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Alibi-cam: Man who discovers fire makes sure no one mistakes him for an arsonist. Early video from Austin building fire.

12 comments

It is the opening credits of this two-part video that really attracted my attention.  Posted to YouTube under the name TheAustinStreets, the videos show a fire that started in a trash bin behind the Austin Eyecare at 4409 Manchaca Road in Austin, Texas yesterday and spread to the rear of the one-story building. If you are only interested in the initial fire department operations go directly to Part 2, below.

The start of Part 1 has an interesting explanation from the photographer of how he discovered the fire while checking out his new bicycle and camera equipment. Worried that someone might make accusations, the videographer posted the clip with about five minutes of pedaling leading up to his arrival at Austin Eyecare. It also shows his efforts to get a customer at a neighboring service station to call 911. The camera conitnues rolling as he tells a passing police officer about the fire.


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12 Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    Where is the fire extinguisher? Could have prevented the whole deal if the cop or the gas station had a five pound extinguisher. I was also suprised that the truck company didn’t have 2.5 gallon water cans. All our trucks carry several of them. Its amazing how much fire they will put out if you use them correctly.

    on May 17, 2010 @ 8:58 pm. Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    I wonder if they always push the fire through the buildings? Also, I am not surprised the truck company did not have 2.5 gallon water cans because they would of looked stupid trying to put that fire out! You should just go haze yourself for even thinking that.

    on May 18, 2010 @ 3:19 am. Reply
  3. That's your man says

    As for mr Austin streets in video 1 watch him pass the pay phone 3 times: inital sighting, on his way into gas station and on way back to film it. Also he takes the time at the gas station to say that “he just films”
    Too many odd circumstances and if I was getting crafty in my opinions I honestly think that the early pt 1 vid looked to be at a diff hour of the day with the sunlight and many edit splices

    on May 18, 2010 @ 7:33 am. Reply
  4. BB says

    Interesting fire video. Watching the fire grow and spread is good to learn fire behavior. But the true life lesson here is wondering how loudly this guy will bitch when he gets whacked by a car as he meanders all over the roadway while riding his bike and filming everything except where he’s going. Hopefully his videotape will clear the poor motorist that this guy runs in front of.

    on May 18, 2010 @ 10:30 am. Reply
  5. Ashamed says

    EPIC Fail with the wagon pipe… And FYI, water cans are for escape or protection, not for extinguishment.

    on May 18, 2010 @ 1:36 pm. Reply
  6. CBEMT says

    LOL, poor nozzleman was ready to rock and roll and his engine deck guns it from behind him. He’s left standing there like “WTF!?”

    on May 18, 2010 @ 2:50 pm. Reply
  7. Molly says

    Perfect deck gun application. No point in waiting around for the hose line to be stretched and flaked when there’s a perfectly good attack tool sitting ready to use on the pumper. See how fast that was knocked? And that fire (like most) is not going to get pushed anywhere.
    I bet Detroit would have put that one out within 30 seconds of being on scene!!

    on May 18, 2010 @ 3:49 pm. Reply
  8. tru engine man says

    wtf? extinguisher on the chiefs buggy, or ladder co. exactly what the extinguisher if for, small fire, not escape, deck gun with no water supply? not knowing if fire extended into attic, pleeze,

    on May 18, 2010 @ 5:48 pm. Reply
  9. ooh hello says

    Molly.. if you couldn’t notice.. the lineman has the line charged and ready. Then they hit it with the deck gun. Poor application for a blitz attack.

    on May 19, 2010 @ 12:40 am. Reply
  10. Anonymous says

    Molly you can go haze yourself also!

    on May 19, 2010 @ 8:42 am. Reply
  11. Anonymous says

    Piss poor tactics at the best. Can off the truck could have held that fire in check until the line was ready. As for the individual stating that cans are for escape or protection, you are wrong. Cans are utilized to keep the fire in check until the line gets there. Piss poor application for a blitz attack as well. From viewing that fire from the video, it could have easily been handled with 100 gallons of water at most.

    on May 20, 2010 @ 5:14 pm. Reply

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Continuing the Discussion

  1. Tweets that mention Alibi-cam: Man who discovers fire makes sure no one mistakes him for an arsonist. Early video from Austin building fire. | STATter911.com -- Topsy.com linked to this post

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Dave Statter. Dave Statter said: Alibi-cam: A very early & interesting video from a Texas #fire. http://tinyurl.com/2fhdlt7 #firefighter #firefighting #EMS #news [...]

    on May 17, 2010 @ 9:08 pm.