Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

All pictures by Sam Statter, the official photographer for STATter911.com.

Read a list of those who were honored Saturday night

If West Virginia’s Charles Town Races & Slots was where I spent every Saturday night I can assure you I would be a lot poorer than I am. I don’t have a system any better than the woman who told me to bet on the number 9 horse in the 6th race because she liked the name Bepponin Betty (of course I did).

Thankfully this was only a one time visit to the track and there was a lot better reason to be there than to play the ponies (not that we didn’t have a good time). This was my second appearance at the Tri-State Telecommunicators Banquet and Awards Ceremony. Two years ago it was at a different venue, not one where you were likely to come away with a lighter wallet, unless you happened to be sitting next to someone who needed to borrow a few bucks for the 50-50 raffle.

This time the telecommunicators (can’t I just say dispatchers?) had some relief from my tired stories and jokes and got to hear from Mrs. STATter911.com. Like the audience, the wife also knows how to talk on the radio. She’s heard Monday to Friday, from 2:00 to 7:00 PM on WTOP Radio (103.5 FM), using the name Hillary Howard. (Would you want to use the name Statter after what I did to it with this blog?)

Enough about us. It was a real treat to be with the first, first responders from Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. They represented the counties of Carroll, Frederick (MD), Jefferson, Loudoun, Washington and Kent.

It is one of the very few such ceremonies I have been involved in dedicated only to honoring the call takers, dispatchers and supervisors who run the 911 centers.

Well there was one ringer. The group decided to recognize Loudoun County Fire-Rescue Chief Joseph Pozzo for recently receiving his Chief Fire Officer certification from the Commission on Professional Credentialing. Chief Pozzo is a big supporter of the group’s efforts.

It was a really nice gathering and there were some wonderful write ups for some of the awards. There is a link at the top of the page with the list of recipients. Please take a look.

One more note. The pictures on this page were taken by 9-year-old Sam Statter. It’s not so much another case of nepotism as it is, in this economy, he works cheap.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

WMUR-TV image. Click here for slide show.

Watch video reported to be taken at about 45-minutes into the fire

More early video showing propane tank exploding

Live audio feed from fireground (I have been unable to get it to work on my computer)

Read WMUR-TV story

Raw video from WMUR-TV

Raw video #2 from WMUR-TV

Earlier live report from WMUR-TV

More pictures and details at Fosters.com

Alton Bay Christian Conference Center website

The fire at Alton Bay, New Hampshire went to 11-alarms around 8:15 PM. A fire marshal says 40 homes have burned. A deputy fire chief said earlier the number of buildings was at 52.

One firefighter was seriously hurt. According to WMUR-TV, a propane tank explosion pushed a hose he was holding into his face. The firefighter was airlifted to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. At least four other firefighters suffered smoke inhalation and exhaustion.

More from the AP at 11:00 PM:

A massive fire damaged or destroyed dozens of wood-frame buildings, mostly unoccupied summer homes, at a 146-year-old Christian center on Easter.

“A tremendous amount of history has been destroyed,” Sample said.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

We’ve been so busy with the lousy news out of Houston we almost failed to tell you the good news from the Medstar Burn Unit at the Washington Hospital Center. PGFD’s Daniel McGown is now out of the unit’s ICU. Mark Brady reports that FF McGown “rested, walked and even ate food from one of his favorite sun shops”. His condition has been officially upgraded to “fair”. McGown has also been urged by the medical staff to limit his talking. Brady writes in his latest update:

To assist McGown with following medical advice it has been requested that visitors wait until he is released to visit him. An influx of visitors, while comforting, would interrupt his ability to rest and limit his talking. Visitors are discouraged from making the trip to the Burn Unit and the McGown family is requesting that everyone keep Daniel in their thoughts and prayers and contact him by E-mail, My Space or Face Book. What, no Twitter???? Daniel has his computer with him at the hospital.

So while we are still glad to pass on all of the messages that you have sent and continue to send, you can contact FF Daniel McGown directly at DRMcgown@co.pg.md.us.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

From Houston Fire Department Station 26 website. Click here for MySpace page.

Profile of Captain Harlow and FF Hobbs

Houston Fire Department Press Release

Raw video from the scene Sunday morning

Neighbors react to firefighters’ deaths – watch story

Earlier STATter911.com report including links to Houston media and fire service coverage

The Houston Fire Department announced this afternoon that Captain James Harlow and Probationary Firefighter Damion Hobbs of Station 26 were killed in the fire in the 7800 block of Oak Vista in Southeast Houston.

Captain James Harlow via Chron.com.

According to the statement, Captain Harlow, 50, was hired in August 1979. He had been a captain at Station 26 since 2004.

Probationary Firefighter Damion Hobbs via Chron.com.

Probationary Firefighter Hobbs was 29-years-old. He graduated from the HFD Val Jahnke Training Facility on March 3, 2009 as part of Class 2008C. He began his first assignment, at Station 26, a little more than a month ago. He had served with the U.S. Army in Iraq.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

The image above is the dispatch record online for the house fire where two Houston firefighters were killed early this morning.

KTRK-TV

KPRC-TV (KPRC-TV story)

KHOU-TV

KRIV-TV

Houston Chronicle

Houston Fire Department

Houston Fire Department Station 26

IAFF Local 341

FirefighterCloseCalls.com

FirefighterNation.com

Just a few hours after learning of the death of the bicyclist crushed in the March 30 collision of two Houston fire trucks, we are now hearing of two Houston firefighters who died in an overnight house fire.

The firefighters died while battling the fire at Oak Vista and Deleon in Southeast Houston. The call came in at 12:14 AM.

KTRK-TV has video. Click here.

Here is what Chief Billy Goldfeder at FirefighterCloseCalls.com was able to confirm so far:

We deeply regret to advise you that 2 Houston Firefighters have died in the LINE OF DUTY at a dwelling fire in Houston late early this morning. Very early reports indicate that a 53 year old Captain and a rookie Firefighter lost their lives. The fire occurred in southeast Houston around midnight at a dwelling fire. HFD Captain Tommy Dowdy did confirm both Line of Duty deaths. Additional and very preliminary info indicates that Firefighters were inside the house doing a search (there was a victim who was rescued) and attacking the fire. But at some point, the fire conditions became very heavy and all of the firefighters were ordered to get out of the house. Upon accountability, it was realized that 2 Firefighters were unaccounted for and still inside the structure. The fire conditions at this point were very heavy….as soon as Firefighters were able to get back in, they found the two missing Firefighters. At least one person was inside the home when the fire started and that person was rescued by Firefighters. More details to follow. Our most sincere condolences to the HFD and all the members and families of the fallen Firefighters.

Excerpts from KHOU-TV’s story:

Fire fighters officials say that when units arrived, heavy smoke and some flames were coming out of a one story home.

A mayday was called. But because of the intensity of the fire, it was about five to ten minutes before crews were able to make it back inside to search for the men.

Excerpts from KTRK-TV’s story:

When firefighters arrived on the scene they apparently took an aggressive approach to fighting the fire. Fire crews went inside the house and tried to put the flames out from inside. But at some point, the flames got too intense and all of the firefighters were ordered to get out.

It was then when rescue crews then realized that two of their own were unaccounted for and still inside the home. The flames at that point, were too intense for firefighters to back inside the house. But as soon as rescue crews were able to get back in they found the two missing firefighters.

At 4:26am, Houston firefighters lined up outside the burned home and formed two lines, they then saluted as two stretchers passed by. These are the first steps down the path of bringing their fallen brothers home.

“The fire has apparently destroyed the entire house, the lives of our family and the fire department has been touched and the lives of the citizens of Houston as well,” said Rick Flannigan with the Houston Fire Department. “It is going to take us a while to get things squared away.”

At least one person was inside the home when the fire broke out. That person was rescued by crews.

Google Maps Street View of the dead end of Oak Vista at Deleon. Oak Vista continues a bit to the east. Click the image to see the neighborhood.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

Image from WJBF-TV. Click here for video.

Silver Bluff VFD website

More pictures at Firegeezer.com

Tornado damage late Friday and early Saturday destroyed buildings, injured dozens and left one-person dead in a car crash in the Aiken, South Carolina area. It also destroyed the main station of the Silver Bluff Fire Department.

Excerpts from the Aiken Standard:

The Silver Bluff Fire Department on Williston Road was leveled. Little of the structure remains, and the trucks sustained heavy damage. On Saturday, County emergency workers pulled up a seat on concrete blocks that once stood as the walls of the facility to take short breaks.

“We are still providing services, and I want to remind everyone to please stay inside and off the highways until we can bring the situation under control,” said Kerry Green, Silver Bluff Fire Department chief.

Excerpts from the Augusta Chronicle:

Meanwhile the Silver Bluff Fire Department is relying on the help of the Beech Island, New Ellenton and Jackson fire departments after its main facility was destroyed by the storm.

The station lost three firetrucks inside and has only one left, which is operating out of a substation.

Click the image to use Google Maps Street View.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

James Luther Blackford II

Watch story from WHAG-TV

Read the Herald-Mail article

Bedington VFD website

Read Saturday afternoon press release from Baker Heights VFD on FF Ayers’ condition and fund established

The barn that burned Tuesday night in Berkeley County, West Virginia is only 100 to 150 yards from the Bedington firehouse. The West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s office says that is no coincidence. They believe Bedington volunteer James Luther Blackford II left that firehouse, set the blaze and then went back to the station to wait for the call to be dispatched.

But it was more than property lost in that fire. A volunteer firefighter from the Baker Heights VFD is in critical condition, facing a long recovery from head and facial injuries. 45-year-old Kenneth Ayers is expected to undergo surgery on Monday at the Washington Hospital Center. Firefighter Ayers was hit by a large timber from the burning barn. Blackford suffered an injured ankle during the collapse of the barn’s roof.

FF Kenneth Ayers from WHAG-TV.

Here are excerpts from WHAG-TV’s article:

Police say Blackford admitted his part in the fire.

Even though police say they’ve got their man in the barn fire they have not tied it to the string of other suspicious fires that have swept the county over the past month.

Excerpts from Herald Mail article by Schotz:

Bedington Fire Chief Tom Newcomb said Blackford has been with his department for about three years. Blackford was suspended pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.

Cook said the investigation into the string of arson fires picked up when Ayers was critically injured. He said authorities heard conflicting statements from people they interviewed Wednesday.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

FF Kenneth Ayers from WHAG-TV.

The Washington Hospital Center continues to treat two area firefighters who were critically injured in suspicious fires earlier in the week.

As of Friday evening Firefighter Kenneth Ayers of the Baker Heights VFD in Berkeley County, WV, was still in critical condition and continuing to be treated for severe head and facial trauma. The 45-year-old Ayers was hurt Tuesday when a gust of wind blew a large timber from a barn fire into Ayers and other firefighters.

From MetroNews:

Nearly every bone in the firefighter’s face was broken. He’s currently under sedation but has been squeezing the hands of family members and medical staff, occasionally opening his eyes. If he continues to improve, he’ll undergo the first of what is expected to be many facial reconstruction surgeries on Monday.

The MetroNews article has an interview with Baker Heights Chief Martin Roberts who was on the hose line with Ayers and another firefighter:

“The Assistant Chief and I had just had a conversation in reference to getting a ground monitor in place so we could all just back up away from it. As soon as he walked away, there was a big gust of wind that blew through. I heard the crew to the left of us holler ‘Look Out!’”

Chief Roberts says seconds later he was on the ground. “All the sudden a large timber came out of nowhere, struck Firefighter Ayers, knocking all three of us to the ground.” The Chief says he still doesn’t know where the timber came from, only that it looked like it had been shot out of a cannon.

FF/Medic Daniel McGown in PGFD photo

Click here for previous coverage on this story including details of the fire and fireground audio

More encouraging news for the other injured firefighter. According to a press release from Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department Chief Spokesman Mark Brady, the prognosis for Firefighter/Medic Daniel McGown continues to improve. Brady describes Friday as “a good day for Dan” who took two short walks around the ICU. Here’s more of what Brady wrote:

Early Saturday morning, Doctors felt comfortable enough with his progress that the breathing tube that has been in place since his injuries occurred early Wednesday morning was removed. His breathing will be closely monitored throughout the course of the day. There is a possibility that he could be moved out of the Burn Unit ICU to a step-down room as early as today.

The McGown family remains focused on Dan and his recovery. They acknowledge the assistance provided to them during this difficult time by the dozens of friends, co-workers and Fire Departments across the region have been a tremendous relief and a gift. The McGown family looks forward to the day they bring Dan home and read the several hundred well wishes that have been posted on the internet and sent through the mail.

Investigators in Berkeley County and Prince George’s County continue to investigate the fires.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

Some of you may recall seeing the video above when this occurred in November. Now the fire brigade is suing the Manchester council over a £6,000 insurance claim after this fire truck and the security bollard became entangled.

The fire brigade says its internal investigation found the driver of the rig was not at fault. Read the details here.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

I thought this story would soon be added to Mag Instruments’ Mag Amazing Stories web page. But as one eagle eyed STATter911.com reader notes, despite the officer referring to his Maglite, he was carrying a Streamlight.

The article below by Christy Arboscello of The Detroit Free Press:

A Clinton Township police officer rescued a man trapped inside a burning car today immediately before it was completely engulfed in flames.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

Watch the coverage from CTV, here and here

Read more about the fire

The fire was reported about 5:40 Friday morning. It spread quickly through 96 units in a six-building condominium complex in Montreal’s east-end. Five-alarms were sounded in an effort to deal with the fire. It took about two hours to bring it under control.

Many of the new owners were supposed to have moved in by now, but there have been delays.

The land used to belong to the city. There was controversy when it was sold to a developer at a below market price.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

Click here for an extensive series of early still photos from the fire and a run down of the units dispatched (Taken by Brett Dzadik who makes a cameo in the video above)

This is one of those well documented fires. At least two cameras were in operation well before the first engine arrived on Monday afternoon. A man and his dog had already escaped.

The top video, apparently shot by a member of the New Milford Fire Department, starts recording 2:30 before the engine pulls up (Brett Dzadik is also shooting his still pictures at the same time). This camera stops rolling shortly after the first line is pulled to the front door.

Photographer Glenn Schneider shows up next (his video is below) and provides about ten minutes of video that lets you listen in on the fireground radio transmissions. Read more about the fire here.

And under the category we all have our priorities. The video below was taken somewhere in New Jersey (I want to believe for this story that it is the fire in New Milford, but I don’t think that’s the case). Either way, the person taking the video sees smoke from a fire in a distance. And like the three photographers above starts shooting the fire. But watch what happens next.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

Initial reports indicate that two firefighters were hurt in an explosion involving a gasoline container behind the Kulptown Fire Company in Union Township. News reports indicate the two were burning leaves. No indication on the severity of their injuries.

Pictures and more details at the Reading Eagle and WFMZ.com.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

PGFD photo of FF/Medic Daniel McGown

Read entire update from PGFD

Previous coverage including fireground audio and here

The latest update from PGFD on Daniel McGown is encouranging. Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department Chief Spokesman Mark Brady officially confirms what we reported earlier that FF McGown walked around the burn unit’s ICU again last night. This time with a little less assistance. He is still listed in stable critical condition.

Here are excerpts from the latest press release:

He had a bronchoscopy (scope) performed this morning. This is a procedure that allows the doctor to look at his airway through a thin viewing instrument called a bronchoscope. The results were encouraging in that the damaged area appears to be superficial in the lungs. There is some edema present. Edema means there is swelling caused by fluid in his body’s tissues. Dan has a slight fever which is not unexpected with his injuries and is being treated appropriately. He will undergo another scope tomorrow and if his injuries continue to improve then the intubation tube may be removed.

Dan’s father, Bill McGown, remains a constant figure just outside the doors of the Burn Unit ICU. His tall stature makes him easy to find, in addition, to the entourage that surrounds him at all time. Firefighters; both past and present, career and volunteer and old and young, continue their round-the-clock presence providing whatever support that he and family need. Bill McGown stated, “I have been on the other end of these situations many times during my career. I was never quite sure if the support system we provided to the family and the injured was working or worthwhile. I know now, being on the other end of the support, it works.” Emphatically concluding saying, “The support system really works.”

A “Safety Investigative Team” (SIT) headed by PGFD Major Jerry LaMoria has been appointed by Acting Chief Eugene Jones. As the investigative team does its work looking into exactly what happened during the house fire that left FF McGown and two others injured, PGFD is not providing any further word about the cirumstances. Previously the department had said it was possible that the ceiling or something else fell to dislodge FF McGown’s face piece, but Mark Brady says that is not definitive.

In the meantime there are some new details on the fire attack and how FF McGown was discovered. The following comes from Kentland VFD’s website:

Just after 0200 hours, the box alarm was transmitted for the house on fire at #87 Herrington Drive in the Kettering section of Largo, Maryland. The assignment consisted of Engine Companies 46, 37, 33 and 8, Truck Companies 5, 26 and Rescue Squad 33. Engine 331, Rescue Squad 33, Chief 33 and Chief 33A responded on the run with a total of 11 volunteers. Engine Company 46 arrived within minutes to find an auto on fire with extension to a two-story home. Engine Company 33 arrived as the 3rd due engine, laid a supply line from a secondary hydrant and began to advance an attack line to fulfill their assignment on side “C”. Chief 33 (Kelleher) and Chief 33A (Mann) arrived simultaneously. Chief 33 established the “Herrington Command” as Chief 33A reported inside as the division 1 supervisor. As this process was being put into full swing, Rescue Squad 33 arrived and was assigned the first due special service responsibilities. The interior crew proceeded to division 1 where they began rapidly searching for occupants. Meanwhile the outside team began throwing ladders and initiating ventilation efforts to assist crews on the inside. As this was going on the crew from Engine 331 was advancing their line through the basement, and finding light smoke proceeded up the interior stairs towards division 2. As the Rescue Squads OIC (Brown) and Barman (McCloskey) continued the rapid primary search they were met with heavy fire conditions in the kitchen and dining room area. At this point the Rescue Squad OIC noticed that a PASS device was in full alert somewhere in the “D” quadrant. As the Rescue Squad OIC made his way through the involved kitchen towards the sound, the Barman discovered an unmanned handline and repositioned the handline to begin a knock down on the fire in the kitchen area. Within seconds the Rescue OIC located a downed firefighter from an unknown company (at the time), and immediately assessed the members condition. It was deemed that the firefighter was unconscious and in need of rapid extrication. As he searched for the closest means of egress, a nearby window was located. As chance would have it, a ladder had already been placed at the window and the driver of Rescue Squad 33 (Patterson) was currently clearing the glass and sash area. The OIC of Rescue Squad 33 advised the driver through the window to sound a “mayday” and that he was going to remove the downed firefighter to him. The driver sounded the “mayday” alerting command and units operating immediately. As the OIC packaged and positioned the downed firefighter, Chief 33A (division 1 supervisor) along with the OIC of Engine Company 33 (Moore) assisted the OIC of Rescue Squad 33 with performing the “Denver” style removal out the window. As the firefighter was lifted above the windowsill, the Rescue Squad driver and Engine 331’s Driver (Johnson), enduring heavy smoke conditions, pulled him onto the ladder and down to ground level. At that time Truck Company 26 (District Heights) and paramedics from Medic 46 removed the injured firefighters turnout gear, assessed for major injuries and immediately transported the firefighter to the Washington Hospital Burn Center. Two other firefighters that did not have to be removed from the home also suffered minor injuries and were transported as well. While the “mayday” incident was taking place, other units maintained their position to continue fire suppression operations. This is to be commended given the call for help involving one of our own. Truck Company 5 (Capital Heights) threw multiple ladders and assisted opening up for Engine 331’s crew working on Division 2. Engine 81 (Seat Pleasant) and 371 (Ritchie) assisted with extinguishment on division 1. All Engine Companies were in a position to protect the RIT crews from the fire. After accountability, Rescue Squad 33’s crew completed the primary search on Divisions 1 and 2. The fire extended into both floors of the home and into the attic area before being controlled. An interior attack was utilized for the entire incident. Crews operated well into the morning assisting investigators and completing overhaul. All crews present on the fireground worked together with the utmost professionalism and courage in the extinguishment of the fire and removal of a fellow Firefighter.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

Click here for the website with more details

Firefighter Kyle Wilson died on April 16, 2007, a little more than two weeks before STATter911.com appeared on the scene. Wilson’s death in a house fire in Prince William County would very likely have been the top story of that day, but it barely made the news due to the first shootings in the massacre at Virginia Tech occurring an hour or so later. In the following days I pushed, as I am sure people at other news organizations did, to make sure Kyle Wilson’s story got on the air in some form.

That experience, where we couldn’t give a line of duty death of a firefighter the coverage it deserved, is something that helped convince me to move ahead with the blog. I felt, and still feel, least it would be an outlet for this and other fire news that might not make it on TV.

Thursday of next week will be the second anniversary of Kyle Wilson’s death. On Saturday, April 18 the second annual Kyle Wilson Walk for Fitness will be held. Here’s how my friend, Battalion Chief Tim Taylor, describes the event:

Kyle Wilson was a career firefighter who gave his life while searching for occupants of a burning residential structure fire on the morning of April 16, 2007. Kyle was twenty-four years old and had been employed by the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue for sixteen months when he lost his life. Kyle graduated from George Mason University in 2005 with a degree in athletic training.

Kyle’s devotion to fitness and athletics are the driving force behind his parent’s determination to create an athletic scholarship endowment fund in his name at George Mason University. The walk is the main funding event to create the endowment.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

A quick exit: Take a moment to watch this interesting slide show from Lake City, Florida taken on Monday night. It is from Patrick Scott Pictures. It shows Lake City and Columbia County firefighters battling a fire in a work shop and an adjacent mobile home. Two firefighters had taken a line into the mobile home and the door shut on the hose. The fire intensified and one firefighter went out the window. He and others worked on getting the second firefighter to safety. Everyone is okay. Click here to see the entire sequence.

Latest on FF McGown: Click here for the most recent official update on the condition of PGFD’s Daniel McGown, who was burned Wednesday in a house fire. We are told in that FF McGown was up again last night for another walk around. Expect more information later today.

If you haven’t heard the fireground audio you can click here.

Two investigations are underway. One to find the arsonist responsible for setting the fire and the other an internal look at how the injuries to McGown and two other firefighters occurred.

Latest on FF Ayers: Also at the Washington Hospital Center being treated for facial and head trauma after injuries at a barn fire is Baker Heights, West Virginia Firefighter Kenneth Ayers. FF Ayers remains in critical condition. The Herald Mail’s Matthew Umstead has the latest and a look at the series of arsons in Berekely County. More information from Edward Marshall at The Journal.

Prosecutor calls fire investigators unprofessional: “We will never know for sure whether those children died in a meth lab fire because they botched the investigation.” Those are the words of District Attorney Bret Burns about a fire in Ringling, Oklahoma that killed two sisters and their adult cousin. A spokeswoman for the state fire marshal’s office defends the work of the investigators. Read the details in an article by Ron Jackson in the Oklahoman.

The national registry … for arsonists: This one wouldn’t really keep track of your qualifications (well, actually in a sense it would). It would be a database of convicted arsonists and their criminal histories. Click here for the story.

Pattern developing?: Firegeezer takes a closer look and some thoughts about the story getting much play from Minnesota. John Berken was a paid, on call firefighter from Forest Lake who is now an accused arsonist. The mayor overruled the fire chief’s decision to fire Berken after the background check showed a variety of issues including making a bomb threat, theft and check forgery.

While Berken appears to have a longer list of problems, this one seems to have some similarities with the cases of former Prince George’s County, MD firefighter Michael Murphy and Coatestville, PA firefighter Robert Tracey. Like Berken both men had convictions for financial crimes but kept their jobs as firefighters. In Tracey’s case, while he separated from Anne Arundel County, MD at the time of his conviction, he stayed on a volunteer in Coatesville and was eventually hire by that department.

A must read …. the best story of the day: You can’t make this stuff up any better than this. In Watsonville, Calfornia Officer Juan Trujillo was having a pretty good day. A man he was about to pull over for reckless driving pulled into the driveway of the home. The officer confronted Jose Palamino and recognized him as a wanted parolee. The officer noticed smoke coming out of the rear of the house where they had stopped. He quickly put Palamino into the police car. The officer went inside the home bringing three people, including two children to safety. So far, so good. But when he got back to the police car Palamino was gone having convinced a seven or eight-year-old girl to let him out of the police car. An article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel by Donna Jones also looks into why Palamino stopped at that house and how the fire started.

Memorial defaced: In Massachusetts the Leominster Firefighters Memorial, dedicated less than a year ago, has been defaced with spray paint. Someone put the word “sickology” on the memorial. Read more from Firefighting News.

Read entire report on the LODD death from Volusia County, FL: Click here for a much better copy of the report looking into the November 2007 death of Firefighter John Curry during a training exercise. Here is our previous coverage.

Glenn Gaines profile: Susan Nicol Kyle at Firehouse.com takes a look at what Chief Glenn Gaines is doing as the new Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator. Actually. at the moment he is deputy to himself until an appointment is made to fill the top spot. Check it out.

Firefighter’s home burns: This one happened in Rutland, Vermont. Click here to read the story.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

Listen to the fireground audio and see our previous coverage

Read entire press release

From the latest press release by PGFD’s Mark Brady:

Encouraging news from overnight and this morning regarding the medical status of Fire Fighter/Medic Daniel McGown at the Washington Hospital Centers Burn Unit. FF/Medic McGown sustained facial and airway burns while battling an early morning house fire on Herrington Drive in Kettering on Wednesday, April 8, 2009. Medical staff allowed McGown to wake up last night at which point he was able to produce a weak cough, a good sign, otherwise, he slept through the night with mild sedation. This morning, he was assisted by medical staff and his father as he slowly walked around the floors of the Intensive Care Unit. While McGown is still listed as a stable critical patient there is cautious optimism about the positive signs of his progress. The plans today include him sitting upright in a chair for about an hour. He remains intubated to allow his injuries time to heal. It is anticipated that he will remain intubated for a few more days.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

3-alarms in Allentown, PA: This call came in at 10:24 PM on Wednesday evening. Newsworking.org took the video and has more details about access problems for firefighters.

We have fireground audio from PGFD fire that left firefighter with critical burns: Firefighter Daniel McGown remains in critical condition due to respiratory burns received when his mask became dislodged at a suspicious house fire in Largo Wednesday morning. We have the fireground audio, updated details on what is known so far, raw video from the scene, and TV coverage. Click here.

We are also getting messages of support from around the country for Daniel McGown and his firefighting family (dad and sister). Click here and scroll down. We will share those comments with the McGowns.

For those on Facebook a page titled “Be Strong Firefighter Daniel McGown” has been added that will take your messages for the family.

Another area firefighter at the Washington Hospital Center needs your support after being hurt in a suspicious fire: We first told you yesterday about the barn fire in Berkeley County, West Virginia that injured two firefighters, one of them critically. 45-year-old Kenneth Ayers, a firefighter with the Baker Heights Department, is now being treated for burns, facial and head trauma at Medstar after being transferred from Inova Fairfax Hospital. He is listed in critical condition. Here is how Chief Billy Goldfeder describes what happened at The Secret List:

FF Ayers and another firefighter from Bedington VFD were hurt when a gust of wind got underneath tin on the barn roof and pushed a timber in one of the sidewalls out and down on them as they were attacking the fire. The firefighter from Bedington was treated and released.

The fire was just one hundred feet from the Bedington firehouse. More details are here and here (includes video report).

Mayday in Oregon: A firefighter in Florence was treated and released after a ceiling fell in on him during a Wednesday house fire. Click here for the story.

Safety bulletin on exploding manifold: Frederick County, Maryland is warning about an exploding manifold that happened at a New Jersey fire (apparently Lambertville) and slightly injured two firefighters. Click here for the bulletin and the pictures.

Did flaming bird cause two-alarm warehouse fire?: That’s one of the things being looked at following Tuesday’s fire in Galveston, Texas. Click here for pictures and the details.

The past of the driver of Ladder 26 is making some headlines in Boston: The firefighter driving Ladder 26 on the day of the crash that killed Lt. Kevin Kelley is in the news for problems involving cocaine. Read more.

On the Geezer channel: Bill has details, video and pictures of an Indiana furniture factory fire. Don’t forget to go to Firegeezer.com and just scroll down to see what we have missed over here. Especially good on days like yesterday when we get tied up with a significant local story.

A save in Salem: A 66-year-old woman was rescued from a third floor window of a triple-decker in Salem, Massachusetts on Tuesday afternoon. The photo above is from our friend Jimmy Daly. Click here to see many more of his pictures from this fire and here to read the details.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

PGFD photo of Firefighter/Medic Daniel McGown

Watch 11:00 PM report from 9NEWS NOW’s Nancy Yamada (or here)

Watch 6:00 PM report from 9NEWS NOW’s Lindsey Mastis (or here)

Raw video of aftermath of the fire from 9NEWS NOW (or here)

Earlier coverage from STATter911.com

Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department Chief Spokesman Mark Brady says doctors at the Medstar Burn Unit of the Washington Hospital Center have seen some encouraging signs as they have treated Firefighter Daniel McGown. Still, the doctors caution the next two or three days are critical in his recovery.

Firefighter McGown is in critical condition with respiratory burns and severe burns to his face and head after his face piece became dislodged during a house fire in Largo, Maryland around 2:00 Wednesday morning. Brady says it appears the ceiling or something else may have fallen on McGown as he was with two other firefighters from Engine 846 (Largo). The crew had advanced a line through the front door of the house toward the kitchen in Quadrant B.

Click above to hear audio from DCFireFeed.com. Gaps are removed in the audio so times are compressed.

McGown was discovered by members of Station 833 (Kentland VFD) in the family room in Quadrant D of the home. The sound of an activated PASS device drew the firefighters to McGown. On the audio you can hear the firefighters alerting the incident commander, Chief 833 (Tony Kelleher), to the mayday.

The firefighters lowered Firefighter McGown out of a first floor window on Side D of the house. We are told there is about a 10 foot drop due to the slope on that side of the home.

The two other firefighters from Engine 846 who were on the line with McGown received less serious burns.

The fire started in a vintage Corvette in the carport on Side B of the home. Three other firefighters aboard Engine 846 took a line to the carport as the crew with Firefighter McGown entered the home to check for extension.

Fire investigators believe the blaze was deliberately set.

The 21-year-old McGown became a career firefighter with PGFD four-years-ago. McGown’s sister, Kimberly McGown Blackistone has been on the department for seven-years. Their father Bill McGown retired in 2006 as a deputy chief and then took a top spot helping to run the county’s 911 center.

Firefighters have gathered at the Washington Hospital Center to help support the family.

A Facebook page titled “Be Strong Firefighter Daniel McGown” was added yesterday to allow comments of support for the injured firefighter and his family.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

See more photos

Read details from The Daily News of Galveston County

City of Galveston press release

Click here for multiple-part, low-resolution YouTube videos of the fire

One of our Texas readers sent along these pictures and an account of a two-alarm fire on Tuesday afternoon at 2605 and 2607 Mechanic Street in Galveston.

In The Daily News story above, a witness describes a pigeon that was set on fire by power lines and then landed on the roof. The fire marshal says it is something they are looking at as a possible cause. A construction company occupied the building where the fire started:

At 1230pm on Tuesday April 7, 2009, the Galveston Fire Dept. responded to a warehouse fire just outside of downtown. The first alarm brought E-1, E-2, T-1, R-1, the Safety Officer and the Battalion Chief. Upon arrival units found heavy smoke issuing from a 60 x 30 single story brick warehouse that housed a construction company. The building was attached to a 75 x 30 brick warehouse (D side) that had been heavily damaged during Hurricane Ike and adjacent to a 50 x 20 cinder block multi-use building (B side).

E-1 quickly declared this a defensive operation and deployed a 2 ½” hand line along with two 1 3/4“ hand lines on the A side. T-1 was placed on the A side and set up for Elevated stream operations. Supply lines for both Tower 1 and Engine 1 were dropped by E-2. Fire broke through the roof before the Tower could get set up. A second alarm brought E-5, E-4 & L-7. E-5 was assigned to Division C with a 2 ½” line while E-4 was assigned to drop a second supply to Tower 1 and the crew assisted with operation son the A side.

The fire was brought under control within the hour and was out by 4pm.The cause is under investigation by the Galveston Fire Marshal’s office. There were no injuries reported.

A before shot at 2605 and 2607 Mechanic Street from Google Maps Street View. Click the image to tour the area.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

More pictures are in the Frederick County, MD safety bulletin

These pictures were first sent to me last week by a regular STATter911.com reader. There was only minimal information indicating the manifold had exploded somewhere in New Jersey (UPDATE: Information now indicates it was Lambertville). I was unable to find out any details about the incident.

Another reader has forwarded this safety bulletin from the Frederick County Fire & Rescue Services in Maryland. The April 3 bulletin indicates the manifold (or street hydrant) “exploded in New Jersey on Saturday (March 28) night during water tender filling at a multi-alarm fire”. It reports that two firefighters were treated for minor injuries.

I still have been unable to find information elsewhere on the web about the incident. If you know the details please send them to dstatter@wusa9.com.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

FF/Medic Daniel McGown. PGFD photo.

Click here for fireground audio and updated information

Raw video of aftermath of the fire from 9NEWS NOW (or here)

9:00 AM report from 9NEWS NOW (or here)

Read latest press release from PGFD

UPDATED at 3:59 PM with corrected details from Mark Brady on where FF McGown was found and how he was removed from the house:

A Prince George’s County firefighter is reported in critical but stable condition after being burned during an overnight house fire in Largo, Maryland. 21-year-old Daniel McGown is being treated at the Medstar Burn Unit of the Washington Hospital Center for burns to the face and head. Two other firefighters were also hurt.

McGown is a career firefighter/paramedic with four years on the department. McGown’s sister is also with Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department and his father is a retired deputy chief.

According to a PGFD statement, “McGown is intubated and sedated. Doctors at the Burn Unit advised that the next 72 hours will be critical in determining his prognosis.”

From wusa9.com

According to Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department Chief Spokesman Mark Brady, the fire at 87 Herrington Drive appears to be arson after a vintage Corvette was set on fire under a carport. The fire extended into the kitchen of the single-family-home.

Firefighter McGown was part of a crew of six from Engine 846 (Largo) that responded to the 2:00 AM fire. According to Brady, McGown and two other firefighters took a line to the kitchen area adjacent to the carport. It was there that something happened forcing the firefighters to scatter.

McGown ended up unconscious in the family room (corrected from the living room where the picture window is). A crew from Station 833 (Kentland VFD) heard a PASS device and discovered the downed firefighter. According to Brady a “mayday” was called and Firefighter McGown was carried through a large window in the family room on Side D of the house. Due to McGown’s condition paramedics decided not to wait for a medevac helicopter and drove the firefighter to the burn facility.

Carport on Side B where investigators say the fire started. Mark Brady photo.

The other two firefighters had less serious burns and are expected to be released from the burn unit.

Timothy Bivins a resident and son of the homeowner tells 9NEWS NOW’s Armando Trull the family has been victim to vandals recently.

Daniel McGown’s sister, Kimberly McGown Blackistone, has been a career firefighter and paramedic with PGFD for 7-years. Their father, Bill McGown, retired in 2006 as a deputy chief and is currently the Deputy Director of Public Safety Communications for Prince George’s County (911 center).

The pictures below are from PGFD’s Mark Brady.

Above, Side C of home.

View of the kitchen where firefighters were making their attack on the fire.

Family room where FF McGown was found. Window was used to remove FF McGown to Side D.

Side A of the house.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

Firefighter suffers serious head injury in what may be the latest in a string of arsons in West Virginia: For the ninth time in recent weeks investigators are looking into an apparent set fire in Berkeley County, West Virginia. Three of the fires have happened since Saturday. The most recent was last night at a barn just down the road from the Bedington Fire Department. While battling the fire a piece of wood fell from the barn injuring a firefighter from Bedington and one from Baker Heights. The firefighter from Baker Heights suffered a serious head injury and was flown to the trauma center at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Read and watch the story.

3-alarm warehouse fire in Baltimore: A mattress repair business burned Tuesday night around 9:00 in the 6500 block of Pulaski Highway. No injuries were reported. Click here for details and click here for a brief bit of video.

Firefighter in tragic picture dies: Retired Chicago Fire Department Captain Richard Scheidt died Monday at the age of 81. The photograph of Captain Scheidt as a young firefighter carrying the body of a 10-year-old boy from the Our Lady of the Angels School fire is one of the lasting images from that tragedy. Click here to learn more about Captain Scheidt, the boy he is seen carrying in the picture and the man who took the photo.

Firefighter finds his stepdaughter’s body in quake rubble: A terrible story from the aftermath of the earthquake in Italy that has killed at least 200 people. Click here for the details.

TV stations get report into LODD in Volusia County, Florida: Firefighter John Curry died in November 2007 when part of a tree being cut fell on him during a training exercise. TV stations in Orlando call the report from the Florida State Fire Marshal “scathing”. Click here.

Clearly she knew the way: Teresa Deloach Reed is the new assistant chief in the San Jose Fire Department. She is the highest ranking woman in the department’s history. Read more.

Minnesota firefighter accused of setting grass fire: John Berken is described as an “award winning firefighter”. He is now accused of setting fires. Read the story.

What’s up Doc?: A fire, that’s what’s up. But that is usually the case for Norm “Doc” Zaffater who has spent decades shooting film and video in Shreveport, Louisiana and beyond. Normally we show you some of Doc’s vintage films. The house fire we posted last night is circa April 7, 2009 (around noon). We also tossed in some of Doc’s early 1970s stuff. Click here to watch the clips.

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

There was a very nice note to the STATter911.com YouTube account the other day from the man who took the video above, Norm “Doc” Zaffater. It was the first time we have corresponded, but I have been running Doc’s films and videos since a few months after STATter911.com began (about to celebrate the second anniversary).

Doc’s library of films from Shreveport and beyond goes back decades before I showed up with a blog. To me, the wonderful thing about Doc is that he has taken the time to upload his films and video to YouTube for all of us to see. It is a great treasure.

You can view all that Doc has posted on his YouTube account and on the website for the Signal 51 Group (billed as “Shreveport’s Official Fire Buff Web Site!”).

Now, let me take you back to our feature presentation. This is not one of Doc’s vintage films (but it could be some day). In fact it, was shot around noon today in Shreveport. The note with the video says the first and second due engines were on other calls. It looks like Doc pulled up right after the first engine arrived.

Doc saved me some work on this one. At the end of the video he adds a before picture of the house from Google Maps Street View.

Since we are in the neighborhood, how about a look at Shreveport’s apparatus and stations from the early 1970s.