Welcome to the STATty Awards

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IronFiremen.com's year in review

FireCritic.com's year in review

Curt Varone's FireLawBlog.com year in review

Legeros Fire Blog year in review (lots of pictures)

I had much more grand plans in store for the first annual STATty Awards, but I became sidetracked earlier this week (more on that in an upcoming post). I would like to tell you this is an exhaustive review of all the videos we have posted this year and that it was presented to an esteemed panel of judges for review, but that would be a lie. To be honest, these are ones that I recall with the help of a quick scan of the blog and the website stats for the year. I am sure there are a few really good ones the STATys overlooked. But your job is, as always, to keep me honest. Please write in about the ones I have failed to honor.

As usual, we are showing you the good, the bad and the ugly. The things that will make you laugh, cry and sometimes even scream and throw things at your computer. 

Please note that I purposely stayed away from a category that is among the most important to us all, line-of-duty-deaths. I don't want to indicate in any way that one firefighter's death is more significant than another's. Because it is only me administering this website, I am unable to cover each death (something I have never been pleased about). But please, as the year ends, take a moment to remember all those we have lost.

Thank you for the amazing support you provide STATter911.com. One of the most satisfying comments I regularly receive is from company officers who tell me they use the videos on this site (again, the good, bad and ugly ones) almost daily in training for their firefighters. Believe it or not, I keep that in mind with each one I post.

We have had a nice jump in readership this year with a real spike over the last two months that so far is holding. It gives us the indication we have a lot of new readers. Again, I thank you. 

From Mrs. STATter911.com, STATter911.com Jr and Mr. STATter911.com, a very happy, safe and healthy new year.

Best story of the year: One house fire, two victims, two firefighters.

There is a legendary story about the Texas Rangers being so tough that for one riot, all you really need is one Texas Ranger. Well in Mogadore, Ohio this dramatic video showed if you have two fire victims in one burning house you only need two Mogadore firefighters. We know that isn't ideal and how any of us would want it, but that's what Ben Stasik and Nick Sansom were faced with on September 23. The pair did Chief Don Adams and the fire service proud in how they handled it.

When I stumbled across it on YouTube, I was quite amazed that something like this was caught on video and had to watch it twice to figure out everything I was seeing. My initial post was based on just my observations, but would you believe (sorry Chief) I heard from Chief Adams who filled in the names and provided STATter911.com with the fireground audio. Our stories, four days after the fire occurred, brought in some local media attention that then went national. The two posts are here and here.

Most viewed story and a runner up for the best story: A newsman with compassion.

If this video is not showing, click here to view

In May, WKTV-TV photojournalist Tim Fisher put together a six-minute TV report about his experience covering a fire that killed a mother and three young children in Utica, New York. Tim told us of a couple of things that sometimes happen at these tragic incidents. This included Tim being attacked by someone close to the family for shooting pictures. But Tim focused on the efforts of firefighters who were criticized by some for not doing enough. I urged everyone when I posted this story to take the time to watch it. If you still haven't seen it, here is another chance. Thank you Tim for what you showed us. Read the post and the comments about the story. 

Most controversial story: ESU and FDNY pulling car off of man.

The two posts on this story brought in more than 150 comments. It showed a motorcyclist trapped under a car in Brooklyn on September 1 and the efforts of FDNY, soon joined by NYPD's ESU, to extricate the man. Things didn't work out too well as the ESU officer attempted to raise the rear of the car with spreaders. The first story is here. The second story had video that was much clearer, but that clip has now been pulled from YouTube.

Most chilling moment on video (by far): The rescue of Firefighter Robert Wiedmann, FDNY's Rescue 2.

What can you say about this one that hasn't been said already? Our thoughts and prayers for FDNY's Firefighter Robert Wiedmann during his recovery. The original stories are here and here.

Another heart stopping moment: Pennsylvania firefighter almost goes through the roof.

This was a June fire in Washington Township (Lehigh County). Check out the 2:00 mark and you will see this fire could have turned out quite differently. Here's the original post.

Most viewed video on STATter911.com's YouTube Channel: Ambulance blowed up real good.

Bladensburg, Maryland Chief Randy Kuenzli was kind enough to share his September video of an ambulance getting its roof raised in Mt. Rainier. Click here for the full story. 

The runaway winner in this category: Very lucky firefighters as burning truck takes off.

A close call in Anthem, Arizona in November just happened to be caught on video. Luckily no one was injured.

The firefighters never give up award goes to: A Detroit firefighter's efforts to make the roof caught from above.

In August a news chopper captured video of a Detroit firefighter's difficult time trying to make it topside on a burning home with a steep peak. Here's the original story.

The award for the poorest excuse for poor performance goes to: Washington, DC 911 director who blamed 14 minute delay on a computer glitch.

We should all have 911 callers who were as calm and responsive as Ellie Cossa trying to report what turned out to be a fatal crash on a major DC roadway during a January 26th storm. But as nice as the woman answering the call was, for 14 minutes she just couldn't figure out Cossa's location that could have easily been discovered by looking at a map or calling just about any fire station in the city (or even having your own knowledge of major roadways in your jurisdiction). The problem was, even though Ms. Cossa was reading a road sign right in front of her describing the next exit just a few feet away, the road on that sign and the major road where the crash occurred don't physically intersect and hence the intersection wasn't in the computer. The editor of STATter911.com, who was a fire dispatcher in the stone tablet days, cried foul when the 911 director tried to tell WTOP/WJLA reporter Mark Segraves the call taker did a good job and that this was just a glitch in the computer system that needs fixing. Sorry folks, this is a training issue where your employees have to know how to function when the computer doesn't. Check out my complete rant. (Okay, I admit this one is more audio than video, but it's my blog and my awards.)

The camera never blinks award goes to: Florida firefighters pay the price but teach us all a lesson.

This was one of the more popular videos of the year. An Orange County, Florida firefighter and lieutenant on Rescue Engine 58 must have forgotten that their every move is being watched when they confronted a driver in a car who wouldn't get out of the way. Their actions turned out to be career changers. Read the story.

A personal favorite: The Kenneth M. Cox Building.

It was an honor to be there on Memorial Day Weekend as IAFF Local 36's offices were officially named the Kenneth M. Cox Building. Kenny was the long time VP of the Washington, DC local and is still active in the union despite health issues. Kenny has long been one my favorite people in the fire service and a disciple of our mutual friend, the late Hal Bruno. When I posted the story I also included film and documents about a 1971 legendary rescue that Kenny and DCFD Truck 8 were involved in that I had been saving for just the right moment. Click here to see it all.

Another personal favorite: Chicago Fire Department – Everyone Goes Home.

The comments that have come into NFFF over this thought provoking film produced and directed by my friend Rob Maloney have been wonderful. These lessons learned the hard way by Chicago firefighters are something everyone should see. Read more here.

The beating a dead horse award goes to: Dave Statter.

The nerve of this self-proclaimed champion of the First Amendment (and all-around pompous ass) brings back a year old video to support his usual rant about dealing with people with cameras. But there is another motive for adding this December post. In it are a bunch of videos, some of the them really compelling, showing firefighters making rescues during 2011. Click here to see them.

The self inflicted wound award for the video that should have never happened: Macon-Bibb County Station 19 firehouse prank video.

The fallout from this ill-conceived idea and video from September is still occurring and I am somewhat tired of writing about it. Please don't let this happen to you. If you want to read more we have posts here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Worst performance by an actor in a continuing series: Dave Statter.

Yes, we know Rhett Fleitz, AKA Fireboy from Roanoke is his son. But do we believe for a moment the tears were real and he cares at all about the boy? I didn't think so. This performance is as bad as the one Rhett does trying to imitate a firefighter. No one has yet to believe a 4'6" teenager is driving fire trucks in Roanoke (see below).

Best performance by an actor in a continuing series (runner-up): Capn' Willie Wines.

Sincere, believable, good looking and great mustache. He has it all. Plus he told the truth back in August about Fireboy (or at least part of the truth). This was the most popular episode of the Fireboy in Roanoke series and you can see why when you have top notch performer like Willie. IronFiremen.com has many more episodes (but not the complete boxed set) posted.

Best performance by an actor in a continuing series (champion): Preston Fleitz.

Smart, cute kid, social media maven, wise beyond his years and future star. More of the truth finally comes out. As Dave told you long ago, FireCritic.com was written by a child. Is anyone who has read the site surprised? Only problem with this performance is that the Virginia Labor Commission had to pay a visit to the set because of some child labor law violations. Read more at FireCritter.com.

In conclusion.

That's it. The first annual STATtys. The STATty's motto: We hope to do better next year, but I am sure we will find some excuse if we don't.

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