Family seeks criminal charges in death of fallen firefighter

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- On the heels of an unauthorized release of an internal fire report, the family of fallen firefighter Joyce Craig is speaking out only to Action News.

They are asking that charges be brought against fire personnel following Craig's death.

The 22-page report outlines some communications and training issues that occurred on that ill-fated day, December 9th, when Craig was killed.

"Most certainly the potential exists that had there been more training that this tragedy might not have occurred," Fire Union President Joe Schulle said.

It's been three months since Joyce Craig became the first female firefighter to be killed in the line of duty in Philadelphia, battling a basement blaze on West Oak Lane.

And now a report leaked by the fire department, while stopping short of placing blame, says, "The circumstances surrounding this incident have identified real training deficiencies within the Philadelphia Fire Department."

The report shows Craig hit her emergency alert Mayday button at 3:02 and again 14 minutes later at 3:16. She wasn't found until 17 minutes after that first call, trapped in a house filled with smoke and fire.

"The pain is beyond the actual loss," Mike Craig, Joyce Craig's brother, said exclusively to Action News Tuesday. "We would like any of those that were flawed in their decision-making or their (failure) to follow procedure - I think it is appropriate that they be brought on criminal charges."

Action News spoke with Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer by phone, who said, "There was no one specific incident that caused her death. There were a multitude of incidents."

Among the issues, the report cited a long response time from a ladder crew, problems with ground communications and training.

The fire union, in response, hopes this report will prompt changes in the department moving forward.

"We have done nothing proactive to say, 'Okay, we are going to address all of these deficiencies,'" said Schulle. "Instead, we are trying to deal with things on a case-by-case basis. And we're trying to play catch-up. And meanwhile, our guys are getting hurt or killed."

To date there has been no official cause of death issued.

The fire department is still working on its formal investigative report.

Sawyer said he expects the fire marshal's office to release its findings on what caused the fire later this week, and will have more to say when that happens.