South St. Louis house fire: Video above is from yesterday at 5227 Idaho Avenue.
Appeals court upholds ruling that DC erred when it fired EMT involved in Rosenbaum case: On November 20, 2008 we reported that the DC Fire & EMS Department was getting ready to bring Selena Walker, a civilian EMT, back on board the department. Walker has been fired when she drove an ambulance carrying former New York Times reporter David Rosenbaum to Howard Hospital instead of a closer facility because Howard was near Walker’s home where the EMT had an errand to run. The treatment Rosenbaum received sparked quite a controversy about the state of EMS in the Nation’s Capital. As preps were made to retrain Walker, the city instead decided to continue the fight against a ruling by the Office of Employee Appeals, and affirmed by the DC Superior Court, that the department missed a 90-day deadline to begin disciplinary procedures. Now, the DC Court of Appeals has also ruled in Walker’s favor. Click here to read the opinion. We requested, but have not received, a comment from the DC Fire & EMS Department.
Richard Singer arrested again: Another man has come forward accusing the president of Singer Associates, Dick Singer, of molesting him. The firm is one of the largest distributors of fire equipment in the Mid-Atlantic region. The man, now 20, told police he was 11 when the attacks began. Previously, two 17-year-olds told police that Singer began assaulting them when they were 10. Here are excerpts from an article by InsideNova.com’s Uriah Kiser:
Singer was jailed on the initial charges, and then released on bond. He was arrested again on the new charges Christmas eve, and was released from jail on $80,000 bond Dec. 29.
The accusers are children of family members related to Singer by marriage, Seeley said.
“These charges are completely devastating, and took all of us completely by surprise,” said Singer Equipment co-owner Sidra Seeley (Singer’s sister). “We are doing everything that we can to combat these false charges, and appreciate the support we have received from our generous customers that we have developed relationships with over the years.”
Fireground audio from mayday in Cincinnati: A firefighter was slightly hurt after taking a tumble down stairs at a house fire disloding his mask. Click here.
You can now vote every 6 hours: Rhett Fleitz is now allowing you to vote every six hours in an effort to determine your favorite fire and EMS blog. Click here to vote.
More hazards to add to the list for all-hazards fire departments: In Beaufort, South Carolina firefighters will now be doing the enforcement of nuisance codes like overgrown grass and shrubs, trash and other safety and health violations. Click here for the article from The Island Packet.
Also on STATter911 …
- North Carolina Board of Transportation reverses itself. Asheville bridge now expected to be named for Capt. Jeff Bowen. – April 5, 2012
- Registered sex offender/firefighter accused of groping fire victim. Woman says it happened after fire outside her Fairfield County, SC home. – May 25, 2011
- Funeral arrangements for Captain Jeff Bowen, Asheville Fire Department. Firefighter Jay Bettencourt getting out of hospital. – July 29, 2011
- Quick Takes: December 10, 2010 – December 10, 2010
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It’s really refreshing to see a video like the South St. Louis one every now and then. It shows a good ‘bread and butter’ fire attack done by a department that apparently still takes the firefighting part of the job seriously. They arrived to find a heavy fire and smoke condition in a single family type structure. Simultaneously they vented, entered, searched and advanced a properly sized and supplied attack line and quickly made a bad situation go away. Kudos … All of those who we frequently see here masquerading as firefighters while fires that should be quickly knocked down instead destroy peoples property and lives should take note. There is a lot more to firefighting than having the most warning lights and the loudest sirens and winning the most trophies in the buff parades.
Hey Vern. There’s also more to firefighting than ALS response times and “customer service”, amirite?!?
Evenin’ Dcff … We have to do a good job of providing all services that we are responsible for. Unfortunately, when it comes to structural firefighting it seems that many departments completly miss the mark.
Vern.. Well said, couldnt agree more!
It is comforting to see a video showing that old fashioned firefighting still works.
The first due engine company makes entry and attack from the upwind side and the downwind companies vent and bring up a line to protect exposures and support the attack — all in full PPE including SCBA. And without the frantic uncoordinated shouting, racing around and radio traffic because the fire flashed over — don’t they usually do that?
This is typical of an STLFD attack — whether on the Southside, Northside, Westend, Downtown, or along Central Lindell Corridor.
Just keep calm. Listen to the Battalion Chief (now the IC); If at all possible attack from upwind. Let the Hook & Ladder (truck) open up all necessary windows (glass is the cheapest part of the building). Protect the exposures and put big water on the fire until it is knocked down (not just darkened down).
Gosh doesn’t this sound familiar?
Yes!! It is successful, low risk and effective firefighting — congratulations again to STLFD!