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Boston in the 30s: Another great film posted by Norm “Doc” Zaffater. Here’s his description- This video was complied from files in the Stillman Fire Collection, Perlinger Archives and put together to make this presentation represent how a huge building fire might have been fought in Boston, Massachusetts in the early 1930s. Note for general interest and comments that at 2:16 a relatively new American LaFrance pumper has a hand-crank siren and a Roto Ray warning light. However at 3:03 a similar ALF is shown with an electo-mechanical siren. Obviously, I added the sound effects to this video, but the original film was silent. If you wish to see the film as it was made you will need to turn your computer speakers off.
Not one fire death in sprinklered homes in 15 years. Read the study: Click here to read a new study released today that looks at Prince George’s County, one of the first jurisdictions in the country to require residential sprinklers. In its first 15 years in place 101 people died in fires in single-family homes and townhomes in the county. Not one of those deaths was in a sprinklered home. Acoording to the study, there is a similar comparison in injuries and fire loss. There is an 11:00 AM news conference and sprinkler demo at MFRI. It is one of at least three such displays in the Washington, DC area today and tomorrow. DC Fire & EMS has a demonstration at Gallaudet University this afternoon. There is also one on the Mall tomorrow with Frederick County, Virginia’s fire & rescue departments showing off its sprinkler trailer.
Geezer back up: Our good friend Firegeezer Bill Schumm was having server issues this morning. His site is now back up.
DC Fire & EMS takes exception: A synopsis of a newspaper article and link I ran in late September about a new report on EMS in the Nation’s Capital disappointed some folks on Vermont Avenue. The department’s director of communications gives us his perspective on what the report means. Check out the response and read the entire report from the inspector general.
Just say no: That is what they are doing in Modesto, California on 911 calls that aren’t deemed to be emergencies. In Stanislaus County, firefighter will no longer respond on medical calls not deemed to be life-threatening. The callers will just have to wait for the private ambulance services to arrive. Read details.
Just say yes: In Richmond, Virginia they are heading the other direction in the way the fire department deals with EMS. Here’s an interesting article.
Prank is no laughing matter: In Florida, seven firefighters from Hillsborough Fire Rescue could face criminal charges in an off-duty prank against a fellow firefighter last August. It involved the break-in of his home. Read and watch the story.
Not sure whether to cut your fire department’s staffing? Send out a survey: Political leaders in Uniontown, Pennsylvania poised to cut the fire department from 13 firefighters to 10 have decided to send out a questionnaire to the public. Firefighters will help design it. Do you think people will really say they want fewer firefighters? Here’s the article.
Shocking developments: In Bellingham, Washington you get to see exactly what fried computers and other electronic equipment as a tree and power lines meet. The video starts out a little on the dull side but has a few seconds of excitement toward the end. Click here.
More from New Square’s emergency squad: We have told you before about the tension in Rockland County, New York between the emergency crew in the Hasidic enclave of New Square and the local fire departments. In an editorial in the local paper there is a call for training the New Square group. Click here.
Hot Harry’s lives up to its name: An off-duty firefighter in Schenectady, New York was eating in the burrito restaurant by that name Tuesday morning. He smelled smoke and called in the troops. You can read the story here and watch video from the fire here.
Here’s the latest one from Gary: Gary, Indiana keeps cranking them out. This one is from last Thursday.
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