Quick takes

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House fire in DC: The video above is from DC Fire & EMS Department PIO Alan Etter taken during a house fire in the 1300 block of Emerson Street, NW just after noon on Wednesday. Here’s what Etter wrote about the fire- When firefighters arrived, heavy smoke could be seen emanating from the attic and roof of the two story single family home. Firefighters were able to locate the fire quickly and extinguish it with no injuries to civilians. One firefighter suffered what was described as a minor ankle injury. The cause of the fire is undetermined.

Lead story – Audio from dramatic rescue of police officer and three women at group home in Ohio. All critically injured. Another case where the closest fire station was closed due to layoffs: A police officer was critically injured in Warren, Ohio Tuesday morning as he tried to help rescue people trapped in a fire at a group home for the mentally challenged. Investigators say the home had been set on fire. Patrolman Doug Hipple and the three women he tried to help escape were rescued by firefighters about 15-minutes after the officer entered the burning home. Make sure you listen to the audio, here. (Just updated this link after it stopped working … 9:40 AM)

The firehouse closest to the blaze had been closed due to budget cuts and layoffs. The union president says this caused a delay of three to four minutes. The fire chief believes it was only a minute. Read that story.

Firegeezer has also been covering this story and has the background on the layoffs.

You can read more about the fire and the injured officer here and here.

More questions than answers at the moment: Doing a follow-up story to the fatal fire near Upper Marlboro, MD on Tuesday evening, I learned the victim had apparently dialed 911 but was unable to report her home was on fire. This delayed getting a fire engine to the burning house. But firefighters on board an ambulance and a medic unit were immediately sent. What happened next is not exactly clear. PGFD says it is reviewing communications between the 911 center and the responding EMS units. Click here for the story. Also scroll down to the comments section. In answer to some of the comments, I list a series of questions about the handling of this call that remain unanswered.

Arson, explosives and murder plot in Maryland school: Two high school students were arrested after what police say was a murder plot unraveled following an arson at a Montgomery County high school. Read and watch the story.

Firings and suspensions in NC: The IAFF says the City of Rockingham is retaliating against union firefighters and union officials. Read the details.

Bridge demolition equals FF OT: In Pittsburgh the fire department is staffing extra units because of disrupted traffic patterns due to the demolition of the Davis Avenue Bridge. It is costing $52,000 a week in overtime. Read more.

Former assistant chief’s dog beating trial underway: Remember the case of former Los Angeles County FD Assistant Chief Glynn Johnson and his neighbor’s dog? Chief Johnson is getting his day in court and he has testified. Read the details.

The bird man of Station 252: A firefighter in Loma Linda, CA nurses a sparrow back to health. Oh, just read it.