He was later assigned to Fire Station 105 in Compton as his second probationary station. COMPTON, Calif. A former deputy chief for the Compton Fire Department has been arrested for allegedly starting a fire at headquarters and stealing thousands of dollars in radio equipment. First published on July 7, 2015 / 10:50 PM. Phone & Fax Phone: 310-605-5670 Fax: 310-632-8414. Help protect your furry family. A former battalion chief for the Compton Fire Department who once appeared on a reality television show has been charged with setting fire to his own department's headquarters in an embezzlement scheme.Marcel Melanson pleaded not guilty Friday to arson and embezzlement.Los Angeles County Sheriff's investigators say the 15-year department veteran stole radios that were intended to be part of a communications upgrade, then set the headquarters on fire in December in an attempt to conceal the theft. The inferno erupted in Compton before. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of KCRA-TV. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. We do have defibrillators, said Capt. I heard you use the word equality, and I want to suggest the focus should be equity, given the historic under-representation, she said. This process is automatic. The service requires full cookie support in order to view this website. Are you the Follow these tips to be fire safe this holiday season! 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. They believe Melanson deliberately set fire to the facility to conceal theft of Motorola radios worth thousands of dollars with the intent of selling them over the internet. The sheriff's department continues to provide police services for the city. Are you the Compton Fire Department 1 Fire Chief? You will be redirected once the validation is complete. City Manager Johnny Ford said officials would examine how most city firetrucks and ambulances were stripped of defibrillators, a crucial lifesaving device that rescuers use to deliver a shock to try to restart the heart of cardiac arrest victims. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. COMPTON (CBSLA.com) Compton Fire Department Chief Jon Thompson has been placed on leave pending an investigation into compliance with key lifesaving devices. Full story: Former Compton Fire Department deputy chief arrested for arson. All rights reserved. We, and other small departments across the country, often rely on mutual aid from other fire departments when responding to major emergencies such as building fires, major vehicle crashes, and large grass fires. Ben Welsh is the former editor of the Data and Graphics Department, a team of reporters and computer programmers who collect, organize, analyze and present large amounts of information. Inside were about 200 radios valued at more than $1 million. You must enable JavaScript in your browser to view and post comments. Copyright 2023 As you stay cozy and warm this winter season, be fire smart! Shop high quality Compton Fire Department shirts from Compton Fire Apparel.. This website uses Google Analyticsto collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. He also conceded the department needs to be streamlined, with a reduction in the overall number of employees. $7.50 + $10.11 shipping. . The event also included a special presentation to honor former Compton Fire Chief Monroe Smith for his contributions to the Compton community as the first Black man to head a fire department in California. Stay safe this holiday season Port Moody! VINTAGE ASST BATT CHIEF HORSHAM SHIELD PA FIRE DEPT . Compton fire officials were unable to produce paperwork showing city firefighters had up-to-date training, and the devices were removed from non-paramedic vehicles Friday. The department provides fire and rescue services for the city of Compton from four fire stations (see the site list for details). and suppliers. is a Fire Department located in Compton, LOS ANGELES County, in the State of CA. First published on May 16, 2013 / 8:56 PM. You can help us to keep this page up to date:Help update this Fire Department's Information. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. FireRescue1 is revolutionizing the way the fire service community . Each member of the group has completed a refresher course, but only one has scheduled and passed the final exam to renew an EMT license. The Compton Fire Department was established in 1901, with a small force of volunteer firefighters. Supervisor Holly Mitchell told Marrone the agency has had a historic under-representation of people of color and women.. California Nearly 1 in 4 Compton firefighters is working without an EMT permit Engines from the Compton Fire Department on display during an unveiling in 2006. 2009-2022 USA Fire Departments usfiredept.com All Rights reserved. Enter https://www.firerescue1.com/ and click OK. Return to Staff Directory. His selection as chief was met with opposition from several organizations, including the Womens Fire League, L.A. County Stentorians and Los Bomberos de LA County, who pointed to systemic failures in the department to bolster diversity within the department and create jobs and advancement opportunities for women and people of color. Investigators turned their attention to Melanson, who was on duty when the fire broke out and said to be the only employee with access to the radios. Thank you to Chief Jack Ambrose from the Morris County Sheriff's Office for taking the time to speak with a group of our Criminal Justice Students on February . All rights reserved. The Compton Fire Chief requested the LASD's Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau to assist in looking into the case on January 4, 2012. Olmsted Fire Department- $26,000. Marrone has been serving as interim chief of the department since July 2022. Through a repeat buyer, investigators discovered that Melanson had been selling other Compton-owned radio equipment since 2008, Rose added. It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. July 7, 2015 6:29 PM PT. Los Angeles Times. Thompson was placed on administrative leave at Tuesday night's City Council meeting. Prior to being placed on leave, Thompson maintained that losing defibrillators from most fire vehicles did not put the public at greater risk. Are you a Firefighter at Compton Fire Department 1 or a member of the Compton community? 1 in December 2011 in an indoor racquetball court where the radio equipment was stored. For the latest on this developing story follow @palewire. Melanson was fired from the department before being arrested in May 2013. LOS ANGELES The county Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Anthony C. Marrone as the next county fire chief Feb. 28, but board members made clear they wanted to see improvements in the numbers of women and people of color in the agency's ranks. A former Compton Fire Department battalion chief was sentenced to three years and four months in prison for selling city-owned radio equipment and starting a fire to conceal the theft,. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu, LODD: Buffalo firefighter dies after being trapped in blaze, N.Y. authorities release name of Buffalo firefighter killed in downtown fire, Ala. FD lieutenant fights to keep rank after scheduling incident, Mo. interacts online and researches product purchases Renee Rose said. The arrest stems from what investigators say was a suspicious fire that broke out at Compton Fire Department headquarters on Acacia Avenue on December 11, 2011. A former battalion chief for the Compton Fire Department who once appeared on a reality television show has been charged with setting fire to his own department's headquarters in . finds relevant news, identifies important training information, This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. A former Compton Fire Department battalion chief was sentenced to three years and four months in prison for selling city-owned radio equipment and starting a fire to conceal the theft, prosecutors said. You can help us to keep this page up to date: Fire Capt. Ford declined to say how long he thought the investigation would take or whether Thompson would return to the job. Install and test carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month. www.firehouse.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. A huge fire visible across Los Angeles burned material in a commercial yard and parked buses early Friday. Randolph: Ellis Grove Volunteer Fire Department- $25,800. Please enter valid email address to continue. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for VINTAGE COMPTON FD SHIELD FIRE DEPT CAIRNS LEATHER HELMET FIREMAN FIREFIGHTER FD at the best online prices at eBay! Compton Junction FD was assisted by Nevada Fire Department, Hume Fire Department, and Deerfield Fire Department. The radios were purchased by Compton's city government in connection with the planned re-establishment of the Compton Police Department, LASD spokesperson Steve Whitmore said. 1. 2.5 (11-30-2016) Bryan Batiste, Interim Fire Chief, Compton Fire Department: Emergency Ambulance Transportation. Provide protection of life and property and the environment twenty-four hours a day, 365. His bail was set at $350,000.The 37-year-old Melanson had appeared on the BET reality series "First In.". The city managers move to place Thompson on leave was welcomed by Councilwoman Janna Zurita, who has been a critic of the way city leaders have handled the agencys problems. July 7, 2015 / 10:50 PM Thompson did not returns calls seeking comment. It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for fire service professionals worldwide. Salton Community Services District Fire Dept, California State Prison-Los Angeles County Fire Department, Linden-Peters Rural County Fire Protection District, General Dynamics NASSCO - Fire Department. Fire Chief Darcey O'Riordan . Deputy Fire Chief Bryan Batiste says the removal of four defibrillators from their trucks and ambulances shouldn't worry residents. For breaking news in Southern California, follow @AliciaDotBanks. Opening the process will ensure that diverse applicants from across the nation have the opportunity to apply, according to the letter. The cause of the fire remained under investigation, a Compton Fire Department battalion chief told City News. May 17, 2013. CITY CAREERS Browse & Apply for Jobs . Copyright 2023 FireRescue1. Look for a box or option labeled Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) or On Startup (Chrome). By clicking I Accept or using our site, you are consenting to the use of cookies unless you disable them. The allegations shook the Compton Fire Department, where Melanson had been well-liked. You can find more information about our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, Enter your phone number to be notified if you win. Chief Anthony C. Marrone. Patrick Willis, an arson investigator with the Long Beach Fire Department, told the court Melanson sought to make the fire look accidental. This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. An investigation by the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department found that many of the radios were sold to private buyers or on EBay and that Melanson had been selling Compton-owned radio equipment since 2008. Former Fire Chief Rico. April 16--A former Compton Fire Department battalion chief pleaded no contest Tuesday to felony charges of arson of property and embezzlement by a public official. 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Marcel Dione Melanson, 38, was ordered to pay $517,477 in restitution for the 2011 fire; he paid $100,000 before being taken into custody. Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from any heat source like fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators or space heaters. He has been with the department for 36 years, previously serving as acting chief deputy over business operations. Los Angeles, Calmes: Heres what we should do about Marjorie Taylor Greene, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78, ICE detainees allege retaliation for speaking about medical conditions at Otay Mesa center, Downtown L.A stabbing sends six to hospital; suspect arrested, San Diego Roman Catholic diocese facing yet another lawsuit from its insurance company, K-Pop isnt the only hot ticket in Koreatown how trot is captivating immigrants, Los Angeles is suddenly awash in waterfalls. Preparing for an emergency is everyone's responsibility. Chief Compton has been a member of the fire service since 1971, rising through the ranks to become Assistant Fire Chief of Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department and later Fire Chief of Mesa (AZ) Fire . The investigation of Melanson started after a fire spread across a racquetball court inside Compton Fire Station No. 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Updated: 2:07 PM CST March 3, 2023. Welsh is originally from Swisher, Iowa. Deputy Fire Chief Bryan Batiste says the removal of four defibrillators from the department's trucks and ambulances shouldn't worry residents. Melanson's case has been submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office. All rights reserved. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved Anthony C. Marrone as the next county fire chief, but board members made clear they wanted to see improvements in the numbers of women and people of color in the agencys ranks. Authorities conducted a joint investigation with arson investigators from the Long Beach Fire Department and Montebello Fire Department. July 15 is National Pet Fire Safety Day! In Case of an Emergency, call 9-1-1. COMPTON, Calif. A former Compton Fire Department battalion chief pleaded no contest Tuesday to felony charges of arson of property and embezzlement by a public official.