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UPDATED: Baltimore County fire station burns. New engine & other units destroyed at Dundalk firehouse.

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Image from WMAR-TV.

Baltimore County website

Another picture of new Engine 6 under collapsed roof

Listen to the dispatch of Fire Box 6-8 for “Station 6″

Damage pictures from Baltimore County Fire Department

An alarm alerted firefighters to a fire in the bay area of Baltimore County Station 6 at 2815 Sollers Point Road around 2:30 this morning. The fire went to two-alarms and there were no injuries. This is the Baltimore County Fire Department’s career station in Dundalk.

A Baltimore County Fire Department spokesperson says the firefghters were able to get one engine out of the firehouse (reported to be Engine 61) and begin attacking the fire. The station had additional personnel because many firefighters scheduled to work the next day were sleeping at the station due to the latest snowstorm.

A new $600,000 fire engine, received last week (apparently not even placed in service yet), was destroyed along with two medic units and a brush truck. WJZ-TV reports a National Guard Humvee assigned to the station for the snowstorm also was damaged.

Here are more details in excerpts from a Baltimore Sun report by Peter Hermann:

Officials said firefighters sleeping in the firehouse’s living quarters, which is next to the fire engine bay, awoke to the sound of a fire alarm. When they opened the bay door, they saw heavy smoke and fire and immediately evacuated, Price said. Numerous explosions were reported from oxygen tanks in the medic units.

Inside were eight firefighters and paramedics assigned to the overnight shift, as well as five firefighters from day work who spent the night and two members of the National Guard who were helping crews respond to calls in the heavy snow storm. Price said one firefighter managed to drive one engine out of the bay and crews were able to train hoses on the fire “to keep it in check.”

Click the image for Google Maps Street View of Station 6.

But the fire quickly spread and dozens of firefighters from other companies were called in to help. Shortly after 4 a.m., fire commanders deemed the building unsafe and crews were ordered to train water on it from the outside. Price said the roof collapsed from the fire, which was placed under control shortly after 4:30 a.m.Three manhole covers then exploded about a block away, at Merritt Boulevard at Sollers Point Road, due to a natural gas leak. No injuries were reported. This morning, a crane was called in to removed debris.

According to the Baltimore County website, Station 6 houses Engine 6, Engine 61, Brush 6, Medic 6 and Medic 106.

Engine 61 at the firehouse from the Station 6 website.

Posted by dave statter on February 10, 2010 • Filed under: Baltimore County Fire Department, Breaking News, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Major Incidents, News • Tagged: Baltimore County, Dave Statter, Dundalk, Engine 6, fire station burns, firefighter, firehouse fire, Humvee, Maryland, Natiional Guard, Sollers Point Road, STATter911.com

Fireground audio & video from Fairfax County mayday during apartment fire. One firefighter dropped from balcony & another lost mask.

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See inside pictures from Fairfax County fire station collapse earlier in the day

Two firefighters ran into serious trouble Monday evening at a garden apartment building fire in Fairfax County, Virginia. Firefighters were already dealing with heavy snow on the ground and water supply issues when a mayday was called for two firefighters down. This happened around the time command ordered the evacuation of the building due to a report of a top floor collapse at the building in the 4200 block of Hunt Club Circle in the Fair Oaks section of the county.

Fire officials say one firefighter came off of a balcony dropping three floors into a snow bank. A second firefighter was reported missing for a brief period. That firefighter was soon found and was taken to a burn unit after the firefighter’s facepiece became dislodged.

The snow slowed firefighters in placing ladders and accessing hydrants. Virginia National Guard members in Humvees and other vehicles have been assisting firefighters. They helped in getting at least one of the injured firefighters to an ambulance.

The injuries to both firefighters are not considered life threatening.

At least 14 apartments were damaged in the fire.

It already had been a tough day for the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department. Eighteen firefighters had a close call when their fire station crumbled around them at 3:00 in the morning. Heavy snow on the flat roof at Station 410 in Bailey’s Crossroads collapsed the roof. The fire station, the apparatus inside and vehicles belonging to firefighters parked outside have been heavily damaged, but no firefighters were hurt.

Posted by dave statter on February 9, 2010 • Filed under: Command & Leadership, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fireground Audio, Fires, Major Incidents, News, Videos • Tagged: Dave Statter, Fair Oaks, Fairfax County, firefighter, firefighter down, Hunt Club Circle, mayday, STATter911.com, Virginia

New pictures from Fairfax County fire station collapse. Alexandria fire station now closed due to roof worries.

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This evening Alexandria, Virginia officials tell STATter911.com that Station 206 at 4609 Seminary Road has been closed due to structural concerns following the weekend’s heavy snowfall. More snow is on the way tomorrow. Firefighters and equipment have been moved to other Alexandria fire stations.

Station 206 is about three miles to the east of Fairfax County’s Station 410 in Bailey’s Crossroads. The roof over that fire station caved in at 3:00 this morning. All 18 firefighters inside the firehouse escaped unharmed. Underneath that collapsed roof are an engine company, ladder truck and other fire and EMS vehicles. The crews from Station 410 have been sent to other nearby stations, but are running a paramedic engine and ambulance out of the parking lot when possible (no ladder truck).

The closing of the two firehouses leaves a big gap in coverage along the border between the two jurisdictions. On tops of these problems, just three miles to the south of the Bailey’s Crossroads station, a sagging roof was discovered at Station 408 in Annandale. Firefighters in Annandale were operating out of the adjacent bingo hall. Having fire equipment and ambulances outside, particularly with the possibility of another foot or more of snow on Tuesday and Wednesday is also a problem at the two Fairfax County firehouses.

It is unclear at the moment what long term plans are in the works for providing fire and EMS coverage for the busy area served by these three adjacent fire companies.

The roof problems at Station 206 and Station 408 were discovered after officials ordered inspections of flat roofs at firehouses following the collapse at Station 410.

Station 410 was built in 1974 by the Bailey’s Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department. A new roof was put on in 1998. Volunteer officials were on the scene working with Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department officials assessing the damage.

Posted by dave statter on February 8, 2010 • Filed under: Alexandria Fire Department, EMS Health & Safety, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, News, Videos • Tagged: Alexandria, Bailey's Crossroads, collapse, Dave Statter, Fairfax County, firefighter, Station 206, Station 408, Station 410, STATter911.com, Virginia

UPDATE Haiti rescuers become victims of collapse. Fairfax County fire station in Bailey’s Crossroads buckles under snow. Second firehouse in danger.

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Click here for new pictures from inside the firehouse

For the people who go all around the world helping others when their buildings collapse due to natural disasters, this one couldn’t have been any closer to home. Overnight there was a collapse of the roof over the equipment bay at Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department Station 410. Now, there is a roof problem at a neighboring firehouse. Firefighters report sagging in the roof at Station 408 in Annandale, about three miles south on Columbia Pike.

Dan Schmidt, spokesperson for Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, says 18 firefighters were in the bunk room of Station 410 located in the 3600 block of Firehouse Lane when they heard a loud noise coming from the bay area around 3:00 a.m. Schmidt says the firefighters discovered the flat roof over all four bay areas collapsed under the weight of this weekend’s heavy snowfall.

Firehouse in Bailey's Crossroads at a better time. Click the image for Google Maps Street View.

There were no injuries.

Schmidt says a good portion of the roof is now sitting on top of the ladder truck and the engine. A full evaluation of the damage has not been made, but the damage at Station 410 is extensive.

After the collapse at Station 410 Schmidt says an alert went out to firefighters to do an evaluation of flat roofs at other fire stations. That’s when sagging was noticed at Station 408 in Annandale.

Officials say there is a two to five inch deflection in the center portion of the roof at that station. For now crews are running out of the newer bingo hall at the firehouse.

Posted by dave statter on February 8, 2010 • Filed under: Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, News • Tagged: Bailey's Crossroads VFD, blizzard, collapse, Dave Statter, Fairfax County, fire station, firefighter, firehouse, snow, Station 10, Station 410, STATter911

Raw video from Arlington County, Virginia house fire. Fire starts as power was brought back up to the neighborhood.

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The people in the 2900 block of North Lexington Street had been without power for about 24 hours late Sunday afternoon. Virginia Dominion Power crews were in the neighborhood dealing with downed lines and other issues. According to neighbors, when the workers turned the power back on the smoke started coming from both the top of a utility pole and a nearby home.

Firefighters from Arlington County and Fairfax County found fire in the basement and first floor of the house. A woman in her 80s and her daughter safely escaped the home.

A Dominion Virginia spokesperson had no information on the cause of the fire when contacted on Sunday.

Officially, the Arlington County Fire Department is waiting for the determination from a fire investigator on the cause of the fire. Firefighters on the scene confirmed neighbors reports that the fire occurred at the same time power was restored.

Neighbor Cliff Cohen said the power was on for about a minute and then shut down again when the house fire was discovered.

What was left of the home’s electric meter had charring all around it.

The house suffered substantial damage. No one was injured.

Posted by dave statter on February 8, 2010 • Filed under: Arlington County Fire Department, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Videos • Tagged: Arlington, Dave Statter, Dominion Virginia Power, electricity, firefighter, North Lexington Street, snow, STATter911.com, STATter911.comn, storm, Virginia

Explosion & mass casualty incident in Middletown, CT. Deaths reported from large blast & fire at power plant.

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Two hangars, ice rink and church among structures that have collapsed. Fires also keep DC area crews busy. More snow coverage, video & radio traffic.

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Click here for an interview with an MWAA spokesman about the collapse at Dulles.

Watch live coverage from WUSA9.com

Learn more about the deadly collapse from the historic Washington snow of 1922

Send us your fire & EMS snow videos and pictures

Preliminary snow totals

Some live scanner feeds from the region: DC Fire & EMS, PGFD, Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County, Frederick County, MD

We hope to have more details later today on what sounded like a frustrating incident in Fairfax County last night. A house burned in Great Falls and the snow greatly prevented access to the scene. (Also, don’t forget to check the player to the right for the latest videos from WUSA9.com.)

The Joshua Temple Church in DC was one of a number of buildings that collapsed Saturday in Washington area.

Earlier in the day, I watched a relatively minor version of the same problem. Two trees in front of my house were smoking, thanks to the top of a utility pole and a tangle of power lines that were down in the street just to one side of my driveway. I still had power, as did most of my neighbors, but the service to my house was looking none to good with the line draping down from the meter and across our snow covered lawn to the street.

Not having the scanner with me (what kind of reporter is that?) I figured the half-hour or so delay after calling 911 was just from a back-up of higher priority calls. It turns out Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department Engine 418 was dispatched immediately. It just took them a few tries to get into the neighborhood. Before long Capt. Michael Istvan and his crew were trudging down my street, wisely leaving the engine at the top of the hill.

They did exactly what I expected them to do and taped off the area so no one got zapped. While they were doing that we heard a little sizzle and a loud pop and that was the end of the power for most of the street (tree stopped burning too, imagine that). So far my natural gas fed generator is powering things well and we have become the most popular family in the neighborhood. I am guessing it will be a few days before the lines are restrung. This also means that we won’t likely see a snow plow on our street for a while.

The firefighters from Station 418 had been dispatched to a call around 8:00 AM that sounded a bit more exciting than the 911 response I generated. They were headed to Dulles International Airport where a hangar had collapsed due to the weight of the snow.

No one was hurt, but it sounds like some private jets took a beating. There is video and an interview above, and radio traffic from the incident below.

Click here for Part 2 of the radio traffic from FireSceneAudio.com.

There was also a collapse of a hangar at Manassas Regional Airport around 1:30 PM. City of Manassas Fire & Rescue Department Chief Fire Marshal Francis Teevan describes it as a 24,000 square foot hangar owned by Dulles Aviation, Inc.

Another major collapse was at the Prince William Ice Center in Dale City, Virginia. Here’s an excerpt from InsideNova.com (where you will also find a picture):

The building at 5180 Dale Blvd. is a total loss, owner Bill Hutzler said. Skaters practicing inside had been evacuated before the collapse and no one was injured.

“We had some speed skaters on the ice this morning, then a beam on ceiling started to twist and … we got everybody out,“ said Hutzler, who bought the rink in March 2008. The rink was built in 1996.

A hazardous materials team was called to the scene due to high amounts of ammonia in the building, which is used to keep the ice fresh.

In the District of Columbia a tree limb and the weight of the snow brought down the 100-year-old Joshua Temple Church in Northeast. Again, no one was hurt.

Also in DC, Rescue Squad 3 was involved in another rescue when they arrived first to a house fire at 1314 T Street, Southeast. You can click here for the fireground audio (hope to have more from this one later).

The DC Fire & EMS Department handled more than twice its normal number of calls yesterday because of snow related issues.

Posted by dave statter on February 7, 2010 • Filed under: Chief Dennis Rubin, DC Fire & EMS Department, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fireground Audio, Fires, HazMat, Loudoun, Loudoun County, Major Incidents, News, Rescues, Videos • Tagged: City of Manassas Fire & Rescue Department, collapse, Dale City, Dave Statter, Dulles International Airport, Fairfax County, firefighter, Francis Teevan, Great Falls, hangar, Joshua Temple Church, Manassas Regional Airport, Michael Istvan, MWAA, Prince William Ice Center, STATter911.com, Virginia

Three Atlanta firefighters disciplined over shooting at liquor store. Fire department says they didn’t follow protocol for declaring a DOA.

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By Michael King, WXIA-TV:

11Alive News learned late Friday that three Atlanta firefighters have been disciplined after an internal investigation into a fatal shooting at a package store last December.

It was all captured on video.

As a part of their internal investigation, the fire department reviewed a surveillance video from a Moreland Avenue package store. It shows the three fire fighters as they looked over the store counter at a clerk who had just been shot.

According to their superiors, the three saw no signs of breathing or movement from clerk Martez McKibben.

But the department concluded that the firefighters failed to check McKibben for other signs of life, by checking for a pulse or breathing as prescribed by the department’s operating procedure.

Lt. Dennis Smith will receive a two-day suspension without pay, while firefighters Charlamus Dennis and Katrina Sims will both receive letters of reprimand.

A statement from the fire department states that the inaction of the firefighters, “did not directly contribute to the death of the patient, but does not negate the fact that they failed to fully assess the patient.”

Posted by dave statter on February 6, 2010 • Filed under: Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, News, Videos • Tagged: Atlanta Fire Department, Charlamus Dennis, Dave Statter, EMS, firefighter, Katrina Sims, Lt. Dennis Smith, Martez McKibben, Moreland Avenue, STATter911.com, surveilliance video

UPDATE: And it is still snowing. Live scanner feeds. Collapse at Dulles Airport. Send us your snow videos & pictures of fire & EMS in action.

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Send us your fire & EMS snow videos and pictures

Preliminary snow totals

Some live scanner feeds from the region: DC Fire & EMS, PGFD, Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County, Frederick County, MD

Tens of thousands are already without power in the Washington area. This picture by Chris Tucker taken in Bethesda shows one location where power was a problem.

If you would like to check in with how your Nation’s Capital is dealing with what is being call an epic snow storm, click above for live coverage from WUSA9.com.

Area fire departments are having difficulty getting to many locations and fire and EMS equipment is getting stuck.

There has been a collpase of a hangar at Dulles International Airport. Here are some details from WUSA9.com (hope to have more on this later)-

A spokesperson for the Airport Authority says the roof of a hangar housing private jets partially collapsed damaging some aircraft. The hangar is in the Dulles Jet Center in the General Aviation area. There were no injuries reported but the hangar was evacuated. No estimate yet on the amount of damage to the aircraft. The hangar has been condemned.

Michael "FirePix1075" Schwartzberg photo of Baltimore County Fire Department Medic 17 at GBMC.

There have been collapses of roofs on at least two homes in Northeast Washington.

The World Headquarters of STATter911.com is fairly inaccessible right now and we have instituted a liberal leave policy for our hard working staff. I will just have to plug along without them.

I am getting assistance from the WUSA9.com web team. They continue to add videos to our player to the right. These include some TV appearances by local fire chiefs (DC’s Dennis Rubin and Montgomery County’s Richard Bowers) and even a snowy response video from the Leesburg VFD (also added below). By the way, that player always has the 30 latest fire and EMS videos that come through WUSA9.com (locally and from around the country).

If you have video or pictures showing how firefighters & EMS crews are handling this storm you can click here to upload them to WUSA9.com. It can even be just a pretty shot of your firehouse.

Emily Cyr and Jillian Coyle will make sure they show up in the video player (and STATter911.com will find a way to show case your still photos).

Posted by dave statter on February 6, 2010 • Filed under: Chief Dennis Rubin, Command & Leadership, DC Fire & EMS Department, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Major Incidents, Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service (MD), News, Videos • Tagged: blizzard, Dave Statter, Dennis Rubin, firefighter, Nation's Capital, National Capital region, Richard Bowers, snow coverage, snow storm, STATter911.com, upload your photos, upload your video, wusa9.com

Potential record snow fall in the Nation’s Capital brings thoughts of a disaster 88-years-ago. See film from the Knickerbocker Theater collapse.

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Read April 4, 1922 article about criminal charges in the collapse

Images from the 1922 Knickerbocker Storm from NOAA

Washington Post front page from January 29, 1922

WUSA9.com coverage of the current storm

I know this isn’t much for many of you who live in the snow belts of our country, but the 20 to 30 inch snowfall predicted for the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia is a paralyzing experience here. Schools closed well before the first flakes began falling.

From the NOAA photo library.

The film above is of the disaster that came from a record Washington, DC snowfall on January 28, 1922. The 28-inches that fell caused the collapse of the roof of the Knickernocker Theater located at 18th Street and Columbia Road, NW. The collapse killed 98 people and injured 133.

My friend Jeff Krulik, a filmaker in Washington, unearthed the film above and posted it to YouTube during the December 19 storm (and I forgot to use it). Thanks to Jeff who used this hand-cranked newsreel footage in his 1988 documentary Twenty-five Cents Before Noon, a look at DC’s old movie palaces.

The collapse of the snow packed flat roof of the 5-year-old theater came on the night the comedy Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford was the feature film.

Here’s how the collapse was described in Washington Weather – The Book:

From the NOAA photo library.

Shortly before 9:00 p.m., the Knickerbocker Theatre’s orchestra was playing for intermission. The lights had dimmed and the people were returning to their seats. Suddenly, a loud hissing noise filled the room. The ceiling, weighed down from the snow, had begun to split apart down the middle. The few people who had noticed the splitting ceiling dove under their seats or ran for the door. Within seconds, the entire roof started to fall towards the crowd. As the roof came down, it collapsed the theater’s cement balcony and pulled down portions of the theater’s brick wall. Concrete, bricks and metal crashed to the ground, burying dozens of people

The theater was owned by Harry Crandall and the architect was Reginald W. Geare. Here are some details on the cause of the collapse from the site Greater Greater Washington.

The subsequent investigation determined that the contractor had inserted the steel beams supprting the roof only 2 inches into the walls rather than the 8 inches Geare had specified, and Geare and Crandall were found innocent of any wrong doing.

The theater was rebuilt in 1927 as the Ambassador. That building was torn down in 1969.

An interesting note from former College Park VFD Chief Ty Dickerson (currently chief of Virginia’s Lexington Fire-Rescue Department).

Salvaged timbers from the Knickerbocker were used to build the Byrd Mansion in College Park, home to University of Maryland President Curly Byrd. In about 2003, during a snowstorm that house suffered a serious fire and was subsequently rebuilt.

From the Library of Congress.

Posted by dave statter on February 6, 2010 • Filed under: DC Fire & EMS Department, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Major Incidents, Mass Casualty Incident, News, Videos • Tagged: Adams Morgan, Ambassador Theater, Dave Statter, firefighter, Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford, Harry Crandall, Jeff Krulik, Knickerbocker Storm, Knickerbocker Theater, Reginald W. Geare, STATter911.com, Twenty-five Cents Before Noon

Fire at recycling plant in Cook County, Illinois. Video of Chicago FD mobile ventilation unit in action.

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Steve Redick video from a recycling warehouse fire yesterday afternoon in suburban Chicago. Toward the end of the clip you will see Steve showing the operations of MVU 923. I wonder if the unit has its own Facebook fan page? (So sorry.)

Here are excerpts from an article by Mark Lawton at the Franklin Park Herald-Journal:

The fire started between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. at 615 N. Northwest Avenue in an industrial section of Northlake just east of Interstate 294.

The cement and brick building was about three-quarters empty, said Franklin Park Fire Chief David Traiforos during a phone interview after leaving the scene.

In the center of the building, however, a pile of tightly bundled packages of cloth, paper and plastic had caught fire.

The Chicago Fire Department brought in front-end loaders to push the burning bundles outside where they were broken apart and extinguished.

The building sprinkler system did some of the work, Traiforos said.

“It probably kept the building from burning down,” he said. “There’s really no damage to the building other than cutting into the roof and window damage.”

Firefighters were challenged, however, by insufficient water pressure.

Posted by dave statter on February 5, 2010 • Filed under: Chicago Fire Department, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fireground Audio, Fires, Videos • Tagged: Chicago, Chief David Traiforos, Cook County, Dave Statter, firefighter, Franklin Park, Illinois, Leyden, mobile ventilation unit, MVU 923, Northlake, STATter911.com, Steve Redick

Junk yard fire in Massachusetts. Video from Wrentham.

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Click here for the view from the air

Click here and here for pictures from the fire

This is video from a junk yard fire on Route 1A in Wrentham, Massachusetts. The fire was reported at Armitage Auto Parts near the Wrentham Village Outlet Mall around 1:00 on Thursday afternoon. Columns of black smoke from the blaze could be seen from as far as Pawtucket, R.I. No injuries were reported.

Posted by dave statter on February 5, 2010 • Filed under: fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, HazMat, News, Videos • Tagged: Armitage Auto Parts, Dave Statter, firefighter, junk yard, Massachusetts, South Street, STATter911.com, Wrentram

Quick Takes

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House fire last night in Athens, New York: This was around 7:30 PM at 31 North Franklin Street. No injuries reported. Athens Chief John Greco told the Daily Mail’s Susan Campriello this was the first fire for the company’s recently purchased aerial ladder - The ladder, he said, allowed firefighters to reach the roof and vent the fire with no delay. “We didn’t have to wait for an aerial to come,” he said.

Alabama firefighter burned in flashover: Firefighter Casey Hinsey with the Duncanville VFD was burned on his hands, arm, neck and face during a flashover at a house fire Wednesday night. Read more here and at FirefighterCloseCalls.com.

Helmet cam captures magnesium flare at vehicle fire. Click the image for the video from Croft, South Carolina.

Career change offered to firefighters instead of lay offs: Volusia County, Florida officials want 18 firefighters to become correctional officers. They would likely have first dibs if positions later opened up in the fire department. Click here for details about this unusual offer.

East Texas on edge over church fires: Eight such fires since the start of the year are being investigated. Click here for details.

Charges likely in bar fight: The Daily News says to expect criminal charges against some of the group of firefighters involved in a fight inside Brooklyn’s Salty Dog. The paper reports it happened after someone spilled a drink on a firefighter. A large group of FDNY off-duty and retired firefighters were at the bar for an annual dinner. Here’ s more. Watch the story here.

Kind of like a firefighter who is an arsonist: This story from my friend Tom Jackman in The Washington Post really has nothing to do with fire or EMS, other than my analogy. Still, it is worth reading. A respected anger management counselor in Fairfax County, Virginia is facing federal charges for pulling a gun on two men he believed were blocking his car. Those men turned out to be U.S. Marshals. Read more.

Fireground audio as infamous night spot burns in Tennessee: Video and radio traffic from a fire at a vacant night spot in Memphis with a notorious past. Check it out.

Radio traffic from CO close call: This is the story from Salina, Kansas where the initial EMS providers on the scene needed rescuing themselves. Click here.

Looking back: Firegeezer has been running a feature with that title in recent weeks that showcases vintage ads from Fire Engineering. Take a look.

Posted by dave statter on February 5, 2010 • Filed under: fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, News, Police, Videos • Tagged: alabama, Athens, bar fight, Casey Hinsey, correctional officer, Dave Statter, Deland, Duncanville, FDNY, Fire Engineering, firefighter, Firegeezer, flashover, Florida, Franklin Street, Looking Back, New York, Salty Dog, STATter911.com, Tom Jackman, Volusia County, Washington Post

Helmet-cam captures firefighters caught in magnesium flare-up. Watch video from vehicle fire on Wednesday in Croft, South Carolina.

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Excerpts from an article by WCBD-TV about a fire Wednesday at 5:00 PM in Spartanburg County, South Carolina and an interview with Croft Fire Chief Lewis Hayes:

When firefighters arrived, a Ford Ranger had flames coming from the engine and cab area. The driver had already safely gotten out. As two firefighters were spraying the truck with water from a distance of about five feet, the truck exploded in a shower of white sparks and flames.

“We can show other firefighters across the country that a routine call like this can turn into something that can end your career if you aren’t wearing your protective gear,“ says Hayes.

He says many firefighters don’t wear their face mask and breathing apparatus when putting out vehicle fires. But his firefighters were wearing the gear, and Hayes says it saved them from serious injuries.

“They no doubt would have had severe facial burns,“ says Hayes.

Posted by dave statter on February 5, 2010 • Filed under: fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News, Videos • Tagged: Chief Lewis Hayes, Croft Fire Department, Dave Statter, firefighter, Ford Ranger, helmet-cam, magnesium, Spartanburg County, STATter911.com

Notorious former nightclub burns in Memphis. Listen to fireground audio.

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Here are excerpts from an article from WREG-TV:

Two Memphis fire fighters were injured battling the massive fire at the old Headquarters Club at Porter and Crump.

The Headquarters Club was once the “headquarters” of a notorious gang and where a well known gang leader was murdered.

The building was already an inferno when fire fighters arrived on the scene at around 3:30A.M (Thursday).

In fact, fire fighters kept their distance and fought the blaze from above and well away from the building concerned the two story structure might collapse at any time.

“Not only did the front wall collapse, but also that top floor and the roof area,” said Lt. Wayne Cook.

Two fire fighters were sightly injured. One received cuts to his face when he was hit by a stream of water.

The headquarters night club had been vacant since the late 90′s.

The owner closed the club in 1999 after George Hughlett, the leader of the Lemoyne Gardens Mafia, was gunned down outside the business.

Police say the club was a well known hang out for the gang that was active in the city until about 2006.

Posted by dave statter on February 5, 2010 • Filed under: fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News, Videos • Tagged: Dave Statter, firefighter, George Hughlett, Headquarters, Lemoyne Gardens Mafia, Lt. Wayne Cook, nightclub, Porter & Crump, STATter911.com

Radio traffic from CO close call for first responders. Crew collapsed as they assisted at townhouse in Salina, Kansas where one person died.

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Salina Journal: First responders thought they were responding to a medical emergency

From the AP:

Officials say one person died, two emergency responders were hospitalized and nine others were treated after being overcome by carbon monoxide in central Kansas.

Fire Marshal Roger Williams says a woman called authorities after finding her friend unconscious inside his Salina town house Wednesday evening.

Williams says a paramedic and firefighter who went into the home collapsed and had to be rescued by other firefighters. The two were hospitalized.

Williams says seven Salina Fire Department personnel, a police officer and the woman who called for help were treated at Salina Regional Hospital for elevated carbon monoxide levels.

The hospital reported that one of them died, but no name or details were released.

Williams says the carbon monoxide came from a car that had been left running in an attached garage.

Posted by dave statter on February 4, 2010 • Filed under: Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fireground Audio, HazMat, Major Incidents, News • Tagged: carbon monoxide, CO, firefighter, FirefighterCloseCalls.com, Kansas, paramedic, poisoning, Salina, Salina Fire Department. Dave Statter, STATter911.com

Quick Takes

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Three at a time: If you haven’t seen the raw security camera video we posted last night from the fire in the District of Columbia where three small children were rescued, you will want to. Cameras on two floors captured the action inside 1920 Naylor Road, SE as crews from Engine 15 and Rescue Squad 3 find the fire and then the children. The boy and two girls, who had been left alone in the apartment, were not breathing and one was in cardiac arrest. Rather than wait for additional help just being dispatched, firefighters put all three into one ambulance and met up with a paramedic supervisor on the way to the hospital. We also have interviews with the rescuers and the fireground audio. Click here for the video and our coverage.

Radio traffic from fire that left fire chief & five firefighters without jobs: For the first time we are hearing the fireground audio from the January 24 fire in DeKalb County, Georgia that has caused so much controversy. On Wednesday, another captain was firedover the incident. Click here for the latest.

Another, "What, and give up show business?" moment. Three cows stuck in a slurry pit and who are you going to call? Click the image for the story.

Rescues at Maryland apartment fire: Police and firefighters are being credited with getting two men out of a burning building in Hagerstown on Tuesday night. Click here for the details.

Save from 27-years-ago has new meaning: A persistent daughter helped reunite former Springfield, Massachusetts firefighter James Dion with a woman he rescued in 1972 when she was a little girl. Here’s the article.

Fire company given three month time out: Citing financial and safety concerns, Pennsylvania’s West Penn Township Board of Supervisors has suspended the Andreas Fire Company from active duty. The Schuylkill County 911 Communications Center has been notified not to dispatch the company on emergency calls. Click here for the story.

Spilled drink results in large off-duty bar brawl: The Salty Dog in Bay Ridge was the scene of a fight last weekend that is making headlines in New York. A large group of off-duty and retired FDNY members, many from one Brooklyn firehouse, were reported to be in attendance. Police and the FDNY are investigating. Security camera video is apparently part of the evidence. Read more here and here.

The answer is no on reopening Milwaukee ladder company: The attempt by one political leader to reopen Milwaukee’s Ladder 10, closed in December due to budget issues, has failed. Click here for the story.

Regional 911 center has opposition: In Gloucester, Massachusetts, police officers have mounted an effort to move 911 over to a regional call center. Here’s the story.

Man rescued accused of arson in Worcester, Massachusetts third-alarm: Click here for pictures and details of a fire on Wednesday morning at a May Street three decker that has left a16 people homeless. A man rescued from the second floor is accused of starting the fire. Above is the fireground audio from FireSceneAudio.com.

Posted by dave statter on February 4, 2010 • Filed under: Funding & Staffing, Uncategorized • Tagged: 911, Andreas Fire Company, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Dave Statter, FDNY, firefighter, Gloucester, Hagerstown, James Dion, Maryland, Massachusetts, May Street, Milwaukee Fire Department, Salty Dog, Schuylkill County, Springfield, STATter911.com, West Penn Township, Wrocester

Listen to fireground audio from controversial DeKalb County, Georgia fire. Another captain fired over the incident.

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Click here for STATter911.com’s previous coverage of this story and to read DeKalb County report

Captain Sell Caldwell is the fifth member of the fire department in DeKalb County, Georgia to be fired over the January 24 fire that took the life of 74-year-old Ann Bartlett. The impact of the error filled response, detailed in a county report, also resulted in the immediate resignation of Chief David Foster earlier this week.

The video above includes some of the radio transmissions for both the initial response to Bartlett’s home and the response of firefighters five hours later when her home had already been destroyed. Bartlett’s body was recovered from the rubble.

A police investigation continues to see if there were any criminal violations in the actions taken by responding firefighters.

Posted by dave statter on February 4, 2010 • Filed under: Command & Leadership, Customer Service, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighting Operations, Fireground Audio, Fires, Major Incidents, News, Videos • Tagged: Ann Bartlett, Chief David Foster, Dave Statter, DeKalb County, Dunwoody, firefighter, Georgia, investigation, Sell Caldwell, STATter911.com

UPDATED (New video added): Three children rescued from DC apartment fire this morning. All revived. Raw security camera video & fireground audio from 1920 Naylor Road, Southeast.

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Three children, all in respiratory or cardiac arrest, were pulled from a burning Southeast Washington apartment this morning. The District of Columbia Fire & EMS Department reports all three are alive and being treated at Children’s Hospital.

DC Naylor Road

The call came in at 6:14 this morning from a resident of Apartment 306 at 1920 Naylor Road, SE. The first arriving crews from Engine 15 and Rescue Squad 3 headed to the third floor, but soon discovered the fire was one floor below in Apartment 206.

Security camera video from the building shows a woman trying to get into that apartment as smoke began filling the second floor hallway. Firefighters soon arrived. Capt. Bernard Holt of Rescue Squad 3 says no one in the hallway told the firefighters there were children in Apartment 206.

As Engine 15 extinguished a fire in the kitchen of the apartment, the crew from the rescue squad began searching the rest of the apartment. Firefighters J.C. Carroll and Charles Ryan were joined by Engine 15′s Mike Huskins as the three children were found in a bedroom. Firefighter Carroll tells STATter911.com that two of the children were on the bed and one was on the floor. Firefighter Huskins wrapped a sheet around one of the children to protect her from the heat as all three were taken out the apartment door and into the lobby.

This is a combination of video captured by two security cameras at 1920 Naylor Road, SE. One is on the ground floor by the center stairwell and the other is in the same position one floor up and down the hall from Apartment 206. I have edited the videos together in general chronological order based on visual clues, but the videos are not matched exactly by time.

Firefighters Pete Bagdovitz and Jeff Carroll aboard Ambulance 15 took all three children into their unit, the only ambulance on the scene. A decision was made to make an immediate transport with the help of the rescue squad crew to Children’s Hospital rather than wait for ALS units that had recently been requested by Battalion Chief Edwin Pearson, the incident commander.

A few blocks from the apartment building, Captain Cee Cee Wilson, an EMS supervisor, met up with Ambulance 15 and hopped aboard to provide ALS treatment for the youngest of the children, who was in cardiac arrest.

Capt. Wilson said all three were breathing when Ambulance 15 arrived at the hospital. The children are a five year-old boy, a two-year-old girl and a six-month-old girl.

DC fire officials say the father had gone to work just before 6:00 AM. He had asked a neighbor to check in on his children. Sources say the woman seen on security camera video, using a key to try and get into the apartment, is that neighbor from down the hall.

Fire investigators say it appears a burner on the gas stove had been left on and ignited combustible material. DC Fire & EMS Department PIO Pete Piringer reports there was no working smoke detector in Apartment 206.

The other firefighters who were part of Rescue Squad 3 on this call were Mike Deavers, Charlie Williams and Mike Rabaoitti. Lt. Lee Havens was in charge of Engine 15, which also included Derek Graham, Jimmy Hill and Benjamin Driscoll. Driscoll is a probationary firefighter and this was his first fire with the DC Fire & EMS Department.

Posted by dave statter on February 3, 2010 • Filed under: Chief Dennis Rubin, Command & Leadership, DC Fire & EMS Department, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fireground Audio, Fires, Major Incidents, News, Videos • Tagged: 1920 Naylor Road, Ambulance 15, Benjamin Driscoll, Bernard Holt, Capt., Charles Ryan, Charlie Williams, Children's Hospital, Dave Statter, DC, Deputy Chief Kenneth Crosswhite, Derek Graham, District of Columbia, Edwin Pearson.Captain Cee Cee Wilson, Engine 15, firefighter, J.C. Carroll, Jeff Carroll, Jimmy Hill, Lee Havens, Mike Deavers, Mike Huskins, Mike Rabaoitti, Pete Piringer, Peter Bagdovitz, Rescue Squad 3, Southeast, STATter911.com, washington

Quick Takes

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Early video of Santa Rosa fire: A neighbor captured this one, posted it to YouTube but didn’t say where the fire occurred. We were able to trace to a fire in vacant units in a Santa Rosa, California complex late Monday night. Here are details and photos of the aftermath.

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Follow the arrow to the player at right for new videos >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Zone911.com has the pictures from a tanker that ran off the road in Levis, Quebec. This is the same fire department that had wrecks with two quints a few weeks apart in October and November and October of last year. Click the image for more from Zone911.com

Breaking news – 3 children pulled from DC fire: A fire just before 6:30 this morning has sent three children to the hospital. DC Fire & EMS Department PIO Pete Piringer reports all three were rescued from 1920 Naylor Road, SE. At least two of the children are reported in critical condition. The fire was on the second floor in an apartment kitchen and according to Piringer is under control. The children were found in a bedroom. Check in with WUSA9.com through the morning for more. The address is a 3-story apartment building. Click here for the Google Maps Street View.

Acting chief says fire protection is wholly inadequate and tragedy is inevitable: Harsh words from Brian Murphy who took over running the Lawrence Fire Department in Massachusetts a month ago. Murphy says the city is lucky no one died in the late Monday morning fire in a three decker just six doors from the firehouse that was closed in August. Thirty-years-ago when Murphy joined the department there were 44 to 48 firefighters working each shift. Now there are about 20. Read more from Chief Murphy’s comments. Click here for video of the fire.

PGFD on the rescue beat: It has been a busy two days in Prince George’s County. We have video of a couple of unusual rescues. One involves a man who decided he just wanted to stand in the middle of a frigid waterway. It required police to suit up to help the firefighters. Prior to that it was down a 100-foot ravine to rescue a teen who had taken a tumble. You will find those stories here. Also, more information on the ravine rescue can be found in this story from WUSA9.com’s Lindsey Mastis.

By the way, many new videos will show up in the player to the right even before I get to write about them. Emily Cyr and Jillian Coyle at WUSA9.com often post fresh fire & EMS videos from the Washington, DC area and around the country. Please check them out. The player is always filled with 30 of our most recent stories.

With friends like this: In an article at AJC.com about DeKalb County’s departed chief, the point is made by some that David Foster had clashed with his bosses over staffing and was looking to leave before the scandal surrounding the January 24 fatal fire. One politician who indicates he is a Foster supporter might want to choose his words more carefully when describing the chief’s legacy-

“We learned about this after the media. We didn’t know he was going to leave,” said Commissioner Larry Johnson, the presiding officer. “Since he came in, Chief Foster built several fire stations and increased response times.”

Memphis firefighter fired: The focus of a number of news reports in the last two weeks, Memphis Fire Department’s Lawrence Batiste has been fired. A convicted felon when he took the job (after being fired from adjacent Shelby County), Batiste ran into more problems. Here’s more.

Firefighters charged in more than 20-year-old assault against colleague inside firehouse: This story is from Australia where seven firefighters are facing charges in a case from 1989 that allegedly occurred inside a Sydney fire station. A male firefighter claims he was “sexually assaulted, bullied and harassed” and superiors did nothing about it. Read more.

24-on and 48-off was a non-starter in Lancaster, Pennsylvania: We told you yesterday how the mayor pinned the layoffs of four firefighters on the union not providing concessions. Now, the union responds. Click here.

Cops say firefighters got a better deal: An interesting dynamic in Tulsa where firefighters saved 147 jobs and agreed to concessions while the police took a different route. Now police union officials say the firefighters received a better deal from the city. Click here for the story and here for an editorial on the issue from Tulsa World.

L.A. dog out of pound: Spikey has successfully complete his quarantine and is back with his owner. He’s the dog rescued from the Los Angles River by LAFD’s Joe St. George. Spikey’s teeth left the firefighter with a broken thumb and a lost fingernail (plus some great video to show the grandchildren someday). Here’s the update.

Another cop makes a poor choice in dealing with a man intent on setting himself on fire: Firegeezer recently had the story of the Portland, Oregon officer who thought she was using a fire extinguisher on a man who set himself on fire. Instead, it was a large canister of pepper spray. Now Bill takes us to Perth, Australia where a police officer was trying to subdue a man who was splashing gasoline around the house and himself. The man had gone into the kitchen for matches. He really didn’t have to bother, because a police officer used a Taser. Here’s the story.

Posted by dave statter on February 3, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Chief Dennis Rubin, Command & Leadership, Courts, Customer Service, DC Fire & EMS Department, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, Los Angeles Fire Department, Major Incidents, News, Police, Rescues, Uncategorized, Videos • Tagged: 1920 Naylor Road, animal rescue, Australia, California, Canada, Chief Brian Murphy, Dave Statter, David Foster, DC, DC Fire & EMS Department, DeKalb County, District of Columbia, dog rescue, firefighter, Firegeezer, indecent assault, Joe St. George, LAFD, Lancaster, Larry Johnson, Lawrence, Lawrence Batiste, Lawrence Fire Department, Levis, Massachusetts, Memphis Fire Department, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Perth, Pete Piringer, Quebec, Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Fire Department, Southeast, Spikey, STATter911.com, Sydney, tanker, townhouse fire, Tulsa, washington, Zone911.com

Just some guy standing in the water. An unusual PGFD rescue. Cops don gear for safety. Pictures and video.

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Click here to see more images from PGFD’s Mark Brady

Another PGFD rescue: Video & details from teen brought out of ravine Monday night

He was just a man standing waist deep in water and no one knew exactly why. The water, of course, was partially frozen and a big concern for the firefighters and police officers responding to the Northwest Branch near the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Piney Branch Road around 8:30 this morning.

As Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department Chief Spokesman Mark Brady tells us there were also some other concerns as the crew from Engine 834 assessed the situation underneath the New Hampshire Avenue bridge. Here are excerpts from the PGFD PIO Blog:

Commands in English and Spanish were directed at the individual who did not respond and stood motionless in the water. A request for the Fire/EMS Departments Technical Rescue Team (TRT) was made to help in the removal of the individual.

As members of the TRT donned their cold weather gear and dry suits a request was made that police officers accompany firefighters due to the unstable and unpredictable condition of the male. The individual had never displayed his left hand and police could not determine if he was armed or not and was displaying an altered mental status. For the safety and well-being of everyone involved; 2 police officers donned cold weather gear dry suits and entered the water with the firefighters.

At about 9:30 AM, the combined rescue team of firefighters and police officers effected the removal of the male from the water and provided him to the care of paramedics. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of hypothermia and other evaluation.

Posted by dave statter on February 2, 2010 • Filed under: EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, News, PGFD, PGFD (MD), PIO, Police, Rescues, Uncategorized, Videos • Tagged: Adelphi, Dave Statter, firefighter, icy waters, Mark Brady, Maryland, Northwest Branch, Prince George's County, Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department, STATter911.com, water rescue

Quick Takes

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PGFD second-alarm: Despite all of the controversy, they still fight fires in Prince George’s County, Maryland. This is Chief Spokesman Mark Brady’s video of a fire yesterday afternoon at a storage facility in Landover Hills. The report was for smoke coming from a storage locker in the 3800 block of 64th Avenue. Brady says the firefighters found heavy smoke coming from a whole row of lockers. Two firefighters injured their hands during overhaul. One was sent to Baltimore for a hospital that specializes in hand trauma.

You will want to read this – Father & son, chief & assistant chief, both arrested during fire at son’s home: The man whose house was on fire Sunday in the Village of Powell in Monroe Township, Pennsylvania was not happy with the way firefighters were going about their business. That man ended up on the wrong end of a state trooper’s stun gun and was arrested. So was his father. The two men are the ranking officers of a neighboring fire company. Check it out.

An amazingly tragic series of events: I will let you be the judge of whether justice was served with the rapid fire news that keeps coming out of DeKalb County, Georgia. From, by all accounts so far, a very flawed response to an elderly woman’s call for help, to a report by fire officials, to the termination of three officers and a firefighter, to the immediate resignation of the fire chief took just eight days. I am sure there is something, but nothing comes immediately to mind of any other fire service incidents that compare to how quickly and severely this one was handled. We have the latest from Georgia with yesterday afternoon’s sudden departure of Chief David Foster. Click here.

Steve Skipton once again on the scene: Click the image for Steve's series of pictures at PhillyFireNews.com of a fire yesterday afternoon at 768 Division Street in Camden, New Jersey.

A must see interview with an injured firefighter: We mentioned this yesterday, but hadn’t yet watch the video from our sister-station. Click here to watch the interview from Cory Broich’s hospital bed. The Clearwater, Minnesota firefighter has been hospitalized since last week after being struck by a vehicle on I-94. The firefighter has a number of operations ahead on his badly mangled legs before he will be able to attempt walking again. He talks about trying to crawl away to avoid being hit again. You will also see Firefighter Broich with his five children who can’t wait for daddy to be home again (could be three weeks).

Command “badly let down” firefighters: That’s one of the conclusions of the investigation in Australia of the deadly “Black Saturday” fires from a year ago in Marysville. Read the latest.

Mayor says he didn’t do it: In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Mayor Rick Gray says the standoff with firefighters about layoffs is “not my decision”. He puts that at the feet of firefighters. Read more.

Mayor says he did it: In Chillicothe, Ohio, Mayor Joe Sulzer says he ordered Chief Bruce Vaughn to reprimand two firefighters who spoke up about issues at a council meeting. The mayor says speaking in such forums about policy issues is “a management right”. The firefighters say it is also a union right. Read more about the dispute.

Drugs and alcohol in Boston: Random testing is still at the center of a long contract dispute, but there already is a more limited program in place for Boston firefighters. One TV station investigated and shows the results from the drug and alcohol screening of new employees and those who show signs of impairment. Click here.

Same problem in Pittsburgh: The mayor and the union are pointing fingers at each other over missing a deadline for a new drug and alcohol policy after some high profile incidents. Here’s the latest. Click here for our previous coverage.

Watching the axe swing in New York: City Council members aren’t sure this time they will be able to restore what could be drastic cuts for FDNY. They are talking about the possibility of 20 companies and 500 firefighters. Click here for a good summary of the politics by The New York Times. And here for a little history lesson from FossilMedic Mike Ward that includes a classic newspaper headline.

And, similar budget issues at the other end of the country: In the City of Los Angeles they are studying the possibility of fire department layoffs. Read more.

His kind of town: We finally added Steve Redick’s second video of a busy Sunday night in Chicago. Two extra-alarm fires about two-hours apart destroyed a church and a restaurant. Redick, who dispatches those fire trucks when he isn’t chasing them, also has two books on fire rigs in and around Chicago. Click here to watch the video, listen to the fireground audio and read the details. Also, Firegeezer adds his own views of the two fires with Larry Shapiro’s fine photos.

More from East St. Louis, Illinois: The firefighters make their case about furloughs and budget cuts in an already thin department. Click here. You may recall our recent posting, with video, of just how thin they are running in East St. Louis.

Posted by dave statter on February 2, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Boston Fire Department, Command & Leadership, FDNY, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, Major Incidents, News, PGFD, PGFD (MD), Quick takes, Videos • Tagged: alcohol abuse, Australia, Black Saturday, Boston, Boston Fire Department, budget cuts, California, Camden, Chief Bruce Vaughn, Chillicothe, Dave Statter, Division Street, drug abuse, drug and alcohol screening, East St. Louis, FDNY, firefighter, Firegeezer, FossilMedic, Illinois, injured firefighter, investigation, LAFD, Lancaster, Landover Hills, Los Angeles, Mark Brady, Marysville, Massachusetts, Mayor Joe Sulzer, Mayor Rick Gray, Mike Ward, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, PhillyFireNews.com, Pittsburgh, Prince Georgia's County Fire/EMS Department, random drug testing, STATter911.com, Steve Skipton

Father & son, chief & assistant chief, arrested after clash with neighboring fire company over fire that destroyed son’s home. The story from Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

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Photo by Brian Bishop, Daily Review.

Franklin Township VFD website

Monroe Hose Company website (doesn’t appear to be current, but Don Stranger Sr. is listed as the vice president)

Dale Stranger’s house was destroyed by fire on Sunday. It apparently started as an electrical fire around the furnace. But Stranger’s troubles didn’t end there. Stranger, 35, his father Donald, 62, and a friend, all ended up under arrest. Police say they had to twice use a TASER on Dale Stranger.

Pennsylvania State Police say the arrests came when Dale Stranger didn’t like the way firefighters from the Monroe Hose Company were handling the fire and it went downhill from there. You see, Dale Stranger is the assistant chief and president of the Franklin Township VFD, a neighboring fire company. Stranger’s dad, Donald, is the chief and vice president of the same company.

And the third person charged in this case? He’s 35-year-old William Haney, a member of both the Franklin Township and Monroe Hose fire companies.

Here are excerpts from an article by James Loewenstein at the DailyReview.com:

The fire took place in the village of Powell in Monroe Township, which is the jurisdiction of the Monroe Hose Company, so Monroe Hose Company Fire Chief Paul Bump was in charge of the fire fighting operations at the scene, said Richard Vargson, second assistant fire chief of the Monroe Hose Company.

Dale Stranger “was not satisfied with the manner they (the Monroe Hose Company) was putting out the fire,” state Trooper Ben Bigus said.

Dale Stranger was yelling and shouting at the firefighters on scene and “had to be detained by fire personnel on scene,” Bigus said.

“It was getting out of hand,” Vargson said, explaining why he called in the police. “I just wanted him (Dale Stranger) to calm down or leave” so that firefighters could continue to put out the fire without interference, Vargson sad.

Vargson said he feels bad for Dale Stranger, because he lost everything he owned in the fire, but said that he shouldn’t have gotten “all irate” at the firefighters.

State police said that after they arrived on scene, they ordered Dale Stranger to cease his actions.

Dale Stranger “again became disorderly and was taken into custody” after two TASERS were used on him, the state police said in their press release.

Donald Stranger, 61, of Monroeton, who is the chief of the Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company, “became disorderly after failing to comply with orders from the state police,” the press release said.

Donald Stranger “became argumentative with the state police and had to be detained,” Bigus said.

Haney was cited for disorderly conduct after he “entered an unmarked police cruiser without authorization to speak with Donald Stranger,” the press release said.

Donald Stranger and Haney both refused to listen to what the state police were telling them to do, Bigus said. The fire was an emergency situation, and people need to obey the police at such a scene “to maintain the safety and security of the scene,” Bigus said.

“The situation was starting to get volatile,” Bigus said. “We had to tell people what to do, and they didn’t listen. The situation could have gotten much more out of hand if we had not detained the people we detained.”

Haney declined to comment at this time on what happened at the fire.

Donald Stranger, who is the father of Dale Stranger, said he had been advised by his attorney not to comment on what happened.

However, the fire chief did say that Haney did not go inside the police cruiser, but was outside the cruiser and had talked to him through an open window of the vehicle.

The fire chief said that after the court proceedings in the case are over, he would issue a press release about what happened.

“There were a lot of things that were said and done (by the state police at the scene) that should not have happened,” the fire chief said.

Posted by dave statter on February 2, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News, Police • Tagged: arrests, Bradford County, Chief Paul Bump, Dale Stranger, disorderly conduct, Donald Stranger Sr., firefighter, Franklin Township VFD, Monroe Hose Company, Richard Vargson, STATter911.com, Trooper Ben Bigus, William Haney

Cory Broich’s story: Still hospitalized Clearwater, Minnesota firefighter, father of five, talks about being struck on I-94.

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Story by Rena Sarigianopoulos at KARE-TV:

Cory Broich is thankful to be able to be with his family after he was nearly killed in Interstate 94 last week.

Broich sat in his hospital bed in St. Cloud Sunday with his wife and five kids surrounding him.

He picked up his 3-month-old son Carter and gave him a kiss. It’s a moment he’s all too happy to experience.

“Very too close to call,” said Cory referring to the accident that nearly took his life last Tuesday.

Cory Broich was on a routine call on Interstate 94 near Clearwater last week when a passing car hit and pinned him against the fire truck. He was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital with extensive injuries to his legs.

“I remember getting hit, and hitting the ground and crawling away so I didn’t get hit again,” said Cory.

The 28-year-old will be in hospital for at least three more weeks, and at this point, doctors don’t know when he’ll walk again. For the first time in Cory’s life, he’s not the one giving, but receiving help.

“It means the absolute world to me what everybody’s been doing,” he said fighting back tears. “I can’t say enough.”

The visitor’s waiting room just down the hall at St. Cloud Hospital is always full, even with people who don’t know the Broichs.

“I just wanted to stop by and see his friends and family and tell them our thoughts and prayers are with them and we’re here for them,” said Jason Smith with the Big Lake Fire Department.

A benefit was held Sunday night at Flintstone’s in Clearwater.

“Support another firefighter. We’re a brotherhood so we want to help Cory our whatever way we can,” said Eric Linn, Chief of the Avon, Minnesota Fire Department. He and several members of his department drove in for the event.

Webster’s couldn’t write a better definition for the word community than the one that played out Sunday in this tiny Minnesota town.

“We had the extra money and they needed it way more than we did,” said Sheryl Miller. She doesn’t know the family but felt the need to help.

The Broich’s will only dwell on the accident long enough to teach others a lesson.

“Hopefully this will bring a light to some people and get them to see and realize and slow down,” said Cory Broich.

They don’t want to dwell on the accident because they’re too busy now creating new memories.

“Thank God I get to see my kids again.”

There is a fund set up for the Broich family at:

Annandale State Bank

P.O. Box 224

Clearwater, MN 55320

Posted by dave statter on February 1, 2010 • Filed under: Apparatus Wrecks, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, News, Videos • Tagged: Avon Fire Department, Big Lake Fire Department, Clearwater, Clearwater Fire Department, Cory Broich, Dave Statter, Eric Linn, I-94, Jason Smith, Minnesota, Sheryl Miller, St. Cloud, STATter911.com

DeKalb County’s Chief David Foster is gone. Immediate resignation following firing of four over botched fatal fire response.

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WGCL-TV image.

AJC.com

More on this story and internal report on the fire here and here:

From John Shirek at WXIA-TV:

DeKalb County Fire Chief David Foster has resigned, CEO Burrell Ellis announced Monday evening.

The shake-up at the DeKalb County Fire Department continues and has now reached the top.

Late Monday afternoon, the fire chief himself, David Foster, resigned.

DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis did not give a reason in his brief press release.

The timing of the resignation is striking, since the fire department is under investigation over the death of Ann Bartlett in a house fire in Dunwoody on January 24.

On January 29, Foster fired four of the firefighters who responded to Bartlett’s house fire, accusing them of neglect of duty.

Ann Bartlett was 74 years old and was using an oxygen machine. She had called 911 to say her house was on fire and she was unable to get out.

Then her phone line stopped working.

Soon after the firefighters arrived at her house, they left, because they did not see any flames. They never knocked on her door.

Five hours later flames broke through the house and neighbors called 911, but Ann Bartlett had already died.

Now the tragedy, and the firefighters, are under criminal investigation.

David Foster had been DeKalb Fire-Rescue Chief since January of 2003.

Monday night, Ann Bartlett’s neighbors said they want answers and changes.

“It’s extremely sad,” said Maria DeArenas, “because she counted on the firefighters and they were not there for her.”

“I think it was negligence on their part,” said Tom Brooks, who lives next door to Bartlett’s burned home, and says he is still incredulous at what happened. “And hopefully, this won’t happen again. I hope a lot of people have learned some lessons.”

Ann Bartlett’s daughter, Ruth Bartlett, told 11Alive News on the phone Monday that the family preferred to say nothing about the chief’s resignation. She repeated what family members said last week, that they are just waiting as the investigation proceeds and they don’t want this to happen to anyone else.

DeKalb CEO Ellis appointed Deputy Fire Chief Eddie O’Brien to be Acting Chief.