By Jane Prendergast, The Cincinnati Enquirer
and David Eck, Enquirer contributor

ELMWOOD PLACE - While a wrecking crew on Thursday knocked down the burned remains of two buildings that housed girls in foster care, a controversy grew over why Cincinnati firefighters didn't help battle the fire Wednesday night.

Elmwood officials called it a simple miscommunication - they thought the two Cincinnati trucks and eight firefighters that showed up on the Vine Street scene were driving through on their way to their own run, said Chief Matt Morgan. So an assistant Elmwood chief, he said, "just waved them on."

He said there was no way Cincinnati's help - which was there before the other four departments Elmwood called - could have saved the buildings, one of which already was engulfed when the first dispatch came in.

The six girls in foster care who lived in the buildings were moved to another Kelly Youth Services facility that was vacant. The agency was in the process of buying the buildings, said agency director Bob Kelly. Damage was estimated at $230,000.

Being turned away angered some Cincinnati firefighters, who were responding on a call of smoke in the area. Engine 2 and Truck 2 sit a few blocks away in Carthage. They arrived, and two other trucks were on the way too, said Assistant Chief Mose Demasi, to whom Morgan apologized Thursday.

Joe Diebold, president of the Cincinnati firefighters union, said he was concerned that anyone would turn away "professional assistance at the scene of a fire, then call on other companies that would take longer to respond."

E-mail jprendergast@enquirer.com and daveck@fuse.net