OSHA drops fines North Charleston fire fines

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — State safety officials have dropped a $2,000 fine against the North Charleston Fire Department stemming from a 2010 fire that injured three firefighters.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reports (http://bit.ly/KWzu16 ) the Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the department for not properly monitoring where firefighters were in the fire. It also said the department did not have enough people ready to help in an emergency.

The city fought the citations, saying OSHA overstepped its authority. The city said OSHA was trying to enforce rules that were never formally adopted.

OSHA agreed to drop the citations this month. The city, in return, has agreed to a policy to critique department fire responses and one in which firefighters can provide feedback on how fires were handled.

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Information from: The Post and Courier, http://www.postandcourier.com