Not sure how we missed this dramatic video from a week ago. It occurred in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. The downed power lines not only trapped the driver of this beer truck it caused other lines to topple, including one that trapped an ambulance crew. In the end everyone stayed put until the power was cut and no one was hurt. You can read and watch more here.
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Must see video: Arcing & sparking as pole & lines topple onto beer truck with driver inside. Ambulance crew also trapped.
5 commentsVideo from Michael “firepix1075” Schwartzberg at this morning’s house fire in Pikesville, Maryland. Here’s his account on the Pikesville VFC website:
Shortly after 5:30 a.m. Halloween morning, Baltimore County westside units were alerted for a reported house fire at 104 Clarendon Avenue in Pikesville (Fire Box 2-14). While units were responding, Fire Dispatch advised that Baltimore County Police were reporting one burn victim. BCoFD Engine 19 (Garrison career) arrived with fire and smoke showing out windows on the second floor of a 2-story house and initiated fire attack as the victim was being pulled out by police officers and a family member. PVFC Tower 323′s crew performed search and rescue and assisted with extinguishing the fire, ventilation and salvage. Squad 322′s crew performed lighting and salvage. BCoFD Medic 2 (Pikesville career) and EMS 5 treated a male patient with significant burns, who was flown via Maryland State Police Trooper 1 to the burn unit at Bayview Medical Center. BCoFD fire investigators determined the fire started due to a bundle of electrical wires in an upstairs bedroom.
Twenty-years ago director Ron Howard and company were making the movie Backdraft in Chicago. Chicago FD 1 on YouTube posted this video from September 18, 1990. Here’s the description:
Video of actors shooting a scene at Engine Co 65 / Truck Co. 52 as Engine 17′s Quarters with Truck Co. 46, for the making of the movie BACKDRAFT back in 1990.
Exhausted man who was hanging around gets to vent for a while. Virginia Beach firefighters with an unusual rescue.
1 commentFire Rescue TV’s Martin Grube got the inside shots of a Saturday morning rescue operation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. A former employee of Harold’s restaurant was found by the owner, Harold Owens, with his feet dangling from the exhaust hood over the stove. The place was a mess because the fire suppression system had gone off.
Things became a bigger mess when the Virginia Beach Fire Department had to cut through the vent to free the man. Firegeezer Bill Schumm got on this one early this morning and has more details about this incident.
Excerpts from fireground audio here, here, here and here
This is from a fire Saturday afternoon in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Neighbors had rescued an elderly woman who used a walker. One firefighter was treated after being overcome by heat. Read details at KOSY Online.
Fake wrestling. Real fire. A four-year-old video reminds us how slow the public & event organizers can be when an emergency hits.
2 commentsThis incident occurred on August 13, 2006, about nine months before I started STATter911.com. It is described as “the opening match between Eric Young and Johnny Devine at TNA’s Hard Justice pay-per-view”. I haven’t been a professional wrestling fan since elementary school when our family friend D. Chester O’Sullivan, who was the long-time head of the Maryland State Athletic Commission and a wonderful human being, would give my grandfather tickets for the monthly events at the Baltimore Civic Center. The first time we went Chester took us back to meet a very sweaty Bruno Sammartino.
I am not getting back into wrestling or changing the focus of this site, but this video is quite interesting. It reminds us how slowly the public and event organizers can react when fire strikes. In this case a burlap bag above the ring caught fire, apparently from pyrotechnics shot off a little bit earlier in the telecast. The fire suppression system kicked in, but I don’t see any quick effort to get people out of harm’s way. In fact, the match continues.
Two more firefighters lose jobs over an incident involving a computer, a camera & an apparent lack of common sense. The story from High Springs, Florida.
4 commentsSocial media ethics training for firefighters?
Shortly after I posted my column yesterday about firefighters getting into trouble with cameras and computers comes word of two more firefighters who have lost their jobs (actually a TV station did the story a week ago, but the paper just reported it). With what police say is a repeat performance by this duo, I am guessing something more than the social media ethics training I suggested may be in order. Read on.
The incident in question occured on October 1 when a High Springs, Florida firefighter woke up from a nap. Apparently he hadn't secured his personal computer. The firefighter discovered an image on the laptop that disturbed him. The picture showed another firefighter exposing himself while standing over the sleeping firefighter.
Two firefighters involved in the incident have resigned and the victim was nearly tasered as police tried to restrain him during the investigation.
Police told reporter Ronald Dupont Jr. at the North Florida Herald that the two firefighters who resigned were involved in a similar incident earlier this year. In that case, while a firefighter was wrestled to the ground one of the pair exposed himself and the other shot video. WCJB-TV reports the firefighters say they were inspired in their antics by the 2005 comedy "Waiting".
Here are some excerpts from the North Florida Herald article:
According to a High Springs police investigation, firefighter Michael Steele, 28, admitted to standing over the sleeping man and exposing himself while firefighter Kyle Lewis, 26, took a photo with a camera phone.
Lewis told police a similar story and said he uploaded the photo to the victim's computer using a USB cable.
In his interview with police, Lewis said the victim actually pulled a similar prank on Steele months ago, waking Steele up in the process. Steele told police he never remembers being awakened by such a prank and only learned of the alleged prank the next day.
When the victim learned of the accusation against him during his interview with police on Oct. 1, he got angry and left the interview room, looking for Steele and Lewis, according to a report by High Springs Police Officer J.C. Shiller.
Shiller said he tried to stop the victim but the victim actually "carried" the officer through the lobby and out the front door.
"Once outside the front door, I was able to put (the victim) on the ground and prevented him from going after FF Steele and FF Lewis," Shiller wrote in his report. "(Police) Chief (Jim) Troiano and Fire Chief (Verne) Riggall came out and held (the victim) to the ground.
"Chief Troiano then advised me to get my Taser out, in which I did and had pointing to (the victim)," Shiller continued to write in his report. "(The victim) then calmed down, and I re-holstered my Taser."
Terrence Reid, Spalding County, Georgia firefighter, fired over cell phone video of dead woman.
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Spalding County Firefighter Terrence Reid has been fired for using his cell phone to shoot video of a deadly car crash and the victim’s body. The video of 23-year-old Danya Kempson made its way back to her parents months after the July crash on Highway 19/41.
“Mr. Reid gave misleading and false statements to his supervisor and the investigator repeatedly regarding who he shared the video with and who he talked to about its existence,” a statement from Spalding County said Thursday. “Lying will not be tolerated by the County from any of its employees and is grounds for Mr. Reid’s termination.”
“That Mr. Reid recklessly disregarded the humanity of Ms. Kempson-Schacht and the people he was obligated to serve is clear and obvious,” the statement continued. “Although it does not appear that Mr. Reid intended to cause harm with his actions, his egregious conduct has created grave negative feelings towards all Spalding County Firefighters and has eroded the public’s confidence in the department and in Spalding County.”
Kempson’s parents are pushing to make personal videos by first reponders illegal.
“It’s hard enough losing a loved one or a child,” Kempson’s mother, Lucretia Kempson told 11Alive News earlier. “But then to have to see them after a wreck like this. I don’t want anyone to have to go through this kind of pain.”
From the Spalding County press release:
The basis of the termination is Mr. Reid’s misconduct in violation of two subsections of Article VIII, Section 7 of the Spalding County Personnel Ordinance. Subsection 7(u) prohibits willfully giving or making false statements to supervisors, officials or the public. During the course of the discovery of the existence of the video and the County’s investigation, Mr. Reid gave misleading and false statements to his supervisor and the investigator repeatedly regarding who he shared the video with and who he talked to about its existence. Lying will not be tolerated by the County from any of its employees and is grounds for Mr. Reid’s termination.
Subsection 7(b) prohibits conduct unbecoming a public officer or employee. That Mr. Reid recklessly disregarded the humanity of Ms. Kempson-Schacht and the people he was obligated to serve is clear and obvious. Although it does not appear that Mr. Reid intended to cause harm with his actions, his egregious conduct has created grave negative feelings towards all Spalding County Firefighters and has eroded the public’s confidence in the department and in Spalding County.
Subsection 7(r) prohibits violating departmental rules. At the time Mr. Reid used his cell phone to film video of Ms. Kempson-Schacht at the scene of her fatal accident, there was a Fire Department policy prohibiting use of cell phones without the permission of a supervisor. However, the investigation into this matter revealed that this policy was interpreted differently by different shift commanders and that personnel likely were not trained sufficiently on the policy. Therefore, any violation of that policy cannot serve as grounds for termination.
Is it time for firefighter social media ethics courses? Texas firefighter’s nude pictures are the latest online trouble.
12 commentsCoverage of Spalding County, Georgia cell phone video story
Social media vs. LODD
Some previous columns dealing with first responders, cameras & the web: here, here, here, here, here and here
From what I have seen since starting this blog in May, 2007 when firefighters get into serious trouble these days there usually is some connection to the Internet. Add a still or video camera to the mix and the possibilities for a suspension or firing and embarrassment to a department seem to increase exponentially. The problem is the "Look at Me Generation". I believe The Wall Street Journal is officially credited with that term, but I swear I was using it before them (or at least before I heard it elsewhere).
With this group there may not even be a generation gap, because it appears quite often their parents have taken on this singular characteristic that defines their children: making sure everybody knows what they are doing, every minute of the day.
It is not enough to experience life. It really didn't happen unless you took pictures or video, then posted it on Facebook, uploaded a clip to YouTube, wrote about it on your blog, Skyped and Tweeted.
The latest firefighter to experience the downside of "look at me" is Alejandro Garza, seen in the picture on the left from KXAN-TV's website. According to the TV station, the Austin, Texas firefighter takes "look at me" a little further than most. His is more like "look at all of me". The Austin Fire Department has indefinitely suspended Garza after a jealous husband told the department about nude photos of the firefighter on the web. The article indicates Garza initially told supervisors those were old photos, but it was soon discovered there was recent stuff.
Some of you are probably saying if this was done in his off time, it shouldn't matter. Maybe. Maybe not. Here's how the Austin Fire Department looks at it:
The suspension memo said the sexual activity "clearly represents conduct unbecoming a member of the Austin Fire Department." It also said Garza "brought further discredit to the department by including information which identified him as a firefighter in the City of Austin" in the postings.
The indefinite suspension cites a violation of the AFD rule against firefighters committing "acts showing a lack of good moral character."
The Austin story joins a growing list that includes the firefighter in Spalding County, Georgia facing termination after taking cell phone video of a dead woman, and numerous other recent disciplinary actions involving firefighters and their use of the Internet. Add to it the more general concerns that arise with cameras used by first responders and my recent discussion about the race against Facebook when there is a line-of-duty death. These issues aren't going to disappear by themselves. The fire service needs to be proactive if there is any chance of changing the culture.
Obviously, many young firefighters are coming into your departments not knowing any better (or, a less charitable view is it's an issue of not caring). They have grown up with the cell phone glued to the palm of their hand. They think it is an important part of life to keep everyone informed as to when they got up, what they are doing at home, at work, while they are driving, in the bedroom and even in the bathroom. I used to cringe at someone who regularly tweeted as they were enroute to EMS calls (I haven't seen that one of late).
I think it's long overdue that recruit classes include training on ethics as it relates to social media. If there are some fire chiefs already requiring it, good for you. If you aren't doing it, or haven't considered it, I hope these recent stories push you in that direction.
I am aware you aren't going to stop the digital revolution or change society as a whole. But just like teaching a new firefighter to rack hose your way you probably need to mold these new hires to make sure they understand that "look at me" may not be a good fit with what is expected of them as a member of your department.
In short, you need to make it clear to the young firefighter what is acceptable for posting and what your department's rules are when it comes to cameras. Of course, this training should probably extend beyond recruits to the entire department.
There will be some challenges with this type of training. With the technology evolving people are always finding new ways to get into trouble on the web. At the same time rules, regulations and ethics discussions aren't always keeping pace with reality. Also, if you aren't careful, your department's policies in this area do have the potential to be seen as infringing on someone's freedom of speech. What may seem common sense to you and me may be problematic for your department's legal counsel.
But don't let that stop you. Would you like to be the Austin fire chief or the Spalding County chief right now having to answer some really tough questions about what your firefighters have been up to? Or, would you rather have given it your best shot at preventing a young (or old) firefighter from having to update his (or her) Facebook status to "terminated" while you are scrambling to save the department's reputation?
A neighbor began rolling about seven minutes before the arrival of the Tucson Fire Department yesterday when a house caught fire at 1341 N. Echo Place. On the video you hear reference to two women who lived in the home who were safe. What isn’t said is that one of those women suffered serious burns while attempting to fight the fire. Indications are this started as a kitchen fire. Click here for news reports about the fire.
Something tells me when there is a fire at the top of the utility pole it probably isn’t a good idea to stand under the power lines as these citizens were doing. But they came for a show at the corner of West McMillan Street and Stratford Avenue (no date given) and the burning transformer and the Cincinnati Fire Department didn’t disappoint. At about 3:40 in the clip the firefighters begin to apply water and then get a standing ovation.
Four-alarm fire in Fall River, Massachusetts: Providence Fire Videos on the scene yesterday afternoon at a vacant mill complex on Bay Street. Two firefighters were slightly hurt. Here’s more.
Jerry Engle on the left. James Martinez on the right.
Second PGFD volunteer pleads guilty in 2008 arson case: James Martinez, a 25-year-old former career firefighter in Montgomery County, Maryland, has entered a guilty plea on Monday to second-degree conspiracy to commit arson in connection with a fire that Martinez fought as a volunteer with the Riverdale VFD in Prince George’s County. This is the same fire that long-time PGFD volunteer Jerry Engle admitted to setting. Engle was sentenced in September to a year in jail, but was released on time served (click here for that story). Martinez is scheduled for sentencing on December 3. Ruben Castaneda has more in The Washington Post. Click here to review our previous coverage of this case beginning in April, 2009.
Suspended Spalding County, GA firefighter identified. Report calls for firing over cell phone video of dead woman: The report looking at the July incident where video was taken of the body of a woman inside a crushed car calls for at least one firefighter to be fired. At the same time the local news media has identified the firefighter who was suspended after the incident came to light as Terrence Reid. Here’s the latest.
VA fire chief charged with DWI: NVDaily.com reports that Tim Welsh, who heads Virginia’s Frederick County Fire & Rescue Department, is on administrative leave following his arrest Monday on a DWI charge. Here are the details (more here).
Did cops turn off the sprinkler system at California mall where man had barricaded himself?: As we first told you yesterday the answer to that question is now part of the official investigation into the blaze that heavily damaged the Westfield Galleria in Roseville. Click here to learn what a TV station has determined so far. Also, Fossilmedic Mike Ward, who had suspicisions about the sprinkler issue right away, wonders if this was done to keep the robots from melting. Check it out.
Chief resigns following rebellion by firefighters over winter uniform: In Chelsea, Massachusetts, where the IAFF local and Chief Herbert Fothergill have long battled, the final skirmish came when the chief wrote up almost the entire department for not wearing the winter uniform shirt. Then Chief Fothergill suddenly resigned. More from Boston.com.
Deputy sheriff’s great escape after lighting up: Pretty amazing story from Jackson County, Georgia where a sheriff’s deputy’s propane-powered cruiser caught fire after he lighted a cigarette while responding to a call. Here’s that story.
Refund may be coming for Tulsa firefighter applicants: Before charging $25 a head to 342 people who want to be firefighters the City of Tulsa claims it checked out a lot of the legalities. The one they forgot to look at is whether Tulsa had the authority to do it without a City Council approved ordinance being enacted. Read the details.
Firefighters honored for saving bridge from barge: In New Hope, Pennsylvania four firefighters have been recognized for helping to figure out how to keep a runaway barge from taking out a bridge on a rain swollen river. Here’s more.
Spalding County, Georgia official says report calls for at least one person to be fired over cell phone video of dead woman. Suspended firefighter identified.
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Previous STATter911.com coverage of this story
New information this evening about the cell phone video taken of the dead body of 23-year-old Dayna Kempson-Schacht in side her crumpled car last July. WKEU Radio and WAGA-TV''s Darryl Carver are identifying the firefighter who has already been suspended. From WAGA:
Spalding County's board of supervisors met Tuesday to determine the fate of Spalding County firefighter Terrence Reid, who allegedly took video of a gruesome fatal accident.
The board announced that it is recommending that at least one person will be fired as a result of the controversy, but that person won't be named until the full investigation is concluded.
Interim Assistant Spalding County Manager Virginia Martin said, "There are times when it's acceptable for photos or videos to be taken for training purposes or scene documentation. It is my understanding that this is not.
"This was a personal cell phone for personal use – whatever that might be. We don't find it acceptable at all. And we are horrified that the parents had been exposed to this video."
Spalding County has issued a photo and named the Fireman who videoed with his cell phone a deceased victim of a auto accident in July. Terrence Reid was identified in an e-mail forwarded to WKEU on Tuesday.
Following the release of the Name and Photo of the Fireman in question the County issued the following press release. And we quote:
“At this time, there will be no formal statement from Spalding County regarding the investigation into the videotaping at the July 17, 2010 accident scene where Ms. Dayna Kempson-Schacht lost her life.
The initial report has been received from the Balch Law Group and the County Manager and Board of Commissioners. That report contains a great deal of information about the incident and about the conditions which might have led to a situation wherein recording of this video and its release appeared acceptable to those involved. The Board and County administration want to insure that the decisions made with regard to any personnel actions are reasoned and supported by all the available evidence as well as being in compliance with the County’s Personnel Ordinance, so they are continuing to review the report and gather additional facts. Decisions with regard to any personnel actions as well as release of the report will be forthcoming as those decisions are made and in accordance with Georgia’s Open Records laws.
Virginia C.S. Martin, Esq.
Interim Assistant County Manager
Spalding County, Georgia
Did police shut off sprinklers at burning Roseville, California mall? That question is now part of the investigation into the Westfield Galleria standoff.
5 commentsThe Roseville Police Department said it is investigating reports that someone in the department ordered the sprinklers shut off at the Westfield Galleria before a smoldering fire tore through the mall’s roof last Thursday.
FossilMedic Mike Ward must have seen this story coming. This is what he posted at Firegeezer.com as the fire began to take hold of the mall.
And a retired investigator with the California Department of said he clearly heard a radio order to shut off the sprinklers.
“At one point, there was a discussion because of the amount of water flowing out of the building that somebody wanted to shut off the sprinklers,” said the retiree, who asked that only his first name, Ed, be used.
The mall was ordered evacuated shortly after 11 a.m. and the fire allegedly set by Piggee smoldered for more than two hours before flames exploded through the roof.
Firefighters stayed outside while a bomb squad robot searched for a backpack that authorities worried might contain a bomb. The robot and the backpack were both buried in debris when the roof of the mall collapsed.
The 63-year-old retired law enforcement officer and Roseville resident who spent 25 years with the California Department of Justice told News10 he heard scanner traffic on the unified police and fire channel describing efforts to shut down the Galleria’s sprinkler system.
He described what he heard in an email to News10:
Yes, the sprinklers were ordered shut off at the Galleria. In fact, when they found the valve to turn the sprinklers off, it had a sign saying that the valve was broken; consequently they had to go to a secondary valve (which turned off even more sprinkler lines than desired) to turn the water off.
In a telephone conversation, Ed said he was angered by what appeared to be police taking charge of what had become a fire scene. “We never did that. You defer to the fire department. You don’t tell them what to do,” he insisted.
The former special agent also said the decision to shut down the sprinklers had to have come from near the top of the police or fire department command structure.”All the chiefs that were listening heard this come over the radio. Somebody could have interfered and said, no, that’s not a good idea,” he said.
Police spokeswoman Dee Dee Gunther said the role that the SWAT team or other officers played in the unfolding drama was still being examined.
“We don’t have any definite answers,” said Gunther. “We’re looking at the entire timeline of events and at all the building’s features, including the fire protection system.”
Roseville Fire Department Division Chief Dennis Mathisen said possible police involvement in the sprinkler operation was “being injected” into the investigation. “We’ve heard that may have happened. We don’t have specific information on what might have taken place,” Mathisen said.
Mathisen offered no explanation for scanner traffic indicating the sprinklers had been shut down for a period of time and then restarted at the request of firefighters. In fact, he would not confirm that they had been shut down at all. “We have reached no official conclusions that the sprinklers were shut off,” he said.
News10 has made an official request for a copy of police and fire radio traffic during the Galleria response.
The Roseville Police Department was conspicuously absent from a list of 34 agencies that were publicly thanked by Westfield in a full-page ad in Monday’s Sacramento Bee.
Gunther said it was a simple oversight by Westfield. She said Westfield asked her department to compile a list of responding agencies for the newspaper ad and Roseville police left their name off the list because they thought it was self-evident.
“Westfield was mortified (by the omission),” Gunther said.
Report finished into Spalding County, Georgia firefighter who took video of dead woman. Dayna Kempson-Schacht’s dad says he is working with congressional leaders to keep 1st responders from taking & sharing video.
14 commentsThe Spalding County, Georgia firefighter accused of taking cell phone video of a woman killed in a car crash in July may find out his punishment as early as today. The firefighter, who has not been identified publicly, is currently on suspension after the video of Dayna Kempson-Schacht was shared with others and eventually reached the 23-year-old woman's father.
Excerpts from an article by WAGA-TV:
Spalding County's board of supervisors met behind closed doors Monday to discuss the matter and review an independent consultant's investigation.
The head of the Spalding County commission says members need to review the report before making a decision.
Kempson-Schacht's father said he is working with Georgia congressional leaders to prevent first responders from inappropriately taking and sharing video of crime scenes.
Deputy sheriff jumps from burning cruiser at 50 mph. Jackson County, Georgia sheriff stops use of propane while fire is investigated.
12 commentsOn Monday morning a Jackson County Deputy Sheriff Gary Cox received only minor injuries after he was forced to jump from his moving cruiser while he was responding to a robbery call. Sheriff Stan Evans said the propane-powered vehicle caught fire as Cox attempted to light a cigarette. Here’s more in excerpts from an article by Justin Gray at WAGA-TV:
“He was traveling down the road like you or I but evidently there was propane inside the passenger compartment,” said Sheriff Evans.
The sheriff says that propane caught fire so fast, Deputy Cox jumped out of the car at 50 miles an hour.
“He exited the vehicle while the vehicle was still moving, saved his life I’m sure,” said Evans.
The explosion happened in front of Gary Blakley’s home.
“When I saw that car I didn’t know what to think. It [sort of] scared me. I said whoever is driving that car evidently got killed,” said Blakley.
More from Joe Johnson at OnlineAthens.com:
Officials have launched an investigation to determine if the fire was caused by a propane leak, according to Maj. David Cochran, chief deputy at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Meanwhile, the sheriff’s office has suspended the use of propane to power its fleet of patrol cars, Cochran said.
“We don’t know if there was a leak of some kind,” Cochran said. “We have suspended propane usage until engineers from the company that sold us the (propane) conversion kits can inspect the car and find out what happened,” he said.
Cox was taken to Athens Regional Medical Center, where he was treated for first-degree burns to his face and arms, then released.
When converting a police car, contractors install a bullet-resistant propane tank in the trunk, then connect it to a component that uses heat from the car’s engine to vaporize the liquid propane and inject the gaseous fuel into the engine cylinders.
The cars can run on either propane or gasoline, at the flick of a switch.
Close-up storm video that may be a little too close. Inside the debris field of a tornado.
2 commentsIncredible video out of Texas, as a tornado moved through Navarro County, south of Dallas.
Navarro County Emergency Management Coordinator Eric Meyers captured the moments as the twister touched down in the small town of Rice.
You can see the tornado tearing apart buildings and flinging debris through the air.
The National Weather Service says the storm that spawned the tornado badly damaged Rice High School, knocked train cars off their tracks and overturned several vehicles on a highway.
At least four people were hurt.
Friday’s fire in historic chapel in Alexandria: I’ve rightfully caught a little hell from readers for not posting anything on Friday’s fire that destroyed the chapel at the Virginia Theological Seminary. There are a number of reasons that I won’t bore you with, but I am also surprised by the lack of video from the fire (if I had been home I likely would have been there shooting my own video). This and a companion clip from the same person is all I found on YouTube. Firegeezer (I catch a lot of grief when Bill beats me into my first due) and WUSA9.com have more coverage. Also, always check the WUSA9.com video player in the right hand column. The 9NEWS NOW stories have been in there since Friday. Many times that player will have things I haven’t yet gotten to.
The Rube checks out: The very first posting on this blog (I hadn’t even come up with the name STATter911 at that point) on May 4, 2007 was about DC Fire & EMS Department Chief Dennis Rubin. Since then, there have been 206 references to Chief Rubin at STATter911.com (and numerous TV stories). I imagine he is the most mentioned individual in the blog’s short history. Last week Chief Rubin sent a mass email to his friends and contacts (not to the fire department, as some news outlets reported) saying he would be leaving the post when the new administration takes over on January 2, 2011. Even though he has expressed some unhappiness with what we do here, Dennis Rubin has been good for this blog. Because of his national reputation in the fire service there always has been a lot of interest in the good, bad and ugly from the Nation’s Capital. In fact, there may not be another fire chief in the country who has had to endure this kind of scrutiny over an extended period. Just another symptom of the digital environment fire chiefs now have to deal with. As the Rubin era winds down in preparation for a new chief you can click here to review our coverage of his administration. Now, with Chief Rubin soon gone, Kentland quiet and Jerry Engle gone from the fire service what’s to become of STATter911.com? Will anyone still read this rag?
Check out the t-shirt in this accused arsonist’s mug shot: It reads, “You can’t scare me, I’m a firefighter”. In Parke County, Indiana a member of the Bellmore Fire Department is charged with setting a series of brush fires. Click here to read and watch the story.
Reaching back for some vintage films from Chicago: We’ve posted four wonderful old CFD clips that came from ChicagoFD1 on YouTube. Check them out.
Denver Fire Department saves the wedding: The ceremony was held up for about an hour as firefighters freed a carload of guests from a stuck elevator. The pictures and the details can be found here.
Squaring off on fire based EMS in Wisconsin: The Sheboygan Press has a local business leader and the fire chief providing opposite views on the vote coming up that could take the ambulance service from the fire department. Chief Jeff Hermann’s case for keeping the ambulance service is here. Gary Maples of the Greater Sheboygan Committee pushes for the private sector to take over EMS.
California garage fire: Early video catches the arrival of Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Engine 26 at a fire in Valinda. Watch the video.
PGFD fatal fire: A three-alarm weekend fire at a Suitland, Maryland apartment complex left one person dead. Video and pictures are here.
Indiana house fire: Video from a fire last week in Merrillville.
Talk about biting the hand that feeds you: I helped Rhett Fleitz line up Union City Chief Kelly Edmison for Firefighter Netcast last week to talk about the latest “pay for spray” news from Obion County, Tennessee. To repay my kindness and generosity Rhett uses the interview as an opportunity to further attack me because of my views on this controversy. Rhett would have better spent the time apologizing for the remarks he made when this controversy first surfaced. Click here for the interview and here for the kind words and heartfelt thanks from Rhett.
Captain accused of putting camera in bathroom to spy on female firefighter: In Los Alamos, New Mexico another peeping case involving a camera and a firefighter. Click here for the sordid details.
Female firefighter is canned after having sex with lieutenant: In Illinois the Oswego Fire Protection District has fired its only female firefighter after she had sex inside the firehouse with a lieutenant. The lieutenant had already resigned. Read more.
Firefighter gets a second “last chance”: From Spokane, Washington a firefighter who already received a “last chance” agreement for sick leave abuse gets another chance and another agreement. Here’s the story.
Some vintage film footage featuring the Chicago Fire Department posted to YouTube by ChicagoFD1.
Flying Lion Productions arrived on the scene before Los Angeles County Engine 26 at this garage fire.
Video and pictures from PGFD’s Mark Brady.
Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department press release:
Firefighters from the Suitland area responded to a report of a fire at 3362 Curtis Drive at about 4:30 am. Fire/EMS units arrived to find heavy fire conditions on the terrace level, rear side of the building. Residents egress via the center stairwell were blocked by intense heat and thick smoke and they retreated to their balconies. Numerous rescues of those residents were made by firefighters from all floors using ground ladders.
The fire was well advanced by the time firefighters arrived and extended through the upper floors and eventually through the roof. The fire also extended into an attached apartment building at 3364 Curtis Drive. Personnel were forced to evacuate the building for safety reasons as conditions continued to rapidly deteriorate.
3 civilians are being treated at area hospitals. Paramedics transported an adult female that suffered a minor burn injury and an adult male that experienced difficulty breathing. An adult female was taken to a hospital by family members; she was experiencing difficulty breathing from smoke inhalation. Three firefighters also were transported to area hospitals; 2 suffering from minor burns and 1 for hypertension. It is expected that everyone transported will be treated and released today.
A 27-year-old-male resident, in what is believed to be the apartment of origin on the terrace level, was found deceased after the fire was extinguished.
A second and third alarm were sounded bringing about 100 firefighter and paramedics to the scene on-board 30 pieces of apparatus.
The majority of the fire was extinguished by 7:00 am. Firefighters re-entered the structure at that time to conduct secondary searches and complete extinguishment.
It is estimated that 24 families will be displaced. The Fire/EMS Departments Citizen Services Unit, Red Cross and Carriage Hill Apartment Complex Management will be providing assistance to those residents.
Because this fire involves a fatality and as a matter of standard procedure; the County Police Homicide Unit will join Fire Investigators until a cause and origin has been determined. The cause of the fire is under investigation and fire loss is still being tabulated. The identity of the deceased is being withheld to allow for family notification.
Edward Malik, who doesn’t seen to cover the Gary Fire Department the way he used to, has been bringing videos from other Indiana jurisdictions to YouTube (MABAS21). This is from Wednesday at 97th & Randolph in Merrillville. Here’s how Malik described the incident:
Police got on scene first and reported heavy fire from the second floor and garage of a two story farmhouse in the area of 97th and Randolph. 7311 was first on scene and advised they needed water asap. Crews from Lake of the Four Seasons, Crown Point, and Merrillville Stations 1, 2, and 3 responded along with fire investigators.
DC Fire Chief Dennis Rubin tells friends he is moving on. Last day is January 2 as new administration takes over.
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STATter911.com’s coverage of DC Fire & EMS Department Chief Dennis Rubin
Both WTOP Radio and The Washington Post are reporting that DC Fire & EMS Department Chief Dennis Rubin will be leaving his post with the arrival of a new mayor and his administration. The announcement is a not a surprise, but it is the first official word from Chief Rubin.
Rubin took over the department in April, 2007.
From WTOP Radio’s Neal Augenstein:
D.C. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin is telling friends he won’t be returning as chief under presumed D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray, WTOP has learned.
Sources say Rubin intends to stay until the end of his contract, on Jan. 2.
Rubin does not have a full-time job waiting for him, and plans to teach and lecture.
From The Washington Post’s Nikita Stewart:
Fire Chief Dennis L. Rubin announced his resignation this week by sending a mass email saying that he will be working as consultant and will leave his post effective Jan. 2, 2011, when the “new Administration takes over.”
He attached an electronic business card that listed his job as: “Instructor.”
From: Rubin, Dennis (FEMS) [mailto:Dennis.Rubin@dc.gov]
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2010 2:37 PM
To:
Subject: Contact Information For Dennis RubinHello Everyone:Attached is my new contact information. Please start using this information immediately. I will be leaving the District of Columbia Fire Department effective January 2, 2011 as the new Administration takes over. My current plan is to provide consultant services until I find a full time position that is a good fit for me. I wanted everyone to know how to maintain contact with me and thank everyone for their support during the last four years. What a great opportunity that Mayor Fenty has provided and I will leave this great City without regret.Sincerely,
Dennis Rubin
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