There is no information on where and when this fire occurred. But the neighbor’s video shows how quickly fire travels from home to home thanks to the way communities are built these days.
When fighting a house fire in one of these tightly packed neighborhoods, with lightweight constructed homes that often lack any real fire resistance in the outside walls, you never know how many homes will be on fire when you arrive. Those of us fighting fires in the suburbs 30-year-ago didn’t see many cases of more than one single-family home burning at a time. We rarely had to think about taking the first line to the exposure. Now it can be like taking a stand in a row of townhomes built without firewalls.
Regular readers have probably watched it, but those new to the blog might be interested in a two part TV story I did six-years-ago called “Too Close for Comfort”.
Here are some more videos and information on the topic:
Beer in hand, returning from parade, firefighter crashed fire truck: DUI charges have now been filed against a 20-year-old firefighter from Pennsylvania’s North Bangor VFC after the Mack tanker he was driving overturned. Police say the friend in the crash with Zachary Romano had brought a 30-pack of Coors Light to the Tatamy Fire Parade. Read more.
Virginia firefighters say no to county control: In Albemarle County, volunteer fire and rescue companies are standing together in opposition to the idea of a county fire chief. Some political leaders say with Albemarle County paying the freight, they must have control over the money. Watch the story.
Fire captain explains to politician why he is not a “terrorist” at the same time a new skirmish develops in Stamford, Connecticut: In this ongoing career-volunteer battle, the Stamford Advocate is reporting IAFF Local 786 is “asking for a city lawmaker to resign following comments he made comparing the union’s frequent criticism of the city’s volunteer fire service to the way “Hamas lobs rockets into Israel.” While City Rep. Scott Mirkin defends his comments here, Capt. Philip Hayes has sent a letter to the editor explaining how offended he is by the comments. Also, there is once again controversy over volunteers from Long Ridge cancelling other firefighters before getting to the scene of a call. Here is the latest. Here’s some of our previous coverage of this issue.
Firefighter talks about fall into burning basement: Click here for the hospital interview with Capt. Michael Long, a Camp Taylor, Kentucky firefighter who is recovering from serious burns after falling to the basement of a burning home Sunday night. Long’s brother-in-law was among those trying to get him out. Long’s wife was on the ambulance dealing with another injured firefighter when the drama was occurring.
Antique fire truck badly burns firefighter: Just seven-months ago Firefighter Josh Higgins moved from New Hampshire to start a new life in Sherman County, Oregon. Now he is in a burn center recovering from serious burns after becoming engulfed in flames while trying to fix a broken down antique fire engine on the side of the road. The rig belongs to the South Sherman Fire District. Here’s more.
Drive-thru fire: Firegeezer has good video and details from a vehicle fire with exposures at a McDonald’s drive-thru window in Vancouver, Washington.
This fire was reported around 5:00 PM on Tuesday. It occurred in an import/export warehouse that store scented candles. An auto parts business is next door. Click to read more from KTLA-TV.
Early video from car crash and gas pump fire: This is from Tampa, Florida yesterday. A driver of a Ford Expedition lost control, hit the white Lincoln and then slammed into the pumps. Click here for Part 1 of the video. Read more from TBO.com.
Firefighter says helping out at crash scene on sick day cost him his job: An interesting story from Georgetown, South Carolina where a firefighter says he was forced to resign after helping at a crash involving his neighbor during a day the firefighter called in sick. Click here for the story and the comments.
And who says the good old days are gone?: Whether they are true or not, the allegations sound like something from a few decades ago. In Woodbridge, New Jersey town officials claim members of the Avenel-Colonia First Aid Squad had nude dancing and prostitues at parties inside the squad’s building. The allegations are the latest headline in an ongoing battle between Woodbridge and the EMS crew. The squad is going to court claiming it is being defamed by a public smear campaign. Read the story.
Firefighter laughing and taking video while pit bull is shot brings scrutiny but no discipline: In St. Lucie County, Florida firefighters responding to a dog bite call watched as a Fort Pierce cop shot a pit bull. One firefighter caught the action on his cell phone camera. It was also the reaction of the firefighters that made news. Check it out.
Funerals tomorrow in Virginia: Click here and here for funeral details and the latest on the crash Monday that killed Rocky Mount Chief Posey Dillon and Firefighter (and former chief) Danny Altice.
Clark County, Nevada officials fire back at union’s six-week ad campaign: The budget cutting and shut down of Clark County’s heavy rescue squad and hazardous materials unit has been a hot topic. Now county officials have come up with a point-by-point response to the union’s ad campaign. Read the Clark County document. Here’s the Las Vegas Review Journal article.
Outer Banks fire department under scrutiny: Having spent many days and nights on the Outer Banks of North Carolina covering hurricanes I was drawn to Firegeezer Bill Schumm’s story about the dispute in Southern Shores where citizens are dealing with a substantial tax increase to fund the volunteer fire department. The town pays the freight, including the chief’s $70,000 salary, but has little say or insight in how the money is spent. Bill is all over this story with interesting video. Click here.
Our friend Grant Mishoe at SConFire.com discovered this very interesting story. A Georgetown, South Carolina firefighter says he was forced to resign from his job because he helped out at a crash scene on July 15, a day he called in sick. It wasn’t just any accident. According to news reports the collision involved four teens in Plantersville. One is a 17-year-old boy who is Chris Avant’s neighbor. Avant’s story is his fiancé ran into the house telling him he had to help.
The family of another victim started a petition trying to get Avant back on the job. Georgetown City Fire Chief Joey Tanner and Assistant Chief Bill Johnson say they aren’t providing details and responding to reporters questions because it is a personnel matter.
Avant admits he had been in trouble before but described them all as minor incidents, including backing a fire truck into a stop sign.
So, what do you think? Is this a firing offense? If you do, what if the fiancé had run in saying it wasn’t a neighbor, but their own son or other relative?
Avant said he had been sick for more than a day with the virus but when the accident occurred at around 6 p.m. he was feeling “a little better.”
Callie Pope said her 15-year-old stepson, Shane Pope, was one of the four teens in the vehicle when it flipped four times on a gravel road.
Avant said he heard the call about the accident on his radio but did not immediately respond since he was sick.
However, a few minutes later, his fiancé ran in the house asking him to help because their neighbor, a 17-year-old, was one of the people seriously hurt.
Avant said he knew there could be some problems at work if he responded because he had called in sick, but he also knew his neighbor needed help.
Because of a training class taking place near the Nine Mile Curve between Georgetown and Andrews at the time, it took longer than normal for EMS to arrive.
It is against policy to pull out the camera on the job but a St. Lucie County, Florida firefighter’s cell phone video is being used as evidence to support a cop’s decision to shoot a pit bull. Fort Pierce Police released the video yesterday to WPBF-TV. The TV station edited out the actual shooting but left in the laughter and some comments of the firefighters who watched the drama unfold while trapped in their rig. Some of the words used by the firefighters were bleeped.
The TV station reports the firefighter with the cell phone camera was spoken to about the violation of department policy, but no disciplinary action has been taken. As for the wounded dog, the penalty was a bit more harsh. It was put down and tested for rabies.
In a statement, St. Lucie County Fire Chief Ron Parrish addressed the issue of the laughter and comments from the firefighters saying, “It’s a reaction to the situation. We don’t condone the comments, but it’s a reaction.”
The video shows a pit bull running in the direction of a police officer, the police officer taking a step back and firing a round that grazes the dog’s face.
Police said the dog could not be stopped, even after being stunned twice with a Taser gun.
“We had rescue workers trapped inside their vehicle and a Comcast vehicle with a worker inside fearful to step out, ” said Capt. Gregory Kirk. “It was a menace and a threat. So the officer’s actions were appropriate and actually commendable for him to react so quickly.”
Can my crew and I play through?: No details on where, but the fire department clearly showed up with more than a foursome when this golf cart caught fire. Pre-arrival video of this heartbreaking scene is here and here.
Fire department moves live power line at house fire: An interesting video from Buffalo during a house fire with rescue and water supply issues. The cameras rolled as a firefighter attempted to take care of the downed power line in front of the house. Watch the video.
9 firefighters reported hurt in Irvington, NJ: They were battling a three-alarm fire in a vacant house last night. Read the story.
Arrangements in Bridgeport: There have been some changes in the original plans for the funerals of Lt. Steven Velasquez and Firefighter Michael Baik. Firefighter Close Calls has the update.
“Six-Million Dollar Mini Taj Mahal”: That’s how one political leader describes Cape Coral, Florida’s newest fire station. There’s much debate over the city’s priorities in fire department spending. Here’s the story.
Late firefighter’s transgender spouse regrets appearance on Jerry Springer show: If you are trying to keep up with the sad saga from Wharton, Texas and the dispute over the sex of a firefighter’s widow, click here for the latest.
Firefighter saves same cat twice: Coweta County, Georgia firefighter Jim Cadenhead thought his efforts to rescue a flea-ridden cat from a 40-foot well would have been wasted if the cat was then euthanized. Cadenhead stepped up to the plate a second time and adopted the cat from the animal shelter just in time. Here’s more.
Walkout of fire departments avoided in West Virginia: It seems West Virginia officials have settled some of the insurance coverage issues to keep fire departments from shutting down. Click here for the latest.
Newark firefighter falls out of rig: A left turn while responding left one New Jersey firefighter with lacerations and neck injuries after he fell out of the truck and into the street. Here’s more.
Recruit accused in abductions: In Raleigh, North Carolina a recruit is being terminated after his arrest in two different cases where women were abducted. Read the story.
City to appeal judge’s decision adding name to 9-11 Memorial: A judge believes the name of retired FDNY Captain James Corrigan should be placed alongside the names of former colleagues in the fire department section of the National 9/11 Memorial. Corrigan died while working as a Fire and Life Safety Coordinator for the World Trade Center when he was killed. Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the city will appeal that decision. Here’s the latest.
This fire on Goodyear Avenue is at the same house where police responded Saturday morning for the death of a 63-year-old woman. The cause of her death is undetermined. According to news reports, investigators believe someone tossed a firebomb into the house around 2:30 this morning. Two firefighters and a pregnant woman rescued by firefighters were hospitalized.
Firefighters also had to deal with a water supply issue and wires down in the street in front of the house. At 3:27 in the YouTube video there is arcing just off camera as a firefighter attempts to move the wire. You can see this more clearly at 1:10 in the WGRZ-TV video. A still frame is below.
As crews attacked the flames, 43 year old Antoinette Ingram was spotted in an upstairs window. Crews pulled her to safety and she was taken to ECMC. Ingram, who is five months pregnant, suffered smoke inhalation and is currently listed in serious condition.
According to the Department of Public Works, the hydrant in question was determined to be in working order. Now the fire department is checking to see if the water issue may have been caused by some of their own equipment.
Two parts of video taken at a July 19 fire on Robby Lane in Garden City Park in Nassau County. At about 1:30 in the clip below the evacuation of the home is ordered. According to a report at FireRescue1.com this came in as report of a car fire that spread to another car and the house.
Rocky Mount (VA) Chief Posey Dillon, who is also the town’s vice-mayor, and Firefighter Willam D.Altice, known as Danny, were killed this afternoon when their fire engine overturned on the way to a reported structure fire. Dillon, who had been chief for two decades, was pronounced dead at the hospital. Police say he was driving the rig. Altice was dead at the scene. Here are excerpts from news coverage.
The fire engine, with its emergency lights and siren on, was heading to a report of a person trapped in a house fire in the Franklin County community of Union Hall, with just Dillon and Altice aboard. With Dillon at the wheel, the engine, eastbound on Old Franklin Turnpike, swerved when a silver Ford Escape drove into the street from School Board Road, said Sgt. Rob Carpentieri, a state police spokesman.
The truck, loaded with 1,000 gallons of water, was struck on the driver’s side by the SUV, flipped from the shifting weight of the water and landed on a Ford Mustang convertible on its third roll, said state police Sgt. Michael Bailey. The Mustang driver, Carolyn Puckett, 47, of Bassett didn’t appear hurt, police said.
“The fire truck driver overcorrected and it appears the weight of the load shifted,” Carpentieri said.
Other fire companies subdued the blaze and found the person safely away from the fire, Bailey said.
Rocky Mount’s truck, a 1989 Pierce engine with a 1,000-gallon water tank, can be “top-heavy” in emergency maneuvers, Russell said. Its tank contains baffles to keep the sloshing water from throwing the fire engine off balance, he said.
Dillon was driving the fire truck, which was on its way to a house fire in the Penhook area of Franklin County. Altice was riding in the passenger seat. They were the only people in the truck. Neither Dillon nor Alitce was wearing a seat belt.
The driver of the SUV, Terry Valentine, was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital with injuries described as non life-treatening.
The driver of the Ford Mustang, Carolyn Puckett, was not hurt in the crash.
Dillon had served on town council for 24 years, including 10 years as vice mayor, and was re-elected vice mayor by council earlier this month. He had been fire chief for 20 years.
Altice joined the fire department in 1963 and served as chief from 1977 to 1984. He was presented a lifetime achievement award by town council in 2008.
The Connecticut medical examiner’s office says a Bridgeport firefighter died of smoke inhalation battling a fire over the weekend, while further study is needed on a second firefighter who died in the same incident.
The medical examiner’s office said 49-year-old Michel Baik died of smoke inhalation. The office also said he had coronary artery disease that contributed to his death.
An autopsy was also done on 40-year-old Steven Velasquez but that will require more study into the cause of death.
“He had one of those safe careers,” said Assistant Fire Chief Manuel Firpi. “He was a computer tech, but since he was young he wanted to be a firefighter. When he got his badge he was so excited, he was holding it up, showing it to his kids. He was just so proud of getting it.”
Baik, one of two who died in a house fire on Elmwood Avenue Saturday, was the department’s oldest rookie. To his comrades, he was “Bake,” “Rookie” and “Furball.”
“The man was covered in hair — he looked like he was wearing a wool blanket all the time,” said Firpi. “But no one had more enthusiasm or passion for the job than Mitch.”
Firefighter Autumn Waggoner said Baik was always excited to come to work. “You could set the clock by him; he was always here at 3 o’clock on the dot,” she said. “Mitch was a sweet teddy bear of a guy, all hairy and huggable but a firefighter through and through.”
Security guard as firefighter didn’t work out so good: In Utica, New York Saturday night firefighters arriving at a State of New York State office building for an automatic alarm were waved off by the security guard who said it was just another malfunctioning alarm. There had been several in the last week. The firefighters were heading back to the station when they were redispatched for a fire in the computer room that did significant damage. Read more from UticaOD.com.
Backdraft in Tempe, Arizona?: Fire officials say the firefighters were very lucky the injuries to three firefighters were minor during a fire in a 1940s house Sunday morning. Some are describing it as a backdraft that blew a firefighter out a door, split a block header, broke casement windows, and damaged the front door. Here’s more.
Firefighter wins residency battle: A hearing officer agrees that Michael Ortiz is following the rules that he live in Lynn, Massachusetts. But Ortiz has other issues to deal with in efforts to keep his job. Read the details.
Firehouse Expo: It was great seeing lots of people in Baltimore. If you scroll through Firegeezer, The Fire Critic and Fire Daily you will see some of the antics in Booth 738. You can also hear some of them on Firefighter Netcast. FossilMedic Mike Ward also writes about the controversy over the damage done a year earlier at the city’s Hilton Hotel adjacent to the Convention Center. Also, thanks to our good friend Mike Legeros for his usual wonderful pictures (like the one to the right).
Helping firefighters cope: At Firehouse Expo on Friday, as part of my work at the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, I sat in on the briefing by Kansas City, Missouri’s Richard Gist on the new ways to help firefighters deal with potentially traumatic events. If you have the opportunity to see this at Fire Rescue International or elsewhere, do so. It is a lot less clinical than you would imagine and further makes the case that one size doesn’t fit all. Dr. Gist, with the help of Vickie Taylor of Prince William County, Virginia, lays out a fairly direct and uncomplicated plan for fire departments to move in this direction. Glenn Smith writes about it in Charleston’s Post & Courier.
(Chief Brian) Rooney said there is always a danger when responding to a fire at any of the hundreds of wood-frame multi-family homes that make up city neighborhoods. Because of their balloon-style construction, fire gets between the walls a spread directly to the upper floor and roof. But, he said, in most cases the blazes are put down quickly and everyone goes home.
But not this time.
“We are still in shock and disbelief,” he added.
What is known is that Lt. Steven Velasquez, a 16-year veteran of the fire department, and Firefighter Michel Baik, a rookie of two years, were sent to the third floor of the building at 41 Elmwood Ave. to rip down the ceiling to root out any hidden hot spots and to search for anyone still trapped in the building.
“They were doing something that is quite routine,” Rooney continued, looking very grim. “Something obviously went wrong.”
Another firefighter who got to the scene saw that Velasquez and Baik were in trouble and called a “mayday,” which Rooney said brought an immediate response from the rapid intervention team waiting outside the building.
“The two men were brought out and they worked on them trying to revive them but were unsuccessful,” he said.
In Bridgeport, Connecticut this afternoon Lt. Steven Velasquez and Firefighter Michael Baik were found dead on the top floor of a burning home at 41 Elmwood Avenue. The fire was reported at 3:53 PM. According to the Connecticut Post, the firefighters had sent out a may day call.
Steve Velasquez on graduation day in Bridgeport. Courtesy Kentland VFD. Click the image for more pictures.
Before joining the Bridgeport Fire Department in the mid-1990s, Steven Velasquez was a career firefighter in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Chief Spokesman Mark rady confirms Velasquez was hired in 1990 and spent most of his PGFD career on day work at Station 33 (Kentland). (See more below.)
Both Velasquez and Baik have young children. Lt. Velasquez was a neighbor of Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch. Finch pinned the badge on Velasquez during a February promotion ceremony. Baik had been on the job for two years. Here’s more form the Post:
They were found by the department’s rapid intervention team, and were given CPR at the scene. However, Mayor Bill Finch said, they were unable to revive the men and they were pronounced dead at the hospital.
Fire officials were too upset to attend the press conference, Finch said, adding Chief Brian Rooney, who was out of state when the fire hit, sped back to Bridgeport to be with his men. “They’re just too emotional to talk about it,” Finch said.
Deputy Fire Chief Robert Petrucelli said he arrived on the scene 15 minutes into the fire and found heavy smoke coming from the second and third floors.
“Firefighters were making progress on the fire,” Finch said, “knocking down the flames.”
He said Velasquez and Baik were the furthest inside the house, doing search and rescue and ventilating the house.
PGFD Lt. Col. Steve Hess was in the same recruit class as Steve Velasquez. Col. Hess tells STATter911.com that Steve remained friends with a number of PGFD folks, both career and volunteer and had a close friendship with Captain Steve Gallagher, anothere member of the same class. More from Hess:
Steve was a modest, mild mannered man who was one heck of a firefighter. He was a great co-worker and was a quiet leader in his own way, very unassuming and humble. You will probably get the same comments from anyone that knew him and worked with him. While he was one of the youngest recruit firefighters in my academy class, he was one of the most courageous and giving persons, working diligently to improve his skills and worked with others in his squad to make them more confident and proficient in their competencies.
That’s me on the left trying to bring some class to the Firefighter Netcast. Rhett Fleitz is on the right and yes, he is standing up. Picture taken by Geezer.
I did a guest appearance yesterday in an interview with Lt. Tony Carroll of the DC Fire & EMS Department. If it will keep Rhett quiet I will join them again today along with PGFD’s Mark Brady. It could be an interesting interview probing the relationship between PGFD and STATter911.com. I say could be because Rhett will probably ask Mark, “If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be”. Thank goodness for Fire Daily’s John Mitchell who brings some sense to this operation.
Of course, also at the booth Firegeezer, FossilMedic Mike Ward and lots of visitors.
At 2:00 I will be able to make my escape for a while for some serious business. That’s when the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation rolls out its new Behavioral Health Initiative at the adjacent Hilton (Johnsons Rooms A & B). If you haven’t heard the way to help firefighters who have dealt with potentially traumatic events is changing. Come join us and find out the details. You can read more about it here.
A 12-year-old boy used a trash can to get over a fence and into a neighbor’s pool in the Marlton community of Prince George’s County, Maryland yesterday afternoon. That started a chain of events that resulted in the drownings of the boy and his uncle.
The first on the scene of the report of a child motionless in a pool was PGFD Battalion Chief Butch Leonhard. Leonhard found both Najee Clark and 59-year-old David Massey in the pool. He jumped in and was soon joined by others from PGFD in an unsuccessful effort to save the two. Here are excerpts from PGFD Chief Spokesman Mark Brady’s press release:
A 911 call was received just before 2:30 pm, Thursday, July 22, 2010, reporting a 12-year-old male was motionless in a neighbor’s pool at Midland Turn and Fairhaven Avenue in the community of Marlton, in Upper Marlboro, MD. Firefighters and Paramedics from Croom Fire/EMS Station #845, Marlboro Fire/EMS Station #820 and Battalion Chief 807 were dispatched for the possible drowning at 2:23 pm. Staff from the nearby Fire/EMS Training Academy heard the dispatch and headed in the direction of the incident in the event that additional staffing was needed. The 911 caller later advised dispatchers that her uncle was on the way over to the neighbors pool to see what was going on.
Fire Battalion Chief Butch Leonhard was the initial fire/EMS unit to arrive and went immediately to the pool. He witnessed not one but two victims in the deep end of the swimming pool. Realizing this was a life or death situation, Battalion Chief Leonhard entered the water and within seconds was joined by Fire Captain Grady Valencis from the Training Academy and Fire Technician Daryl Bullock from Engine 845.
Prior to the Fire/EMS Department arrival, it is believed that the 12-year-old male’s uncle saw his nephew at the bottom of the pool and went in to save him. The 59-year-old male also soon became a victim.
Other firefighters and paramedics stood by on the pool deck as the trio went to the 8-foot deep end of the pool and removed the pair of victims to the top and handed them off to awaiting personnel. Paramedics quickly assessed both patients were unconscious, non-breathing and had no pulse. The patients were loaded into two separate transport units and taken to nearby Southern Maryland Hospital where Emergency Room staff worked feverishly to revive the pair. Tragically, both victims were pronounced deceased a short time after arrival, apparent victims of a drowning.
A fire yesterday that destroyed three single family homes in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Here’s the description sent to STATter911.com from Battaltion Chief Tim Riley:
Virginia Beach Fire Department responded for a single family house fire at 5208 Bathley Rd. Upon arrival of the first engine, heavy fire was showing from 3 separate homes. A second alarm was transmitted immediately. Fire was under control in 70 minutes. Three homes were totally destroyed. Four family pets died in the fire (2 dogs and 2 cats). Investigators are currently on scene to determine the cause of the fire. One firefighter suffered a minor hand injuries. The heat index was 105, Virginia Beach Fire Department received mutual aid from the City of Chesapeake Fire Department who send their new Rehab Apparatus.
While at Firehouse Expo in Baltimore the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s Cathy Hedrick took a moment to remind us of a way to support the work of the Foundation and have a hell of a good time in the process. Watch the video and then click here to learn more about the race on September 26 at Dover International Speedway in Delaware. I am planning on joining the fun in Dover (and do some work with NFFF). Hope to see you there.
A 16-year-old video resurfaces on the web at CaughtonTapeTV. Here’s the description posted with the clip:
Caught on tape, this Detroit fireman found himself in a predicament when he ran out of air while batting a house fire. He was able to pull himself up through a hole in the roof but had trouble getting out of the burning home. A fellow firefighter came to his rescue and pulled him to safety.
Controversy over not sending the closest units: A double fatal crash from May in Greenbrier, Tennessee is making news because the two closest fire and EMS companies weren’t dispatched on the call. The article indicates the closest units were available and could have been on the scene within two to three minutes. But because the collision was on the wrong side of the Davidson-Robertson County line, Nashville dispatched apparatus that took more than 10-minutes to arrive. Read and watch the story.
Picture of the day: A firefighter in China rescues a colleague caught in an oil slick that occurred after the explosion of two pipelines. Click the image for more.
Maryland fire company sued by woman who can’t get in: On the Eastern Shore, The Crisfield Volunteer Fire Department is being sued by a member of the local rescue squad who has been turned down three times for membership. The department has never had a female member. The lawsuit claims Juanita Nelson was rejected because of the feeling expressed at a meeting, “If we let a female in here, it will never be the same again”. Read the article.
Ad attacks politician for cutting rescue unit. Unit may be needed because commissioner threw fire chief under bus: The battle continues in Clark County, Nevada. An ad by firefighters blames Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid for mothballing the county’s rescue engine and relying instead on the heavy rescue unit from Las Vegas. Reid, who wants to be governor of Nevada, responded, “The ad is false. I have been informed by Fire Chief Steve Smith that this action will not negatively impact response times or public safety.” Read what a local columnist has to say about the battle.
In Tazewell County, Virginia two firefighters from Abb's Valley were hurt when their rig rolled over coming down a hill while returning from a call on Monday. One firefighter was trapped underneath the wreckage. An article indicates there may have been brake problems. Click the image to watch the story.
If it isn’t one thing ..: Bad luck for a Warren, Ohio firefighter didn’t end with his recent lay off from the department. Now, his home catches fire. Read details.
Much more important stuff in Baltimore than our foolishness: At 2:00 Friday afternoon the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (where I do some work) will have a briefing at the Hilton next to the Baltimore Convention Center on a new behavioral health initiative. Please join us. Below are some details from the press release-
The way to help firefighters who have dealt with potentially traumatic events is changing. Much has been learned from the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s work in New York after September 11th and following the loss of 9 firefighters at a furniture store fire in Charleston, South Carolina in 2007. A briefing on this new model at Firehouse Expo in Baltimore later this week will answer all your questions as to how-as a chief officer, family member or colleague-you can help firefighters deal with the stress, grief and trauma that often go along with this profession.
Scholarship reminder: The Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation (YLD) is accepting applications for its scholarship program. Here’s details from the website, YLD.org-
YLD is accepting applications for the 2010 scholarship award competition. The application deadline is September 30, 2010. The organization was founded in 1988 in memory of Deputy Fire Chief James G. Yvorra, who was killed in the line of duty. Since that time, YLD has awarded $103,000 in scholarships to members of the fire and emergency medical services.
They don’t make them like that anymore: At antique motorcycle races in Wauseon, Ohio on Friday one of the old bike’s caught fire. It is interesting watching people trying to put it out. But after the fire is extinguished look at how well the motorcycle survived.
Leave the driving to us: Not outrageous, but a reminder that even the professional drivers aren’t attuned to the sirens, lights and air horns. Michael “Firepix” Schwartzberg and his son Jason were shooting video of Baltimore County’s new Engine 13, when Truck 13 took a call. Looks like the MTA bus was responding to something too.
Whose job is it anyway?: Lots of you have been very critical of what you saw in the truck fire video from Bainbridge, Georgia. Cops on hoses isn’t playing well with this audience. On top of it, this example of the public safety officer model highlights out a few problems. I am sure you have seen the video. Just click here and scroll down for the comments.
Sex change operation leads to battle in Texas over benefits due dead firefighter’s family: Unresolved issues can make for a mess when someone dies. Unfortunately that has quickly become the case following the tragic loss of Wharton Fire Department Captain Thomas Araguz who died earlier this month at an egg farm fire. The Houston Chronicle reports Araguz had seperated from his wife two months before the fire. The paper cites the reason for the split is Araguz had discovered Nikki Araguz was born a man. This has set up a fight over benefits.
One way to save overtime: In Heath, Ohio the fire department, like many others, is under the gun because of overtime spending. With a captain out due to neck and back injuries, Chief Mark Huggins plans to cut OT spending by taking some of the 24-hour shifts himself. Read more.
Insurance issues may shut down West Virginia fire companies: September 1st is when 129 volunteer departments could lose their broad form liability coverage. There is now talk of a mass shut down if state and insurance officials can’t get this settled. Read the latest.
Search warrants served following blast that injured Sacramento firefighters: Investigators raided two homes near the Oak Park house that exploded earlier in the month injuring four firefighters. Click here to read and watch the update.
EMT in center of controversy shot and killed: You may recall the December story where two FDNY EMTs on lunch break were accused of failing to provide care for a dying pregnant woman at a restaurant. Now one of the crew, Jason Green, has been shot and killed outside a New York night club. Here is more.
Firefighter charged in mid-day arson: Just six hours after an afternoon fire heavily damaged a Mechanic Falls, Maine restaurant an 18-year-old volunteer firefighter was arrested. Here’s the story.
The Morning Zoo meets Firehouse Expo: Make sure you stop by Booth 738 when you come to Baltimore Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It should be quite the interesting show. As ususal, I will be sharing the facility with Firegeezer Bill Schumm (when I am not handling duties for NFFF). Bill rented a double wide this year to give us room to spread out. The problem is he then asked a host of characters to join us (I guess my pain is your gain). Somehow John Mitchell and Rhett Fleitz will be trying to do their Firefighter Nutcast radio show (did I get that right?) while we are meeting and greeting. If you hang around you will soon discover there’s quite the dynamic between Rhett (the hardest working man in the blog business) and me (the laziest slob on the same beat). The good news is that most of my barbs go right over Rhett’s head, which keeps the violence to a minimum. Please come talk with us so we don’t have to talk to each other.
California house fire: A fire yesterday on LaBarr Meadows Road in Grass Valley, California.
Maybe this is SOP in Bainbridge, Georgia, but it is a little odd looking. After a fire engine pulls up to a truck fire on Route 27 last Tuesday, a Georgia State Patrol officer and a Decatur County sheriff’s deputy grab a line, flake it out and start attacking the fire. Another officer mans a second line. Their only PPE: ballistic vests and guns. Eventually the people in fire gear take over.
While I know many firefighters who would threaten to take the officers’ weapons and start shooting criminal, this may not a big deal in this part of Georgia. The City of Bainbridge uses the public safety officer model where all public safety officers double as police officers and firefighters (according to the article below, the two cops on the line are not PSOs from Bainbridge).
Georgia State Patrol and Sheriff’s Deputies kept the fire at bay with hand held extinguishers until Bainbridge Public Safety arrived. Then, as Public Safety Officers donned their gear, GSP and Deputies quickly pulled the hoses off the fire truck and began extinguishing the fire.
Asst Fire Chief Doyle Welch arrived with the first truck. As arriving Public Safety Officers donned their gear, Troopers Walt Landrum and Brian Palmer and Deputy Steve Singleton pulled hoses from the truck and quickly began pouring water onto the fire. Public Safety Officers took over the hoses and completed the task.
The quick action stopped the fire from spreading into the semi trailer which contained rolled paper. No doubt if that had happened, the 30 minutes of a blocked west bound Bypass would easily have turned into several hours.
All Public Safety Officers are certified in both Law Enforcement and Fire Suppression. The cars driven by Public Safety Officers are equipped with breathing apparatus, fire extinguishers, turn out gear, and other fire equipment for the officers responding to fires. The Fire Department is staffed by one Fire Chief and four Assistant Chiefs, one for each shift and has rotating officers to drive and pump the fire trucks when an alarm is given. the overall average response time to a fire is under two minutes.
No one was injured in the blaze which was reported from Baluja showroom in the Inner Circle of Connaught Place at around 11:15 am.
Fourteen fire tenders were rushed to the spot which doused the blaze in within an hour. Some goods were damaged in the incident, the officials said.
Below is another fire at the same complex in December and you will see this lightweight breathing apparatus in place under fire conditions that are a little more severe.
I guess I am kind of being like your mother telling you they are starving kids in China who would love to have the food you refuse to eat. Just remember, there are firefighters all over the world who would love to use the mask you refuse to put on.
This is the first video in many, many weeks we’ve seen from Edward Malik who usually posts the Gary, Indiana fire videos to YouTube. We know the fires haven’t stopped, but we are unsure why the videos have. This one is from a fire on Thursday at another one of Malik’s haunts, Lake Station, Indiana.
Most Recent Comments