Reilly requests state probe

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2002 | 11:10 a.m.

Amid allegations of document shredding and concerns about the frequency of inspections at AeroTech, Clark County Manager Thom Reilly has requested a state probe into an October fire that killed one person.

State Fire Marshal Doyle Sutton will review the Clark County Fire Department's handling of the model rocket engine plant before, during and after the blaze.

"With all the questions raised in the community, I feel it's important they have confidence in the county and know we're being open," Reilly said.

Critics have questioned gaps in inspections at the plant on Palm Street just off Boulder Highway. County fire inspectors visited the plant 10 times between 1988 and 1995, but did not return until 2000.

Adding to the mounting questions about the fire were claims by demoted fire spokesman Steve La-Sky that the department destroyed important documents related to the plant and the blaze.

Reilly, Deputy District Attorney Mary-Anne Miller and Clark County Commissioner Myrna Williams, who oversees the district in which the fire occurred, received a report from Chief Earl Greene and his staff members Monday.

Reilly then decided to call in Sutton.

"From what was presented to me, I have confidence it was handled well," Reilly said. "I was particularly impressed with the critique of how they handled it. But I want to give the state fire marshal total access to review it."

Sutton said that sometime this week Reilly and Greene will outline in writing what they expect the scope of the review to be. The review will take at least a week and the report will be submitted two weeks later.

The state fire marshal said a request to review an investigation is not unusual, but it doesn't occur often. He added that thus far his office has not been asked to look at any specific part of the fire department's probe.

"We're going in with a very open mind," he said. "We have no agendas. We'll look at the facts and report the facts back."

Greene has previously denied allegations of a cover-up, saying the documents shredded were copies of proprietary information and inspectors' notes that could have been inadvertently released to the media.

La-Sky, who previously expressed interest in running for county commission, has said he was demoted from spokesman to firefighter after the allegations. Still, he stands by his claim.

Reilly said he is convinced the documents shredded were simply copies and added that a greater concern involves the fire department's inspection plan.

He questioned why AeroTech had not been inspected by the county for five years and wondered how many other plants that use explosive chemicals have not been regularly reviewed.

"It begs the question: How many other facilities do we have out there?" Reilly said. "I'm not saying the inspections would have changed the fire; it's a larger question I want specific answers to."

Reilly has asked the fire department to develop a consistent inspection plan and inform him as to what resources are needed to carry it out.

Greene said he is uncertain as to why the plant wasn't inspected, but said the county was experiencing a growth spurt during that time and his staff may have been overburdened.

Greene welcomed an outside investigation.

"I'm not mad or upset by it," he said. "I know it will show how good we are, and we don't have anything to hide."

Reilly cautiously answered questions about whether commissioners had pressured him to get rid of Greene after the AeroTech fire.

"Commissioners address the issues on the performance of the fire station," he said. "They recognize it's my decision whether to hire or fire department heads."

Clark County Commissioner Dario Herrera has been most outspoken in questioning Greene's ability to lead the fire department.

Herrera said he has had concerns about Greene for two years.

"I think it creates a difficult situation when the vast majority of rank-and-file firefighters have lost their confidence in the leadership of their chief," he said.

Reilly's decision was backed by Herrera and Commissioner Bruce Woodbury.

"I'll support the county manager to what he thinks is necessary in that regard," Woodbury said. "Under the circumstances, it's probably a wise idea."