Houston firefighter reprimanded after a mother, daughter die of carbon monoxide poisoning

The Houston Fire Department reprimanded a firefighter for misconduct after an investigation into a delayed 911 response to a case in which a mother and daughter died of carbon monoxide poisoning. The department opened the investigation in July, following reporting from ProPublica, The Texas Tribune and NBC News, which revealed that first responders initially decided not to enter a Houston family’s home during the massive winter storm that hit Texas in February 2021, a decision that resulted in a couple and their two children being exposed to the lethal gas for an additional three hours. The fire department has not disclosed details of the investigation. In a letter to the Texas attorney general fighting the release of records to the news organizations, Houston officials wrote that state law prevents the public disclosure of records dealing with misconduct of a firefighter or police officer.

But the letter states that the “allegations of misconduct in this investigation were sustained and disciplinary action was taken against the firefighter.” In an email to the news organizations, Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peņa confirmed that the investigation found evidence of misconduct but declined to elaborate because of a potential appeal from the disciplined firefighter. Peņa told the news organizations in August that he was awaiting the results of the investigation but that it appeared a fire captain in the dispatch center “failed to provide the necessary information for the people on scene to make the appropriate decision.” The department’s decision to discipline a firefighter is one in a series of actions taken by governmental bodies after a yearlong investigation by the news organizations, which found failures at every level of government to protect residents of Texas and other states from carbon monoxide poisoning. Safety gaps and a lack of consistent policies have left residents vulnerable to the invisible gas. These policy failures contributed to the worst carbon monoxide poisoning catastrophe in recent history as power outages swept Texas during the winter storm, the news organizations found. The state has confirmed at least 19 deaths from carbon monoxide after residents tried to stay warm by using barbecue grills, running their cars or starting up portable generators in enclosed spaces.