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FireTruckBlog.com's Glenn Usdin has details on two rigs for sale from his Command Fire Apparatus. Above is a 1992 GMC tanker and below is a 2000 KME heavy rescue. Click here to read more about the vehicles. And you can also find more fire apparatus for sale at SellFireTrucks.com.
The Connecticut Post's Anne M. Amato sure has a unique story from Shelton. The state of the radio system used by the Shelton Fire Department has become a campaign issue with current Mayor Mark Lauretti strongly disputing claims of just how bad the system is. On the other side of the issue is Lauretti's opponent, Chris Jones, who is a volunteer firefighter in Shelton.
To solve the radio issues the city applied to FEMA for a $1 million grant. One line written by the city grant writer reads, "Safety cannot be guaranteed with odds of 50/50, for if our luck runs out, we could be faced with tragedy."
So how will FEMA react when they find out the mayor indicated in some very strong language that what the city wrote on its grant application is a lie.
But Mayor Mark A. Lauretti Monday disputed the claim that the radio system fails that often, even though that's the number cited in the federal grant application.
"That's bull—-," the mayor said.
"I know the equipment is old and has shortcomings and needs to be replaced, but I don't agree that it fails 50 percent of the time," he said. "They put that in the grant application, and I don't believe it's true."
Chris Jones, a city firefighter who is challenging Lauretti in the November election, said he's seen the radio failures firsthand.
There is no information about when and where this occurred, but it is an interesting bit of video at a vehicle fire. The driver of one of the cars passing the car carrying the videographer must have had his or her eye on the fire and missed seeing that big red thing with the hose attached. The camera was pointed the wrong way when the actual collision occurs, but it is still worth watching.
I would love to provide my own thoughts on this one, but I think my head might just explode thinking about the stupidity involved in this concept. I will leave it to you to provide the commentary. From the AP:
Camden County officials are considering a money-saving program that would put inmates in fire stations.
The program would put two inmates in each of three existing firehouses in the south Georgia county, The Florida Times-Union reported (http://bit.ly/nZbutT ).
Inmates would respond to all emergencies – including residential fires – alongside traditional firefighters, authorities said.
The inmates would have no guard, but would be monitored by a surveillance system and by the traditional firefighters, who would undergo training to guard the inmates. One traditional firefighter with correctional training can supervise up to three inmates, officials said.
The inmate firefighter program could save the county more than $500,000 a year by some estimates, authorities said.
The program would be open to inmates charged with crimes such as drug offenses and thefts. Inmates would also need to have a record of good behavior and pass an interview process.
The idea has been met with controversy in the county.
There's "a lot of contention" among local firefighters about working alongside inmates, Camden County Public Safety Director Dennis Gailey said.
"If you vote to bring these inmates into our working environment, you jeopardize not only the employees' well-being, but the safety of our citizens," firefighter Stuart Sullivan told county commissioners during a recent meeting.
County Commissioner Jimmy Starline.
Commissioner Jimmy Starline said it might be a positive experience for the prisoners.
"I've been told these inmates are very enthusiastic about being a firefighter," Starline said.
"It's an opportunity to break that cycle," he added. "This is not like a chain gang. Life at a fire station could be a whole lot more pleasant than life in jail.
It's an interesting statement of fact that reporter Liz Farmer wrote in an article on Wednesday for The Washington Examiner following the latest in a long series of DC City Council hearings on the amount of overtime money spent by the department. The theme of the article was, that despite DC Fire & EMS Department Chief Kenneth Ellerbe cutting overtime by more than 50 percent, the department is still $1 million over the 2011 budget.
It is this sentence that caught my attention when I read the article this afternoon: "Ellerbe in January took over Fire and Emergency Medical Services, a department with a history of overtime being abused and going notoriously over budget."
As I was reading the rest of the article I was hoping to find out who exactly in the department was abusing overtime. That's a pretty big charge to make, so I was looking for something to back up what reporter Farmer presented as fact in this article. I didn't find it.
Overtime paid to firefighters has been a hot button issue in many jurisdictions throughout the country. It is often been being used as ammunition to cut firefighter pay and other benefits. The public doesn't like to hear that firefighters are the highest paid government employees in their town, city or county, especially the way it's often portrayed by those who want to make big cuts in the department's budget. The issue has a tendency to take on a life of its own in a way that is sometimes based more on emotion than fact.
So, Liz Farmer, who exactly in the DC Fire & EMS Department has been abusing overtime? What exactly is that "history" you speak of? Where is the attribution for that statement? Was there some overtime scandal that you aren't telling us about that had firefighters putting in for overtime they didn't work? Was there a scheme to steer overtime to favored firefighters?
Maybe, Ms. Farmer, it isn't firefighters you are talking about. Was it former chiefs who abused the overtime? For themselves? For firefighters? Is Chief Ellerbe abusing overtime when, as he testified, part of that $1 million overrun was to make sure the department was able to handle the earthquake and hurricane that occurred back-to-back?
Could it instead be that the abuse isn't even within the department? Could it be that the City Council or the mayor didn't properly budget enough overtime to meet staffing requirements? Could it be that because the city leaders haven't filled positions overtime is required to keep the fire trucks and ambulances safely staffed?
Not being a reporter on this beat for about 15 months and not following the department in detail the way I used to, I can honestly say I don't know the answer to any of those questions. If you do Ms. Farmer, don't you think you should share it with your readers?
Being over budget on overtime, even on a regular basis, doesn't always mean something sinister is going on. In other words, use doesn't equal abuse. Once a phrase like "overtime abuse" is in the public record, it is often repeated as fact with little in the way to support it. My point Ms. Farmer, is that when you make a charged statement like that you should back it up with some facts for your readers.
For all I know, I may be the only one who is riled by those nine words. I am sure there are a lot of DC firefighters who are much more interested in the other part of Liz Farmer's article. I am referring to Chief Ellerbe's efforts to drastically change the work schedule of firefighters. Here's what Liz Farmer reported on that issue:
Meanwhile Ellerbe outlined his proposal to switch to 12-hour shifts from 24-hour shifts. The proposal essentially would have firefighters working shorter shifts, but more often, reducing the need for overtime shifts.
The department would have to renegotiate the collective bargaining agreement with the union to implement any schedule and pay changes. (Local 36 president Ed) Smith said the two sides plan on discussing the proposal and there is no deadline for reaching a new agreement.
Without the changes it would be impossible to slash overtime down to the council's $2.9 million allotment for this fiscal year without cutting service, Ellerbe said.
For more on the DC Fire & EMS Department's overtime use click here to watch Wednesday's hearing.
Video from Ed Malik of a fire around 10:00 last night at 2300 Adams in Gary, Indiana. Here's an excerpt from the description with the clip:
Crews quickly established water supplies and started an exterior attack using a deck gun, one stick on Truck 4 (Truck 7) and a couple of handlines. The response was kept at a still response with 2 engines, a truck, and Squad 2.
Previous coverage of this story here & here
In May we told you about an ugly incident that occurred during a wetdown on October 9 last year at the Sea Bright Fire Department in New Jersey (video above is of the wetdown but not the fight). One firefighter accused two other firefighters, who are brothers and officers in the department, of assault. Peter Lang IV, age 33, and Steven Lang, 25, also accused 28-year-old Justin Hughes of attacking them. The Lang brothers, who had been scheduled to be promoted (Peter to assistant chief and Steven to second lieutenant), also accused Hughes of assault. The pending trial delayed those promotions and threatened to keep the Langs from ever being officers in the department.
On Wednesday the trio heard their fate from Judge James Berube. He found all three guilty of assault and fined them $500 and ordered them to perform 100 hours of community service, which could be accomplished by their work as volunteer firefighters. The judge also arranged it so the brothers are not barred from promotion.
In addition, the judge believes that Hughes was the instigator of the second and more serious of two fights by saying that Steven Lang, who had served as a Marine in Iraq, should have been killed there. According to RedBankGreen.com, which has been following this story, the judge said, “Your words were so serious, so sensitive… they are so inflammatory that they constituted provocation.”
Here's more from reporter John T. Ward:
Berube’s ruling came after municipal Prosecutor Mike Halfacre, who also serves as Fair Haven mayor, backed away from a demand that the Langs be barred for life from serving as officers.
Though he said the pair had “disgraced and discredited” the Sea Bright Fire Department, and though they appeared to have rallied a “good-old-boy network” of support that included what he termed “suspect” letters of support, Halfacre said he would not press for forefeiture because state Department of Health and Human Services rules would have mandated the Langs lose their EMT licenses as well.
“That’s where I took pause,” he told Berube.
Three firefighters, including a fire lieutenant, were taken to an area hospital Thursday after they were injured during a rescue mission in East Rock Park, police and fire officials said.
The female hiker became trapped on a ledge on the face of the mountain around 3:30 p.m. Firefighters who had made visual contact with the woman said she appeared to be uninjured.
Lt. Jay Schwartz was seriously injured; he lost his footing and fell, according to (New Haven Fire Department) Chief (Michael) Grant. He is believed to have suffered a compound fracture to his leg. A falling rock struck a second firefighter. Both were transported to the hospital for treatment.
So was a third firefighter who had been suspended from a rope for some three-quarters of an hour. He was being sent to be examined, as a precaution.
From Chief Jonathan Riffe, Huntingtown VFD:
Wednesday October 5, 2011 at 0931 hours, Engine 62 and Tanker 6 were alerted to 235 Leonard Court for the house fire (directly behind St Leonard VFD). Units from the St Leonard VFD arrived on location with heavy fire showing from a split-foyer residence advising the correct address would be on Maryland Avenue. A Working Fire Dispatch was sounded bringing a 3rd crew from quarters aboard Squad 6.
Engine 62 arrived on location, laid 1,000 feet of 3" from a hydrant and advanced an attack line to the rear of the residence to assist with extinguishing the fire. During the process, Firefighter Michael Montgomery Jr of the Huntingtown VFD partially fell through the floor causing 2nd and 3rd degree burns to his right leg. He was air-lifted to Med Star and is currently admitted to the Burn Unit. The Chief of the Department, Assistant Chief of the Department and a handful of other members are bedside with Michael Montgomery Jr along with the DCFD Burn Foundation.
It is anticipated that in the next few days, Montgomery will undergo surgery and possible skin grafts. The leadership and membership of the Huntingtown VFD ask that you keep the Montgomery family in your thoughts and prayers.
This is Ed Malik video shot on Sunday in the 2600 block of Harrison in Gary, Indiana.
Well, how else would a new fire truck get to Michigan's Mackinac Island? Glenn Usdin's FireTruckBlog.com has the story of yesterday's arrival.
Many of you have seen Better Angels: The Firefighters of 9/11 at places like Firehouse Expo (above). On Thursday, the exhibit begins six days on display at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. If you would like to see it again, or have friends who didn't get the chance, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation has a special viewing for the fire service on Sunday, October 9 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
If you want to attend on Sunday you must contact Beverly Donlon at 301-447-1603 or email her at bdonlon@firehero.org.
Below is the official invitation.
THE NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION CORDIALLY INVITES ALL MEMBERS OF DC AREA FIRE DEPARTMENTS FOR A PRIVATE VIEWING OF
BETTER ANGELS: THE FIREFIGHTERS OF 9/11
RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2011
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Emmitsburg, Maryland – (October 4, 2011) In grateful appreciation to all members of Washington Metropolitan area fire departments, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation has arranged a private viewing of the exhibit Better Angels: The Firefighters of 9/11 on Sunday, October 9 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC. Any interested fire department members and their families are welcome to attend. Anyone interested in attending must contact Beverly Donlon at 301-447-1603 or bdonlon@firehero.org by 9:00 am Friday.
The inspirational exhibit honors the 343 FDNY firefighters who died on September 11, 2001. In recognition of National Fire Prevention Week, it will be on public display for the first time at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC, October 6 – 11. Better Angels: The Firefighters of 9/11 features individual monochromatic oil portraits of the fallen firefighters on 6” x 4” charred blocks of wood installed on a wall nearly 21 feet long. The exhibit is sponsored by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and Colorado artist, Dawn Siebel.
Siebel, formerly from New York City, began creating Better Angels in 2005 as a tribute to those 343 firefighters. Her goal was to display it in a public venue as an expression of appreciation to all members of the fire service. In 2009, Siebel and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation forged a partnership to bring the exhibit to a broader audience of firefighters and the public.
With support from the Department of Justice, the exhibit has expanded to include information about the department’s Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program (PSOBs) for survivors of firefighters who died in the line of duty. In addition to the remembrance of the firefighters from 9/11, the 30th anniversary of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial is being recognized with the display of names of all firefighters who have died in the line of duty from 1980 to 2009
Congressman Peter T. King (R-NY), chairman of the Homeland Security Committee was instrumental in helping the Foundation and Ms. Siebel bring Better Angels to Washington for this public display. Public exhibit hours are Thursday, October 6 from 11 am – 7 pm; Friday October 7 from 8 am – 7 pm; Saturday, October 8 from 10 am – 1 pm; Monday, October 10 from 8 am – 7 pm; and Tuesday, October 11 from 8 am – 1 pm. For more information about Better Angels: The Firefighters of 9/11, visit www.firehero.org or www.betterangels911.com..
A week after city leaders voted to cut fire department staffing by 40 percent, losing 105 firefighters by March, an apparent "brainstorming" session spun out of control in Hialeah, Florida. That session, according to Hialeah's fire chief, had the department's command staff looking for more ways to save money. One of those ideas was to remove paramedics and their equipment from city fire engines.
Somehow, something as vital as this, accidentally went from an idea to reality very quickly and equipment was removed yesterday. The details of how that happened aren't clear, but the reaction was swift. It not only caught the attention of the press, but brought an email from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief William Bryson warning nearby cities that Hialeah may be violating an agreement about not cutting services to the point where mutual aid is required on a daily basis.
In addition when the union president, Marco Pico, told reporters that tools were being taken away that could save someone's life, Mayor Carlos Hernandez called it a "scare tactic". So, if the union hadn't blown the whistle, how many believe the "misunderstanding" over the medic gear would have been corrected so quickly? Shouldn't the mayor and the chief be very concerned about a command staff that doesn't know the difference between a brainstorming session and an order?
The mayor and city council have already denounced the union for not making concessions to avoid the layoffs.
As Firegeezer pointed out last week, Mayor Hernandez promised that despite such a drastic reduction in staffing, services to the citizens wouldn't change (look at the article below if you don't believe the Geezer or me that he said that).
Here are some details about yesterday's debacle from The Miami Herald:
The Hialeah fire department stripped life-saving paramedic equipment — including intubation kits to help patients breathe and defibrillation pads to revive children — from its fire trucks Tuesday, only to undo the changes after what the city called a misunderstanding.
The move happened after fire department brass discussed the possibility of doing away with the equipment in the future to save money. That “brainstorming,” said Fire Chief Marcos De La Rosa, was incorrectly interpreted as an order to remove the equipment.
“As soon as I got word, I reversed the course and had those trucks stocked,” he said.
Above are last week's words of wisdom from Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez.
Read The Herald-Mail articles on fire service funding in Washington County, MD
As the funding for fire departments and everything else continues to decrease around the country we have seen an increase in the number of news stories asking very tough questions about how the money that is available is being spent. The call for financial accountability has taken a toll on the reputation of a large number of fire departments around the country. It has become an important factor behind the image problem the fire service is experiencing.
The issue is usually pushed by the public and political leaders or generated by a news organization's investigation (or a combination). While sometimes these citizens, politicians and reporters solidly hit the mark and uncover a real problem, there have been other cases where the data is flawed or someone's agenda took precedent over the facts.
A series of articles this week in The Herald-Mail of Hagerstown, Maryland looks closely at how money is distributed and spent by the Washington County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association and the individual volunteer fire companies. The fire companies are funded by the county budget, municipal budgets, state funding, federal grants, the association and private gaming (click here for the article on funding sources).
The headline on the main article is Where is the accountability?. It documents how financial reports the fire companies provide each year to the Washington County Division of Emergency Services, as a requirement for receiving money, are rarely examined. Director Kevin Lewis says the staff isn't available to scrutinize the reports either before or after the money is distributed. The other big issue in the articles is how the association distributes its portion of gaming money and how much it keeps.
The issue of financial accountability is currently being used elsewhere in Maryland as one of the reasons behind efforts to change the makeup of volunteer controlled fire commissions in Prince George's County and Montgomery County.
This is far from a volunteer issue. Locally, we had the story of questions being asked about the expense of take home cars for the command staff at the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department in Virginia. Across the country, the combination of pensions and salaries for career firefighters has people outraged over what they see as excess compensation at a time when revenue continues to shrink.
My purpose in bringing all of this up is not to pass judgment on the facts in any of these examples but to ask are you as a fire chief, union president, volunteer president or association head ready to effectively deal with such scrutiny of your department, your firefighters and your finances?
I am far from expert in financial matters (I can barely balance the checkbook, even with Quicken), but I think I know a few things about dealing with your image and reputation based on my experience as a reporter and following the clear pattern of these stories across the country for the last three years or so.
Here are some tips (far from comprehensive and in no particular order).
Get your house in order. Deal with problems that will likely cause distraction from the real issue and give your enemies ammunition. For example, sick leave abuse allegations that could crop up at a time you are dealing with pension issues, or videos showing up on YouTube that cause reputation problems while you're trying to hold on to funding or authority.
Be proactive. Don't wait until you are under attack. Anticipate what the issues will be and start dealing with them now. If needed, do your own audit or investigation. Find out what the financial problems are and deal with them before someone else does it for you.
Don't defend the indefensible. No one wants to hear "that's the way we've always done it", or "it's tradition", as an argument when the financial picture is bleak. Cut your losses, move beyond the things you can't win and focus your political capital where it can be effective.
Have good solid arguments and justification for your positions. Focus on public safety and firefighter safety.
Don't just reach out to the public and the press for help when the going gets tough. You should have a communications strategy that helps you build reputation equity in your community each and every day. The public needs to know who you are, what you stand for and how you are relevant in their lives if they are going to come to your defense when you are under attack. The reporters also need to know who you are and that you're an honest and credible broker of information.
Be passionate about what you believe in but lose some of the emotion. Make a strong, believable case, but be very careful about using threats and attacks. They can and will backfire. In most cases it isn't going to work anymore to say stuff it, we're firefighters, then make a personal attack on the opposition and hold your breath until you turn blue.
I am sure there are many more tips and ideas for weathering these storms. Certainly there is enough experience out there in recent years from those who have dealt first hand with these problems. Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section.
Watch interview with Capt. D'Amico
Above and below are cell phone videos of a 1970 Ford Thunderbird in what appears to be eternal reverse on Hand Avenue in Wildwood, New Jersey on Sunday. Apparently when switching drivers the two people in the car got out not realizing it was in reverse and not park. The solution to this problem came in the form of Wildwood Fire Department Captain Christopher D'Amico.
Captain Christopher D'Amico, "you had to do something, the guy's car was getting destroyed."
So, after brainstorming, Captain D'Amico decided the best plan of action was for him, to try and get in and stop the 1970 Ford Thunderbird that was spinning out of control. "I got into the inside circle of the car, which was a lot slower and shorter," he explained, "and the passenger side window was down, I just hoofed myself into the car, shut it off and put it in park. It came to a stop."
This morning in Franklin, Ohio (South of Dayton near I-75) a commercial "downtown" fire resulted in a smoke explosion – as well as multiple alarms. The run came in around 0730 and additional alarms were struck.
Franklin Firefighters and their mutual aid departments experienced a CLOSE CALL when there was a smoke explosion as companies were operating. Members operating in the area of the front door were not injured.
Franklin Fire Chief Jonathan Westendorf said when crews arrived on scene, fire had engulfed all aspects and sides of the building. When units tried to make entry into the building, an explosion occurred, he said.
“There are no injuries and we intend to keep it that way,” Westendorf said.
WFAA-TV image from chopper video.
Before & after shots of fire truck at FIreTruckBlog.com
From the AP:
A raging fire at a chemical plant south of Dallas is sending black smoke billowing into the sky and prompting area schools to evacuate students.
Bright orange flames and massive plumes of smoke can be seen Monday at a Magnablend Chemical Plant facility in Waxahachie (wahks-uh-HA'-chee), about 30 miles south of Dallas. Area residents are being told to stay inside with doors and windows shut.
Waxahachie Police Lt. Joe Wiser tells the Fort Worth Star-Telegram no injuries have been reported since the fire was reported at 10:40 a.m.
Images from WFAA-TV show the fast-moving fire engulfing a fire truck at the scene as firefighters nearby battle the blaze.
Magnablend's website says it's a chemical manufacturing company that makes custom chemicals for industries ranging from oil fields to industrial cleaning.
Pre-arrival video at U.K. commercial fire: This is from a fire yesterday in Kidderminster that destroyed a furniture store and another firm. Read more.
Firefighter fired over prank tells his story: Christopher Hughes makes his case that the prank seen around the world was thought up by his captain. Watch the raw video from his interview.
Hero driver in fiery crash at race: Take a moment to check out this video and watch who comes to the rescue at Oklahoma Sports Park on Saturday.
Saying goodbye: Our friend Glenn Usdin at FireTruckBlog.com and the firefighters at the Lancaster Township Fire Department are dealing with the loss of Lt. Keith Rankin who collapsed at a training exercise on September 25. Our condolences to all. The funeral was on Thursday and FireTruckBlog.com has video and details on the life of Lt. Rankin.
Fire videos coast-to-coast: Watch a row-house fire in Washington, DC and a duplex with fire throughout in San Diego.
Still no ambulances for Detroit: Firegeezer is on the Detroit beat and looks at how no new ambulances have been ordered despite a pledge from the new fire commissioner to get 22 of them by January. It seems no one above the commissioner is pushing it forward and the banks aren't all lining up to lend the city money. Check out Bill's coverage.
FDNY's first transgender firefighter: Making news in New York is Brooke a third-generation female firefighter (Brooke's father is still on the job) now assigned to Metrotech headquarters. Brooke's previous assignment was as a male at Ladder 172/Engine 330 in Bensonhurst. The New York Post has the story.
Firefighter arson in Louisiana: Three former volunteers have been charged in 11 fires going back to February, 2010 in Livingston and Holden. Watch the story.
Tulsa chief keeps job but gets reprimand: Chief Allen LaCroix returned to work Friday after an investigation was concluded that brought the resignation of Terry Simonson, the chief of staff for Mayor Dewey Bartlett. Simonson's son received special treatment as he sought to become a Tulsa firefighter. Mayor Bartlett said the external committee looking into the situation called the whole episode "a mistake". While Mayor Bartlett announced the committee has declined to put its findings in writing, he believes this brings "closure to the situation" and "Tulsa can and will move forward". Here's the latest.
Argument over paint brush cited in Baltimore tire shop fire: An employee has been arrested in connection with last week's three-alarm fire at a tire shop near Belvedere and Reisterstown in Northwest Baltimore. Click here.
There can only be one number one: T-shirts are on the line in a wager between the Philadelphia Fire Department's Engine 1 and the St. Louis Fire Department's Engine 1 as the Phillies and Cardinals battle it out. Here's the story.
Frying catfish takes out concession stand: Early video of a fire last Tuesday at the Ike Hamilton Expo Center in Monroe, Louisiana. Read the details.
This is quite a dramatic piece of video from OSPVideos.com (the official race videographers for Oklahoma Sports Park) that occurred Saturday. In the end all drivers walked away. Make sure you listen to the announcer. Here's part of the description with the clip:
A fiery crash involving Terry Muskrat, Brian Wolfe and Steve Little during the 50-lap main feature of the 2nd Annual Stock Car Nationals at Oklahoma Sports Park (www.oklahomasportspark.com). The driver that comes to the rescue is Kip Hughes (last years winner of the event).
Above is video that shows what this duplex looked like as San Diego firefighters arrived on the scene Friday around 1:30 PM. The two-alarm fire was in the 2900 block of Bayside Lane in Mission Beach. The video below is some close-up work by a neighbor in the building next door. Click here to watch a news report about the fire.
A resident of one of the units in the three-story building just south of Belmont Park smelled smoke, opened his front door and was confronted with thick smoke, SDFRD spokesman Maurice Luque said. The man was able to escape unharmed by jumping out a second-floor window.
The intense flames caused a home just behind the duplex to begin smoldering, but crews were able to keep it from catching fire, according to Luque.
Take a trip Down Under to see some vintage rigs with Glenn Usdin's FireTruckBlog.com.
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Was that the STATter911.com comments section on Saturday Night Live?
16 commentsWhile we did make Good Morning America last week with the Maryland ambulance explosion, I figured Saturday Night Live was a stretch. But regular reader Rych Pullen immediately thought of the STATter911.com comment's section when he saw this skit from last weekend's show. I can't blame him. Like most every other Internet forum we have a few characters who are quite similar to the lovely trio in the video. After a busy news day yesterday with the burning fire truck at the chemical plant fire in Texas, the smoke explosion caught on video in Franklin, Ohio and the fire captain who captured the runaway car in Wildwood, New Jersey, I thought we could use some comic relief.
(And I fully expect that someone is going to respond to this posting with the one word comment, "Boooobz".)