Northeast News
December 23, 2015

There’s been quite a bit of hype generated lately by the daily newspaper of record calling into question why two Kansas City Firefighters, John Mesh and Larry Leggio, were in a dangerous alley that night in October when they were killed fighting a fire. This news writing canine is sure that the Fire Department appreciates the daylights out of you second guessin’ their every move, especially after a tragedy such as this.

Bottom line: if you weren’t there, don’t pretend to know what you’re talkin’ about. The scene that evening was one of constant noise. The noise of the pumper motors, the noise of the oxygen bottle bells going off, the noise of garbled traffic over department radios. The constant beeping and chirping of fire equipment all in addition to the heat, smoke and din of the fire itself. Then, throw into the mix the cumbersome gear firefighters have to wear just to do their jobs.

The point being, those radio tones to evacuate may have gone out over the air, but with all the additional cacophony that existed, they very, very easily could have been missed. The fact of the matter is those brave men were in that alley to not only save lives, but to save the adjacent business, that being Snyder’s Supermarket, from being destroyed by fire, as well. Last time this dog looked, that’s what firefighters do. They go above and beyond to save people and property from the deadly ravages of fire. So maybe before you and your smarter-than-thou editorial types down at 17th and Grand start casting aspersions on why John Mesh and Larry Leggio were where they were, you could walk in the boots of their brothers and see what it’s like to actually work a fire. Until then, your armchair quarterbackin’ isn’t at all appreciated.