Quick Takes

Lots of suspicious packages & lots of questions: We told you yesterday how brown was the featured color at the Smithsonian’s Hirshorn Museum on The Mall in Washington, DC. Above is some of the raw material put together by WUSA9.com’s Emily Cyr from Monday night’s incident where an errant UPS truck ended about a foot inside the building (much of it shot by DC Fire & EMS Department photographer Vito Maggiolo). It appears the driver had a medical emergency, but it was treated as a potential terrorist incident with bomb squad crews checking out the vehicle and what it was carrying. You will hear a reporter ask on Monday night why the barriers put in front of the museum to prevent car and truck bombs didn’t stop this vehicle. That was followed up on Tuesday with others asking the same questions about the planter/barriers that were placed around all federal buildings in your Nation’s Capital following the bombing in Oklahoma City and the attacks of 9-11. Click here for Bruce Leshan’s report.

Report released in Virginia fire where firefighters couldn’t find woman who was talking to 911: Spotsylvania County released its internal report into the fire that killed Sandy Hill in February. It looks at why Hill wasn’t found until it was too late, despite being on the phone with 911 when crews pulled up and for many more minutes. Click here to read the report and related coverage.

This is a Courier-Mail photo of fitness instructor Tash Bennett. She is not a firefighter. But Bennett is getting more notice about her firefighting efforts than any of you are ever likely to receive. The reason is Bennett did her firefighting topless after a palm tree caught fire where she was sunbathing. Indications are she put on quite a show. Click the image to read and hear about her efforts.

Listen to audio from Connecticut house fire union wants investigated: A battle is underway in Stamford, Connecticut after an assistant chief with the Long Ridge Fire Company canceled automatic aid units before anyone arrived on the scene. It turned out the assistance was needed as fire had taken hold of a 7800 square foot home. Listen to the audio and read more about the dispute.

Blast at training fire in Canada injures six firefighters: It happened at an old farm house in Edgerton, Alberta on Monday as firefighters gathered for the burning of the structure. Here’s how the Edmonton Journal described the explosion-

Hunks of wood, stones and rusty nails flew like bullets; the volunteer firefighters were flattened like wheat before a scythe.

Some as close as six metres to the house fell unconscious. One went down in a hail of debris that broke both his legs and shoulder blade. 

Read more at Firegeezer.

Audit clears Tulsa firefighters: A while ago we told you about investigations into why some Tulsa firefighters had records indicating continuing EMS education when they hadn’t taken the courses. The initial state investigation resulted in five people retiring. An audit ordered by the city now indicates the problem was not one of fraud but rather, as one city councilor put it, ”gross mishandling of records”. Click here to read the audit and here for the story.

Unhappy volunteers turning off pagers?: In Fruita, Colorado, a firefighter is qualifiying remarks she made at a Lower Valley Fire Protection District board meeting. Stacy Evans orignally said that unhappy voluteers are turning off their pagers. The comment upset some residents. Now Evans has added it is happening only on non-duty nights where often volunteers would respond in addition to the on-duty crew. Click here to read and watch the story. 

New Hampshire arsonist: For the third time in 10 days a building fire has been set along a less than two block section of Manchester’s Myrtle street. Read the story.

Paint factory fire: In the United Arab Emirates a fire on Tuesday destroyed a factory and four warehouses at National Paints in Sharjah. News reports indicate a fire engine burned up in the fire. A firefighter and plant worker suffered minor burns. Read more about the fire. See more YouTube videos.

Also on STATter911 …

• Raw video: Multiple collapses at historic factory fire in Norwood, Ohio. 61,000 square-foot building destroyed. See the before picture. – December 29, 2010
• Must see raw video: Three views as car explodes in face of bomb technician. PPE does its job. – July 2, 2011
• ‘Get off the roof!’ Interesting audio from Sacramento fire with a report of people trapped as command orders a switch to defensive operations. – December 28, 2011
• Quick Takes: Monday November 29, 2010. – November 29, 2010