A fire captain claims he was denied a promotion because of his son’s arson conviction in Napa County, alleging in a lawsuit Chief Darin White told him it was because of “what is going on with your son.”
Howard Holt, a 27-year Oakland fire veteran, was in the running for acting assistant fire marshal in the fire prevention bureau — a division that faced increased scrutiny following the Ghost Ship warehouse fire amid revelations the building was never inspected before 36 people died in a blaze there.
Holt, 58, alleges the job was his until superiors learned of his son’s conviction and even offered it back if he would drop his work grievances. Holt refused, according to a federal lawsuit filed against the city of Oakland, its fire department and Chief White filed Thursday.
“It’s a sad and unfortunate series of events,” said Holt’s attorney, Theida Salazar. He should not have to “endure something like that. I wish it hadn’t happened.”