State Assemblyman Josh Jensen is requesting that the State Attorney General Letitia James investigate the death of Watertown firefighter Peyton Morse.
Morse was rushed to the hospital two weeks ago after suffering a medical emergency during a training exercise at the New York State Academy of Fire Science. He died after more than a week in the intensive care unit.
State police and the Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau are also investigating the incident.
In the letter, Jensen questioned the safety of the “mask confidence” training exercise.
“With this situation and others from over the past two years, it is critical that the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ Office of Fire Prevention and Control closely examine all practices of the State Academy of Fire Science in Montour Falls to ensure that it is properly training the state’s firefighters, while not putting the health and safety of these men and women at an elevated level of risk,” Jensen wrote.
After Morse’s medical emergency, seven Rochester Fire Department recruits were pulled from the training center, but later returned.
On Friday, a fire coordinator for Monroe County told Spectrum News that it is up to individual fire departments to send their recruits to the State Academy in Montour Falls and many are waiting to learn more about the incident.
In response a spokesperson for the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services sent a statement saying, "The New York State Academy of Fire Science puts the safety and security of its recruits above all else and as part of that effort, Academy staff continually review all training procedures and activities to ensure recruit safety. The incident remains under investigation by the New York State Police. The Division removed the training prop from service pending this review. The Academy remains operational with 35 recruits currently progressing through their 11-week training program.”
State Fire Administrator Francis Nerney also sent a statement saying,
"I am saddened at the passing of firefighter Peyton Morse of the Watertown Fire Department. On behalf of the men and women of the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, I express our deepest condolences. Our thoughts remain with his family, friends, and the members of the Watertown Fire Department."