First responders who helped at East Palestine train derailment have injury claims denied
(WKBN) — Some first responders who rushed to help during the toxic train derailment in East Palestine are being told their personal injury claims have been denied.
Reading from a letter stating his appeal, Boardman Township Fire Chief Mark Pitzer pleaded his case on Wednesday afternoon.
“I also find it disheartening that our efforts and risk are not worthy of receiving the full settlement amount,” Pitzer said. “It’s disheartening and it is upsetting that our work is apparently not even recognized.”
Pitzer is one of several area first responders who were on scene the night of the derailment in February 2023, whose personal injury claim was denied.
“That work was dangerous, extremely dangerous — risking life and limb. for them to not recognize the sacrifice that our first responders made, not only from a safety standpoint but also from a health standpoint as a result of being exposed to these chemicals — it is extremely disheartening,” Pitzer said.
Many letters claimed the first responders were not physically located within ten miles of the derailment site.
“I have video of my guys actually by the rail cars in the water trying to extinguish these fires. They were put directly into harm’s way,” said John Walsh, assistant chief of Western Reserve Joint Fire District.
Complicating things further, Kroll, the company that issued the letters, has been removed from handling payments after the investigators found calculation errors. Epiq Class Action and Claims Solutions will now handle the payments.
“Who do we send the appeal to? Does it go to Kroll or does it go somewhere else? If it goes to Kroll, does it just get shredded? Does it get forwarded?” Walsh said.
And time is running out. The deadline to submit an appeal is June 24, adding to the frustration that’s shared across the first responders who feel like their sacrifice has been more than overlooked.
“It’s kind of a slap in the face to our whole entire region. They went down there to help for something they caused,” Walsh said.
“It does feel like a slap in the face that the work we do as first responders, do people care?” Pitzer said.
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