Active Shooter Causes Additional Firefighter Training

FARMINGTON — In the wake of the fatal shooting in June involving area law enforcement officers, Farmington firefighters are receiving additional training for active shooting situations, fire Chief Mark Cunningham recently said.

Farmington police and firefighters arrived on the scene of a fire at 133 Neal St., and encountered a man holding a pistol and rifle. The man shot toward the officers and firefighters and they quickly took cover, calling for backup.

“We’ve had training on when you arrive on the scene and someone is waving a gun at you,” Cunningham said. “We do not put out the fire and we’re looking at the best way to get away, what to do to protect yourself and how far you need to stay away from the scene.”

He said additional training also will be scheduled in the future.

The fire department received a call about the fire at 5:05 p.m. June 24. Other fire departments responded to assist and all stood back while police dealt with the suspect. Flames engulfed a house in the background while negotiations continued with the suspect to resolve the confrontation with non-lethal methods.

At 6:05 p.m., the suspect, Randy Blecher, raised one of his weapons and pointed it toward officers. Three officers fired toward Blecher, hitting him multiple times. Blecher later was pronounced dead at Washington Regional Medical Center.

Cunningham included some thoughts about the shooting in his August monthly report to the mayor and Farmington City Council.

“We have had a incident in our city in which our firefighters had a gun pulled on them and was told not to put out the fire,” Cunningham said. “It is sad that this kind of thing has come to Farmington and the bigger that our city gets the more of these things will be happening.”

Cunningham told Council members he wanted to make sure his firefighters were protected, as well as the residents and their property.

He said training will include arriving on the scene with an active shooter and working with law enforcement.

“We want to be able to bring out any victims safely,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham has advocated the city have firefighters on duty 24 hours a day and said this incident is another reason why he supports an expanded fire department.

Two firefighters were on duty when the fire and shooting occurred June 24. If the fire had been called in at 10 p.m., no one would have been on duty at the fire station, he said.

“We need to be 24/7 and have someone here at all times. The city and I have been working toward that goal for several years,” he added.