Quick Takes

Detroit’s Ladder 13, hit by a train yesterday, was caught on video when it crashed last year: In July, Ladder 13 went out of control as it made a turn at Lawndale and Vernor. The video above is from a security camera that caught the collision. Click here for our coverage of that story.

In our player in the right hand column today wusa9.com‘s Emily Cyr has added video from Virginia Task Force 1 mobilizing, California Task Force 2 getting ready,  firefighters in Chile already dealing with a massive rescue operation fight a fire started by looters at a market in Concepcion, and the story of a thank you for an animal rescue by firefighters in Arvada, Colorado. That and more are over here >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Detroit commissioner blasts Ladder 13 driver & union blasts commissioner: If you checked with us at all yesterday afternoon and evening you have seen the pictures and video of the aftermath of Ladder 13′s collision with an Amtrak train. It isn’t just the executive fire commissioner and union president who have opinions about this one, we have received a few comments. Click here for our extensive coverage of the wreck.

If you would like to see how the public perceives this one check out the 200 comments already posted at the Detroit Free Press site.

Fire Sunday night in Frederick County, Virginia destroyed the Carter Family Store in Middletown. Click the image to read and watch the story/

Must see video: Click here for the firevideo.net clip of the smoke explosion in Chicago caught on camera by a neighbor almost two weeks ago.

The most bizarre fire story you are likely to see in some time: In the UK a fire engine crew member was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by negligence. His crime – he blew the lights and siren causing a stampede of Holstein Friesian cows that ran over Harold Lee, a 75-year-old farmer from Somerset. According to the Daily Mail, “Mr Lee’s son Andrew claimed the incident could have been avoided had the fire crew waited for just a few minutes as the cows were safely herded off the road.” Here’s the entire article.

 Firegeezer Bill Schumm thinks this isn’t the United Kingdom’s only recent trip through the looking glass when it comes to the fire service. Check out Bill’s view.

Fairfax County still on standby for Chile: I spent some of yesterday afternoon watching the mobilization of Virginia Task Force 1 at the training academy for the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department. While the USAR team hasn’t been officially activated they were following USAID orders to get a 52 member team (with 4 search dogs) together and ready to deploy. Here’s the story. As of 8:00 this morning everyone is on 4-hour standby waiting for word from USAID. Here is a slide show from Fairfax County yesterday and here is the video (also in our player to the right). By the way my favorite image from yesterday was not captured by a camera. It was of a firefighter in uniform preparing his gear for deployment, talking on the cell phone and changing his toddler son’s diaper all at the same time. Now that’s multitasking. Also, here is some video from Califronia Task Force 2 doing the same drill.

By the way, Gary Sharp, who has in the past blamed me for his blogging addiction, referred to me as the “old guy” when linking to our coverage from Fairfax County. Despite that discriminatory slam, I urge you to check out Gary’s blog, firespecialops.com and his posting on the California crew.

Trying to explain brown-outs to the public: In Springfield, Illinois the local paper is trying to let the public know when the local fire station might be part of rotating closures. They are finding the answers a bit more complicated than expected. Check it out.

Comment number 15k: Yesterday morning we posted our 15,000th comment since starting STATter911 in May of 2007. It was from JasoninVA responding to a recent posting of a video from Gary, Indiana-

Good comment Chris. Now for those that want to pick this and every other video they see apart. Are you serious? Do you live in a dream world where every fireground goes perfect? It makes no difference whether you are from NOVA, DC, PG, Southern Va. or Western Md. We all have our own highlight reels and those that we wish we could go back to quarters and start again from the beginning. Sure, there were some questionable ops, but then again, I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t taken a window or two (or 20) w/o PPE as the wagon driver because the truck was delayed or cut a roof without a roof ladder. This is not an attack on anyone but more of an observation. With the age of technology, you never know who is there and watching. Pictures and videos are on the internet before you can even get back in quarters. Before we get on a “holier than thou” kick, you may want to think about something. The next video on here may be you doing something that “The Book” says isn’t safe and then you will find yourself justifying / defending your actions.

If you go to that entry and scroll down to comments you will see one by me. I think I actually ask some thoughtful questions (I don’t have any of the answers, but I sure can ask questions) on this whole topic of people pointing out issues in the fireground videos we post. Click here to see it all.

Also on STATter911 …

• Charlie shows & so does the commissioner. Girl dies in Detroit house fire & there are lots of questions about the fire department response. – September 15, 2011
• Report from Japan: Virginia & California teams on the ground. – March 14, 2011
• Update from FireTruckBlog.com: Detroit Accepts Citizen’s 28-Year-Old Tower Ladder – September 30, 2011
• Where’s Charlie? Bad news from Detroit & a different reporter is trying to track down the commissioner. – September 14, 2011