UPDATE (4:56 p.m.): D.C. Fire and EMS spokesperson Pete Piringer now states that Rubin has not submitted his resignation paperwork. According to a message left on a media information line, Piringer acknowledged the email which led to the reports of Rubin’s resignation, but said Rubin “has not submitted a resignation, [nor] has he been asked to.” D.C. Fire and EMS chief Dennis Rubin — who was last seen literally packing up his office in preparation…

Photo by randomduck So sayeth City Paper’s Jason Cherkis, who first broke this now kinda funny story on Sunday. From the D.C. FEMS press release: The District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department met with the Washington Nationals to identify additional measures to ensure spectator safety during pyrotechnic activities at Nationals Park. These new measures will be put in place to serve as an additional layer of protection to reduce debris when fireworks are…

Photo by randomduck In case you missed it over the weekend, yesterday City Desk reported the bizarre news that D.C. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin went to the Nats game and subsequently shut down the ballpark’s long-running fireworks display for the foreseeable future. The ballpark reportedly has the correct permits and nothing unusual happened at Sunday’s game, so what’s the deal? Apparently, some bits of debris fell on the chief himself: Fire Department spokesperson Alan…

Happy Christmas Eve, Washington. With the frenzy of last-minute shopping and travel out of the city largely complete, folks staying here for the holiday are being treated to a quieter, gentler D.C. than normal, and it turns out in more ways than one. Over the weekend the Post took a look at a recent decline in the murder rate, reporting that only nine homicides have been logged in the District in the 37 days since…

Still in the office, D.C.? Yeah, us too. We hope you’re only sticking around because you don’t need to travel this holiday season. If so, enjoy the empty halls, bask in the quiet, and call it a day early. If not — well, good luck on the roads and at the airport. It sounds like they’re going to be predictably nasty. There Seems To Be Some Sort of Holiday Occurring: And consequently you can…

Good Morning, D.C. Remember the news we told you about back in August, about an investigation into a potential prostitution ring at D.C. firehouses? Well D.C. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin acknowledged yesterday under fire from the D.C. Council that “sex for overtime” allegations in his department are “potentially true.” The Council also expressed concern about the abnormally high rate of disciplinary action against African American firefighters in the department. African Americans were the subjects of…

Over the weekend the Post published an update to the Adams Morgan water pressure saga. Turns out firefighters did not tap into a much closer hydrant connected to a larger water main due to a false assumption about which main it was connected to. The fire department continues to point the finger at WASA, however, saying that it is nearly impossible for firefighters in the field to know which hydrants are connected to what kind…

>> D.C. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin is reportedly fine after he was involved in what the department is calling a very minor traffic accident in Adams Morgan. [NBC4] >> Members of Shiloh Baptist Church in Shaw officially filed suit in their effort to oust current pastor Rev. Wallace Charles Smith, who they claim has mismanaged the church’s assets. [FreeRide] >> Asylum Skate Shop to be replaced by unnamed fresh casual food establishment. [Penn Quarter…

As we mentioned briefly yesterday, the second fire in two years at Capitol Lounge has been found to have resulted from the same reason as the first: a cigarette, which was left burning in a trash can behind the building. Last week’s fire caused about $100,000 of damage to the Lounge as well as the Trover Gift Shop next door. Now The Examiner reports that D.C. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin is calling for a new…

It was just last week that we pondered the usual post-Fourth of July question — what should the District do about the annual DIY firework displays that help mark America’s independence? Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) may have an answer. Today Graham is introducing legislation that would severely restrict the use of fireworks and prohibit their sale. According to a press release from Graham’s office, “The bill requires a permit for the display of…