Thread: Bilingual Fire Boss Rule Stirs Controversy

Bilingual Fire Boss Rule Stirs Controversy

June 22, 2006
- By Melica Johnson and KATU.com Web Staff

SALEM, Ore. - Some English-speaking firefighters are losing their jobs because of an Oregon state law that requires them to be bilingual.

The Department of Forestry enacted a law three years ago that requires them to be bilingual, but this year they're actually enforcing it.

2002 was such a devastating wildfire season, contractors were scrambling to find firefighters.

Hispanics often filled their needs on the fire lines.

Jim Walker of the Department of Forestry said "what we do know is 85 percent of the crew make-up is of Hispanic decent."

But many of the Hispanic fire fighters do not speak English. Walker says the language barrier is a concern.

Those concerns led the state to draft a new rule that all firefighting bosses speak English, and the languages of crew members who don't speak English.

Jaime Pickering, a squad boss overseeing 20 firefighters, says the rule means "job losses for Americans. The white people."

Because of the state's language requirement, Pickering can no longer work as a crew boss and supervise 20 firefighters, he can only manage a squad of four.

Pickering says that "if you have one Spanish guy on the crew, as an English crew boss, you can no longer be a crew boss, you have to step back to a squad boss, which is a demotion."

While the state made the rule change in 2003, it decided to strictly monitor the law this year as Hispanics continue to fill fire lines.

Jim Walker says "our main concern is that they are safe, and they are in a safe environment, and a lot of that deals with communication."

Manuel Franco is a Hispanic contractor for fire crews. He says he thinks the state's rule is necessary for worker safety.

"I think that's good, because that's for safety purpose," Franco says. "If there's a rock rolling down, everybody should understand that."

However, Manuel did say he felt the situation would improve if everyone spoke English. "We're living here. We should speak the language."

Jim Walker ponders the possibility that all fire crew members should be required to speak English, instead of having bilingual crew leaders.

"If it comes down to a safety issue, and it's determined that's the only way we can have people safely on an incident, then yes," Walker said.

Both Oregon state officials and those in the firefighting business say they do not think there are 'that many' illegal immigrant workers in the fire crews.

They say it is more a case of legal workers who do not speak English.

http://www.katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=87047

Manuel Franco is a Hispanic contractor for fire crews. He says he thinks the state's rule is necessary for worker safety.

How about for safety reasons they need to learn ENGLISH!!!!!

Originally Posted by crazybird

Manuel Franco is a Hispanic contractor for fire crews. He says he thinks the state's rule is necessary for worker safety.

How about for safety reasons they need to learn ENGLISH!!!!!

Honestly, crazybird, by now you should know that they DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING THEY DON'T WANT TO!

It's all OUR problem. If they don't learn English, then YOU get fired.

It's all so simple once you understand how it works.

How much of this 'politically correct' stuff are we to tolerate? If those firefighters can't speak English then they probably aren't citizens. Duh! They are the ones who should learn our language, not require CITIZENS to be bilingual. Illegals not only 'take jobs Americans won't' but also take jobs from Americans eh?
I know in CA for years being bilingual has been required for some jobs but up in Oregon now? Warning! This is going to spread to all states if it isn't stopped.

Honestly, crazybird, by now you should know that they DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING THEY DON'T WANT TO!

Oh I've got that figured out. It just ticks me off to no end that it's always US that has to change and they are required to do nothing but demand. This is beyond insane. Jobs Americans won't do my butt.

Jim Walker of the Department of Forestry said "what we do know is 85 percent of the crew make-up is of Hispanic decent."

But many of the Hispanic fire fighters do not speak English. Walker says the language barrier is a concern.

So instead of having the Spanish speakers learn English, we must conform to their requirements. What's next? Do we have to learn Spanish in order to get a fire truck to come to put out a fire? This is crazy, how can such a huge percentage NOT know English? Most all fire departments require at least a high school diploma, if not college fire science classes/fire academy graduation, plus in many depts, you had to have EMYT training in order to get hired, how did theydo all this if they never learned English? How did they pass firefighting tests?

I went to the San Diego Fire Science school at Miramar College back in 1990, before my back went out. There were tons of written tests and other reading requirements in order to become a firefighter, how did they get around those? Did they take them in Spanish? And are these firefighters legal residents or citizens? Last I heard, you had to know English in order to become a citizen.

Manuel Franco is a Hispanic contractor for fire crews. He says he thinks the state's rule is necessary for worker safety.

I think this explains it all, reptile09.

Even though it would appear to be a violation of the EEOC, my guess is that Manuel only hires a specific ethnicity for his crews.

By now they're probably required to hold a hose and hopefully have enough sense to stay out of the flames. They've dummied down every other profession. I just hope they have their hose when they see me coz I'm so mad I could spit fire.

I think those firefighters should sue. They should make a huge stink
about this so the rest of the country can see just how bizarre things
have gotten.

Everything in this country is so wrong. What an incredible mess we have gotten into.

Everything is upside-side down, inside out, and backwards.