Canadian firetruck responding to U.S. call held up at border

CNN ^ | Jeanne Meserve and Mike M. Ahlers

[SubGeniusX]

Story Highlights: - Upstate New York firefighters asked nearby Canadian units for help with blaze - Firetruck that responded held up at U.S. border for eight minutes - Government source says one firefighter's criminal record caused the delay - U.S. firefighter calls it embarrassing, says it delayed relief for tired firefighters

A Canadian firetruck responding with lights and sirens to a weekend fire in Rouses Point, New York, was stopped at the U.S. border for about eight minutes, U.S. border officials said Tuesday.

Fire officials battling the blaze called for help from fire departments in nearby Quebec, using a longstanding and often-used mutual aid agreement. But the first truck that arrived at the small Rouses Point border crossing was delayed as officials checked documentation of the firefighters and their truck, officials confirmed.

Two other trucks that arrived at the crossing next were cleared in less then two minutes each, a time that one fire official said was still too long considering the situation.

"It's embarrassing," said Chris Trombley, chief of the Champlain [New York] Volunteer Fire Department and deputy fire coordinator for Clinton County Emergency Services. "We're calling for help from another country and the first roadblock they hit is at our border."

The Canadian firefighters "were asked for IDs," Trombley said. "I believe they even ran the license plate on the truck to make sure it was legal."

In the past, firetrucks on emergency calls cleared border checkpoints in 30 seconds or less, Trombley said, although he said identification is sometimes checked upon their return.

[snip]

A government source familiar with the case said one firefighter had a criminal record, raising questions about whether he could enter the United States.

[SubGeniusX]

This is just stupid....

[Ancient Drive]

Stupid

[MoMagic]

Maybe if we could stop Mexican illegals if they rode on fire trucks?

[mvpel]

Meanwhile, at another part of the border:

[SubGeniusX]

French Canadians:
Putting out the fires Americans won’t put out.

[joe fonebone]

and when i was flying a coupla weeks ago, the tsa people had a little old lady standing up with her arms spread while they ran a metal detector over her, and an old man in a wheelchair was next in line........

[VOA]

“Canadian firetruck responding to U.S. call held up at border”

First, my apologies from the decent Canadians comeing to the aid
of a US entity...AND...

Well, when Dubya didn’t CLOSE and start FIXING the US Borders
on September 12, 2001...
It’s not a shock that we still can’t tell “friend from foe” at the
borders.

And at the same time, even OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST (CIA) give a
job to a MOLE from...HEZBOLLAH!!!

CIA officer pleads to fraud {immigration, sham marriage)
Washington Times ^ | November 14, 2007
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925545/posts

[VOA]

Maybe if we could stop Mexican illegals if they rode on fire trucks?

Well, if our border control folks can't tell the difference from
invaders from Mexico and points south and friendly helpers at
this FAR REMOVE from what happened on 9-11-01...
somebody patrolling the borders should be at the least...
SHAMED.

[Badeye]

‘Maybe if we could stop Mexican illegals if they rode on fire trucks?’

Only for two to eight minutes....

[Abathar]

Someone higher up better contact the idiots at the border and explain the circumstances of when the red tape can be cut.

When emergency personnel from the next town over is rushing to save your own people IN A FRICKING FIRETRUCK you waive them through and ask a for ID later!!

[Alberta's Child]

I think a lot of folks have overlooked one very important point here . . .

A government source familiar with the case said one firefighter had a criminal record, raising questions about whether he could enter the United States.

[doc30]

government source familiar with the case said one firefighter had a criminal record, raising questions about whether he could enter the United States.

I wonder if that immigration officer would be so vigilent if it was his house that was burning.

[bpjam]

Some common sense would be helpful.

And we think that this same insane beauracracy is going to make health care ‘better’???

[SubGeniusX]

I think a lot of folks have overlooked one very important point here . . .

A government source familiar with the case said one firefighter had a criminal record, raising questions about whether he could enter the United States.

that is an insignifigant point the guy was an on duty Firefighter... it's not like he was going to going to come over and start committing felonies when he came across...

would you not let a guy who you knew was a criminal not provide you critical assistance in an emergency...

[Alberta's Child]

It's not like he was going to going to come over and start committing felonies when he came across . . .

How do you know that?

Would you not let a guy who you knew was a criminal not provide you critical assistance in an emergency . . .

Under some circumstances, absolutely not. If the guy has a criminal record for burglary, I sure as hell wouldn't want him to be in a position where he's got access to my house.

A bigger question for me is this . . . Does this decision by a local Quebec fire department to allow convicted criminals to serve as firefighters jeopardize the prior relationship these towns had regarding cross-border fire protection?

Another question I would have is this . . . Would you feel any differently if this guy was a recent Muslim immigrant to Canada from Algeria named Pierre Mohammed al-Lemieux?

[northernlightsII]

His crriminal conviction may be a DUI or something like that.The fire departments of Quebec are not filled with burglars and murderers. Further you imply that all members of the squad that was responding would somehow be co conspirators into the plot of smuggling a criminal into the US.
In terms of all the threats that border officials must consider the one about an elaborate scheme by a neighbouring fire department to wait for an american distress call to smuggle in a “felon” is certainly not one that warrants 8 minutes of pondering time.

[mtbopfuyn]

The Canadian firefighters "were asked for IDs," Trombley said. "I believe they even ran the license plate on the truck to make sure it was legal."

Too bad. At least someone was checking who was coming in. Who's to say someone gets the bright idea of bringing over illegals in fire trucks or something else that the BP doesn't usually check. But then again, if the truck had just off roaded it no one would have been the wiser.

[mtbopfuyn]

This proves my point.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925762/posts

[SubGeniusX]

Does this decision by a local Quebec fire department to allow convicted criminals to serve as firefighters jeopardize the prior relationship these towns had regarding cross-border fire protection?

You do realize that in most Fire Departments a Criminal Record does not preclude one from service... and border crossing can be prevented for even misdemeanor offenses (I have friends that can't cross because of DWI)... it's stupid for The Customs/Boarder Agents to delay an Emergency for this cause

Under some circumstances, absolutely not. If the guy has a criminal record for burglary, I sure as hell wouldn't want him to be in a position where he's got access to my house.

ok so your neighbor had been convicted of burglary ... you are on the lawn gasping for breath .. your kid is inside ... you wave him off?... got it .. This is a situation where lives were on the line a tired or exhausted firefighter puts his own and his companies safety at risk ... these men were coming over to relieve these firefighters...

Would you feel any differently if this guy was a recent Muslim immigrant to Canada from Algeria named Pierre Mohammed al-Lemieux?

Nope... but then again I'm not an ignorant, paranoid, reactionary...

Upon further consideration I think you may have uncovered the secret Al-Qaeda loophole ... get Sleeper Agents to join rural Canadian border fire departments ... then wait for a fire and slip away into the night with a dirtybomb hidden inside their airtank... good job...

[Alberta's Child]

One of the interesting things about Canadian immigration law is that Quebec has hisotorically been covered by different immigration provisions than the rest of Canada -- some silly thing about maintaining their distinct French identity. One element of this peculiar arrangement is that Quebec has basically had very limited restrictions on immigrants who come from French-speaking nations -- even Islamic countries like Lebanon and Algeria. This has been a bone of contention between the U.S. in Canada in the aftermath of 9/11, and is one of the reasons why the U.S. has recently pushed to require people crossing the border from Canada to carry passports (historically this has not been the case).

So you can call me unrealistic and paranoid, but when I hear that a fire truck was stopped at the border for eight minutes because some guy with a criminal record was on board, I say they those border guards should be commended for doing their jobs right.