscious and that the transfer was not justified.
McGrail is being transferred to oversee the Denver Fire Department's Denver International Airport Training Academy.
A message left for McGrail at his home was not immediately returned. McGrail has been in the fire service for 32 years and instructs internationally with expertise in high-rise firefighting. He has been an assistant chief in Denver since 2001 and has been with the Denver Fire Department for 30 years. According to McGrail's LinkedIn profile, he oversaw 42 firefighters in Fire District 2. He is scheduled to begin his new assignment at DIA next week.
CBS4 Investigator Brian Maass has been with the station more than 30 years uncovering waste, fraud and corruption. Follow him on Twitter @Briancbs4.
