The Coffeys and their cat were the only two living beings inside their mountainside home that sits along the Broad River. MORE HERE: www.qcnews.com/news/investigations/wife-saved-by-volunteer-pilot-met-angry-official-at-landing-zone-husband-stranded/
Compliments to Jody Barr for engaging with specific Questions and that was the chief that stuck his head through the door...maybe he should fix that smoke detector hanging off the wall.
@BlackHillsGolddiggerthis is not negligence this is high treason against the American people. They have no right to say when someone can try to save someone's life. Period.
Licensed pilot here. Unless there was an FAA established TFR, Temporary Flight Restriction, in place The helicopter pilot can go anywhere he wants. Any violation would be handled by the FAA. A deputy fire chief has absolutely no authority in this case. The fire chief guy is an overblown lard bucket that has know idea what he is about.
@@Matt-fl8uy what information would make someone threaten jail time for rescuing people? I'm a current firefighter, and I don't see what the stick was up his butt for. Should be punished, not cancelled.
As a fire service professional with over 35 years of experience, this Assistant Chief needs to be terminated from the fire service. Disasters of this magnitude are not the time to "protect your turf" and he should have welcomed the help, not threatened to arrest the help. This guy gives our profession a black eye - and the local residents ought to be demanding his resignation - along with the township manager who tried to defend his inexcusable behavior. IT'S ABOUT SAVING LIVES nitwit, not your little kingdom.
So they dragged him across a debris filled river?! This is an intention insult, because the hurricane itself was generated by HAARP. We're under attack.
I think the lady that was supposedly the manager that was representing that dude that didn’t let him get his wife or get her husband. I mean, I think they were together. Did you see him open the door in the background? Thank God this couple has been reunited.🙏🏼God bless that volunteer pilot🙏🏼💕
Did anyone else notice the COWARD asst fire chief opened the door and peeped in during the city manager internew at 9:39 Too big of a COWARD to speak for himself. He needs to be fired immediately.
I also saw that and immediately backed up the video to see if I was seeing things! He was definitely having this lady do his PR work and she did a horrible job. I’m surprised more people have mentioned him peeking in!
It was like something out of a bad B list disaster movie. The bumbling incompetent government official stumbles into the broadcast of his corrupt superior desperately trying to cover for him, then tries to quietly close the door again hoping not to be noticed. 🤦♂🤦♂
The real problem is that most Americans are ""WHIPPED"" in as much as they WILL NOT DISOBEY even a bad or illegal order or demand & can't/don't/won't even know when they should. That is the sad part!! Did the weak fire wanna-be tell the LEO's to shoot the man down??? How does a person without wings tell a man that can fly what to do..........OR ELSE?? OR ELSE what, you semi fuzz-faced DUDE that sleeps with guys???!!!???
So flying a man in a helicopter 3 min. away was too dangerous and not allowed because of the stupid assistant fire dept. chief, but dragging a man by ropes across a raging, debris filled river was deemed acceptable and safe? What a joke.
I'm with you! Debris in the water could have killed or injured, disabled that man. I couldn't believe rescue people did that. The copter could have come and gotten him safely. All I can say for Melton is I'm hoping he was just completely stressed, tired, and will not make that kind of choice again. HE endangered people by not getting them out. Bless you for all you are doing.
That's it. This guy - and a lot of people like him in all the services - is more interested in being seen as a hero and worshiped by the public than actually saving people's lives. Melton seems to be one of those idiots who is only in his job because he thinks it brings him the respect he craves, and that means everything else takes second place to his ego. They risked injuring or killing Mr. Coffey because that moron in charge wanted to be seen as a hero.
So even if Jordan is an ex-cop with rescue experience , the point here is that he took a chance of being arrested for saving a stranded couple. What if they were your parents?
You know nothing will happen. The government is never held accountable, ever. People need to wake up. Our founding fathers created the Constitution for us
Why do you think they hire a pretty face to do P.R. In the first place. A Man would not get this amount of Leeway. Hell, she has the same "I'm going to cry look" that Cameltoe has.
And as a man from New Orleans you would remember that they tried the exact same crap with the Cajun Navy. Only difference is our boys just told them to GTFOut of our way!
yep. i wish they would have a had a pilot on the interview to counter her claims with FAA regulation. would of loved to see her try arguing that. nothing she stated for the reason was a legal reason to kick him out of the area
Yup! The pilot literally did NOTHING wrong, and everything he did that day was 100% legal in every way. I'm a Helicopter and Airplane CFII myself, former military, former Civil Air Patrol. Local authorities have no legal authority over airspace of any kind at ANY time, period. The ONLY gov authorities who can EVER control US airspace is the FAA and US military.
How can the fire department be over a private pilot with his personal helicopter was this area deemed a no fly zone by faa the fire department didn’t want people to make them look bad
@@ElmCreekSmith Nope, as an elected Mayor of a city in Florida, I've done damage control. I have not however lied to protect an employee who acted anywhere as egregiously as this clown did.
I rescued a woman and her dog from a raging river. I wasn't "authorized" and I didn't have "training". I just saved them like any MAN should. Screw your "authority". Edit: I did this over a year ago in a different state. You don't need permission to save someone's life.
Right after that firefighter is fired, this useless “city manager” needs sent to the unemployment office. They are disgusting human beings, so willing to lie to cover their ass.
If that woman thinks she helped the situation with her excuses she is soooo wrong. Her tooting the horns of the bureaucrats is infuriating and it's disgusting that she couldn't even acknowledge that they screwed up in not taking all the help they could get at the time. She and that chief are examples of the reason NC response as been garbage. Thank God for the volunteers who've been going around these people to give help.
It is obvious that someones over inflated HUGE ego was the problem at hand here. I just KNEW the rescuer would apologise after the fact as he really did NOT want to leave the husband there. What an upstanding gentleman and I bet his son is so very proud of his hero dad. It is men like him that gives me hope in this world in this day and age when so many will ignore trying to help others and/or put obstacles in the way, very much like the local goverment jobsworth people who did hiner the husbands rescue. He must have felt desperation like he had never felt before worrying about his wife. What a lovely devoted couple and I hope they are getting over their traumatic days and rescue. The main thing is that it has a happy ending 🙂 Vey well done Mr Pilot Hero. Love and Best Wishes from a friend from across the pond in the UK x
Chris Melton is a coward. He poked his head into the room and backed out and shut the door. He is incompetent and now he hides behind this incompetent woman! Lord help!
The man was not a "regular citizen" HE WAS A HELICOPTER PILOT WITH A HELICOPTER WHO HAD ALREADY SUCCESSFULLY RESCUED ONE PERSON. Since when did you need permission to help your fellow citizens?
@@sheena1940 and the fact he had 1400 fight hours on rotary aircraft. if your not fmailiar with flying 1400 hours on rotary is ALOT and makes him very very experienced. i would be willing to bet he has more flight hours then most of the search and rescue pilots in the area working for the gov. i would actually be willing to bet his job with the FD and PD was probably a helicopter pilot
Rescue Crews can get really "Territorial" About rescues. They take offense when regular citizens use other (many times BETTER) means to do what they sit around waiting for months or years to do... BUT when there is a natural disaster like this where so many people need help, why would you not take the help from people with better and safer means than you? It's just ego tripping, and you wonder how many people suffered and/or died because the rescue workers were trying to do it all when civilians could have helped with many rescues?
She is a perfect example of what is wrong with government. He didn't interrupt anything since there were no ther helicopters in the area. LIVES ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN FOLLOWING TREASONOUS ORDERS.
@@aff77141 If I am stranded, the more choppers to the rescue, the better. Don't turn anyone away and then drag the poor husband across a raging river to spare him the embarrassment of being rescued in a boring helicopter.
@@lalagardenia6500 they all should be arrested immediately in my opinion and criminally charged this interview should be exibit A in the trial against at least this woman and her coconspirators. Absolutely infuriating she can say these things with a straight face.
chief Melton is a BUM, a disgrace, a slob, a lazy no good person, he lied about things and knew this pilot was very well experienced. he put government policy ahead of peoples lives that were literally on the line and were life & death situations. He should be ashamed, literally pushed out of office with the others there. Melvin, you are not a chief, you are a bum in my eyes. quit your job, move to Haiti and live there forever... you are rotten to the core & should be ashamed of yourself !!! You are not a man!!!!😮😮😡😡😡😡
I like how Melton stuck his head through the door and when he saw she was still giving the interview he quickly shut the door again. Remember, he was "Unavailable" for an interview LOL What a COWARD.
Hey, she got the position due to which bathroom she uses, not by qualification... and it they fire her, she sue claiming discrimination etc. Whoa is me, these 🐄 wards public servants are insane.
All that was needed was to ask Jordan what qualifications he had (of which he had many), make a note of what radio-frequencies/channels Jordan would be using, plus the area/s he'd checked already or was still working! After rescuing the Coffeys, Jordan could've then gone to any area that they'd like him to check, that hadn't been checked already! Instead the response Jordan received from Assist. Fire Chief Chris Melton was typical of what people get from those in authority who are absolutely useless at delegating tasks because they desire all the glory!
"he didn't have the required training". Lady, you are a M O R O N. He's a pilot, a master in his craft. He's got the training. This is why most bureaucracies should be torn down to the frame and rebuilt. They quite literally will cost peoples lives for the sake of following some script. Sincerely, Retired LEO. First Responder SAR. Pilot. Katrina Responder.
@@oldetymebiker2405 my question is why didn't Melton get the man off the cliff? He wasn't going to let the rescuer bring him down. Yet, he left him there himself!
It is a community mindset. The people in charge were butt hurt that someone had ignored the chain of commend. The entire explanation the city manager gave points to the people in charge getting mad because they weren't consulted first.
Props to the reporter for putting that chick on the spot. I hope when this is said and done they find a new fire chief. Threatening to arrest the pilot was the biggest dick move I’ve seen in awhile.
I agree. Mr. Melton wielded his power without the knowledge. He should have had to give an explanation and not sent a girl to do his job. However, that is why they want women to be on the job, I guess.
Was that Assistant Chief Melton who opened the door at 9:40? It does seem like there were better ways to handle it, but I'm trying to give both of them the benefit of the doubt, as I'm sure the city and fire dept have been running rescue and recovery operations 24/7 since the hurricane. I can't imagine how stressful it has to be to have your community destroyed like that.
@@ramrod132 They claim the problem was he didn't communicate. Well he clearly communicated with them after he landed and they still told him he couldn't go back and rescue the guy. They turned a helicopter away and forced a man to go through a raging river to get rescued. Imagine if he would have died trying to cross the river. That was a very real possibility. They cannot possibly justify this decision.
That town manager is an absolute embarrassment, Charges should be filed against any city official that was restricting the rescue efforts of private citizens. These people are monsters.
Her name is Olivia Stewman, and she believes you have to have the king & queen's blessings before you can be a part of their total government control operations.
Egos bigger than their brains & jealousy of a competent citizen who was a proffessional pilot who risked HIS & HIS SONS LIFE to save complete strangers who were in dire straights because it was the humane course of action! This REALLY grinds my gears!!!😡😈
I worked emergency management for 15 years. My blood is boiling right now. That man has no business in this field of work. From that Asst Chief, to the city manager...you INCORPORATE resources you don't have. You don't turn them away. Dynamic fluid situations call for dynamic, fluid, well-reasoned responses. This was anything but. If their reasoning is that they have set up such a burdensom Command Structure that theyre incapable of doing that in short order, but rather it takes DAYS to do it, theyre doing it wrong. This was a cluster pluck. I'm so mad.
Even if we give them the benefit of doubt and be extremely generous by saying they have a burdensome bureaucratic system that needs overhauling, this was one singular moment where none of that would matter. They knew of a victim who needed rescuing, they knew where he was, they knew there were no other air assets in the area, they had a helicopter and a pilot right there. The sane and sensible thing to do would be to let him collect Mr. Coffey and THEN deal with the bureaucracy after the fact. They didn't do that because this was all about arrogance, ego, and a hero complex on the part of Mr. Melton, who should not be in that job because he's intellectually and emotionally compromised by his own sense of authority.
@@MariaVargas-yh2uk I believe he and that clueless power tripping DEI hire who thinks total government control is the only way should be FIRED! No way they should be allowed to resign and get some kind of severance pay, just so they can turn around and go do the same thing in another jurisdiction.
As former EMS / Fire Rescue and a pilot, that asst chief is nothing but a ego maniac. On a professional level he should lose his Certs and he should face criminal abandonment charges !
Being a former FF you probably see this for what it is. A fire chief that wanted to be the hero. He wanted his dept to be the ones pulling people out of the danger and looking like the saviors. Probably while thinking this is the perfect chance to bring up in the coming months when he requests for his budget to be increased. His ego straight up got in the way of any common sense a fire offical should have when it comes to helping the public.
@@jisezer by what rules, what state, fixed wing or Helicopter.. you text of. I live in MO a private Helicopter came in, saved a paralyzed waist down Deer hunter. As River flash flooded. The Helicopter, dropped his friend to pull him out of seat high water, up the hill out of water. Up hill to where road ambulance, came to them. Hypothermic at hospital. No one ever second guessed this small Helicopter helping this wheelchair bound.. victim... no time for permission... rescued him.
I seen this story right after it took place. Thank you so much for reporting their story!! I was so concerned that her husband wasn't going to make it, or how would they find each other!!?? I was sick and disgusted at how Asst chief Melton treated this hero, and threatened him with being arrested. Also since this disaster caused no electricity, no cell phones etc, how was he supposed to call and tell anyone anything??! Thank you again for sharing their story!! I'd like to thank Jordan and his son for being the heroes that they are!! 👏🏼 🙏🏼 Melissa Chamberlain from Ohio ❤ praying for everyone affected by this disaster 😢
@@Jenna-q6w Yeah, because women are so much better at keeping the ego in check. Only difference is women will scream about "the male ego" to anyone willing, or unwilling, to listen.
There are those who wonder why people don't like the government, don't trust the government, and generally have little regard for government officials. This. These kinds of things are the reason why those opinions exist.
As a pilot myself, I would dearly like to have 5 minutes with this "town manager" who answers questions like a typical politician. Non answers! Anyone who can pilot a helicopter is trained! Period!
not only that, the pilot literally did NOTHING wrong, and everything he did that day was 100% legal in every way. I'm a Helicopter and Airplane CFII myself, former military, former Civil Air Patrol. Local authorities have no legal authority over airspace of any kind at ANY time, period. The ONLY gov authorities who can EVER control US airspace is the FAA and US military.
@@juanitasullivan3372 1000 percent lol ask the fire guy if he can fly it? Lmao 🤣 💀 the is a pilot firefighter, first responder, and police experience. Lmao
I hope the cats got rescued too, that would conclude a very happy ending to this story! Thank you for all the volunteers out there helping to rescue these people.
@@randallwinters7387because the pilot is a highly trained pilot, as well as an officer of the law. The fireman is just a local dope with an ego problem.
The asst chief is a COWARD! He was right there during her interview and even opened door and peeped in at 9:39 Too big of a COWARD to speak for himself and his ego. Pathetic.
this isn't actual government overreach, this is the ego of one indvidual and it's the government that will make sure you can fire him, if he refuses to resign. you have misplaced anger and a very loose understanding of things in general, is my guess.
Great story, super thanks to Jordan and your brave reporter who asked the tough questions. Sending prayers from Las Vegas, God bless you one and all🙏🙏🙏
Remove her pension, as she prolly removed several citizens LIVES that day due to refusing to allow humans to reszcue other humans in a desperate time of NEED. CRIMINAL.
I know that's almost worse than the fire guy. He could have not thought of everything in the moment and made a mistake sending the pilot away, but the town manager defending that BS After all, the information and time that she's had to process is so much worse. Evil They both are obviously not really interested in how people are doing. Sure, he does his job.But the bottom line isn't people. He has to be the big man in charge and the hero.
As a native of Weaverville NC you have lost my respect and I'm sure surrounding communities. I'm absolutely disgusted with your lack of judgement during a crisis situation. All leadership should be asked to step down. Leaders can handle crisis situations in a way that saves lives in an organized way. You failed.
@@aff77141 If you followed the pilots story... he flew in getting in touch with Charlotte first, touched down at Rutherford regional, got frequencies... A lot of miscommunication in those early hours after... assuming there was zero communication... threatening him with arrest (i.e. asking him to leave his co pilot on the mountain that by their own words was crumbling and another victim) was a bad call. Rope pulling the victim across a raging debris filled river was not the better option. If they had another heli inbound and he was blocking air space... maybe? But co-ordinate, communicate. Throwing out your authority and then having town manager having an interview because you're "unavailable" but then poke your head in mid-way through... I'm sorry... bad look. The excuse... "The pilot didn't have enough training etc." was shot down by... So what happened in 24 hours when he was welcomed back. She dodged that question. Take the heat... say it was a bad call... and apologize. It's that simple. I don't know why anybody can't own up to their actions anymore. Worse case, pilot should have had better comms... Asst. Fire chief should not have threatened arrest. Just come out and admit it instead of doubling down.
@@aff77141 if your speaking of the pilot offering his assistance...he communicated w the ppl needing rescued!🤷♀️ Winner Winner Chicken Dinner, in this type of situation!
This has also caused rumors that this is happening all over and it’s affecting you guys and Swannanoa and Black Mountain as well. Because of this, people are afraid to help because of the rock of being turned away or arrested. I’m in Rutherford County.
And he said he stayed with the cats, he and the cats where going to be pick up on flight 2. I highly douth those cats where dragged over the raging river....
That pilot was a previous firefighter and law enforcement officer. He was well within the scope of his experience. The town is 100% in the wrong and owes this man an apology as well as the couple they forced him to split up.
More than an apology. There should be punitive damages for all the unnecessary risk and anxiety caused by an over zealous assistant fire chief who has zero authority over the air space.
The town needs to fire Melton and the city manager. And instead of paying them out their vacation and final paycheck, give that money to all the private pilots that came to help out as a reimbursement for the fuel and maintenance costs.
B.s. they could have sent a rescuer with him. It was a spontaneous save. So. In CHINA citizens will get in big trouble for helping eachother. Drowing etc. Social credit score. Jail. Etc. Our regulations are getting crazy. Yes don't let 50 people wandering around into a forest fire. But he knows how to fly. Knew where to go etc. They could have quickly vetted him. I call b.s.. for his response. If Mr coffee never defended that day the rescue crew on foot wasn't getting to him.
@@soledadramirez5084 I was being sarcastic. A fireman who feels personally offended by someone successfully helping people, needs to find another career. This hurricane season has cost many lives, an egomaniac should not be in a position of authority. It's like Officer Cartman: "respect my AUTHORITAAAHH!!".
God bless this pilot with his kindness, help others to pitch in to help. People matter, no room for hate and prejudice against the poor folks who are stranded!
She is full of 💩. If he was 'trained' sufficiently the following day, he was fine the previous day. How long might they have sat there unnoticed if he had NOT flown over and spotted them ?
I agree with you, this is the epitomy of stupidity, and he should serve jail time for abuse of power by threatening to arrest someone who was actually saving lives.
Nooo wait the fire chief is a volunteer??? He and her should be stripped of any duties, volunteer or paid. I should hope the people of this town, city, county could reassess this disaster that was handled so poorly🥲😭🤯 People deserve better than this. ✝️🙏🏻❤️😀
I am afraid it could be a bigger issue. He may actually be hands on deck to make sure the rescue efforts will take a little longer. He is maybe part of a syndicate in the real estate game. He was maybe on the payroll with the big dog there. It is a common practice in most small towns. Bully the locals for the land grabs so they can recycle real estates many times for most profits. This is just my opinion and my observation. So I might be wrong completely or I might be right. Only the truth will reveal itself soon enough
But, the ASSistant fire chief needed control! its not like there are recorded cases of the ropes used to perform that maneuver have snapped and caused people to drown in the middle of a flooded river before, nuh uhh never happened...Totally safer than a quick dry helicopter ride...
And he climbed down an unstable washed out cliff to even *get* to the river to be dragged across. Complete abomination. Even Leslie Knope would have been better in this situation than Mr. Mustache McEgo
@PingGao2000if he had taken the chance & these bozos actually arrested him, he wouldn't have been able to go back to help. As hard as it is, complying to Mr. Mustache was the only way he would be able to get assistance to the stranded
I came here to say this! Bravo local journalism!! Asking the tough questions and trying to get to the bottom of this ridiculous situation. Holding local government accountable is exactly what our media should be doing. I Saw the original report of this and the reporter stated they wanted to get the fire chief guy's side of the story so they could understand his perspective. This is REAL journalism! Trying to tell the full story in a factual way with all perspectives represented. Keep up the good work!!
Jody Barr is awesome at this. My favorite part of the video is where he peeks in to see if she is still being interviewed. She knows that he can't be trusted.
The fact that the chief was not only making him leave the husband behind but tried to make him leave his own son is disgusting. He needs to be fired and investigated. I'm so sorry for this couple and what they went through. What a nightmare.
As a retired wildland firefighter who has had Incident Command System ICS training and been an incident commander. Yes it best to keep it all coordinated with the response. But you have to be flexible and quick to make adjustments. The pilot would have been quickly briefed of our plans and fully supported to finish the rescue. The pilot would have been asked to help all he can and add him into the plan. Not everyone has a helicopter to help with. This is a life-threatening incident, no time for bloated egos. Dam, this boils me. The chief and that spokeswomen should be fired and never ever let near public service of any type.
Yes, but they aren't getting paid, ergo there will be no kick-backs. The whole damn thing is a racket. I saw a video of a guy that said FEMA was doing this crap down in the Keys in 2017. I have also seen video of government helicopters, unmarked, ruining supplies and hurting aid workers using rotor wash. They truly are an evil bunch.
Exactly. I came here to leave a comment for Mr. Barr. I live in WV but have been trying to keep up with this story. Real journalism INDEED. I thought she was gonna get up and run near the end.
@@tnjsmithts I like how the coward Melton opened the door and stuck his head in and when he saw she was still in the interview he quickly shut the door again because he was ......... Unavailable LOL What a COWARD.
So citizens of Lake Lure, vote every single council member out. Send a message to the Chief and this city manager. She is a disgrace to citizens of that community. Both should be fired by Friday morning.
Unfortunately, there are probably no longer enough citizens left to do this. Historically, people simply refuse to vote their own government officials out anyway. It’s always the “other” people who are the problem.
No one votes for freedom anymore. They vote for more rules on how to die under their governments iron fist. VOTE HARDER PEOPLE!!! You'll have someone to hold your hand and tell you what's right or wrong if you don't follow the rules and people are dying while you worry about your subscription service expiring.
I reported the Fire Chiefs to the State Marshal's Office. I urge others to leave voicemails as well and email if you can! When our voices are unified we are unstoppable.
@@viceforever It's not like leaving a voicemail to change president's. Especially if enough people get involved. They will more than likely find someone else for his position. And they should.
He was a vet, ex-cop, and EMT. I believe that's more than enough experiences in my book!!!!! Thank goodness for you sir the idiots in charge need to be punished.
not only that, the pilot literally did NOTHING wrong, and everything he did that day was 100% legal in every way. I'm a Helicopter and Airplane CFII myself, former military, former Civil Air Patrol. Local authorities have no legal authority over airspace of any kind at ANY time, period. The ONLY gov authorities who can EVER control US airspace is the FAA and US military.
The fire assistant did commit a crime. He cannot just willy nilly threaten arrest. Without probable cause of a crime, threatening arrest is a crime in itself. He risked the life of two people, there are real victims. The husband was pulled across river with a rope instead of being airlifted out. They risked his life for no reason.
110% If it was them or their family, would they send help away and tell them to get permission to rescue first? My gosh the leaders in this country need empathy!
@@livelyara The fake fire fighter man who threatened arrest was in no position of authority to do anything but help others if that is what he wanted to do. He committed a crime with intent of putting the two stranded people into mortal danger. It needs to be punished. Their own rescue attempt was much more dangerous and only happened because the last man stranded risked his life to hike out of his situation after being told about the fire fighter leaving him for dead. He likely would have died if he did not take matters into his own hands to save himself.
@bossbabies347 - - Absolutely and how disgusting to be told NO you can not rescue a person in need (Right on the level of saving a drowning person and being told by the late arriving lifeguard that You will be arrested if you do it again ... Fire Chief needs to be let go BIG TIME!!!)
YES HE was doing what Any Capable & Responsible American would do in a time of Crisis with his helicopter. The assistant fire putter putter is just a jealous Hater because he can't fly one.
![Twenty One Pilots - “The Line” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E2Rj2gQAyPA/mqdefault.jpg)
The Coffeys and their cat were the only two living beings inside their mountainside home that sits along the Broad River. MORE HERE: www.qcnews.com/news/investigations/wife-saved-by-volunteer-pilot-met-angry-official-at-landing-zone-husband-stranded/
Compliments to Jody Barr for engaging with specific Questions and that was the chief that stuck his head through the door...maybe he should fix that smoke detector hanging off the wall.
3 living beings. Cats and pets count.
Stop these COMMUNIST tyrants in the fire department and FEMA!! Stop the insanity!!
This is high treason. They have no right to prevent anyone from trying to save someone's life. Period.
@BlackHillsGolddiggerthis is not negligence this is high treason against the American people. They have no right to say when someone can try to save someone's life. Period.
Licensed pilot here. Unless there was an FAA established TFR, Temporary Flight Restriction, in place The helicopter pilot can go anywhere he wants. Any violation would be handled by the FAA. A deputy fire chief has absolutely no authority in this case. The fire chief guy is an overblown lard bucket that has know idea what he is about.
@@randallwinters7387🫵🏻🤡💩🧠
I like your moxy, but replace "know" with "no"
@@randallwinters7387 close they are certificated
@@randallwinters7387
He says there wasn’t.
Chris Melton is a bully and a coward. The town manager making excuses is even more pathetic.
In the middle of a disaster scenario where decisions are made with imperfect information this feels like cancel culture.
@@Matt-fl8uy what information would make someone threaten jail time for rescuing people? I'm a current firefighter, and I don't see what the stick was up his butt for. Should be punished, not cancelled.
Why couldn't she just admit there could have been done better?
Feels like trump who can't admit defeat... It's annoying and wrong.
@@ZoomZoomMX3 wtf....
Is she his wife or girl friend?
Chife Melton and the city manager should resign or be fired.
Preferably fired because if they're allowed to resign they'll probably get a big fat severance package.
And his fire certification needs to be revoked so he can't do this crap somewhere else.
Thanks for censoring my comment Y/T... That makes this an editorialized publication and open to lawsuits over it...
@@shaneprat2489or becoming a deputy and actually arresting people!
This is mind boggling how she could defend the chief she needs to be fired along with the chief
Dude is a hero, he was acting out of shear humanity ❤
As a fire service professional with over 35 years of experience, this Assistant Chief needs to be terminated from the fire service. Disasters of this magnitude are not the time to "protect your turf" and he should have welcomed the help, not threatened to arrest the help. This guy gives our profession a black eye - and the local residents ought to be demanding his resignation - along with the township manager who tried to defend his inexcusable behavior. IT'S ABOUT SAVING LIVES nitwit, not your little kingdom.
Thank you! I was VFD, and if we needed help, we took every other volunteer we could get!
Exactly!! 💯
Exactly!
He should have been a lot more than fired! Completely ridiculous!
Turf war was exactly what it was.
They dragged the dude through the river rather than let a helicopter pilot save him.. fucking ridiculous
Agree - unbelievable!
Exactly
That was exactly what I was going to say until I saw your comment. What a power trip this idiot Assistant Chief was on.
So they dragged him across a debris filled river?! This is an intention insult, because the hurricane itself was generated by HAARP. We're under attack.
I think the lady that was supposedly the manager that was representing that dude that didn’t let him get his wife or get her husband. I mean, I think they were together. Did you see him open the door in the background? Thank God this couple has been reunited.🙏🏼God bless that volunteer pilot🙏🏼💕
Did anyone else notice the COWARD asst fire chief opened the door and peeped in during the city manager internew at 9:39 Too big of a COWARD to speak for himself. He needs to be fired immediately.
Caught that too!
I also saw that and immediately backed up the video to see if I was seeing things! He was definitely having this lady do his PR work and she did a horrible job. I’m surprised more people have mentioned him peeking in!
I saw that!!
Glad someone else noticed!
It was like something out of a bad B list disaster movie. The bumbling incompetent government official stumbles into the broadcast of his corrupt superior desperately trying to cover for him, then tries to quietly close the door again hoping not to be noticed. 🤦♂🤦♂
That pilot was so good !! God bless him! May there be more like him everywhere!
Another example of useless people being in a position of authority.
The real problem is that most Americans are ""WHIPPED"" in as much as they WILL NOT DISOBEY even a bad or illegal order or demand & can't/don't/won't even know when they should. That is the sad part!!
Did the weak fire wanna-be tell the LEO's to shoot the man down??? How does a person without wings tell a man that can fly what to do..........OR ELSE?? OR ELSE what, you semi fuzz-faced DUDE that sleeps with guys???!!!???
Bureaucrats asserting "rules based" authority. So petty and so out of line.
Wef
This happened in Germany as I recall history.
Amen brother!!!
This lady is protecting her chief, excuses, all BS. Fire her as well!
Not fire...arrested by US Marshal for interfering with a flight under the color of law....a felony
Amen
Her Chief has been let go.
@@trailshade7590really? The dude that threatened firing the pilot?
@@trailshade7590That would be awesome, but is there proof?
So flying a man in a helicopter 3 min. away was too dangerous and not allowed because of the stupid assistant fire dept. chief, but dragging a man by ropes across a raging, debris filled river was deemed acceptable and safe? What a joke.
Amen I was thinking the same thing
Exactly!!!
Ya that seems worse in so many ways and I've paddled some nasty rivers, with debris you don't know what could strike you.
I'm with you! Debris in the water could have killed or injured, disabled that man. I couldn't believe rescue people did that. The copter could have come and gotten him safely. All I can say for Melton is I'm hoping he was just completely stressed, tired, and will not make that kind of choice again. HE endangered people by not getting them out. Bless you for all you are doing.
My thoughts exactly!
Bravo Volunteer pilot! 🙏✝️🥰🫡🇺🇸
Dragging him across a raging river was safer than being taken by helicopter?? How many people possibly died because of this fire chiefs ego??
Exactly
And then asked him if he was okay. Holy crap!
That's it. This guy - and a lot of people like him in all the services - is more interested in being seen as a hero and worshiped by the public than actually saving people's lives.
Melton seems to be one of those idiots who is only in his job because he thinks it brings him the respect he craves, and that means everything else takes second place to his ego.
They risked injuring or killing Mr. Coffey because that moron in charge wanted to be seen as a hero.
Even one would be too many…😢
Pharisees!
Jordan is an ex-cop with rescue experience and has 1400 flight hours, not just "some civilian." Their response is just gaslighting.
I suspect there aren't many 'just civilians' flying helicopter?
@@angelikalindenau943that's where'd you'd be wrong lol
With all that training should understand the need for organization
Check out 9:40 into video - it looks like the threat-making-bozo enters the room.
So even if Jordan is an ex-cop with rescue experience , the point here is that he took a chance of being arrested for saving a stranded couple. What if they were your parents?
Chief Melton should be FIRED. DISGUSTING
He won't have a job at all soon, since Lake Lure basically doesn't exist anymore.
@@stevef68Did you see open the door.
You know nothing will happen. The government is never held accountable, ever. People need to wake up. Our founding fathers created the Constitution for us
rules were made to be broken !!!!
@@simoneconsciousobserver3105 I saw it.
This man Jordan & other's like him are our Hero's 💫💕
That town manager should be FIRED
She should be fired immediately !!! Along with the fire chief!!!
Out of a canon!
Arrested and "deported"
He should be criminally charged
They're both sad and ridiculous
The pilot wasn't trained??? He is former military, and a former police officer trained in search and rescue...
And a volunteer firefighter ….. didn’t know he was former military ,but not surprised.
EXACTLY!! She has no idea who she's even dealing with. 🙄
And wasn't going to drag him through a river.
And by a “police officer” he ran an entire sheriffs department
I think that he also said that he flew a helicopter during his military deployment. That is great experience to fly in search and rescue.
As a man from New Orleans, that woman is spewing ABSOLUTE BS. You DO NOT turn help away in times like this! Disgusting!
Why do you think they hire a pretty face to do P.R. In the first place. A Man would not get this amount of Leeway.
Hell, she has the same "I'm going to cry look" that Cameltoe has.
She knows it, squirming in her seat.
"9:03 correct those people should NOT have been rescued"
This incompetence from local North Carolina government is ridiculous. Republicans 😂
They’re democrats
And as a man from New Orleans you would remember that they tried the exact same crap with the Cajun Navy. Only difference is our boys just told them to GTFOut of our way!
I'm glad more people are being allowed to help. Thank you, Jordan, for being the person you are. ❤
What a total BS answer from the city. There was no TFR, making it completely legal for anyone to fly there. Fire Chris Melton
yep. i wish they would have a had a pilot on the interview to counter her claims with FAA regulation. would of loved to see her try arguing that. nothing she stated for the reason was a legal reason to kick him out of the area
Yup!
The pilot literally did NOTHING wrong, and everything he did that day was 100% legal in every way. I'm a Helicopter and Airplane CFII myself, former military, former Civil Air Patrol. Local authorities have no legal authority over airspace of any kind at ANY time, period.
The ONLY gov authorities who can EVER control US airspace is the FAA and US military.
*Stopped listening to her bs*
How can the fire department be over a private pilot with his personal helicopter was this area deemed a no fly zone by faa the fire department didn’t want people to make them look bad
@@ajcates9136 👍
She and Melton should be fired!!!
She was doing damage control, which is her job. Melton risked the life of the husband. He should be sanctioned.
AND CHARGED WITH ENDANGERMENT OF CITIZENS
As a citizen, you need to SUE that county !!
@@ElmCreekSmith Nope, as an elected Mayor of a city in Florida, I've done damage control. I have not however lied to protect an employee who acted anywhere as egregiously as this clown did.
She's just a spokesperson.
This woman is a joke! People’s lives are more important than rules! These pilots are hero’s!
They threw her to the wolves.
Heroes
They’ll still vote democrat…
@@arizonajo2791 Biden sent the area FEMA and a billion dollars. Trump set up a go fund me and didn't spend a dime. Who cares more?
She reminds me of KJP, who's job is to lie and try to make a human Potato look competent, but cannot.
What a blessing to have a husband who loves you so much. I hope God blessed this man for loving his wife so much.
They risked that husbands life, dragging him across a bloody RIVER, rather than a hero in a helicopter. Fire Chris Melton.
Did they drag the husband and their cat over the bloody river?
@@charlottepuglisi2893don’t know about the cat but the man yes
THAT'S A FACT!!!!!!!! Good grief !
You spelled arrest wrong.
Pretty despicable!
I rescued a woman and her dog from a raging river. I wasn't "authorized" and I didn't have "training". I just saved them like any MAN should. Screw your "authority".
Edit: I did this over a year ago in a different state. You don't need permission to save someone's life.
@@whiskeymonk4085 EXACTLY!!!! And THANK YOU, Sir, for being a HERO!!!!!
Fahqin right
The old obediential ethic that was deemed no excuse during the Nuremberg trials. There is a law higher that obeying and that is the law of conscience!
Out for a helicopter RIP eh
Thank you for all your help in this tragic time
Right after that firefighter is fired, this useless “city manager” needs sent to the unemployment office. They are disgusting human beings, so willing to lie to cover their ass.
it's a big group and you're not in it ! G. Carlin.
Did you see the fire chief open the door behind her
If that woman thinks she helped the situation with her excuses she is soooo wrong. Her tooting the horns of the bureaucrats is infuriating and it's disgusting that she couldn't even acknowledge that they screwed up in not taking all the help they could get at the time. She and that chief are examples of the reason NC response as been garbage. Thank God for the volunteers who've been going around these people to give help.
Unemployment is too good for these people
You are so right. I hope the couple sues their butts.
It is obvious that someones over inflated HUGE ego was the problem at hand here.
I just KNEW the rescuer would apologise after the fact as he really did NOT want to leave the husband there. What an upstanding gentleman and I bet his son is so very proud of his hero dad. It is men like him that gives me hope in this world in this day and age when so many will ignore trying to help others and/or put obstacles in the way, very much like the local goverment jobsworth people who did hiner the husbands rescue. He must have felt desperation like he had never felt before worrying about his wife. What a lovely devoted couple and I hope they are getting over their traumatic days and rescue. The main thing is that it has a happy ending 🙂
Vey well done Mr Pilot Hero. Love and Best Wishes from a friend from across the pond in the UK x
Lady, i'm sorry, but there is NOTHING you're going to tell me that will save face. You all screwed up, and you need to admit it.
Yes. The more she says the worse it sounds.
She sounds like she works for the secret service!
@@Maulyhatchet yes. Poor judgement based on ego is bad enough. But not knowing when to admit you were wrong is even more egregious
You can't fix stupid... especially when coupled with arrogance, don't hold your breath
right! as she sits there with a smug attitude while comfortable, clean, showered, with food and electricity. unbelievable!
Chris Melton is a coward. He poked his head into the room and backed out and shut the door. He is incompetent and now he hides behind this incompetent woman! Lord help!
I noticed that also! It’s him opening the door while she’s talking to the reporter!!! Wtf!!!
Around 9:40
Dude, I caught that too! What a fucking coward
I can’t believe the news reporter didn’t catch that and call her out on it or at least after he went back and looked at the footage
No the pilot is thebactual coward....he let the threat of arrest keep him from saving a life... it was more important for him not to get arrested.
The pilots the coward for letting the threat of arrest deter him from saving a life. It was more important to him not to get arrested.
The man was not a "regular citizen" HE WAS A HELICOPTER PILOT WITH A HELICOPTER WHO HAD ALREADY SUCCESSFULLY RESCUED ONE PERSON. Since when did you need permission to help your fellow citizens?
It was also mentioned in another video that he was also a former firefighter and police officer
@@sheena1940
The "former Police Officer" is the answer to this ego-driven decision...
@@sheena1940 and the fact he had 1400 fight hours on rotary aircraft. if your not fmailiar with flying 1400 hours on rotary is ALOT and makes him very very experienced. i would be willing to bet he has more flight hours then most of the search and rescue pilots in the area working for the gov. i would actually be willing to bet his job with the FD and PD was probably a helicopter pilot
Rescue Crews can get really "Territorial" About rescues. They take offense when regular citizens use other (many times BETTER) means to do what they sit around waiting for months or years to do... BUT when there is a natural disaster like this where so many people need help, why would you not take the help from people with better and safer means than you? It's just ego tripping, and you wonder how many people suffered and/or died because the rescue workers were trying to do it all when civilians could have helped with many rescues?
and he Was a former POLICE OFFICER.......He was a Dynamo in a very Humble outfit.....He and his son are HERO's TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
Thanks for reporting this incredible and unbelievable news story!❤💯🇺🇲
She is a perfect example of what is wrong with government. He didn't interrupt anything since there were no ther helicopters in the area. LIVES ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN FOLLOWING TREASONOUS ORDERS.
There are helicopters in the area. People are lying to your faces and you're just taking their word for it instead of asking the folks that live here.
@@aff77141 If I am stranded, the more choppers to the rescue, the better. Don't turn anyone away and then drag the poor husband across a raging river to spare him the embarrassment of being rescued in a boring helicopter.
The training of that podunk fire department ain't nothing to brag about.
@@lalagardenia6500 they all should be arrested immediately in my opinion and criminally charged this interview should be exibit A in the trial against at least this woman and her coconspirators. Absolutely infuriating she can say these things with a straight face.
chief Melton is a BUM, a disgrace, a slob, a lazy no good person, he lied about things and knew this pilot was very well experienced. he put government policy ahead of peoples lives that were literally on the line and were life & death situations. He should be ashamed, literally pushed out of office with the others there. Melvin, you are not a chief, you are a bum in my eyes. quit your job, move to Haiti and live there forever... you are rotten to the core & should be ashamed of yourself !!! You are not a man!!!!😮😮😡😡😡😡
Melton is a coward! This woman is stupid!
She is a brain dead politician. If she cared for safety, her smoke alarm would not be hanging by its wires in her office.
Nothing like getting drug through a fast moving river with debris rather than a helicopter ride.
I like how Melton stuck his head through the door and when he saw she was still giving the interview he quickly shut the door again.
Remember, he was "Unavailable" for an interview LOL
What a COWARD.
@@thomasjoseph5876I came here looking for this comment… why haven’t more people noticed him poking his head in the room briefly?
Hey, she got the position due to which bathroom she uses, not by qualification... and it they fire her, she sue claiming discrimination etc. Whoa is me, these 🐄 wards public servants are insane.
Sorry, I can't let you save my life.
You didn't file the right paperwork.
Disgusting.
Bureaucracy in a nutshell.
Wait till he tries to explain that one to God
Sorry I can't let you into heaven, you didn't fill out the forms.
But there is plenty of room in hell.
All that was needed was to ask Jordan what qualifications he had (of which he had many), make a note of what radio-frequencies/channels Jordan would be using, plus the area/s he'd checked already or was still working!
After rescuing the Coffeys, Jordan could've then gone to any area that they'd like him to check, that hadn't been checked already!
Instead the response Jordan received from Assist. Fire Chief Chris Melton was typical of what people get from those in authority who are absolutely useless at delegating tasks because they desire all the glory!
@@MrWombatty
Or just, thank god you are here helping us get people off the mountain with your copter.
We can use all the help we can get!
Thank God that he was helping those people that couldn't get to safety..God Bless you sir 🙏🏻❤️
"he didn't have the required training". Lady, you are a M O R O N. He's a pilot, a master in his craft. He's got the training. This is why most bureaucracies should be torn down to the frame and rebuilt. They quite literally will cost peoples lives for the sake of following some script.
Sincerely,
Retired LEO. First Responder SAR. Pilot. Katrina Responder.
He is also ex military and a firefighter.
Thank you for your service!!!!!
Thank you!!!
@amyutah1934 Yessss! The nerve of some people. He is definitely very qualified. 🫡🫡🫡
he had over a thousand hrs of flight time.
Keep pressure on this township to get this guy fired. He obviously does not give a damn about anything except his ego.
The city manager is inept as well. This is a major disaster area....who the hell has time to get permission?
@@oldetymebiker2405 my question is why didn't Melton get the man off the cliff?
He wasn't going to let the rescuer bring him down.
Yet, he left him there himself!
It is a community mindset. The people in charge were butt hurt that someone had ignored the chain of commend. The entire explanation the city manager gave points to the people in charge getting mad because they weren't consulted first.
Its government. People are shocked horrible government workers end up being horrible
He is probably taking orders from someone else!? Why else would he do that??
Props to the reporter for putting that chick on the spot. I hope when this is said and done they find a new fire chief. Threatening to arrest the pilot was the biggest dick move I’ve seen in awhile.
And...hes only the assistant fire chief...where is THE FIRE CHIEF
I agree. Mr. Melton wielded his power without the knowledge. He should have had to give an explanation and not sent a girl to do his job. However, that is why they want women to be on the job, I guess.
Well said!
Was that Assistant Chief Melton who opened the door at 9:40?
It does seem like there were better ways to handle it, but I'm trying to give both of them the benefit of the doubt, as I'm sure the city and fire dept have been running rescue and recovery operations 24/7 since the hurricane. I can't imagine how stressful it has to be to have your community destroyed like that.
@@ramrod132 They claim the problem was he didn't communicate. Well he clearly communicated with them after he landed and they still told him he couldn't go back and rescue the guy. They turned a helicopter away and forced a man to go through a raging river to get rescued. Imagine if he would have died trying to cross the river. That was a very real possibility. They cannot possibly justify this decision.
I'm glad you both are safe.
That town manager is an absolute embarrassment, Charges should be filed against any city official that was restricting the rescue efforts of private citizens. These people are monsters.
Maybe the couple can hire a really good lawyear and sue the city for such incompetence.
@@Senorzilchnzeroknowing the US. They'll Prolly walk away with a couple mill
That's how the magic apron cult flunkies roll
Her name is Olivia Stewman, and she believes you have to have the king & queen's blessings before you can be a part of their total government control operations.
Egos bigger than their brains & jealousy of a competent citizen who was a proffessional pilot who risked HIS & HIS SONS LIFE to save complete strangers who were in dire straights because it was the humane course of action! This REALLY grinds my gears!!!😡😈
I worked emergency management for 15 years. My blood is boiling right now. That man has no business in this field of work.
From that Asst Chief, to the city manager...you INCORPORATE resources you don't have. You don't turn them away. Dynamic fluid situations call for dynamic, fluid, well-reasoned responses. This was anything but. If their reasoning is that they have set up such a burdensom Command Structure that theyre incapable of doing that in short order, but rather it takes DAYS to do it, theyre doing it wrong.
This was a cluster pluck.
I'm so mad.
Even if we give them the benefit of doubt and be extremely generous by saying they have a burdensome bureaucratic system that needs overhauling, this was one singular moment where none of that would matter. They knew of a victim who needed rescuing, they knew where he was, they knew there were no other air assets in the area, they had a helicopter and a pilot right there. The sane and sensible thing to do would be to let him collect Mr. Coffey and THEN deal with the bureaucracy after the fact.
They didn't do that because this was all about arrogance, ego, and a hero complex on the part of Mr. Melton, who should not be in that job because he's intellectually and emotionally compromised by his own sense of authority.
This is one of THE best comments yet...INCORPORATE resources you don't have. Kudo's.
Well said
Do you believe he should resign?
@@MariaVargas-yh2uk I believe he and that clueless power tripping DEI hire who thinks total government control is the only way should be FIRED! No way they should be allowed to resign and get some kind of severance pay, just so they can turn around and go do the same thing in another jurisdiction.
As former EMS / Fire Rescue and a pilot, that asst chief is nothing but a ego maniac. On a professional level he should lose his Certs and he should face criminal abandonment charges !
I agree.!! But doubt anything will happen no doubt connected politically, like Nepotism.
@@jisezer show me the law and the FAA regulation that says he cant land and pick someone up.
@@jisezer Give us the citation for the law that says that.
Being a former FF you probably see this for what it is. A fire chief that wanted to be the hero. He wanted his dept to be the ones pulling people out of the danger and looking like the saviors. Probably while thinking this is the perfect chance to bring up in the coming months when he requests for his budget to be increased. His ego straight up got in the way of any common sense a fire offical should have when it comes to helping the public.
@@jisezer by what rules, what state, fixed wing or Helicopter.. you text of.
I live in MO a private Helicopter came in, saved a paralyzed waist down Deer hunter. As River flash flooded. The Helicopter, dropped his friend to pull him out of seat high water, up the hill out of water. Up hill to where road ambulance, came to them. Hypothermic at hospital. No one ever second guessed this small Helicopter helping this wheelchair bound.. victim... no time for permission... rescued him.
6:48
God bless this precious couple. I’m so happy they’re okay and together!
They DRAGGED a exhausted man across a dangerous debris filled river!
Apparently that's "safer" than a trained pilot flying them above said debris filled river 🤷♂
Exhausted, hungry, and more than likely dehydrated.
Yeap, gotta get them SAR numbers padded lol...WTF
@betsyj59 After crossing the river, he had plenty of hydration, lol.
That pisses me off
She is a good example of why people don't trust government.
She sounds like a robot reading from a script
This wasn't the "government", this was this ignorant "law enforcement" being an authoritiarian.
What a joke she is! No dang heart over a government paycheck! While she in her AC tent and hotel room.
@@beentheredonethat3624 local government 🤷
Bet she would change her attitude if it were her needing to be rescued!
Hindering life saving rescue for your personal ego should be jail time
@@silentvoiceinthedark5665 I can’t like this enough!!
Maybe there's something else going on there the military doesn't want the public to know.
It's not even about his ego, it's about getting money from FEMA, which is even worse.
Olivia Stewman should be fired for lying her ass off and Chief Melton should be jailed period.
Its a felony within European Union, probably some other European countries too
I seen this story right after it took place. Thank you so much for reporting their story!! I was so concerned that her husband wasn't going to make it, or how would they find each other!!?? I was sick and disgusted at how Asst chief Melton treated this hero, and threatened him with being arrested. Also since this disaster caused no electricity, no cell phones etc, how was he supposed to call and tell anyone anything??! Thank you again for sharing their story!! I'd like to thank Jordan and his son for being the heroes that they are!! 👏🏼 🙏🏼 Melissa Chamberlain from Ohio ❤ praying for everyone affected by this disaster 😢
There is nothing on earth as useless as a self-important 2-bit bureaucrat.
There is nothing more destructive than the male ego.
@@Jenna-q6w Yeah, because women are so much better at keeping the ego in check. Only difference is women will scream about "the male ego" to anyone willing, or unwilling, to listen.
There is nothing more unsafe than a pilot illegally conducting search and rescue without training.
Female entitlement
@Jenna-q6w Yours ain't nothing to sneeze at, either, sister!!
Not being happy that someone was rescued is beyond narcissistic evil!
Pure evil.
Totally evil and terrifying.
Exactly
There are those who wonder why people don't like the government, don't trust the government, and generally have little regard for government officials. This. These kinds of things are the reason why those opinions exist.
As a pilot myself, I would dearly like to have 5 minutes with this "town manager" who answers questions like a typical politician. Non answers! Anyone who can pilot a helicopter is trained! Period!
not only that, the pilot literally did NOTHING wrong, and everything he did that day was 100% legal in every way. I'm a Helicopter and Airplane CFII myself, former military, former Civil Air Patrol. Local authorities have no legal authority over airspace of any kind at ANY time, period.
The ONLY gov authorities who can EVER control US airspace is the FAA and US military.
I would like to have that 5 minutes with you being an a&p mechanic.
@@juanitasullivan3372 1000 percent lol ask the fire guy if he can fly it? Lmao 🤣 💀 the is a pilot firefighter, first responder, and police experience. Lmao
and i don't think a fire chief has control over the airspace.....
Bad look for the city for sure
I hope the cats got rescued too, that would conclude a very happy ending to this story! Thank you for all the volunteers out there helping to rescue these people.
I saw a cat tail in the background of the interview.
The way they rescued the man was more dangerous than having him get on a helicopter
Exactly!!!!
But if the helicopter man rescued him, how would they get any of the glory.
My exact thought also !
Yes! That is soo true! Thank you for pointing that out.
I had the exact same thought before that segment was concluded! Chris M. put Mr. Coffey at greater risk. Very poor judgement on the part of Chris M.
This so called assistant fire chief Melton should be FIRED!!!
@@randallwinters7387 the whole country is seeing this.
@@randallwinters7387he should be fired.
@@princessmorning5332 Yes, and the community knows more than you do. Keep that in mind.
@@randallwinters7387because the pilot is a highly trained pilot, as well as an officer of the law. The fireman is just a local dope with an ego problem.
@randallwinters7387 hey teste lapper look up other reports of other people and firefighters that corroborated the story.
Nothing she said has changed my mind or reduce the rage I feel over this government overreach. FIRE THAT MAN AND RESIGN.
If anything the more they talk and try to defend and make excuses the worst it gets
Who was Jordan supposed to coordinate with as there were no phone or internet service at that time.
The asst chief is a COWARD! He was right there during her interview and even opened door and peeped in at 9:39 Too big of a COWARD to speak for himself and his ego. Pathetic.
No, 'government' will fire his stupid ass.
this isn't actual government overreach, this is the ego of one indvidual and it's the government that will make sure you can fire him, if he refuses to resign.
you have misplaced anger and a very loose understanding of things in general, is my guess.
Great story, super thanks to Jordan and your brave reporter who asked the tough questions. Sending prayers from
Las Vegas, God bless you one and all🙏🙏🙏
That Town Manager should resign.
They just threw her under the bus.
@@sandbridgekid4121 Her ego is too big to resign.
Remove her pension, as she prolly removed several citizens LIVES that day due to refusing to allow humans to reszcue other humans in a desperate time of NEED. CRIMINAL.
@@a.p.5429 she threw herself and her ego under the bus herself!
No, be fired.
He was dragged across a raging river instead of being allowed to get ride to safety in a helicopter. Absolute insanity !
Piece of snake he is for sure. Yes, referring to the man that should lose his job of fire chief
@Kat-m8l No, he was concerned only about being a controlling dirtbag.
The fire chief made sure that this was the only way that the husband could be rescued. What a hero!!!
@Kat-m8l it's called a power trip, brah. That fire chief needs to be sent packing, he has no business in a position of authority.
Watching her defend this was disgusting!
It is never a good idea to try to defend the indefensible.
I know that's almost worse than the fire guy. He could have not thought of everything in the moment and made a mistake sending the pilot away, but the town manager defending that BS After all, the information and time that she's had to process is so much worse.
Evil
They both are obviously not really interested in how people are doing. Sure, he does his job.But the bottom line isn't people. He has to be the big man in charge and the hero.
I'd be curious if they're dating or have some sort of personal Connection
100%
Trying to defend a lawsuit for reckless endangerment against the town?
God Bless this man for following his heart to help those I need. I call "u know what" on the excuses local officials gave.
As a native of Weaverville NC you have lost my respect and I'm sure surrounding communities. I'm absolutely disgusted with your lack of judgement during a crisis situation. All leadership should be asked to step down. Leaders can handle crisis situations in a way that saves lives in an organized way. You failed.
Are you here right now? Because you know that hillsides are still actively crumbling. That guy had no communication with anyone.
@@aff77141 If you followed the pilots story... he flew in getting in touch with Charlotte first, touched down at Rutherford regional, got frequencies... A lot of miscommunication in those early hours after... assuming there was zero communication... threatening him with arrest (i.e. asking him to leave his co pilot on the mountain that by their own words was crumbling and another victim) was a bad call. Rope pulling the victim across a raging debris filled river was not the better option. If they had another heli inbound and he was blocking air space... maybe? But co-ordinate, communicate. Throwing out your authority and then having town manager having an interview because you're "unavailable" but then poke your head in mid-way through... I'm sorry... bad look. The excuse... "The pilot didn't have enough training etc." was shot down by... So what happened in 24 hours when he was welcomed back. She dodged that question. Take the heat... say it was a bad call... and apologize. It's that simple. I don't know why anybody can't own up to their actions anymore. Worse case, pilot should have had better comms... Asst. Fire chief should not have threatened arrest. Just come out and admit it instead of doubling down.
@@aff77141 if your speaking of the pilot offering his assistance...he communicated w the ppl needing rescued!🤷♀️
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner, in this type of situation!
This has also caused rumors that this is happening all over and it’s affecting you guys and Swannanoa and Black Mountain as well. Because of this, people are afraid to help because of the rock of being turned away or arrested. I’m in Rutherford County.
They fit right in with this so-called ''administration''.......what a joke!
They dragged him through a dangerous, raging river instead of letting the pilot bring him down. What assholes!
That was crazy! That was far more dangerous than picking up the man right near where his house was.
Authority
My thoughts to.
And he said he stayed with the cats, he and the cats where going to be pick up on flight 2. I highly douth those cats where dragged over the raging river....
Exactly my sentiment.... Waaayyyyyyy safer.
That pilot was a previous firefighter and law enforcement officer. He was well within the scope of his experience. The town is 100% in the wrong and owes this man an apology as well as the couple they forced him to split up.
Thank him and fire Chief Melton!
More than an apology. There should be punitive damages for all the unnecessary risk and anxiety caused by an over zealous assistant fire chief who has zero authority over the air space.
The town needs to fire Melton and the city manager. And instead of paying them out their vacation and final paycheck, give that money to all the private pilots that came to help out as a reimbursement for the fuel and maintenance costs.
Apology??? Restitution!!! $$$
100%
This is unbelievable! Volunteer good Samaritans should be honored. Why didn't rescuers go to Mr. Coffee's aid?
The fire chief and the town manager both should be sacked... useless idiots..
EVIL Pure and simple
The coward fire chief sends his girl to hide behind and then peeps in to see whats going on.
9:41 on the video time stamp
Quite outrageous.
*Assisstant Fire Chief. Fire Chief still needs to be held accountable.
Total bozo!!!
How did nobody else notice that? I saw it immediately! Only 4 people have commented on it
That man needs to be in jail for refusing help to people in need 😡
Hey now, a bruised ego is more serious than possible drowning or hit by rushing river debris (in the brain of an egomaniac).
@@miaknig3130 if the pilot wants to help people they should let him it's better than dragging somebody across the river 🙄
B.s. they could have sent a rescuer with him. It was a spontaneous save. So. In CHINA citizens will get in big trouble for helping eachother. Drowing etc. Social credit score. Jail. Etc. Our regulations are getting crazy. Yes don't let 50 people wandering around into a forest fire. But he knows how to fly. Knew where to go etc. They could have quickly vetted him. I call b.s.. for his response. If Mr coffee never defended that day the rescue crew on foot wasn't getting to him.
He literally come through the door behind her 9 minutes 43 seconds he come in then closes the door
@@soledadramirez5084 I was being sarcastic. A fireman who feels personally offended by someone successfully helping people, needs to find another career. This hurricane season has cost many lives, an egomaniac should not be in a position of authority. It's like Officer Cartman: "respect my AUTHORITAAAHH!!".
Hats off to the brave rescuers!!!!!! God bless you all 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏to the husband and wife; thank God you both are back together!!!!!!
That volunteer fire chief should be fired, arrested, and put in jail
Along with the sassy town manager making excuses!!!!!!
@9:41 you see him peek in the door over that woman's left shoulder, then dip. Lmao
@@Jesusisachomo Yes! I saw that dark mustache and just knew it had to be that idiot!
That city manager is a bureaucrat too that needs to be unelected
BOTH of them !
This man was a certified police officer, certified EMS responder and certified pilot. She calls him a "regular citizen".
She smells like a dirty bureaucrat!
Imagine this woman get paid to lie with a straight face.
She's an indignant fool that needs to be fired!!!🤬
She is a regular citizen, but a government check…. she works for the tax payer, she needs an attitude check.
And unauthorized, don’t forget the pilot, EMT, cop was unauthorized to fly stranded people out of a disaster area.
Assistant Fire Chief needs to be fired, he is useless.
That's why he is only an ass.....tant
God bless this pilot with his kindness, help others to pitch in to help. People matter, no room for hate and prejudice against the poor folks who are stranded!
FIRED???? They should be arrested for public endangerment!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I completely agree
She is full of 💩. If he was 'trained' sufficiently the following day, he was fine the previous day. How long might they have sat there unnoticed if he had NOT flown over and spotted them ?
I agree with you, this is the epitomy of stupidity, and he should serve jail time for abuse of power by threatening to arrest someone who was actually saving lives.
@notsofast67 AND sued for what the gentleman went through after being left a second time.
Bullshit they was just deployed 2days ago these people were stranded for a week
The Chief should be removed from his position. The City Manager should be fired!
That Fire Chief doesn’t belong in public service.
nor does the female city official claiming they have legal authority over airspace.
This is what happens when buereacracy gets in your blood.
Hes a volunteer. Public service isnt really their first concern, larping as firefighters is.
Nooo wait the fire chief is a volunteer???
He and her should be stripped of any duties, volunteer or paid.
I should hope the people of this town, city, county could reassess this disaster that was handled so poorly🥲😭🤯
People deserve better than this.
✝️🙏🏻❤️😀
I am afraid it could be a bigger issue. He may actually be hands on deck to make sure the rescue efforts will take a little longer. He is maybe part of a syndicate in the real estate game. He was maybe on the payroll with the big dog there. It is a common practice in most small towns. Bully the locals for the land grabs so they can recycle real estates many times for most profits. This is just my opinion and my observation. So I might be wrong completely or I might be right. Only the truth will reveal itself soon enough
Country boy will survive!❤❤❤❤
This is ridiculous, he had to be dragged across a river when he could have been brought out by helicopter. Someone should be fired, this is bs!
This!!!
But, the ASSistant fire chief needed control! its not like there are recorded cases of the ropes used to perform that maneuver have snapped and caused people to drown in the middle of a flooded river before, nuh uhh never happened...Totally safer than a quick dry helicopter ride...
@@holarndiusfired n arsewhopping to follow shortly after.
And he climbed down an unstable washed out cliff to even *get* to the river to be dragged across.
Complete abomination.
Even Leslie Knope would have been better in this situation than Mr. Mustache McEgo
@PingGao2000if he had taken the chance & these bozos actually arrested him, he wouldn't have been able to go back to help. As hard as it is, complying to Mr. Mustache was the only way he would be able to get assistance to the stranded
The journalist is a real journalist asking excellent questions!
I came here to say this! Bravo local journalism!! Asking the tough questions and trying to get to the bottom of this ridiculous situation. Holding local government accountable is exactly what our media should be doing.
I Saw the original report of this and the reporter stated they wanted to get the fire chief guy's side of the story so they could understand his perspective. This is REAL journalism! Trying to tell the full story in a factual way with all perspectives represented.
Keep up the good work!!
I would agree with you. But the answers that woman gave were so painful to listen to. I almost wish he didn’t ask.
Refreshing to see someone like this for a change.
That's Jody Barr, Chief Investigative Reporter and yes, he's doing the job of a REAL journalist! Kudos to him.
Jody Barr is awesome at this.
My favorite part of the video is where he peeks in to see if she is still being interviewed. She knows that he can't be trusted.
The fact that the chief was not only making him leave the husband behind but tried to make him leave his own son is disgusting. He needs to be fired and investigated. I'm so sorry for this couple and what they went through. What a nightmare.
Great report!
Chris Melton NEEDS TO BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY
You never need permission to help people in need.
Sounds like another story I heard of a woman convicted of feeding homeless people. Only authorities are allowed to feed them. :(
As a retired wildland firefighter who has had Incident Command System ICS training and been an incident commander. Yes it best to keep it all coordinated with the response. But you have to be flexible and quick to make adjustments. The pilot would have been quickly briefed of our plans and fully supported to finish the rescue. The pilot would have been asked to help all he can and add him into the plan. Not everyone has a helicopter to help with. This is a life-threatening incident, no time for bloated egos. Dam, this boils me. The chief and that spokeswomen should be fired and never ever let near public service of any type.
Well said.
Thank you for your service
Sign the petition online. Just search his name. It's the top result
Especially since military helicopters are too large to land in some of these areas.
Thank you
Bravo to this Pilot he’s a hero, God bless you🙏 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼♥️
Rules??? Are you kidding me??? These wonderful people were helping , saving lives.
Yes, but they aren't getting paid, ergo there will be no kick-backs. The whole damn thing is a racket. I saw a video of a guy that said FEMA was doing this crap down in the Keys in 2017. I have also seen video of government helicopters, unmarked, ruining supplies and hurting aid workers using rotor wash. They truly are an evil bunch.
Refreshing to see REAL journalism in these days. Shame on these political figures.
It was a master class in how to interact with public servants. If the national media wasn't spineless, it would follow this guy's lead.
There is a ton of real journalism ....just not on tv
@@mrsterious5845Amen to your comment!
Exactly. I came here to leave a comment for Mr. Barr. I live in WV but have been trying to keep up with this story. Real journalism INDEED. I thought she was gonna get up and run near the end.
@@tnjsmithts I like how the coward Melton opened the door and stuck his head in and when he saw she was still in the interview he quickly shut the door again because he was .........
Unavailable
LOL
What a COWARD.
So citizens of Lake Lure, vote every single council member out. Send a message to the Chief and this city manager. She is a disgrace to citizens of that community. Both should be fired by Friday morning.
Unfortunately, there are probably no longer enough citizens left to do this. Historically, people simply refuse to vote their own government officials out anyway. It’s always the “other” people who are the problem.
No one votes for freedom anymore. They vote for more rules on how to die under their governments iron fist. VOTE HARDER PEOPLE!!! You'll have someone to hold your hand and tell you what's right or wrong if you don't follow the rules and people are dying while you worry about your subscription service expiring.
100% agree!
Yeah just vote harder
They probably did vote them out, but they cheated. lol
Thank God for all those people that have risked their lives to help others.❤
Thanx to the helicopter pilot for your selfless deed.
You are a hero.
Pulling him through a raging debris filled river instead of letting him fly in a helicopter. What an idiotic decision was made by the fire chief.
I agree that is so dangerous
Threatened and controlled by the bureaucrats! 😠🔥
They should be sued by this couple, but immediately fired.
When I heard that, I screamed out loud. IDIOTS!!
He wanted to play commando rescue, and the copper pilots were steeling his parade
I reported the Fire Chiefs to the State Marshal's Office. I urge others to leave voicemails as well and email if you can! When our voices are unified we are unstoppable.
Great idea!
Kinda usless....they will continue to make excuses...then when the time is right change strategy saying it was their own idea and then ask for praise.
@@viceforeverDoesn't hurt to try.
@@viceforever
It's not like leaving a voicemail to change president's. Especially if enough people get involved. They will more than likely find someone else for his position. And they should.
He was a vet, ex-cop, and EMT. I believe that's more than enough experiences in my book!!!!! Thank goodness for you sir the idiots in charge need to be punished.
Incredible!
That woman and the fire chief should be arrested for Crimes Against Humanity! No person needs permission to rescue other people.
not only that, the pilot literally did NOTHING wrong, and everything he did that day was 100% legal in every way. I'm a Helicopter and Airplane CFII myself, former military, former Civil Air Patrol. Local authorities have no legal authority over airspace of any kind at ANY time, period.
The ONLY gov authorities who can EVER control US airspace is the FAA and US military.
The fire assistant did commit a crime. He cannot just willy nilly threaten arrest. Without probable cause of a crime, threatening arrest is a crime in itself. He risked the life of two people, there are real victims. The husband was pulled across river with a rope instead of being airlifted out. They risked his life for no reason.
AGREE 🙏🙏
110% If it was them or their family, would they send help away and tell them to get permission to rescue first? My gosh the leaders in this country need empathy!
@@livelyara The fake fire fighter man who threatened arrest was in no position of authority to do anything but help others if that is what he wanted to do. He committed a crime with intent of putting the two stranded people into mortal danger. It needs to be punished. Their own rescue attempt was much more dangerous and only happened because the last man stranded risked his life to hike out of his situation after being told about the fire fighter leaving him for dead. He likely would have died if he did not take matters into his own hands to save himself.
Kudos to the news anchor who was doing the interviewing. He did not let that woman off the hook and kept pressing her with good questions. Good job!
“He got in his helicopter and flew up there just because he knew he could make a difference to someone and he did HE’S A HERO🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽”
@bossbabies347 - - Absolutely and how disgusting to be told NO you can not rescue a person in need (Right on the level of saving a drowning person and being told by the late arriving lifeguard that You will be arrested if you do it again ... Fire Chief needs to be let go BIG TIME!!!)
Well said love
God bless U guys 🙏
Thank you to the helicopter pilot who sacrificed to make a difference.
Strangers helping strangers is what makes America famous, not waiting for government help.
Lets not forget they dont have any more money to compensate these people but migrants get 2500+ a month and a phone plan and hotel paid for by you.
YES HE was doing what Any Capable & Responsible American would do in a time of Crisis with his helicopter. The assistant fire putter putter is just a jealous Hater because he can't fly one.
another incorrect trump sound bite.
Chief Melton must be kin to Joe Biden!
Kudos to the reporter for following up on the story and asking tough and pointed questions. Good to see journalism isn't dead.
He’s from my area. He is a vet, former law enforcement officer and firefighter and pilot. He is trained.
Heard he's back helping people. Thankful for his help!
And don't forget it costs at least $200/hour to operate an R44 Robinson, which I guess was coming out of his pocket.