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Five-alarm Fargo Fire briefly traps firefighters: This brief video shows fire spreading to all wings of a large apartment building in Fargo, ND yesterday evening, leaving 150 people homeless. According to InForum.com, two firefighters became trapped in a third-floor apartment after the roof caved in and the ceiling collapsed. One was rescued through the interior and the other via a ladder. Both were uninjured.

Bourne to lose, once again: Either we failed to notice or things actually had been quiet for a while at the Bourne Fire Department in Massachusetts. Not anymore. A firefighter is facing suspension for a series of Facebook messages that the chief and others have called unprofessional, inflammatory and scurrilous. According to wickedlocal.com, the posts ”mocked local residents, including one that juxtaposed a picture of a local special-needs adult with a Bourne firefighter.” The chief claims others contain a slur to the homosexual community and some disparaged fire and police department members. Here’s all our previous coverage of a variety of other Bourne issues.

Not fire/EMS related but it could have been: There were DC Fire & EMS Department units standing by yesterday during the filming of scenes for the movie Transformer 3, but it was the Metropolitan Police Department that inadvertently took a leading role (at least in the news coverage). A K-9 officer in an SUV responded on a call through the area where they were shooting. The results weren’t very pretty but certainly added some additional action to the movie. Click here for the video and details.

Rescues in Virginia Beach: Details from an early morning house fire that left an infant and a senior citizen in critical condition.

Career criminal takes ambulance for a spin with crew and patient in the back: This happened in Chicago Saturday morning and a crew on a fire truck helped save the day by blocking in the runaway unit. Firegeezer has the story and the motive behind the theft.

FDNY firefighter’s SUV involved in fatal hit and run: A firefighter turned his SUV into cops about four hours after the early Sunday morning crash that left one man dead. But Pat Quagliariello did not say who was driving the vehicle at the time. Here’s the story.

Impact of layoffs: Details from a Lorain, Ohio City Council hearing looking at fire department operations following cutbacks.

Moonlighting inquiry: In Pensacola, Florida the arrest of a former fire captain connected to his off-duty work has officials asking lots of questions about the other jobs firefighters do and when they do them. Here’s the story.

Amalgamation is part of the campaign platform of one mayoral candidate: That’s what they call the proposal to combine Toronto’s fire and EMS services. TorontoSun.com looks at how that idea worked elsewhere in Canada.

Batavia, NY house fire: Fire started in the basement of a rooming house for those just released from prison. It happened yesterday afternoon.

Posted by dave statter on October 12, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Bourne Fire Department, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, News, Police, Quick takes, Rescues, Videos • Tagged: Batavia, Canada, Chicago, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, Facebook, Fargo, Fargo Fire Department, firefighter, Firegeezer, Florida, hit and run, IL, Lorain, moonlighting, ND, New York, Ohio, paramedic, Pat Quagliariello. FDNY, Pensacaola, Pensacola, STATter911.com, stolen ambulance, Toronto, Virginia, Virginia Beach Fire

Oops! DC cops real emergency collides with Hollywood’s fantasy.

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UPDATED: Must see video of rescue attempt & rescues in Lowell, MA.

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Rather graphic video above by Lowell Sun reporter Rob Mills of firefighters trying to remove a man as flames engulf an apartment.

More coverage of this fire from Firegeezer.com

Two men were killed and at least six other people were hurt in an early morning fire in Lowell, Massachuestts. Here are details from Boston Globe article by Stewart Bishop:

About 4 a.m., a fire broke out in a four-story apartment building on Bridge Street, said Deputy Chief Robert Flynn. Firefighters from Lowell, Chelmsford and Tewksbury responded to the four-alarm blaze in the brick structure, which had 15 apartments and an estimated 20 residents, Flynn said.

Firefighters found a 23-year-old man dead at the scene. He was not immediately identified. A second man was found dead about 1 p.m. as investigators combed through the rubble on the fourth floor.

A third man was critically injured after he jumped from the fourth floor of the building to escape the flames, Flynn said. That man was taken by medical helicopter to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, officials said.

This excerpt from TheSunBlog.com describes the graphic video above:

Meanwhile, firefighters knew a man was still trapped on the fourth floor, and even though flames were quickly engulfing the entire fourth floor, men from Ladder 3, Engine 6 and Engine 7 entered the fourth floor through a window to find that man.

Donnelly was forced to order them out of the building as it became apparent that the roof was going to collapse, but even after loud blasts of fire engine horns warned those firefighters to get out of the building, they determinedly appeared at the window they had gone in, with the body of a man being dragged behind them.

They struggled to get him out a window and over a railing, but were never able to do so before flames began shooting out of the window 10 to 15 feet in the air, forcing them back.

Those firefighters were then nearly trapped on the metal balcony, four stories up, as flames poured from the windows just feet from their backs, choking them with smoke and heat.

Video above from Lowell Sun reporter Rob Mills.

From NECN:

Lowell Deputy Fire Chief Mike Donnelly said, “The fire condition for the guys up on the fourth floor where they were trying to get the victims was very, very intense. There was fire blowing out of four windows.”

Deputy Chief Donnelly says when they got around the back of the building, there was actually a man climbing out of one of those top story windows. But before they could get to him, he jumped.

“Literally just as one of our guys reached him he let go,” Donnelly said he, “couldn’t hold on, the smoke condition was too intense.”

Posted by dave statter on October 10, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Major Incidents, News, Rescues, Videos • Tagged: Bridge Street, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Chelmsford, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, firefighter, Lowell, Lowell Fire Department, Mike Donnelly, Robert Flynn, STATter911.com, Tewksbury

Prince George’s County firefighter falls out of responding engine. Chapel Oaks volunteer was heading to house fire.

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Read details of January 21, 2008 incident

A 20-year-old volunteer firefighter is in stable condition and being evaluated at the trauma unit at Prince George’s Hospital Center after falling out of a responding fire engine this afternoon. Prince George’s County Fire/Rescue Department Battalion Chief Denise Dickens tells STATter911.com the firefighter tumbled from the rig at Addison Road and 60th Avenue around 2:00 PM as Engine 838 from Chapel Oaks VFD responded to a report of a house fire in Temple Hills, Maryland.

Dickens says a reserve PGFD engine was being used at the Chapel Oaks Station. She could not say if the firefighter was wearing a seatbelt or which model engine was in use.

As STATter911.com reported after a similar incident on January 21, 2008, the department has had issues with the door latches on older model Seagrave engines used as department reserve units. In that case a volunteer with Bladensburg VFD fell out of a 1989 PGFD Seagrave on Route 450 at Edmonston Road. It was determined that the firefighter was not wearing a seatbelt and that there had been other incidents where doors have popped open on that model engine. Here is part of the statement from PGFD Chief Spokesman Mark Brady after the 2008 incident:

: 1989 Seagrave involved in January, 2008 incident where firefighter fell off rig.

On this particular unit and the majority of our similar units the interior door latches are designed to open the door when the lever is pulled upward. There is a stop on the lever to prevent the lever from going down. However, if lever is overpowered in the down position it will break the stop and permit the door to open from the inside by pulling the lever up or pushing it down. The unit was inspected this morning and found that both rear cab doors would open by pushing the lever down. This situation will be corrected prior to it going back in service.

We could not find any issue with the seat belts. They are operating normal.

Following a similar incident with Fire/EMS Station 807, the Safety Office conducted a survey to determine if there were any other vehicles with a similar issue. Those units were identified and corrected at that time. Apparently, it does not take a lot of effort to over ride the lever stop in the down position and any unit that is found to have this condition is repaired as soon as possible by Apparatus Maintenance.

Posted by dave statter on October 10, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Apparatus Wrecks, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, News, PGFD, PGFD (MD) • Tagged: Addison Road, Bladensburg VFD, Chapel Oaks VFD, Command Fire Apparatus, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, Engine 838, Fire Truck Blog, firefighter, FireTruckBlog.com, Glenn Usdin, Mark Brady, Maryland, PGFD, Prince George's County, Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department, Prince George's Hospital Center, reserve engine, reserve unit, Route 450, Seagreave, STATter911.com, trauma unit

Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg: The sights and sounds.

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If you didn’t get to join us either in person or on the Internet a week ago for the Memorial Service at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial you may not have seen the video above. It is the closing montage looking back at the weekend that the CrossCreek TV folks put together on the fly from inside their production truck. It was played at the end of the service last Sunday morning.

For the second year, the McRee family from Alabama and their entire crew did a masterful job of letting the world see and honor those we have lost. The combination of Spruce, Patrick and Chris’ experience in the fire service (daddy Spruce got his start, like Dave, at Oxon Hill VFD) and their TV production skills from years broadcasting sporting events for the networks resulted in a telecast that the CrossCreek crew should be proud of. Much of the crew put in their bids immediately after last year’s event to return to Emmitsburg.

In addition, on-campus technical support, editing and the TV studio came, once again, from more broadcast professionals at the United States Fire Administration’s PREPnet. USFA has a group of people headed by Jeff Elliott who really know television and how to use it to communicate.

There are more videos that were part of the telecasts. Just click here to see them.

Brierfield (AL) FRD Chief Spruce McRee, who directed the telecasts from Emmitsburg, seen back in the day as a member of Oxon Hill VFD’s Company 42 (Prince George’s County, MD). Spruce is in the back row, far right, wearing a yellow coat. We figured Spruce left Oxon Hill about a month before I joined in 1974.

Posted by dave statter on October 10, 2010 • Filed under: Command & Leadership, Fire Rescue Topics, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, Videos • Tagged: alabama, Brierfield, Brierfield Fire Rescue Department, Brierfield FRD, Brierfield VFD, Candlelight Service, Chris McRee, Company 42, CrossCreek, CrossCreek TV, Dave Statter, Emmitsburg, EMS, EMT, fallen firefighters, firefighter, Jeff Elliott, Maryland, Memorial Service, Memorial Weekend, National Fire Academy, NFFF, OHVFD, Oxon Hill VFD, paramedic, Patrick McRee, PREPnet, Spruce McRee, telecast, United States Fire Administration, USFA

Radio traffic from head-on crash involving Kern County, California Truck 41. Two civilians killed.

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Above is the audio from Thursday night’s incident in Kern County, California where a car drove head-on into Truck 41. Here are more details from from FirefighterCloseCalls.com:

At 20:02 hours last night, the Kern County (CA) Fire Department responded to a vehicle crash involving one of Kern County Fire Department’s own ladder trucks. An additional 17 Kern County firefighters responded to the incident. The crew of Truck 41 from Virginia Colony provided immediate assistance to the victims of their accident.

Upon arrival, additional crews were faced with a vehicle that had struck the ladder truck head on while traveling on Hwy 178. The ladder truck, which is based in east Bakersfield was returning from a previous incident in Kern Canyon heading west bound when the crash occurred. Two persons in the car were declared deceased by Paramedics on scene. No injuries were sustained to the Firefighters in the ladder truck.

From Bakersfield.com:

The reason the Honda Civic carrying Melissa Hope Aguinaga, 36, and Arthur Alvarez Aguinaga, 35, entered the fire truck’s path is not yet known, Bakersfield police Detective Blaine Craig said. The BPD is investigating the crash.

Craig said there was no immediate evidence that alcohol was involved. Autopsies and toxicology reports will be performed, and investigators will examine the car to see if it was functioning properly.

The Aguinagas were driving eastbound on Highway 178 just east of Rancheria Road when they hit a Kern County Fire Department ladder truck at 8:02 p.m. Thursday, according to a coroner’s office news release. The Aguinagas died at the scene. No firefighters were injured.

Firefighter Darin Griffin, 39, the driver of the truck, and Capt. Gilbert Tinoco, 49, would not be commenting on the crash, Fire Capt. Brandon Smith said.

Posted by dave statter on October 9, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Apparatus Wrecks, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Fireground Audio, Major Incidents, News • Tagged: Arthur Alvarez Aguinaga, Azguinaga, Bakersfield Police, Blaine Craig, Brandon Smith, California, collision, Command Fire Apparatus, Darren Griffin, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, Fire Truck Blog, firefighter, FireTruckBlog.com, Gilbert Tinoco, Glenn Usdin, head-on, Highway 178, Kern Canyon, Kern County, Kern County Fire Department, ladder truck, Melissa Hope Aguinaga, paramedic, STATter911.com, Truck 41, Virginia Colony

‘Man it’s coming out everywhere now Chief’. Listen as Caddo, LA firefighters handle a burning fire station.

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Firegeezer coverage of the story

From a Shreveport Times article:

An exploding tire alerted Caddo Parish Fire District 1 firefighters to the blaze that consumed their fire station on Old Mooringsport Road early this morning.

Click the image for Shreveport Times slideshow. Photos by Jim Hudelson/The Times.

Flames moved from the truck parked behind the station to the building, traveled swiftly through the attic and shot through the roof.

From KSLA-TV:

Fire investigators say an electrical shortage may have sparked leaking fuel from a brush fire truck that was being housed in the back of the station.

Residents say they heard an explosion, saw flames and smoke, and called 911.

The fire quickly spread to Fire District 1′s headquarters. The firefighters inside detected smoke coming from the bathroom area and fled to safety. No one was hurt.

Posted by dave statter on October 9, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fireground Audio, Fires, Funding & Staffing, Major Incidents, News, Videos • Tagged: brush truck, Caddo, Caddo Parish, Caddo Parish Fire District, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, firefighter, Firegeezer, firehouse fire, grass truck, Louisiana, paramedic, STATter911.com

From the past: A look at the Baltimore City Fire Department Academy in 1965.

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On YouTube jlenz167 has been posting 1950s and 60s films from the Baltimore area. Previous ones were from pumping contests in Anne Arundel County. This is of a Baltimore Fire Department 1965 recruit class.

Posted by dave statter on October 9, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Baltimore City Fire Department, Command & Leadership, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Training & Development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Videos • Tagged: Baltimore, Baltimore Fire Academy, Dave Statter, firefighter, Maryland, recruit class, STATter911.com, training

West Virginia house fire: Early video from Aston Estates in Morgantown area.

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The Fire Critic Rhett Fleitz discovered this house fire video from yesterday at Ashton Estates in Morgantown, West Virginia. Here’s an excerpt from the description with the video:

FIRST UNIT ON SCENE TANKER 172 INITIATED AN EXTERIOR ATTACK AND KNOCKED THE BULK OF THE FIRE DOWN. NEXT IN CREWS ARRIVED ON SCENE AND FINISHED THE JOB WITH SOME INTERIOR WORK.

Posted by dave statter on October 9, 2010 • Filed under: Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Videos • Tagged: Ashton Estates, Clinton District VFD, Cool Springs VFD, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, firefighter, Granville VFD, Granville Volunteer Fire Department, Monongalia County EMS, Morgantown, paramedic, Smithtown Road, Triune-Halleck VFD, West Virginia, Westover VFD

Close call at New Philadelphia fire. Collapse caught on video.

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In this morning’s Quick Takes, just below this post, we ran raw video from a fire early yesterday morning in New Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This additional brief video was sent our way from FirefighterCloseCalls.com showing a bit of a close call. No details have been provided. There is no indication in the articles I have read that firefighters were injured.

Here’s an excerpt about the fire from an article by Frank Andruscavage at RepublicHerald.com:

New Philadelphia fire Chief Al Gilbert said the emergency call came in at 4:10 a.m. Arriving within minutes, firefighters were met with a wall of flames coming from the buildings.

“This place was long gone before the whistles even blew,” Gilbert said. “We tried to stop it but it was no use.”

Gilbert said the fire started in the corner building that once housed Josh’s Restaurant at 35 Water St. and spread from there to a vacant home at 37 Water St. owned by Sara Burke. Flames also gutted 39 Water St., where Burke lives, and Faust’s residence at 41-43 Water St.

Posted by dave statter on October 8, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, must see video, Videos • Tagged: Al Gilbert, close call, collapse, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, firefighter, Josh's Restaurant, New Philadelphia, New Philadelphia Fire Department, paramedic, Pennsylvania, Sara Burke, soffit, soffitt, STATter911.com, Water Street

Quick Takes

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Fire in New Philadelphia, PA: “An early morning fire destroyed four homes and a former restaurant Thursday and damaged at least 19 other homes.” – from RepublicanHerald.com.

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in: After a couple days of coverage and posting the fireground audio my hope was to give the Obion County, Tennessee story a rest today. But that changed with the lengthy comment sent overnight from Union City Chief Kelly Edmison. Chief Edmison’s department is also one providing subscription fire service to residents in Obion County. Please take the time to read his comments here.

You will find some not as well thought out remarks from Fire Critic Rhett Fleitz. When you don’t have a good argument you usually do two things: attack your opponent and blame the news media. Rhett does both. Check it out for yourself. He’s turning into a master of distortion.

A Presidential MCI – President Obama dispatches EMS: PGFD PIO Mark Brady tells us what happened when President Barack Obama starts dispatching EMS from the podium during his speech at Bowie State University yesterday. Exhaustion and dehydration seemed to be the major symptoms. Click here for pictures and details from Brady’s blog.

Another new fire service expert tells us four firefighters on a rig aren’t needed: A columnist for the Orlando Sentinel apparently has all the answers on fire department staffing. Lauren Ritchie seems to think even two firefighters is adequate staffing for a fire truck as she is encouraging of Leesburg, Florida’s decision to take another vote after approving money that would save the jobs of two firefighters-

For example, precisely how does service to a citizen drop when two rather than three firefighters go to a call? If there is a full-blown fire, clearly the more firefighters the better. More hoses can be pulled more quickly and so forth.

However, 85 percent of the 8,000 calls to which Leesburg firefighters respond are medical emergencies. And the number of major fires? 1 percent? Less?

So just how many columnists does a paper need anyway? If there is a full blown news emergency, can’t we get opinions from columnists at other papers further away? You be the judge. Click here.

A clean start: In Boston, after years of controversy, a random drug testing program for firefighters has finally started. The first 50 tested apparently have nothing to worry about. Here’s the story.

Firefighter dies after collapsing at brush fire: In California, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Firefighter James Saunders died in the hospital yesterday morning after suffering an apparent heart attack during a grass fire on Saturday. Read more about Firefighter Saunders here and at Firefighter Close Calls.

Paramedic found murdered in her home: A tragic story from Ontario, Canada about an hour southwest of Toronto. According to GuelphMercury.com, Adrienne Roberts, a Guelph-Wellington EMS paramedic, “was found murdered in her Arthur home Wednesday evening. She was reportedly the victim of a violent domestic dispute.”

Firefighter’s gear stolen during graduation ceremony: In Utah, Colby Robison had just graduated from the West Valley Fire Academy and was celebrating in a restaurant. When he got back to his car it had been broken into and his PPE and badge had been stolen. Here’s more.

Like father, like son: Anyone who has met Vinnie Brennan Jr. likely won’t forget him. The still hard working retired FDNY firefighter can only be described as a character (in the absolute best sense of the word). I’ve known him through my work at the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, an organization Vinnie has worked with since the death of his firefighter brother Peter on September 11, 2001. Susan Nicol at Firehouse.com tells us the story of Vinnie’s son, Vinnie Brennan III, also an FDNY firefighter, who tackled a cell phone thief at about the same spot his father came to the aid of a police officer who was being attacked by drug dealers 30-years earlier. Check out the story.

Posted by dave statter on October 8, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, Customer Service, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Major Incidents, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, News, Patient Management, PGFD, PGFD (MD), PIO, Quick takes, Videos • Tagged: Adrienne Roberts, Boston, Boston Fire Department, Bowie State, California, Canada, Colby Robison, Dave Statter, drug testing, EMS, EMT, FDNY, FireCritic.com, firefighter, Florida, Guelph-Wellington, James Saunders, Lauren Ritchie, Leesburg, Mark Brady, Massachusetts, MCI, New Philadelphia, Ontario, Orlando Sentinel, paramedic, Pennsylvania, Peter Brennan, President Barack Obama, Rhett Fleitz, Scaramento Metropolitan Fire District, STATter911.com, The Fire Critic, Toronto, Vinnie Brennan, West Valley Fire Academy

Another chief providing subscription service in Obion County, TN writes to STATter911.com. Read the detailed remarks from Chief Kelly Edmison, Union City FD.

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Listen to audio from controversial fire

Previous coverage of the issue from STATter911.com can be found here, here and here

The following comment was received overnight from Chief Kelly Edmison of Tennessee’s Union City Fire Department. Union City is one of three departments to provide subscription fire service to Obion County. Chief Edmison has more information on the issue in a column on the department’s website titled Firefighters turn their backs? … Not so…The Truth about Subscription Fire Service in Obion County TN:

My name is Kelly Edmison. Chief of Union City Fire Dept. Union City TN. OBION County. We are 1 of the 8 city fire dept’s in Obion County. My department is the only fully paid dept.

Even though my department (Union City, TN) was not the department involved, it has been extremely hard viewing the news media storm this past week; especially, when no one has reported the truth about the situation yet.

Chief Kelly Edmison on the left with firefighters from Union City, TN. From department website.

Watching news cast after news cast with miss information makes me wonder just how much “other” news we see nightly about our country and world events is turned and twisted.

Obion County Tennessee does not have a county fire department. It does have 8 municipal fire departments. Union City, TN is the only full time staffed department in the county. The other 7 departments are volunteer departments; but like Union City, are city departments. Again, Obion County does not have a county fire department. Sadly, Obion County is one of two counties in the state who do not provide fire protection. County residents do pay county taxes. However, no tax money goes towards fire coverage. The 8 municipal departments are funded by each of their city tax payers.

Three of the cities, Union City, Kenton and South Fulton operate a subscription fire service in an attempt to help the rural people in their respective areas. Union City has operated this way for over 47 years. They all three charge a $75 per year fee. It’s not a tax. It’s not mandatory. But the service is there if they wish. The reason these three charge a fee, is because the cities do not feel it fair to take the city tax payers money and service and give it to county residents for free.

Their policies are the same. With the exception of a life endanger; if you don’t pay; they don’t come.

However, once South Fulton had to respond to take care of the neighbor whose property caught fire and was a subscriber, that’s the point where in my opinion the outcome probably would have been different. But I’m not South Fulton.

But here is what the public doesn’t understand. Right, wrong or indifferent, it was not the decision of the South Fulton Fire Chief or of his firefighters to not put water on the structure. Their orders came from their city manager and mayor and council. Was it wrong? Everyone has an opinion (We would have put it out if for no other reason than that we had to come anyway and that was the damn fire that was endangering the neighbor who had the coverage.) If they had tried to put it out the chief would have been fired, the fire fighters terminated and there wouldn’t have been any body left to help fight fire for the majority of the rural residents in their area who do pay the annual fee.

The remaining 5 departments (city departments) in the county have been going out into the county without a subscription service with the hope that after responding they will bill the home owner and collect. It hasn’t been working. One of these departments even though it is a city department, has to get change out of their outside coke machine that sits on the front of their station just to have money to put fuel in their tank. They get very little help from their own city, let alone NO revenue from the county. Financially these departments will be forced to either go to a subscription based service or draw back into their respective city limits. If that happens, there won’t be any fire protection in three quarters of the county.

No firefighter wants to see a home go up in flames; but especially for the volunteer departments, the cake sales and fish fries just don’t cut it anymore. One set of gear to out fit a firefighter can exceed $3,000. A fire truck easily costs more than a quarter of a million dollars. How many cakes do you think it will take? And who again is paying for this? The “city” taxpayer.

The state of TN guarantees that as a tax payer; city or county, you are promised two things. One, garbage pickup will be provided. And two, law enforcement will be provided. Fire service apparently isn’t considered that important.

What people need to know is the fire problem in Obion County is NOT South Fulton’s problem or any of the other 7 departments. It’s a county problem.

The other 7 city chiefs and myself have been working with the county for over four years now in trying to convince then to go with a fire tax like most counties in this country operate and we would all gladly get rid of this subscription crap. The county currently wants all cities to go subscription and the county will collect and distribute.

I as an individual have been catching holy hell this week from all over the country, and wasn’t even the department involved. All I have been trying to do is defend some brother firefighters who weren’t given a choice as to what they could do; defending a program, though not perfect has been a successful program in Union City at least for over 47 years. South Fulton has run theirs for 20. It’s kept the doors open and help provided protection to a majority of rural customers in our Union City area who if it were not for the blessing of our city government would not have any fire protection what so ever because the County still does not want to pass a fire tax for county residents.

It has been one week. Not one letter to the editor has appeared in any of the papers. I’m not hearing complaints from the county residents. I’m only getting my ass chewed out from one end of the country to the other. I apologize for interrupting your forum. It’s late; I’m mad, and I wanted to vent. Honestly, this has been the most civil forum I have come across. And the only one I have taken part it.

Hope you all stay safe and please never judge until you have the facts.

Posted by dave statter on October 8, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Customer Service, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Arson, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, Major Incidents, News, Social Media, Reputation Management, News Media • Tagged: Chief, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, firefighter, Kelly Edmison, Kenton, Obion County, paramedic, South Fulton, STATter911.com, subscription, Tennessee, Union City, Union City Fire Department

A must listen: Fireground audio from controversial Obion County, Tennessee fire.

13 comments

STATter911.com previous coverage of this story here, here and here

Courtesy of FirefighterDispatch.

Posted by dave statter on October 7, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fireground Audio, Fires, IAFF, Major Incidents, News • Tagged: controversial fire, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, Obion County, paramedic, South Fulton, STATter911.com, subsription, Tennessee

Raw video: Neighboring chief speaks out about fire service in Obion County, Tennessee. Bob Reavis says firefighters have been trying to ditch the subscription fees, but the county wants more of them.

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STATter911 takes on The Fire Critic for blaming the news media (Also, listen to Firefighter Netcast)

More coverage from Firegeezer

A related story from Grand Forks, ND

“No firefighter wants to standby and watch a neighbor’s house burn, but we are sometimes put in this predicament through the subscription response program.” The words of Hornbeak Chief Bob Reavis. Hornbeak is one of eight municipal departments providing fire protection to Obion County. Chief Reavis has one of the five departments that doesn’t require subscriptions to respond into the county. But he says county policy of failing to properly address this issue is pushing his department and the others into joining South Fulton in requiring these subscriptions.

Reavis says a comprehensive plan was presented two years ago by the chiefs to eliminate subscription response and replace it with tax or fee based funding that would provide “rural fire protection to all residents”. The chief says the county sent it back wanting to instead expand the subscription program.

The entire press conference, including questions from Todd Cranick whose parents’ home burned a week ago, is above. Below is the answer from Obion County Mayor Benny McGuire. Despite a lot of threats and a great deal of pressure, McGuire still wants to expand the same subscription service that created this controversy to the entire county, something Bob Reavis and the other chiefs are against.

Reavis does want county residents to stand up and be heard, “The people have to understand that houses are going to burn. It’s not what we want.”

Excerpts from WPSD-TV’s article:

“The same thing has happened in the county before,” said Obion County Mayor Benny McGuire. “It never got this much attention.”

He doesn’t understand why his county’s policy is under fire.

Under the current system, there is no county-wide fire protection.

The mayor said that policy might soon change if county leaders vote yes on a new plan, which gives everyone an opportunity to buy subscription service from the nearest fire department.

“It’s not what I want, not what my fire department wants, not what my town wants,” Chief Bob Reavis said.

Reavis’ plea certainly resonated with some in the audience, perhaps most especially Todd Cranick, whose parents burnt out home is at the center of the controversy.

“The country is fed up with this crap and it’s about time everybody pulled together and gets things changed,” Cranick said.

Posted by dave statter on October 7, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, Major Incidents, News, Social Media, Reputation Management, News Media • Tagged: Benny McGuire, Bob Reavis, Cranick, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, firefighter, Firegeezer, Hornbeak Fire Department, Obion County, pay to spray, Pennsylvania, South Fulton, STATter911.com, subscription, Tennessee, Todd Cranick

Fire Critic blows it again: No Rhett, the problem in Tennessee is not the news media. This was a clearly a case of man biting dog.

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Listen to internet radio with FirefighterNetCast on Blog Talk Radio

Read New York Times editorial on the Tennessee fiasco

Previous coverage of this story on STATter911.com

Before going into last night’s Firefighter Netcast I had only one problem with my good friend The Fire Critic’s views on the fire department in South Fulton, Tennessee letting a family’s home burn to the ground because a $75 fee wasn’t paid. Now I have two problems.

In his opening monologue describing the events, Rhett Fleitz did what I have seen and heard many a fire chief do when the bad news showed up on radio, TV and the newspapers. Rhett almost reflexively blamed the news media for sensationalizing this story. Rhett you are definitely chief material with natural reactions like that. There is a future for you buddy.

But let me give you a reality check with this ancient lesson from the news business. Dog biting man is not news. Man biting dog is. I know Rhett that you are probably still trying to figure out why I brought this old saying into the conversation last night, so let me put it another way. Firefighters putting out a house fire often isn’t news. Firefighters sitting and watching a house burn is (if you still don’t get it, ask Willie to explain it to you).

There are a lot of citizen commentaries like this on YouTube. It gives you an indication of the depth of the emotion with this story and the reputation problem the fire service faces. Click here for more.

I can be as a big a critic of my former profession as anyone, but this is in no way, shape or form a problem of the news media hyping a story. This story doesn’t need hyping. Rhett’s objection was the headline “Firefighters watch as home burns”. That isn’t hype. That’s a fact and a very accurate headline.

In fact, Rhett bringing this up really does my job and makes my argument about this case. It’s simple. This wouldn’t have been a story making news around the world if the fire department did what fire departments are supposed to do and put out the fire. Yes, there is a lot more to this issue and it is much more complicated than that. But that’s the bottom line.

During our debate Rhett said he still stands by his other comment that caused me to wonder if he really has a clue about what he is saying as he tries to juggle the content of multiple blogs (the other day the man I used to call ”the hardest working man in the fire service blog business” was so desperate for content he put naked boobs on FireCritic.com). Rhett says he still believes, “The only thing that failed here was the homeowner not paying the fee. Everything else operated as it should.”

I will explain it again to all of my friends who agree with Rhett. And looking at the comments, there are quite a few of you. This is a case where you can’t just say the rules are the rules, and make sure each one is followed to the letter. It draws you to the wrong conclusion.

Yes, you can point to the requirements and say that the homeowner blew it and give the example that GEICO won’t let you make a claim on car insurance that you buy after you total your car. You and Rhett are technically correct on each one of these points. But you are morally wrong (not that I am normally an arbiter of morals) and it is the wrong answer for the fire service.

Your correct assessment of the individual facts doesn’t mean your answer to this problem is correct. In this case it’s just the opposite. You’re failing to see the big picture (now who is sounding like a fire chief?).

It is the job of the fire service to be there when someone else is having the worst day of their lives, no matter how wrong they are for getting themselves in that situation. In this case the fire service blew it big time and it is once again costing a great amount of reputation equity.

Let me give you an insurance analogy that better relates to this case. You have no health insurance. You take your child to the emergency room with a badly fractured leg. Because of the lack of insurance does the doctor refuse to treat your kid or tell you to come back when the leg is infected and his life is in danger? You know the answer to that and that should have been the answer in South Fulton.

But to me this is not really a problem with the firefighters on the scene. I know there are many of you think they should have disobeyed orders and attacked the fire. I don’t blame the front line firefighters. But I do blame the fire department. A distinction lost on my friend Rhett last night (and he is my friend and I continue to defend his right to be wrong). Even the woman whose son decked the fire chief agrees this wasn’t the fault of the firefighters.

But the Fire Department should never have put those firefighters in that position. They were set up to fail. Yes, I know there is a great responsibility by Obion County, its citizens and the political leaders of South Fulton in this matter. That is not lost on me. But the fire department shouldn’t allow everyone else to put them in a position that goes against what being a firefighter is all about.

If this is truly a policy dictated by others and not the fire department, than this is one one of those rare situations where the fire chief, backed by his firefighters, must collectively hold their breath until they turn blue. They need to take a stand.

And I am hoping the leadership in fire departments all over the country where this scenario can and does happen will look at this black eye to the fire service and realize they don’t want their department to become the next postor child for this issue.

Rhett tells me not all of the municipal departments providing fire protection service for Obion County operate this way. According to Rhett some don’t charge at all and others have a policy similar to the one I’ve shown from the Karns VFD, a Tennessee department about five hours to the east of South Fulton.

In case you missed it, Karns is implementing subscription fire protection. But they are smart enough not to put themselves in this untenable position of having to refuse to put out a fire. They will do what firefighters are supposed to do, but after it’s the smoke clears the homeowner will get a hefty bill for the fire department’s services. Not ideal, but it saves firefighters from being the man who bit the dog.

Posted by dave statter on October 7, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, IAFF, News, Social Media, Reputation Management, News Media • Tagged: Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, FireCritic.com, firefighter, Firefighter Netcast, John Mitchell, Obion, paramedic, Rhett Fleitz, South Fulton, STATter911.com, Tennessee, The Fire Critic

The great debate: STATter911 & The Fire Critic go at it tonight at 9:00 EDT. Hear what they have to say about ‘pay to spray’.

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Listen to Firefighter Netcast tonight at 9:00 EDT

STATter911.com previous coverage of this story

We have almost 60 comments since yesterday on the South Fulton, Tennessee story where the fire department would not put out the house fire because the homeowner hadn’t paid his subscription. The Fire Critic, Rhett Fleitz, is among those who wrote in because I dared to criticize his statement that ”Everything else operated as it should” except for the homeowner not paying his bill.

Tonight at 9:00 EDT I will debate this issue with Rhett on his Firefighter Netcast Internet radio show. I still predict that before it is over Rhett will admit that was a poor choice of words and he was wrong. But we shall see. I am guessing the only way Rhett will let you hear the debate is if you pay a subscription fee up front.

To kind of summarize where we are on this debate, here is a recent comment from STATter911.com reader known as Joseph Schmoe who defends the South Fulton FD. Below that is my response. Join us tonight at 9:

I have to disagree with you on this one Mr. Statter. The citizens of the city are under no obligation to subsidize fire protection for a county that does not care enough to provide fire protection for it’s citizens.

Many solutions are available for the county to provide protection to unincorporated areas of the county. Formation of their own fire department, contracting with the city to provide protection, formation of a community services district to allow collection of funds to pay for city responses are just a few.

Instead, the county chose to do nothing and leave it up to the residents to subscribe. Like many people, this “victim” elected not to participate, thinking he would never have a fire. He miscalculated and lost everything. Now, the city officials, including the fire chief, are being vilified in the media for protecting the interests of the people that they represent. Odd.

Had the fire department extinguished the fire, others in the community would likely not subscribe, knowing that any fire would be extinguished anyway. As it is, I am sure that the subscription rate will rise after this event.

This incident is similar to when unincorporated communities votes against annexation time after time, then whine when the neighboring city denies services.

The blame on this lies solely with the property owner, he rolled the dice and lost. As you can tell, I am not buying that he “forgot”.

If public officials must be blamed, blame the county for not making the protection of it’s citizens a priority.

Thanks Mr. Statter for your fine work. Despite my disagreement with you on this issue, I remain a most loyal reader and fan.

Respectfully submitted,
Schmoe

Joe,

I’m always glad to have someone disagree with me so nicely (as if I set a good example with Rhett).

A number of people are making the points you make. And there is little argument that technically you are correct on probably all counts. But in this case following all of the rules gives you the wrong answer. Not only is it the answer that is morally wrong and goes against what firefighters are all about, it is the answer that gives the fire service a black eye.

Let me be clear, I am not defending the homeowner. And you are also right that South Fulton is probably under no obligation to protect the county (except by the agreement that set up this scenario). In fact, my point is they should not put themselves in this position. No fire department should. It is not what firefighters do.

As Jeff Bressler writes in the Fire PIO there is plenty of blame to go around. But it is the fire department that looks bad.

What I am saying to the fire department (and any others who have these set-ups) is don’t put yourself in this no-win situation in the future. You would look much better sending the man a bill for a couple of thousand dollars after you put out the fire (the Karns VFD model) than sitting there looking like you are at a football rally bonfire.

Thanks Joe for being such a loyal reader and sticking with me even when you think I am wrong.

Dave

Posted by dave statter on October 6, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Customer Service, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, IAFF, Major Incidents, News, Social Media, Reputation Management, News Media • Tagged: Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, Fire Daily, firefighter, Firefighter Netcast, John Mitchell, paramedic, Rhett Fleitz, South Fulton, STATter911.com, Tennessee, The Fire Critic

A must listen: Talk show host Matt Williams takes on “fake firemen”. POV response in Gilmer, Texas brings tirade about volunteers.

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Click here to listen to tirade by Matt Williams (starts at about 5 minute mark)

NOTE: Mr. Williams was not on his radio show this morning & indications on his Facebook page are that he has been taken off the air

Talk show host Matt Williams was in Gilmer, Texas and found himself face-to-face with some volunteer firefighters apparently responding in their POVs. Williams had some big concerns about their driving and the use of emergency equipment on the vehicles. Both legitimate questions and issues worth discussion. We’ve discussed them here.

But listening to Mr. Williams you have to wonder if somewhere in his history his house burned down because the local fire department didn’t show up or possibly a volunteer firefighter stole his woman when he was a teenager. Starting at the five-minute mark Williams talks about everything from incest to the work ethic of volunteers.

Trust me, you will want to hear this.

Clearly Matt Williams is to volunteers what Connie Xinos is to career firefighters (and then some).

Posted by dave statter on October 6, 2010 • Filed under: Career - Volunteer Issues, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Fires • Tagged: EMS, EMT, fake firefighters, faux firefighter, firefighter, Gilmer, hillbilly, incest, Matt Williams, must listen, paramedic, POV, STATter911.com, talk show host, Texas, work ethic

A better (but not good) answer to the Tennessee pay to spray fiasco. Plus, Dave becomes a critic of The Fire Critic.

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The Fire Critic responds and misses the point

I am sure most of you have been following the latest incident of a Tennessee fire department letting a home burn because the homeowner didn’t pay the annual subscription fee. In this case in South Fulton an unpaid $75 bill resulted in the fire department watching a house burn to the ground. There has been a lot of reaction to this story, including the following: News coverage across the country (just heard the story again on CBS Radio); A live shot with the homeowner on Keith Olbermann’s Countdown on MSNBC with references to life under the Tea Party (see below); Glenn Beck supports the FD position; The son of the homeowner decking the fire chief (see story above); A harsh statement from IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger; The Fire Critic Rhett Fleitz taking the side of the fire department saying the rules are the rules (please check my critique of The Fire Critic further down).

As a volunteer firefighter in Maryland in the 70s I recall being quite outraged reading the stories, usually from the South, of firefighters watching homes burn because someone wasn’t on the department’s subscription or membership list. I don’t think my outrage is any less more than 35-years-later.

The chiefs who run these subscription based entities, including Union City Fire Chief Kelly Edmison whose department is in Obion County, Tennessee with South Fulton, make the case that they are between a rock and a hard place. Here is what Chief Edmison said to WPSD-TV:

“If somebody is trapped in the house we’re going to go because life safety is number one but we can’t give the service away,” Edmison said. “It’s not South Fulton’s problem. It’s not Union City’s problem. It’s the county’s problem. There is no county fire department.”

“If we just waited to charge when we went out there, you’d be working on a per-call basis,” he said. “With no more calls than there are, the money wouldn’t be there in a sufficient source to buy the equipment you need.”

He and other fire chiefs in Obion County who charge subscription fees for county residents know they’re in a tough spot.

“It’s like car insurance,” Edmison said. “I wish I could wait until I have an accident until I pay my premium on my car insurance, but it doesn’t work that way. So why should the fire service be looked at anything different?”

The self dubbed Fire Critic, Rhett Fleitz, has no sympathy for the homeowner who didn’t pay his bill and he also thinks the fire department is wrongly the fall guy in this one.

This situation is a black eye for the fire service. The fault lies with the homeowners for not paying the $75 fee. However, the public will not view it as such. The media is also jumping on the band wagon…saying that the homeowner is the victim. The only thing that failed here was the homeowner not paying the fee. Everything else operated as it should.

So many people are pointing the finger towards the fire department. Once again, they fail to look at policies. This is bigger than the fire department. If someone wants to change the policies they need to look to the South Fulton City Government.

I don’t know if it’s just a poor choice of words or my good friend Rhett has finally snapped after taking years of abuse about being short. Rhett has me really worried about him when he writes, ”Everything else operated as it should”. Huh?

I am starting to think that carpool I wrote about with Connie Xinos of Oak Brook, Illinois and the two council knuckleheads from Xenia, Ohio who want the firefighters to buy their own gear can now go in the HOV-4 lanes. Connie, give me a call for directions. Rhett will be standing at the curb waiting for you. Thank goodness IronFiremen.com is now aboard FireEMSBlogs.com so we can get something sensible from Roanoke. (BTW Rhett is so threatened about the blog by Willie Wines he put some frontal nudity on The Fire Critic today. I think we know who the real boob is. Desperate people do desperate things.)

Now back to our story. No, Rhett. Everything did not operate as it should. Firefighters put out fires and help people. They should not be put in the position where they can’t do that. And maybe it’s not the South Fulton Government that is necessarily the problem. Maybe Obion County should provide for its people by subsidizing the volunteer fire departments.

If that can’t be done, maybe a better answer to this problem comes from a Tennessee fire company with a similar issue. In the story below, after running into fundraising issues, the Karns VFD, five hours or so to the east of South Fulton, is going to a subscription type department. But it sounds like they are not refusing to respond to anyone’s emergency. They will bill those who aren’t members a pretty substantial fee for putting out a fire.

Far from perfect and still objectionable. But at least this way it won’t bring about video on national television of firefighters looking like they are at a marshmellow roast while someone loses all of their belongings. Let the bill collectors, accountants and courts do what they are supposed to do while firefighters do their jobs. (And Rhett, go do your job, admit you were wrong and apologize to your co-worker Willie for trying to steal his thunder on his opening week.)

Posted by dave statter on October 5, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, Courts, Customer Service, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, IAFF, Major Incidents, News, Social Media, Reputation Management, News Media, Videos • Tagged: billing, CBS, Connie Xinos, Countdown, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, firefighter, general president, Glenn Beck, Harold Schaitberger, IAFF, Illinois, Iron Firemen, Karns, Karns VFD, Keith Olbermann, Kelly Edmison, Knox County, MSNBC, Oak Brook, Obion County, Ohio, paramedic, pay to spray, Rhett Fleitz, Roanoke, South Fulton, STATter911.com, subscription fire service, Tennessee, The Fire Critic, TN, Union City, Virginia, Willie Wines, Xenia

Connie Xinos, meet John Caupp & Dale Louderback of Xenia, Ohio. Three kindred spirits trying to teach firefighters a lesson.

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First of all, I am a bit late on this story due to my other duties over the last few days. The Fire Critic, Firegeezer (Bill goes deep on this one, giving us lots of background) and Firefighter Close Calls already have posted this video from Xenia, Ohio. In it, two council members, John Caupp and Dale Louderback, speak out and vote against buying seven sets of firefighter turnout gear through the Ohio Cooperative Purchasing Program. It is their belief that firefighters should buy their own PPE and cops should buy their own ballistic vests. Especially in the tough economic times that caused Xenia to lay off firefighters this year.

Looking at the video is it clear to me that it’s more than just the X in both Xenia and Xinos that’s the common element between this video and our other big fire department budget story of the last two weeks. As I am sure most of you recall, Connie Xinos wants to balance the Village of Oak Brook, Illinois budget (a wealthy community with no property tax) by firing one firefighter each month until the union agrees to modify its current agreement to allow staffing and pension cuts. Xinos added, referring to the wife of a fired firefighter:

“Maybe they’ll sue us. Maybe they’ll win something three years from now. She’ll leave him. He’ll be out of the house. The dog will be dead and the kids will be out on the streets.”

Warning: The rest of this column is kind of a personal message from me to Mr. Xinos, Mr. Caupp and Mr. Louderback. There’s no need for anyone else to read it.

Mr. Xinos, I imagine a man with your soft-spoken and easy charm is not lacking friends. But just in case you are, I want you to think of STATter911.com as your own personal eHarmony.com. No upfront fees. In fact, the service is completely free. And I believe STATter911.com has already found your soul mates for life (strictly platonic, of course).

Really what I am offering is kind of a video service for those who don’t have a best friend. Connie, just click above and I think you’ll agree that you could be looking into a mirror rather than a YouTube video.

So Connie, meet John and Dale. John and Dale, meet Connie (click here for his cool video). My gut tells me you three will get along famously.

I even have a suggestion for a first date for you fun loving guys. How about a trip to Emmitsburg, Maryland? It’s a gorgeous little town in the Catoctin Mountains. It’s just south of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The people there are lovely.

Fall is a great time to visit this area. How about the first weekend in October of next year? A year from now. I promise you the wait will be worth it.

I know how thrifty you three are, so why not carpool it to Maryland?

Connie will pick up John and Dale. Connie it’s on your way, but I already know what’s bothering you about this. No need to worry, I am sure they will chip in for gas (actually let me rethink that part).

Either way I am certain you guys will have plenty to talk about. I imagine by the time you turn south on Route 15 in Pennsylvania you will have solutions for many of society’s ills.

I have good news for you budget conscious men. I will be glad to pick up your hotel rooms in Maryland. I mean it. My treat.

I have more good news for you to save some money. While you’re in Emmitsburg I will be your personal tour guide.

The first stop has to be Gettysburg. There’s lots to learn there. Talk about being a leader during tough times. But you guys have shown those aren’t lessons you really need. Connie, I guess you would agree that John and Dale have inspired their own troops by toughening them up. Letting them know if they really must have protective gear going into battle, they should just buy it themselves. I am sure that’s what many of them did during the Civil War.

And John and Dale, I think you both will be greatly impressed with Connie’s leadership when he was in that fierce battle with the 11-year-old girl. I can assure you it wasn’t Connie who went home and cried that night.

By the way, while we are in Emmitsburg there’s a big event in town that weekend that I would love for you three to see. It draws about five or six thousand people each year. But there’s more good news. It’s free of charge. It won’t cost you a dime. I know money means more than anything to you guys. You’ve made that clear.

While there you should really take take the time to meet some of the men, women and children who will be at that gathering. I’ve been going for years and I always find it an extremely impressive group (but in a much different way than you three impress me).

Just do me one little favor. It’s simple. When you meet them, take a close look into their eyes.

That’s it. Nothing more. Just take a close look into their eyes.

Posted by dave statter on October 4, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Funding & Staffing • Tagged: budget cuts, Caupp, Connie Xinos, Constantine Xinos, Dale Louderback, Dave Statter, Emmitsburg, EMS, EMT, firefighter, Gettysburg, Illinois, leadership, Maryland, Oak Brook, Ohio, paramedic, Pennsylvania, ppe, STATter911.com, turnout gear, Village of Oak Brook, Xenia

Quick Takes

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Watertown, NY rescue caught on video: Someone was rolling video as firefighters pulled a 36-year-old man out a burning second floor apartment on Sterling Street on Sunday. At last word the man is in critical condition. Click here for more pictures and details.

Lots of thanks: Whether you tuned in to see part or all of the Memorial Weekend events in Emmitsburg or are one of the more than 60 websites and blogs that made up the FireHero Network, I am very grateful. The official thanks will come from the leadership of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. This is my personal thanks to our readers who always step up in a big way. Your help allowed the network to have more than three times the number of sites than last year. The Foundation widget, which will continue year-round to honor a fallen firefighter each day, has close to 150 sites using it (that we know about). Again, thank you for helping honor the firefighters we’ve lost.

Please indulge me with a couple of other acknowledgements. The TV station that employed me for almost 25-years again stepped up in a big way by joining Motorola, Inc. as the primary distributors of the two telecasts. Both WUSA-TV and Motorola have been involved in all four years that we’ve been live on the Internet. Thank you to president and general manager Allan Horlick and my former colleagues for their help.

And some very special thanks to web producer Emily Cyr who is always instrumental in making the streaming happen and to director Scott Rubens who found an innovative way to keep the network from falling apart Saturday evening. Just before airtime a key component in the satellite uplink failed in Emmitsburg. While we were dead on the satellite end until Sunday morning, Scott, on his own, used the Motorola generated web signal and pushed it out in the very same video player most websites in our network were using. A brilliant move that saved the day.

Early video of rocking garage fire: Smoke could be seen for miles around this Minneapolis fire. Check it out.

Connie Xinos isn’t going to like this - Firefighter union activity saves the day: As we have learned over the last week or so the Oak Brook, Illinois citizen is not a big fan of unions. Particularly firefighter labor organizations (check out his video rant here). But in San Jose, California, during some union sanctioned campaigning on Sunday about initiatives on the ballot in the general election, two off-duty firefighters discovered how hot issues are. Specifically, they found themselves first due at an an apartment fire. Here’s the story.

Union cold over hot and cold responses: FDNY is trying out keeping the lights and sirens off on some responses to reduce vehicle collisions. The union thinks the plan is flawed and another ploy to close companies. Read the details.

A closer look at the controversy over private firefighters: Editorial cartoons, letters to the editor and questions about ethics help fuel the controversy in Colorado over the use of private fire protection for some homeowners who were impacted by the recent Colorado wildfires. Click here for the story.

Weekend fire in Pennsylvania destroys five homes: Firegeezer has the story and pictures from Shenandoah, PA.

Firefighter is voice of calm in tense situation: When a bolt broke on a Ferris wheel in Racine Wisconsin, jolting riders, Captain Nick Comande took command. He kept the passengers calm even though he had some serious doubts about how long the ride would hold up in high winds. Comande was a very early arrival to this emergency scene because he was on the ride with his nine-year-old daughter. Read more.

Posted by dave statter on October 4, 2010 • Filed under: Uncategorized

Early video: A rip-roaring garage fire in Minneapolis.

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Lots of fire coming out of what appears to be a detached garage at 35th and Garfield in South Minneapolis this afternoon. No injuries were reported and the fire did not spread to nearby homes or garages. The fire made local news due to the smoke being seen for miles around the city.

Posted by dave statter on October 3, 2010 • Filed under: Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News, Videos • Tagged: 35th and garfield, 35th avenue, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, firefighter, garage fire, Minneapolis, Minneapolis Fire Department, Minnesota, paramedic, South Minneapolis, STATter911.com

Watch Live: NFFF 2010 Memorial Service from Emmitsburg, MD.

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If you experience technical difficulties, please try one of these alternate viewing links:
View Candlelight Memorial Service | View Candlelight Service | View Candlelight Memorial Service

FireHero Radio: Interviews from behind the scenes in Emmitsburg

Leave a memory of a fallen firefighter at the Virutal Remembrance Banner

2010 Memorial Weekend Slideshow (updated throughout the weekend)

Memorial Weekend social media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube (updated throughout the day)

Bill Green photo the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

Posted by dave statter on October 3, 2010 • Filed under: EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Fires, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, Uncategorized • Tagged: Dave Statter, Emmitsburg, EMS, EMT, fallen firefighter, firefighter, LODD, Maryland, Memorial Service, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, NFFF, paramedic, STATter911.com

Thank you! And there’s still time to be part of the FireHero Network.

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FireHero Radio via Firefighter Netcast

Add live streaming to your website or blog

Memorial Weekend slideshow

Connie Xinos fans you will want to watch this. Oak Brook, Illinois man at another Village meeting threatening to fire firefighters.

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Click here, here and here for our previous coverage of Connie Xinos

A quite unrepentant Connie Xinos took the podium at the Village of Oak Book, Illinois public meeting on Tuesday evening and made comments quite similar to those he made at a September 22 Citizens Finance Advisory Committee get-together. Xinos warns firefighters that unions are not really welcomed in Oak Brook and that they better realize that or they will be replaced by a private contractor. He again says that if concessions are not agreed to by firefighters that the Village should start firing one firefighter each month. The comments from Mr. Xinos come at about the 24:00 mark. It is well worth watching to get the full impact of Connie Xinos’ anti-union sentiments.

Both before and after Connie Xinos spoke there were comments from others about the September 22 meeting. Village officials also defend themselves about their reaction to the controversial comments.