Quick Takes

Baltimore County house fire: I was in the Chestnut Ridge area Sunday, but a little too early in the day to take in this fire on Nancy Lee Court (it would have also been bad form to leave my parent’s 60th anniversary party). Michael “FirePix1075″ Schwartzberg was there and took this video. You can click here to see Michael’s still images and read his account.

Pranks put three jobs in jeopardy: STATter911.com learned yesterday that three career firefighters in Loudoun County, Virginia are suspended as internal and criminal investigations continue into two unrelated incidents that apparently were meant as pranks. In the first, on December 4, officials confirm there are allegations that two white firefighters put a noose in the car of a black firefighter. In the second, some horseplay on the phone resulted in what someone thought was a bomb threat and caused the partial evacuation of  a fire house. Read and watch the story.  

Guess who drew the short straw? The rookie, of course. Nathan Williams, one of the newest firefighters in San Luis Obispo, California was sent in to shut the water after a hydrant problem. Click the image by The Tribune's Jack Hindmarsh for more details and pictures.

Woman who is former FDNY lawyer is in the running to be next commissioner: A lot of talk in New York about Mylan L. Denerstein. Denerstein used to be the FDNY’s deputy fire commissioner of legal affairs and is now on the short list to be the next commissioner. Read all about it here and here.

Are background checks and psychological evaluations worth it?: That question is being asked in Maine which has had some recent bad headlines because of firefighters accused of arson. The discussion is over the cost in dollars for the return and the cost in losing firefighter candidates who might not want to go through the process. Read more.

Fire chief and township manager will not be punished for keeping sex offender on department: An interesting story from Plainfield Township, Michigan. City officials decided not to take any action against the chief and manager after an on-call lieutenant was arrested. The two men knew that Jeffrey Hawkins was a registered sex offender. It came to light when Hawkins was charged a month ago with soliciting sex with minors online. Read more.

Video of EMS actions inside liquor store prompts investigation: In Atlanta, an investigation is underway after a TV station showed surveillance video from inside a liguor store to fire department officials. The question is whether the first responders properly evaluated a man who was shot, before declaring him dead. Here is the latest story. Here is the original story and video. More from AJC.com.

Also on STATter911 …

• Raw video: Quick knock at house fire not fast enough. Elderly woman dead in Ypsilanti, Michigan. – May 13, 2011
• Charlie LeDuff finally sits down with a fire commissioner who doesn’t run from him. Retired LAFD Assistant Chief Donald Austin takes over in Detroit on Monday. – May 21, 2011
• Detroit’s new commissioner sets policy on fires in vacants. Austin wants clear sign someone is inside before entering. – June 14, 2011
• Report says Ohio chief lacks skills & ability for job. FD dealing with racial issues including noose left on locker. – November 21, 2011