House fire in British Columbia: Here’s the description with this one - “Just after 7PM on June 3rd 2010, Surrey firefighters were called to a structure fire @ 132nd St & King George Blvd. They arrived to find a vacant building fully involved, and they had reports that someone may still be inside. Crews made an aggressive fire attack to gain entry and search for the possible victim. Luckily, no one was found inside, but a man was taken to hospital by BCAS with undetermined injuries. FD & RCMP are investigating the cause of the fire.”
More from BC: This is from a fire Thurday at the old Silver Ledge Hotel which had been turned into a museum in Ainsworth. One man has been charged with arson after the fire began in a trailer adjacent to the hotel.
Woonsocket, Rhode Island fire: Providence Fire Videos shot this fire on Mowry Street around 4:00 on Thursday morning.
Another one from Providence Fire Videos: A house fire in a non-hydrant area on Buffum Road in Uxbridge, Massachusetts.
Thatched roofs have been around for a long, long time. These days there is an interest in them from a “green” construction standpoint. The fire above is from Clapham, West Sussex in the U.K.
One of things I will miss in my departure from Channel 9 is WUSA9.com’s Emily Cyr finding gems like this one and posting them to the video player. This story should be played everywhere. People need to hear how 76-year-old Eva Rubino handled herself, talking to 911 while trapped inside a car with water rising over her chest as the vehicle was sinking in a canal. She is my hero.
Instead of panicking and screaming, Eva Rubino remained calm and did her best to answer the questions from the 911 call taker in Coral Springs, Florida. Providing the information in the manner she did may have meant the differece between life and death.
Diagnosed with two types of cancer, Rubino is accustomed to being in and out of the hospital. But this experience was a new one.
An adamant animal lover, she goes to Mullins Park in Coral Springs everyday around 3 a.m. to feed the cats and ducks. But on Thursday, mayhem broke out when she got in her car to leave.
“I put the car in reverse and the car took off,” she explained. “I tried to get the brakes to stop the car – at least to slow the car; the brakes didn’t move.” Her car plunged into a canal across the street.
Amazingly, she kept her wits about her and took the steps necessary to save her own life. The disabled woman – who is also blind in one eye – managed to call 911 and clearly tell the dispatcher her location and the situation.
Rubino very clearly listed exactly where the car was, “Right in front of Mullins Park, right in the water right next to the old library that’s closed.” After a moment, she added, “Please hurry, its getting higher.”
The first officers on the scene spotted Rubino’s 2001 white Hyundai fully submerged in the canal. Several officers formed a chain while other officers jumped in to rescue her. They used a center punch to break a car window and pulled her out.
Rubino was transported to Coral Springs Medical Center where she is currently listed in stable condition.
When asked why she believed she was able to survive the experience, she responded that God is keeping her around to hopefully reconnect with her family; she has not spoken to them in more than a decade. She has 14 grandchildren that she hopes to get to know.
A fire early this morning destroyed a building under renovation just a block from the quarters of the DC Fire & EMS Department’s Engine 27. The fire in the 4100 block of Minnesota Avenue was discovered around 5:30 AM.
From Engine 15, Rescue Squad 3 website.
Spokesman Pete Piringer reports the building, which housed Miss Charlotte’s Crab Cakes, was under renovation. According to Piringer, because of the renovation walls and ceilings were open allowing the fire to spread rapidly. A second-alarm and a water supply task force were ordered by the incident commander.
One firefighter was treated and released for a broken finger.
Engine 27 went on the scene with fire showing from side b. Rescue 3 arrived and went to work helping units gain entry into the building, once inside crews encountered heavy fire on the first floor. Once units had the fire knocked on the first floor they tried to gain access to the second floor but were unsuccessful due to the steps being burned out. At this time the 2nd BFC pulled units out of the building and called for the 2nd alarm, bringing Engine 15. The Engine staged with second alarm units and was later released. After being pulled out units went to a defensive operation. After the fire was knocked on the second floor units went back into the building and mopped up.
Baltimore County fire just before midnight: Michael “FirePix1075″ Schwartzberg shot this video from a house fire at Pembroke Avenue and Flannery Lane in Woodlawn, Maryland last night. Details and pictures from the Pikesville VFC website.
The way we were: We posted some interesting videos yesterday giving a view of EMS in the 1970s. The first is a look at DC in 1976 and a paramedic unit that really wasn’t. Then from 1979 a half-hour special on how EMS was being handled in DC and the suburbs. Check it out here.
Selling out: In the early day of his blog back in 2007, Firegeezer Bill Schumm told the story of the fire chief in Stockton, California selling naming rights for a fire engine. Bill was not a big fan of the idea. Now it has been learned things went a step further and Bill likes it even less. Read his rant.
Boston’s battle: A rally by Boston firefighters and a marathon City Council hearing are the latest development in the debate over the 19-percent pay raise that came with mandatory drug testing after the city and the union went to arbitration. Click here to read and watch the story.
FDNY’s Medal Day helped launch campaign against budget cuts: The Uniformed Firefighters Association parked a large mobile billboard outside Medal Day ceremonies pointing to the plans to close 20 fire companies. Read about the awards and the controversy.
Two crew members killed in Texas medical chopper crash: Click here for the story from Midlothian about yesterday’s CareFlite crash. Two crew members died. The crash sparked a grass fire.
Pennsylvania firefighter accused of arson: A volunteer in Bedford has been arrested accused of setting fire to the home where his ex-girlfriend and her parents live. Read more.
Ammunition plant blows up: A bullet manufacturing plant in Bend, Oregon exploded yesterday. There’s lots of damage but no injuries. Here’s the story.
Shed fire in New Jersey: This occurred Tuesday in Milford, New Jersey.
You have watched and read the battles concerning EMS in the Nation’s Capital over the last three years here at STATter911.com. I have been covering the very same issue from my first days at Channel 9 25 years ago and before that at WTOP Radio. But the problems precede my reporting.
The video above has two stories from the late Bob Strickland in 1976 reporting on difficulties during the early stages of providing ALS in Washington, DC.
Below is a half-hour special (in two parts) by reporter Steve Gendel that takes a wider view. Besides the District of Columbia it covers the suburbs in Maryland and Northern Virginia. When you look at the credits you will see the name Tad Dukehart as the photographer for the broadcast. Tad retired from Channel 9 and is now a volunteer firefighter in Wisconsin.
You will also see the name Rich Adams. Up until his death in 1996 Rich was a columnist on EMS issues for Firehouse Magazine and was a member of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad. Rich was also the editorial director at Channel 9. In that role Rich helped pushed the fire and EMS community to improve EMS in the region. There were many other similar public safety issues where I believe my friend Rich left a lasting mark. He is greatly missed.
Interesting video from UK fire: Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service seemed to be making progress on Friday with a fire at a fish and chips shop amid some 16th century Tudor buildings in Dartmouth. Things soon got out of control and the BBC reports eight businesses and up to 15 flats were destroyed. Read more about the fire.
Nice pictures from Maryland apartment fire: HowardFire.net tipped us to a nice series of pictures by Jim Codespote from Monday’s early morning fire north of Laurel. Two people were rescued. Click here.
Click the image to read the story of two fire trucks colliding on the way to separate calls in Middletown, New York. The crash left at least three firefighters injured.
Stand down by IAFC: Two confined space rescues that went bad and injured firefighters have the IAFC urging a fire/EMS stand down. Read details at Firefighter Close Calls.
City officials made case that battalion chiefs aren’t needed: Following two hours of heated discussion the Fort Walton Beach, Florida City Council did not cut the fire department’s three battalion chief positions despite prompting to do so. According to Jeff Barker at the Daily News, “City staffers recommended cutting all three battalion chiefs, saying a driver/engineer could direct operations from the outside until a fire chief or deputy chief arrives on scene.” Read more.
Chief is the only one left: In Weston, West Virginia, in an effort to meet budget constraints, four of the five career firefighting positions have been eliminated. Check out the story.
Only two of seven firefighters showing up for work causes concern: In Endicott, New York the absence of five firefighters on one shift, leaving only two working, has people talking about what it all means. It comes at a time when the city got rid of 24-hour shifts popular with firefighters. Here’s the story.
Morganthau pulls out of FDNY discrimination case: Legendary former Manhattan district attorney Robert Morgenthau has decided not to oversee the city’s efforts to improve the FDNY’s hiring of black and Hispanic firefighters, citing the city’s “resentment” of him. Morgenthau’s appointment by a U.S. District Court judge upset the administration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Read the latest.
WW II bomb kills members of disposal team: In Goettingen, Germany three members of a bomb disposal unit were killed and others injured during efforts to handle a bomb that had been dropped by Allied aircraft. Read the article.
When I first saw this picture earlier today on Doug Walton’s HowardFire.net website, I knew I wanted to steal it. It is from Monday morning’s three-alarm fire north of Laurel, Maryland in Howard County. Two people were rescued from the 5:00 AM fire in the 9100 block of Blues Alley. Click here for details from Doug about the fire.
Explosion injures two at Cape Cod house fire: Firefighter Close Calls reports it was a possible smoke explosion in Sandwich, Massachusetts on Monday that left two firefighters with injuries. Captain Jim Huska of the Sandwich Fire Department goes further telling WCVB-TV, “A back draft occurred in the attic of the house that actually blew part of the roof off the house, and it blew two of our firefighters out of the house through the deck railing.” The closest of three Sandwich fire stations was closed due to budget cuts. Huska reports the two firefighters were inside the house alone and believes the delay in putting water on the fire was an important factor in the explosion. Huska says Firefighter Lee Burril has a badly fractured ankle and Firefighter Daniel Keane broke his neck and back. Click here for a series of pictures at CapeCodFD.com showing the extensive damage to the house caused by the violent explosion (check out all four pages). There was a rekindle of the house fire last night.
Train delays water rescue operation: WUSA9.com’s Kurt Brooks has the video and the story from Frederick County, Maryland as crews try to make their way to a kayaker struggling in the Potomac River Monday morning. A CSX train got between rescuers and the boat ramp on the other side of the tracks. Here’s the story.
DCFD.com has a series of photos by Elliot Goodman from yesterday's two-alarm fire at a tire business along the railroad tracks in the 1300 block of New York Avenue, NE. Click the image for more. Also, check the video player to the right for an interview with PIO Pete Piringer about the fire.
Oh the days dwindle down to a precious few: You have to be really old to get that musical reference (I don’t even think Firegeezer will get it). As I wrap up my final week in broadcasting (why doesn’t he just leave quietly?), the raid on the archive room continues. Among my favorites is one I posted yesterday from a 1987 snow in Prince George’s County. Nothing spectacular, but it includes a lot of old friends. Also, a 1985 house fire from Arlington. If you missed any of the old videos just click here to find them all on one page. There will be more added over the next few days.
Two fine Memorial Day stories: The first is a wonderful story about a New Haven deputy chief who watched a History Channel documentary on World War II and spotted a four second film clip of the father of one of his firefighters. Check it out.
The second is a Washington Post look at the Army’s Old Guard at Ft. Meyer in Virginia. The article features Sgt. Nicholas Pata who is also a volunteer firefighter in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Click here.
Thunderstorm prevents firefighter/paramedic/Army Reservist’s moment in the sun: Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Burleson, who is also a Waukegan firefighter/paramedic, was to have introduced President Obama yesterday at a Memorial Day ceremony in Illinois. Lightning prompted the President to urge everyone to head to their cars instead of listening to his speech. Here’s the story.
Fire chief to councilman – “I WILL NOT put the safety of my firefighters and officers, nor the citizens of Jersey City, in jeopardy for a few dollars. Secondly, you have no clue what you are talking about!”: Jersey City Chief Michael J. O’Reilly fires back at Councilman Steven Fulop who is critical of the management structure of the department after the promotion of five captains to battalion chiefs. Read the chief’s letter to the editor. Here’s the original story. Scroll down for yesterday’s four-alarm fire in Jersey City that left six firefighters injured.
Macon history: Firegeezer has the story of the anniversary of the deaths of three Macon, Georgia firefighters. They were killed when their new pumper wrecked 100 years ago. It is quite an interesting read.
911 nurse: USA Today looks at the program by Louisville Metro EMS where a nurse is dealing with some of the low priority calls and trying to better evaluate the EMS needs of the patient. Another effort to reduce the strain on the ambulance service and the hospital emergency department. Click here to read the details.
The fire experts take in the VW dealer fire: There is early video from a fire at what is said to be the oldest Volkswagen dealership in the United States. It is located in Beverly, Massachusetts. To me what is more interesting is the running commentary by the photographer and another bystander. Click here to watch and listen.
SConFire.com back up and running: Grant Mishoe reports the premiere South Carolina fire blog is again in service. Check it out.
Rescue in Rochester: Fireground audio and interviews after a Rochester, New York firefighter brings a mother and infant son to safety from their burning home. Here’s our coverage.
Baltimore’s Novack comes to court to meet two women: Last Thursday Baltimore City Firefighter Jeff Novack was in court where he saw the woman accused of setting the fire that forced Novack to bail out of a third floor window. Also at the courthouse was the elderly woman Firefighter Novack rescued from that fire. Here’s the story.
Jersey City fire leaves 6 firefighters injured: News reports indicate one of the six firefighters ran out of air and had to be helped from the two burning structures on Belmont Avenue during the four-alarm fire on Monday. One was a six-family building and the other was a two-family home. Read more.
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