2010   2009   2008   2007   2006   2005   2004   2003   2002   2001   2000   1999   

---

---

Hiring Lists Will Be Used For Last Time Story from David Skolnick in the Youngstown Vindicator on 01/05/2010. The city has used the two lists for several years. YOUNGSTOWN — The city will use two lists — one for white men, and one for minorities and females — to hire new employees for the last time. The city has used the two lists to hire firefighters and police officers for several years. But a federal court ruling declaring the use of two lists by Shreveport, La., to be unconstitutional means Youngstown must do away with its lists. Typically, Youngstown hired one minority and/or female for every two white men it hired for jobs with its police and fire departments as long as the applicants met all the requirements, said Mayor Jay Williams and Fire Chief John J. O’Neill Jr. “We have a hiring pool that reflects the diversity of the community,” Williams said. Using the two lists “allowed us to achieve a diverse work force.” On Wednesday, Williams is sponsoring an ordinance for city council’s consideration that would allow the fire department to hire nine to 11 firefighters from the two lists for the last time. As for how many minorities and/or women would be hired, Williams said it could be one hire from that list for every two or three white male hires. “All are qualified, and we’ll do this in a constitutional method,” he said. “We want to maintain our high standard of employees and give consideration to all applicants.” The new policy wouldn’t rank those who passed the firefighter written test — applicants also must pass a physical-agility test — by the top scores, Williams said. “As long as there’s not a separation [of lists], there’s no issue,” he said. The old policy ranked potential employees by the top written score, as long as they also passed the agility test. Those in the top 10 could be selected for the jobs. But Youngstown also had the second list, permissible under Ohio law. That section refers to “the waiver of laws to avoid federally prohibited discrimination.” It reads: “The waiver, passed as an ordinance by city council, permits the legislative authority of a municipality to suspend or alter the appointment rules for minority hiring.” Williams is working with the city’s civil-service commission to make other changes to the written test for firefighters and police officers. Those wanting to be firefighters or police officers currently need a score of at least 70 on the written test. That could be raised by five to seven points for future tests, Williams said. (Firefighters also need to pass the physical agility test, which includes climbing a firefighter’s ladder, dragging a hose and simulating what to do during a fire. Police officers don’t need to pass a physical test.) The new policy can’t go into place for the firefighter hirings because that test was given in June. Of the 185 applicants, 78 passed. Of those who passed, the top minority finished 51st, O’Neill said. The city’s current policy doesn’t sit well with Nate Janoviak of Newberry in Geauga County, who finished 43rd. “I may have a decent chance for this time or perhaps the next round, but I’m getting knocked out by someone who did worse than me,” Janoviak said. “My test wasn’t different than anyone else. It’s reverse discrimination. The city is saying that they have enough white people” on the fire department. When asked about charges of “reverse discrimination,” O’Neill said, “I don’t want to get caught in the middle of that.” Williams said he doesn’t agree with the allegation, saying it’s important for the city to have a diverse work force. skolnick@vindy.com

Youngstown Council Wants More Info On How Firefighters, Cops Are Hired Story from Youngstown Vindicator on 01/06/2010. YOUNGSTOWN — City council members want more information on a proposed policy change as to how city hires firefighters and police officers before approving it. For several years the city used two lists ­ — one for white men, and one for minorities and females — to hire firefighters and police officers. The city’s policy was to hire one minority and/or woman for every two white men it hired for those two departments. Because of a federal court decision declaring the use of two lists by Shreveport, La., to be unconstitutional, Youngstown needs to get rid of its separate lists, Mayor Jay Williams said. The mayor wants the city to have one list of every person who passes tests given for those jobs and eliminate ranking them by the top written scores on the exams. Council members are agreeable, but said tonight that they want to discuss the issue further with the city’s law department before approving Williams’ proposal. Council members said they’re concerned about lawsuits being filed by those adversely impacted by the policy change.

City Council Stands Firm On Two Firefighter Lists Story from Youngstown Vindicator on 01/25/2010. YOUNGSTOWN — City council doesn’t support a change, recommended by the city administration, to the long-standing policy on hiring firefighters — at least for now. Six of council’s seven members discussed the proposed change at a council safety committee meeting today. They agreed not to change it, and to study the options further. Mayor Jay Williams wants to eliminate the policy of two lists — one for white men and one for minorities and females — to hire firefighters and police officers. Law Director Iris Torres Guglucello said she recently discovered a 2006 federal-appeals-court decision declaring the use of two lists by Shreveport, La., to be unconstitutional. If the city doesn’t change the policy to get rid of the two lists “we very well may be sued,” Williams said. There’s also the possibility of a lawsuit if the policy is change, he said.

Youngstown Family Escapes Fire Story from WKBN TV27 Web Site on 01/31/2010. Photo from the WKBN TV27 Web Site. A South Side family was forced from their home Saturday after flames began shooting through the roof of their house. Firefighters were called to 251 Gaither Avenue just before Noon. When they arrived, smoke was coming from the roof of the home. The people living there made it out okay. The fire was contained to the attic and upper part of the home. No word yet on a cause.

Policy On Hiring In Youngstown Police And Fire Departments Remains Story from David Skolnick in the Youngstown Vindicator on 02/04/2010. YOUNGSTOWN — Despite concerns by the mayor about lawsuits if Youngstown doesn’t change its policy on hiring firefighters, city council voted to maintain the status quo. “I wanted a change to minimize the potential for litigation,” Mayor Jay Williams said Wednesday. Williams wants to eliminate the policy of two lists — one for white men and one for minorities and females — to hire firefighters and police officers. The city typically hires one minority and/or female for every two white men it hires for jobs in its police and fire departments. Minorities and women do not typically score as high on written tests to be firefighters and police officers as white men, Williams said. Just because they usually don’t score as high as white men, the minorities and women hired by the city are highly qualified to do those jobs, and it’s important to have diversity on the city’s fire department and police force, Williams said. Council made it clear at a Jan. 25 safety committee meeting that it didn’t support changing the longstanding policy for now. Council members backed up their previous statements with a unanimous 7-0 vote Wednesday to hire nine firefighters using the two lists. Williams said he is concerned about a lawsuit because a federal-appeals-court decision declared the use of two lists by Shreveport, La., to be unconstitutional. The use of two lists in that city is similar to what is used in Youngstown, he said. The mayor wanted to temporarily change the policy to put everyone who passed the test on one list and still hire qualified minorities. He proposed studying the matter further to come up with a permanent solution. The Shreveport decision was in a federal court district that doesn’t have Youngstown in its jurisdiction. Two lists are permissible under Ohio law. Council members agree that the hiring policy for firefighters and police officers needs to be re-examined. But they said there’s no rush. “We need to form a commission to work on this issue and get it right,” said Councilwoman Annie Gillam, D-1st. Fire Chief John O’Neill said the city will hire six white men and three minority males no later than Feb. 13. Three women passed the written civil service test to be a firefighter, but all failed the physical agility test. The current policy ranks potential employees by the top written score, as long as they also pass an agility test. Those in the top 10 are at the top of the list in being offered the firefighter jobs, which have a starting annual base salary of $24,000. Those taking the written test needed a score of at least 70 to pass. Also Wednesday, council approved a three-year contract with its police patrol officers union. The contract includes a salary freeze in annual base pay, and restructuring the salaries of future hires. skolnick@vindy.com

Fire Officials Requesting That Residents Keep Hydrants Clear Story from WFMJ TV21 Web Site on 02/09/2010. Photo courtesy of Mark Memmer. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio- Fire officials are asking residents to keep fire fire hydrants in front of their houses cleaned off following the weekend's winter blast. Youngstown's fire chief said crews will be out all day on Monday clearing hydrants around the city. While there is no law or ordinance that requires residents to keep hydrants clear, but the department is requesting that residents and plow operators not keep hydrants buried.

From Horses To Motors, Fire Station Still Stands Story from WYTV Channel 33 Web Site on 02/09/2010. YFD Station 7 - 1940's. Photo from the Annette Wingerter Family collection. The area's oldest fire station is now owned by a private investor. Developer Dominic Marchiondo recently bought Youngstown's Station 7 at the corner of Madison and Elm on the North Side. Several years down the road it'll be vacated. Marchiondo plans on converting it to maybe a restaurant or coffee shop. But for now, it's still a fire station, just like it has been for over a hundred years. You'll find all the modern conveniences at Youngstown's Station 7. A motorized truck, electric lights, even a PA system. But scattered among the amenities are a cornerstone that reads 1903, and the remnants of an old wooden floor. The ceiling's original. And when one of the pipes is shaken, oats come out, left over from horses that once lived there, too. "They would take the harnesses off and the harnesses, they would pull them up and the horses would just walk around," said Capt. Ron Myers. "And when the bell would hit, the horses would run right underneath the harness, they would drop the harnesses down on the horses and away they go." Myers has spent most of his 34 years as a fireman at Station 7, hands down the area's oldest still in operation. It's the fourth oldest in all of Ohio and the 33rd oldest in the nation. The horses were gone by 1914, at which time the building had a third floor. By the 1940s, it was deemed unsafe and removed. Walking through the second floor living quarters, one can only imagine the people who've manned the station. Some still make occasional appearances. "Myself, I've heard what sounds like channels changing on the TV at night time or someone just making creaking noises walking around," said Firefighter Kenny Johnson. For a long time, Station 7 doubled as a social center. It had the neighborhood's first TV, which everyone came to watch. Rayen High School's rifle team even used the basement for target practice. And, yes, there's a fire pole there, something you'd never find in a modern station. And yes, they still use it. But the neighborhood is modernizing. The old homes have been replaced by an apartment complex to house Youngstown State University students. Eventually the station will likely close, and that will be a sad day. "Oh God, yeah, yeah, 110 years already," said Myers. "It's sad now. I have to retire next year. I'm going to hate leaving." But leave they will. Someday Youngtown's Station 7 may be reduced to serving burgers and beers.

Man Arrested In North Side Arson Story from Bill Rodgers in the Warren Tribune Chronicle on 02/13/2010. YOUNGSTOWN - Fire investigators have a suspect in one arson on the North Side. Steven Demidovich, 52, 277 Park Ave. Apt. 1, was arrested by Youngstown police 9 p.m. Thursday at his residence. He was arraigned on the fourth-degree felony charge Friday morning in the court of Youngstown Municipal Court Judge Elizabeth Kobly. According to arson investigator Capt. Alvin Ware, Demidovich is accused of burning down a home on 259 Park Ave., which was an abandoned historic stone mansion bordering Youngstown's Wick Park. Demidovich lived just down the street from the mansion which burned Oct. 20, according to Ware. Ware said the investigation into that fire and the fires of two other abandoned homes on Pennsylvania Avenue - which are near the burned Park Avenue mansion - are still under investigation. A fraternity house on Pennsylvania was damaged in one of the fires. Ware would not comment on details of the case. Bond for Demidovich is set at $50,000 cash or surety bond. His preliminary hearing will be 9:45 a.m. Feb. 19. brodgers@tribtoday.com

Youngstown Man Sues City For Injuries In Fire Truck Crash Story from Youngstown Vindicator on 02/19/2010. YOUNGSTOWN — A South Side man is suing the city and one of its firefighters for $1,900 in medical bills he said he incurred after a fire engine making a left turn en route to an emergency hit his car. Beondre L. Kimbrough Jr., of East Avondale Avenue, said in his lawsuit that he was westbound on Philadelphia Avenue and stopped at Cottage Grove Avenue on Sept. 11, 2008, when his car was struck by the fire truck driven by Eugene J. Cook Jr., who negligently caused the crash. The suit, which demands a jury trial, was filed in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court and assigned to Judge John M. Durkin. City Law Director Iris Torres Guglucello declined to comment on the lawsuit.

City Firefighters To Be Honored Tonight Story from Youngstown Vindicator on 02/19/2010. YOUNGSTOWN — Fire department officials will take time out tonight to honor firefighters who are retiring from the department and others who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. The 23rd annual Youngstown Professional Firefighters Retirement and Awards Dinner will be at 8 p.m. at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Hall, 343 Via Mount Carmel. Nine firefighters will receive various awards. There are 11 firefighters retiring from the department. Nine of those chose to participate in the last round of buyouts offered by the department. The firefighters have a combined 313 years of experience. Several other firefighters will be honored for their efforts to use extrication tools to remove people involved in vehicular accidents. The Youngstown Fire Department Honor Guard will initiate the opening ceremony with the presentation of colors and bagpipes. U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, will be the keynote speaker

Grand Jury To Get Arson Case Story from Bill Rodgers in the Warren Tribune Chronicle on 02/20/2010. Photo credit:Tribune Chronicle / Bill Rodgers Steven Demidovich, right, appeared Friday in Youngsotwn Municipal Court with his attorney Mark C. Cervello. YOUNGSTOWN - A grand jury will hear the case of a Youngstown man accused of burning down a mansion in October. Steven Demidovich, 52, 277 Park Ave. Apt. 1, and his attorney Mark C. Cervello, waived Demidovich's preliminary hearing Friday in Municipal Court. The case now will be sent to a Mahoning County grand jury, which will decide whether to hand up an indictment on the charge. According to Youngs-town arson investigator Capt. Alvin Ware, Demidovich is accused of burning down a home at 259 Park Ave. - an abandoned historic stone mansion bordering Wick Park. Demidovich lived just down the street from the home when it burned Oct. 20, according to Ware. Ware said the investigation into that fire and the fires of two other abandoned homes on Pennsylvania Avenue - which are near the burned Park Avenue mansion - are still under investigation. Ware had no further comment following Friday's hearing. Bond for Demidovich was set at $50,000 cash or surety. brodgers@tribtoday.com

Fire Damages Vacant Commercial Building Story from WKBN TV27 Web Site on 03/04/2010. Photo from the WKBN TV27 Web Site. A fire caused some damage at a vacant commercial building at 1453 Elm St. in Youngstown Thursday. The blaze was reported about 4:30 p.m., and when firefighters arrived, they found heavy smoke in the area causing low visibility. While they don't yet have a cause, firefighters said the building has been vacant for years, and entrances were not secured. While fighting the blaze, two firefighters fell through the floor of the building but were not injured. An arson investigator is looking in to an exact cause. Damages total about $1,000.

Youngstown Man Faces Arson, Burglary Charges Story from WFMJ TV21 Web Site on 03/07/2010. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio- A Youngstown man was in court Friday on allegations of arson. Christopher Marko, 34, is accused of setting fire to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Edwards. The fire caused more than $100,000 worth of damage to the house. Marko is also accused of breaking into a residence on Brockway Avenue on the same night as the fire, allegedly stealing prescription pills. Police said blood left behind at the scene of the robbery belongs to Marko.

Become A Fan Of Youngstownfire.com On Facebook Story by Greg Ricker, youngstownfire.com Webmaster on 03/09/2010. The youngstownfire.com web site now has a page on Facebook. Become a friend today! Search for youngstownfire.com or use the following link http://www.facebook.com/pages/youngstownfirecom/332269195574?ref=ts.

Smoke Clears Out Powers Auditorium Story from WKBN TV27 Web Site on 03/10/2010. Photo credit: WKBN TV27 Web Site. There was quite a scare Wednesday morning at a downtown Youngstown landmark. Powers Auditorium at the Deyor Performing Arts Center was evacuated when employees smelled smoke in the building. The Youngstown Fire Department was called out around 10 a.m., and they traced the smoke to an electrical fire in the basement of the building. The department was able to extinguish the flames quickly. "They had quite a bit of smoke in the building. It ended up being a heater motor down in the basement. It had ceased up, and it got in through vent system. It caused quite a bit of smoke, so we got it under control. We're going to vent the building out, keep an eye on it a little bit, and we'll be okay," said Youngstown Fire Chief John O'Neill. The chief said that there should be no permanent smoke damage to Powers. Employees are already back inside the building, and all planned events are going on as scheduled.

Overheated Motor Causes Smoke To Rise From DeYor Center Story from Youngstown Vindicator on 03/10/2010. YOUNGSTOWN — The exhaust fan motor in a basement rest room at DeYor Performing Arts Center, 260 W. Federal St., filled the building with smoke overnight, but caused little damage. The smoke was discovered by Terence Fetchet, assistant stage/facilities manager, when he came to work this morning. There was no fire, and center officials said performances will not be affected. Youngstown firefighters were called to the scene at 10 a.m. and when they did not immediately discover the source of the smoke, called additional units to the scene. Exhaust fans were used to clear the smoke, which Fetchet said was heavy in the basement but much lighter in the stage area. A fire department battalion chief estimated damage at $300 to repair or replace the defective motor.

Firefighters Called To Powers Story from Warren Tribune Chronicle on 03/10/2010. YOUNGSTOWN -- An air exchanger at Powers Auditorium that overheated had city firefighters responding to the downtown landmark about 10 a.m. today. A fire department spokesman said crews dealt with smoke only and no fire. The exchanger was in the basement of the auditorium. There were no injuries. A damage estimate was unavailable.

2-Alarms Struck For Powers Auditorium Incident Story by Greg Ricker, youngstownfire.com Webmaster on 03/10/2010. Youngstown Firefighters were called to Powers Auditorium and the DeYor Performing Arts center just before 10am on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010. Dispatchers for the Youngstown Fire Department received a call for smoke in the building at one of Youngstown's most well known landmarks at 260 W. Federal Street. With some units out of service for training, Engines 7, 9 and 15, Squad 33, Ladder 24 and Battalions 1 and 2 responded on the initial alarm. Squad 33 was in quarters just a couple buildings away and was the first unit to arrive on the scene. Crews tried unsuccessfully to locate the source of the smoke. Battalion 1 arrived a few minutes later and at 10:03am, requested a second alarm be struck for the fire. Companies which would out for training were quickly placed back in service and Engines 2, 3 and 6 and Ladder 22 were dispatched. Fire Control also responded to the scene. Ladder 22 took up position in front of Powers while Ladder 24 took up position in the rear of the structure. Both companies assisted with ventilation and interior crews were finally able to locate a burnt up exhaust fan motor in the basement. At 10:26am all of the first and second alarm companies were put back in service with the exception of Engine 7, Squad 33, and Ladder 24 which remained on scene to continue to ventilate the structure.

2010   2009   2008   2007   2006   2005   2004   2003   2002   2001   2000   1999