Probe Launched Into Fire That Killed Lakeland Woman

LAKELAND, FL -- A captain with Polk County Fire Rescue has been re-assigned to administrative duties as county officials launched an outside investigation Wednesday into the agency's handling of a November fire that claimed the life of a Lakeland woman.

Capt. (James) Williams. has been re-assigned to administrative duties while investigations continue," Polk County spokeswoman Mianne Nelson told Patch.

The county contracted with Emergency Services Consulting International to perform what officials described as a post incident analysis of Polk County Fire Rescue’s response to the blaze that killed Lorretta Pickard. The investigation will also provide recommendations on how to improve services. The firm is the consulting arm of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Pickard's family members appeared before the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday to request that officials get to the bottom of the incident.

"We do not know what happened that night but we would like to know the truth, the complete truth no matter how ugly it may be," said one family member at the meeting.

Nelson said that officials decided on the investigation prior to the meeting.

"The decision to engage an outside resource to conduct a third-party investigation was made last week, several days before the family appeared before the Board of County Commissioners," Nelson explained.

Spectrum News 9 reported that one of the issues involves cellphone video of the blaze that was reportedly shot by Williams and posted to social media. The television station said that firefighters ran out of water while fighting the blaze.

A draft report to the county will be submitted within 60 days. The final report will be submitted within 90 days with the cost set at $38,881.

Both Polk County and the external team were to begin assembling project teams and reviewing documents. Outside experts were expected to arrive within the next two to three weeks.

Rick Talbert will lead the post incident analysis project for Emergency Services Consulting International. Talbert has more than 40 years of experience in emergency services with the last 19 years as a fire chief. He is the retiring chief of South Walton Fire District in Florida.