January 22, 2003

PRESS RELEASE
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Asst. to the Fire Chief
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Business Employee Cited by Fire Investigators for Illegal Burning

Actions contributed to Sunday afternoon’s two-alarm fire . . .

An employee at Stanley Industrial Tires, 6536 West 70^th Street, has been cited by Shreveport Fire Department investigators for violating the city’s code banning outside burning without a permit following a two-alarm fire that gutted the business on Monday. Joshua Gertz, 25, told fire investigators that he and another employee were at the business at the time of the fire. Investigators determined that an outside drum had been used to burn materials behind the business’ main building before the fire. Embers from the drum are believed to have ignited a fill pile close by that led to the building and adjacent woods fire. Gertz, being the supervisor at the time, has been charged with violating Ordinance 16 of Shreveport’s National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1 Fire Code, which states that all burning of bond fires or outdoor rubbish fires are required to have a permit. The charge is a misdemeanor offense. Gertz is scheduled to appear in court to face the charge on February 11, 2003.

Because a hazardous material was involved in the fire, coupled with the Code violation, the Fire Department may seek reimbursement from the business for the expense of materials used at the fire. ###