A tragic situation around midnight in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Three civilians were killed and two firefighters were injured when an ambulance and another vehicle collided. It happened in the 5600 block of Marlboro Pike in District Heights.
PGFD Chief Spokesman Mark Brady says the two firefighters were sent to the trauma center due to the mechanism of their injuries.
Here’s the official release from Brady at 2:20 AM-
Just after midnight, Thursday, a Prince Georges County ambulance and a civilian vehicle were involved in a crash in the 5600 block of Marlboro Pike in District Heights. The crash resulted in 3 civilian fatalities and two Firefighter/Medics being transported to a Trauma Center.
Photo by PGFD's Mark Brady
Ambulance 826 had just departed the Fire/EMS Station and was traveling west on Marlboro Pike en route to a overdose call on Tanow Place. Initial reports indicate that a GMC Suburban SUV was travelling east-bound in the west-bound lanes at a high rate of speed. The ambulance, with emergency lights on and siren sounding, had to swerve to avoid a head-up collision. The SUV side-swiped the ambulance and then hit a brick wall and utlity pole before coming to rest on it’s roof about 120 feet from where it first struck the ambulance.
The three occupants of the SUV, adult males, were pronounced deceased on the scene. Two Firefighter/Medics were transported to a Trauma Center for evaluation but did not appear to have suffered any injuries.
The ambulance sustained major damage from the crash in which the entire right side of the patient compartment was torn off.
The Prince George’s County Police Department Accident Reconstruction Team are conducting the investigation.
Billy Goldfeder at Firefighter Close Calls adds that the Suburban appeared to be traveling at around 100 MPH.
A D.C. fire official says a city fire truck (Engine 22, using a reserve engine) and a Metro bus have collided in northwest Washington and 22 people have been taken to hospitals.
D.C. fire and EMS department spokesman Pete Piringer says the crash occurred at 13th and Madison streets on Wednesday morning. He says none of the people taken to hospitals are believed to have serious injuries.
Piringer says 18 people and four firefighters are being treated. He says the fire truck was responding to a pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle when the crash occurred. Piringer says the fire truck had its lights and sirens on at the time.
Metro and D.C. police have blocked off the area while they investigate.
A crash on Friday destroyed a tanker from Indiana’s Ashley Fire Department. Two people on board received minor injuries. A police investigation questions the department’s training of drivers. The chief, in the interview above, says it was a mistake by the driver and shows a TV reporter how the incident occurred.
Can my crew and I play through?: No details on where, but the fire department clearly showed up with more than a foursome when this golf cart caught fire. Pre-arrival video of this heartbreaking scene is here and here.
Fire department moves live power line at house fire: An interesting video from Buffalo during a house fire with rescue and water supply issues. The cameras rolled as a firefighter attempted to take care of the downed power line in front of the house. Watch the video.
9 firefighters reported hurt in Irvington, NJ: They were battling a three-alarm fire in a vacant house last night. Read the story.
Arrangements in Bridgeport: There have been some changes in the original plans for the funerals of Lt. Steven Velasquez and Firefighter Michael Baik. Firefighter Close Calls has the update.
“Six-Million Dollar Mini Taj Mahal”: That’s how one political leader describes Cape Coral, Florida’s newest fire station. There’s much debate over the city’s priorities in fire department spending. Here’s the story.
Late firefighter’s transgender spouse regrets appearance on Jerry Springer show: If you are trying to keep up with the sad saga from Wharton, Texas and the dispute over the sex of a firefighter’s widow, click here for the latest.
Firefighter saves same cat twice: Coweta County, Georgia firefighter Jim Cadenhead thought his efforts to rescue a flea-ridden cat from a 40-foot well would have been wasted if the cat was then euthanized. Cadenhead stepped up to the plate a second time and adopted the cat from the animal shelter just in time. Here’s more.
Walkout of fire departments avoided in West Virginia: It seems West Virginia officials have settled some of the insurance coverage issues to keep fire departments from shutting down. Click here for the latest.
Newark firefighter falls out of rig: A left turn while responding left one New Jersey firefighter with lacerations and neck injuries after he fell out of the truck and into the street. Here’s more.
Recruit accused in abductions: In Raleigh, North Carolina a recruit is being terminated after his arrest in two different cases where women were abducted. Read the story.
City to appeal judge’s decision adding name to 9-11 Memorial: A judge believes the name of retired FDNY Captain James Corrigan should be placed alongside the names of former colleagues in the fire department section of the National 9/11 Memorial. Corrigan died while working as a Fire and Life Safety Coordinator for the World Trade Center when he was killed. Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the city will appeal that decision. Here’s the latest.
Rocky Mount (VA) Chief Posey Dillon, who is also the town’s vice-mayor, and Firefighter Willam D.Altice, known as Danny, were killed this afternoon when their fire engine overturned on the way to a reported structure fire. Dillon, who had been chief for two decades, was pronounced dead at the hospital. Police say he was driving the rig. Altice was dead at the scene. Here are excerpts from news coverage.
The fire engine, with its emergency lights and siren on, was heading to a report of a person trapped in a house fire in the Franklin County community of Union Hall, with just Dillon and Altice aboard. With Dillon at the wheel, the engine, eastbound on Old Franklin Turnpike, swerved when a silver Ford Escape drove into the street from School Board Road, said Sgt. Rob Carpentieri, a state police spokesman.
The truck, loaded with 1,000 gallons of water, was struck on the driver’s side by the SUV, flipped from the shifting weight of the water and landed on a Ford Mustang convertible on its third roll, said state police Sgt. Michael Bailey. The Mustang driver, Carolyn Puckett, 47, of Bassett didn’t appear hurt, police said.
“The fire truck driver overcorrected and it appears the weight of the load shifted,” Carpentieri said.
Other fire companies subdued the blaze and found the person safely away from the fire, Bailey said.
Rocky Mount’s truck, a 1989 Pierce engine with a 1,000-gallon water tank, can be “top-heavy” in emergency maneuvers, Russell said. Its tank contains baffles to keep the sloshing water from throwing the fire engine off balance, he said.
Dillon was driving the fire truck, which was on its way to a house fire in the Penhook area of Franklin County. Altice was riding in the passenger seat. They were the only people in the truck. Neither Dillon nor Alitce was wearing a seat belt.
The driver of the SUV, Terry Valentine, was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital with injuries described as non life-treatening.
The driver of the Ford Mustang, Carolyn Puckett, was not hurt in the crash.
Dillon had served on town council for 24 years, including 10 years as vice mayor, and was re-elected vice mayor by council earlier this month. He had been fire chief for 20 years.
Altice joined the fire department in 1963 and served as chief from 1977 to 1984. He was presented a lifetime achievement award by town council in 2008.
Raw video from two-alarm fire in Frederick, Maryland: This is from around 7:00 Wednesday evening on South Carroll Street. Click the image for the video. Firefighters were pulled from the building about 15-minutes after attempting an interior attack. Eventually the roof and a wall of this Civil War era building collapsed. You can read more about the fire at WUSA9.com.
Raw video from a tragic and controversial fire that occurred 16-years-ago: Someone uploaded to YouTube the amateur video shot in Edmonston, Maryland during a 1994 house fire that took the lives of a pregnant woman and two children. The Emerson Street fire is one of the most controversial in PGFD history after an order by the incident commander that firefighters were not to enter the burning home, despite bing told people were trapped. Dave has been debating with himself for a month over whether to rehash this painful episode, but where he wimped out others forged ahead. Click here for the video and details.
I think they made their point about the dangers of fireworks: In California, Jeff Granberry, the Redding Fire Department’s fire prevention specialist (and recent firefighter of the year), was demonstrating the dangers of fireworks for the news media (I am guessing you already know where this story is going). Granberry lit a roman candle that then malfunctioned. Despite wearing eye protection and protective clothing, Granberry suffered minor burns to an eye and his face. Read more.
UPDATE & correction to the Boise ladder crash: Boise Fire Department officials say they are looking at a “malfunctioning rear steering unit” that caused a ladder truck to swing wide and heavily damage a police department SUV and another vehicle on Tuesday. STATter911.com originally reported that this was a tiller truck. We were wrong. A source who asked not to be identified tells us, “It was a Pierce rear-mount platform with All Steer rear steering. The suspicion is that there was a glitch in the automated rear steering, but all of that is under investigation.”
Fire engine driver says he’s not guilty in cow stampede case: A not guilty plea from U.K. Firefighter Julian Lawford accused of starting a cow stampede with the siren on his fire truck. The cows crushed and killed a 75-year-old farmer. Here’s the latest.
Midland, PA firefighter charged in death of motorcyclist: Investigators say there was no emergency call when Jonathan Hogue “responded” with lights and sirens, speeding and passing cars last August. With a friend in the car, Hogue’s vehicle struck a motorcycle and two cars. The motorcyclist was killed. Firegeezer has the update.
Charges against one FDNY firefighter dropped in bar brawl: The prosecutor says Firefighter Michael Reilly was trying to be a peacemaker during the now infamous fight at a Brooklyn bar that included as many as 11 firefighters. At the same time Firefighter Ryan Warnock was indicted on two misdemeanor counts for the January melee at the Salty Dog in Bay Ridge. Here are details.
Baltimore firefighters take to the streets: Firefighters and cops showed up at a fundraiser in Mt. Vernon last night for Baltimore City Councilman Bill Cole. They carried signs claiming the City Council turned its back on them by reducing pension benefits. Here’s the story.
A day at the races: Make sure you sign up for the July 17th event at Gateway International Speedway in St. Louis supporting the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Click here for the details.
Citizen provides play-by-play of five-alarm fire in Brooklyn: Decent pictures from the fire in Bushwick at a kitchen cabinet warehouse that caught fire Thursday around 6:00 PM. The best part, as usual, is listening to the volunteer “reporter” provide the narration and do the interviews. More on the fire from the union news team at WCBS-TV. Aerial view here.
Garages burn in Omaha, Nebraska: Ten garages were damaged or destroyed by a fire early Sunday morning at the Benz Place Apartments. One firefighter suffered a minor burn. Read more.
Firefighter’s condition downgraded after hit & run: According to Firefighter Close Calls, the condition of Firefighter Pat Hines went from serious to critical after he was struck by a hit and run driver during a car fire in Tulare County, California. Hines was thrown 50-feet from the impact. A second firefighter was also hurt. Click here for more details.
Six children dead in New York house fire: All six, ranging in age from one to 12, died of smoke inhalation when their house burned early Saturday in Fort Edward, New York (Washington County). The fire started in a downstairs room. Here’s more.
Don’t forget the NFFF widget: There are lots of websites now carrying the 2010 National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial Weekend widget. Each day it features a different firefighter being remembered in Emmitsburg this October. It is very simple to add the widget to your website or blog. Once that is done it’s automatically updated each day. Click here for the details and click here to see the list of those already posting the widget.
Collapse video We have two videos showing the collapse of the fire building during an eight-alarm fire in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Click here.
Police story 1: Firefighter Close Calls wonders why police don’t respond “routine” to fire calls. Billy Goldfeder is reacting to the weekend collision between a Philadelphia fire truck and a police car both responding to the same fire. A bicyclist was also injured. Click here for more.
Police story 2: Look at this video and explain why is there a need for not one, but two sheriff’s deputies to park their cars right behind the pumpers in front of the burning house. It doesn’t appear to have made a difference in this case, but it sure gets you wondering.
Police story 3: Not to be seen as police bashing, here’s a reminder that the cops have a tough job too. From the protests at the Toronto summit we get an up close and personal view of a police car being torched. I guess the home team doesn’t have to win a basketball game for people to act this stupid.
More on the firefighter who hid his four months in jail: The Salem News gives its views on the Haverhill, Massachusetts firefighter who had his shifts covered while he was in jail for four months. The paper has reported when the fire chief discovered what was going on Keith Thompson put in his retirement papers. The paper also says Thompson hasn’t has a valid driver’s license since 1992. Here’s the editorial.
Tire shop burns: The fire was right across the street from a firehouse in Ladd, Illinois. Check out the video.
Might be a good skill to have if budget cuts were to combine the fire & police departments: A St. Johns County firefighter is considered one of the best with a gun in Florida. Read about Firefighter/Marksmen Charlie Galambos.
Heading to the same fire in the Mantua neighborhood of West Philadelphia, a fire engine and police car collided, sending the cop’s vehicle into a bicycle. The collision occurred at 38th Street and Haverford Avenue. Here’s more from WPVI-TV:
Both the fire truck and the patrol car were en route to a fire in the 3900 block of Brown Street when both vehicles collided with one another.
A 45-year-old male officer from the 16th district and the 23-year-old male bicyclist were taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for minor injuries.
Authorities suspect the pickup occupants set the fire and were fleeing.
Firefighter Pat Hines was thrown 50 feet, breaking ribs and a leg. He also has internal injuries. He was taken to Community Regional Medical Center, where he was listed in serious but stable condition.
The other firefighter, Capt. Gary Gregory, had bruises and cuts, but was not seriously injured, officials said. He was treated at Tulare District Hospital and released.
Providence Fire Videos captured this attempt by Milford, Massachusetts Rescue 1 attempting to leave the station on a medical call. I guess these days you just have to wait your turn.
Interesting video from UK fire: Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service seemed to be making progress on Friday with a fire at a fish and chips shop amid some 16th century Tudor buildings in Dartmouth. Things soon got out of control and the BBC reports eight businesses and up to 15 flats were destroyed. Read more about the fire.
Nice pictures from Maryland apartment fire: HowardFire.net tipped us to a nice series of pictures by Jim Codespote from Monday’s early morning fire north of Laurel. Two people were rescued. Click here.
Click the image to read the story of two fire trucks colliding on the way to separate calls in Middletown, New York. The crash left at least three firefighters injured.
Stand down by IAFC: Two confined space rescues that went bad and injured firefighters have the IAFC urging a fire/EMS stand down. Read details at Firefighter Close Calls.
City officials made case that battalion chiefs aren’t needed: Following two hours of heated discussion the Fort Walton Beach, Florida City Council did not cut the fire department’s three battalion chief positions despite prompting to do so. According to Jeff Barker at the Daily News, “City staffers recommended cutting all three battalion chiefs, saying a driver/engineer could direct operations from the outside until a fire chief or deputy chief arrives on scene.” Read more.
Chief is the only one left: In Weston, West Virginia, in an effort to meet budget constraints, four of the five career firefighting positions have been eliminated. Check out the story.
Only two of seven firefighters showing up for work causes concern: In Endicott, New York the absence of five firefighters on one shift, leaving only two working, has people talking about what it all means. It comes at a time when the city got rid of 24-hour shifts popular with firefighters. Here’s the story.
Morganthau pulls out of FDNY discrimination case: Legendary former Manhattan district attorney Robert Morgenthau has decided not to oversee the city’s efforts to improve the FDNY’s hiring of black and Hispanic firefighters, citing the city’s “resentment” of him. Morgenthau’s appointment by a U.S. District Court judge upset the administration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Read the latest.
WW II bomb kills members of disposal team: In Goettingen, Germany three members of a bomb disposal unit were killed and others injured during efforts to handle a bomb that had been dropped by Allied aircraft. Read the article.
Explosion injures two at Cape Cod house fire: Firefighter Close Calls reports it was a possible smoke explosion in Sandwich, Massachusetts on Monday that left two firefighters with injuries. Captain Jim Huska of the Sandwich Fire Department goes further telling WCVB-TV, “A back draft occurred in the attic of the house that actually blew part of the roof off the house, and it blew two of our firefighters out of the house through the deck railing.” The closest of three Sandwich fire stations was closed due to budget cuts. Huska reports the two firefighters were inside the house alone and believes the delay in putting water on the fire was an important factor in the explosion. Huska says Firefighter Lee Burril has a badly fractured ankle and Firefighter Daniel Keane broke his neck and back. Click here for a series of pictures at CapeCodFD.com showing the extensive damage to the house caused by the violent explosion (check out all four pages). There was a rekindle of the house fire last night.
Train delays water rescue operation: WUSA9.com’s Kurt Brooks has the video and the story from Frederick County, Maryland as crews try to make their way to a kayaker struggling in the Potomac River Monday morning. A CSX train got between rescuers and the boat ramp on the other side of the tracks. Here’s the story.
DCFD.com has a series of photos by Elliot Goodman from yesterday's two-alarm fire at a tire business along the railroad tracks in the 1300 block of New York Avenue, NE. Click the image for more. Also, check the video player to the right for an interview with PIO Pete Piringer about the fire.
Oh the days dwindle down to a precious few: You have to be really old to get that musical reference (I don’t even think Firegeezer will get it). As I wrap up my final week in broadcasting (why doesn’t he just leave quietly?), the raid on the archive room continues. Among my favorites is one I posted yesterday from a 1987 snow in Prince George’s County. Nothing spectacular, but it includes a lot of old friends. Also, a 1985 house fire from Arlington. If you missed any of the old videos just click here to find them all on one page. There will be more added over the next few days.
Two fine Memorial Day stories: The first is a wonderful story about a New Haven deputy chief who watched a History Channel documentary on World War II and spotted a four second film clip of the father of one of his firefighters. Check it out.
The second is a Washington Post look at the Army’s Old Guard at Ft. Meyer in Virginia. The article features Sgt. Nicholas Pata who is also a volunteer firefighter in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Click here.
Thunderstorm prevents firefighter/paramedic/Army Reservist’s moment in the sun: Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Burleson, who is also a Waukegan firefighter/paramedic, was to have introduced President Obama yesterday at a Memorial Day ceremony in Illinois. Lightning prompted the President to urge everyone to head to their cars instead of listening to his speech. Here’s the story.
Fire chief to councilman – “I WILL NOT put the safety of my firefighters and officers, nor the citizens of Jersey City, in jeopardy for a few dollars. Secondly, you have no clue what you are talking about!”: Jersey City Chief Michael J. O’Reilly fires back at Councilman Steven Fulop who is critical of the management structure of the department after the promotion of five captains to battalion chiefs. Read the chief’s letter to the editor. Here’s the original story. Scroll down for yesterday’s four-alarm fire in Jersey City that left six firefighters injured.
Macon history: Firegeezer has the story of the anniversary of the deaths of three Macon, Georgia firefighters. They were killed when their new pumper wrecked 100 years ago. It is quite an interesting read.
911 nurse: USA Today looks at the program by Louisville Metro EMS where a nurse is dealing with some of the low priority calls and trying to better evaluate the EMS needs of the patient. Another effort to reduce the strain on the ambulance service and the hospital emergency department. Click here to read the details.
The fire experts take in the VW dealer fire: There is early video from a fire at what is said to be the oldest Volkswagen dealership in the United States. It is located in Beverly, Massachusetts. To me what is more interesting is the running commentary by the photographer and another bystander. Click here to watch and listen.
SConFire.com back up and running: Grant Mishoe reports the premiere South Carolina fire blog is again in service. Check it out.
Rescue in Rochester: Fireground audio and interviews after a Rochester, New York firefighter brings a mother and infant son to safety from their burning home. Here’s our coverage.
Baltimore’s Novack comes to court to meet two women: Last Thursday Baltimore City Firefighter Jeff Novack was in court where he saw the woman accused of setting the fire that forced Novack to bail out of a third floor window. Also at the courthouse was the elderly woman Firefighter Novack rescued from that fire. Here’s the story.
Jersey City fire leaves 6 firefighters injured: News reports indicate one of the six firefighters ran out of air and had to be helped from the two burning structures on Belmont Avenue during the four-alarm fire on Monday. One was a six-family building and the other was a two-family home. Read more.
Vacant furniture factory burns in Salamanca, New York: Firefighters in and around Cattaraugus County were busy last night dealing with fire in two large historic buildings that had been the home of Fancher Furniture and Philadelphia Furniture. Also destroyed was a laser engraving company that employed 61 people. The mayor of Salamanca declared a state of emergency after power and phone service were lost to part of the town and because of concerns about chemicals in the buildings. Read more about the fire. Watch another story here. Lots of pictures of the fire here.
UPDATE- Ferry crash this morning: Just before 9:30 AM the Staten Island Ferry crashed into the dock on the Staten Island side. There is an early report from WCBS-TV of 10 minor injuries. At 11:00 AM there are now reports of as many as 60 people injured. Some serious. CNN coverage. Click here fo WCBS-TVcoverage. YouTube video. NY1 coverage.
Listen to this woman’s rescue story: Hearing Leslie Bills recall her dramatic conversation with 911 in the Nashville area, I am wondering if the fire pre-arrival protocols just failed to take into account these somewhat unique circumstances. Bills’ home was surrounded by extremely high water at the same time the fire in her garage was starting to spread to the rest of the house. A man on a Jet Ski came to the rescue as Bills was making some important decisions. Here’s the story.
Raw video from fire on Maryland congressman’s property: We have lots of video from Thursday’s fire on the Frederick County property owned by Congressman Roscoe Bartlett. The fire destroyed parts of a barn and silo that had been turned into apartments. Click here for our coverage.
Update on Sparky, a firefighter’s fire setting dog: We heard yesterday from the wife of Alexandria Fire Department Firefighter Glenn Ross that Sparky and Brownie are now home. Sandy Ross says when they went to pick up the smoke eating dogs from Alexandria Animal Hospital someone had already paid the remaining $3000 of their bill. Sandy and Glenn want to thank everyone for their kindness after their home caught fire Tuesday. Glenn Ross heard the call being dispatched while working at Station 206. The fire was caught fairly early thanks to a five-year-old neighbor. Sparky is suspected of starting the fire by trying to go after a box of treats left on the stove top. Here’s our original story.
The battle is on in New York: A day after Mayor Bloomberg’s budget called for the closing of 20 engine companies unless the union agrees to a staffing reduction, the Uniformed Firefighters Association is calling the plan a threat to its members and public safety. Click here to read details.
Fire company members accused of stealing toilet paper and gasoline: Three members of the same family who have served New York’s Chestertown Fire Company for more than 50-years are accused of theft from the firehouse. But there is also a claim of a conflict if interest in having the Warren County Sheriff’s Department investigate these charges. Check it out.
Two new and one old drinking and responding incidents make the news: After we put together our stories of a New York firefighter who struck a cop responding to a fire and an Iowa fire chief accused of being drunk on an EMS call, comes word of another similar incident. This one is also from Iowa where a Janesville firefighter has now been charged with drunken driving after rolling a fire truck on March 27. Click here for the story from Firefighter Nation. Here’s our coverage of the other two stories.
Shot firefighter is fired: You may recall the December 12 story from Quincy, Massachusetts where Milton Firefighter Joseph Fasano was shot. As more was learned about the road rage incident things started looking bad for Fasano’s future with the fire department. Fasano has now been fired for insubordination and conduct unbecoming a firefighter. Check out the details.
Bringing the fire to the firefighters: The driver of a burning pick-up truck in McMinnville, Oregon, figured he was only a block or two away so why make the firefighters drive all the way to him when his vehicle caught fire. He drove the truck to the front ramp of the firehouse. Here’s the story.
Three-alarms in Baltimore: Early helicopter views of yesterday’s fire that spread through multiple row homes. Click here.
Also from Firegeezer: I could be wrong but I believe it was Jerry Seinfeld (could have been another comedian) who did a bit about how we as men always have it under control and think we can handle the problems. He used as an example tying down a mattress on top of our car and then holding it with our arm out the window to keep it from flying off as we ride down the highway. Bill Schumm has the sad story of a man who used his whole body to keep the mattress from flying away. The story does not have a happy or funny ending.
Where there’s smoke … : Too early to say if they will find any fire in Atlanta over allegations that there was cheating on a recent Atlanta Fire Department promotional exam. The two stories I have read so far only contain anonymous allegations that some people were given the answers ahead of time. If there is anything to back up the claims, it hasn’t been made public. City human resources officials say there is no formal complaint but that they have heard enough to launch an investigation. Here are the details.
Forget the games: That’s the advice of Stafford County, Virginia Chief Rob Brown when he addressed Fire-Rescue Med about the economic crisis. As chair of the IAFC task force looking at how chiefs can deal with the significant impact on their budgets, Chief Brown told the audience in Las Vegas that the worst thing they can do is issue ultimatums to their mayors and other political leaders. Jamie Thompson has the story at FireRescue1.com.
Baltimore chief is commencement speaker: I can assure you none of the schools I attended would ever want to see my return, but that is not the case with Chief Jim Clack. Baltimore’s chief is spending the day at the University of Minnesota, Crookston where he will give the commencement address. Chief Clack is a 1980 graduate. Read the story.
Barn burner: No details on this very early video of a barn fire in the U.K. with lots of popping sounds from inside. It is early enough that you even see the cattle getting down, getting low and getting out.
TIC used by FDNY in Times Square helped indicate something wasn’t right: We have interviews and raw video from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s visit to firefighters who were among the first responders in Times Square Saturday night. Also, the diagram of how the Nissan Pathfinder was rigged. Check it out.
While we are on the subject, Fire Engineering’s Bobby Halton gives us his views on this latest terrorist act and what it means for first responders. Click here.
Steve Roth at 911 Photography has a bunch of pictures from a two-alarm house fire in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania yesterday. Click the image for the rest of the photos and the details.
EMS credentials for sale: That’s the accusation in Lexington, Massachusetts where a firefighter is under investigation by the state over his side business of teaching EMS skills. Click here for the story.
Deputy chief resigns/retires over handling of MDA boot drive money: Just before a disciplinary hearing was to be held over $2300 in boot drive money, a Hamilton, Massachusetts deputy chief left the department. Here’s the story.
Steve Skipton and Ted Aurig from PhillyFireNews.com were on the scene of a 4-alarm apartment fire in Merhcantville, NJ (Camden County) yesterday afternoon. Click the image to see more of their photos.
And this is why some firefighters don’t like to do door-to-door fundraising: A District 6 volunteer firefighter in Hardin County, Tennessee was trying to raise money. Instead he raised the ire of a dog who bit the firefighter sending him to the emergency room. Read more.
Another, “What and give up show business?” moment courtesy of the Firegeezer: Bill Schumm, the favorite of firefighters from Germany, tells us about a daring rescue in a rain swollen creek at a fairground. Check it out.
Get the point: Ever just think you can’t deal with sitting and watching another PowerPoint demonstration. The Fire PIO feels your pain and has just the column and the video for you.
Firegeezer Bill Schumm reports that is Shelby County, Tennessee’s Engine 69 on its side after being flipped while responding to one of scores of flooding calls on Saturday. Check out Bill’s site for an earlier picture with the crew sitting on top of the pumper waiting for help to arrive.
The video above shows how a house (reader Gavin Richardson points out it is actually a portable classroom) can travel much faster than a car or truck in flooding conditions.
Here’s more on the flooding from AP:
At least five people had died and hundreds were being evacuated Saturday as flooding was reported across Tennessee and heavy rains continued to pound the state, officials said.
The forecast called for more rain through the weekend.
The five deaths reported in Stewart, Davidson, Williamson and Carroll counties were storm related, but the exact causes of the deaths were not yet known, Jeremy Heidt, spokesman for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, said Saturday evening.
Hundreds of homes had been evacuated in Tennessee and shelters were being opened across the state for people stranded due to flooded roads.
Memphis received up to 10 inches or more of rain during the day and officials were warning that 4 – 8 more inches could fall overnight and into Sunday.
Heidt said crews were called out for swift-water rescues from Nashville to Memphis.
Here’s the description with this video: “Footage shot on Sunday May 2nd in Hendersonville, Tn. Boat rescue at the intersection of Wessington Pl. and Keystone Ln. Firetruck running through the overflowing bridge water on Wessington Pl. near Scotch St./Southburn Ave.”
Sorry for the lack of new material on the blog today. Other obligations kept me off the computer. I am trying to make it up to you with the video above. The 1959 clip from New Jersey’s Laurel Springs Fire Department was first posted to YouTube a-year-ag0. Somehow I missed it.
Most fire departments have had to deal with a bay door incident or two. I doubt many caught the action on camera.
There was indication listening to witnesses speak about Saturday’s runaway fire engine incident in Anne Arundel County, Maryland that parents jumped aboard the rig as it rolled away with eight children on board. Now, the Annapolis Capital has confirmed that and other details from the police report. According to the report parents say they steered Engine 201 from the Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Department into a tree to avoid parked cars. Here are excerpts from the article by Lisa Beisel:
The Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Company drove its newest engine to a child’s birthday party Saturday afternoon on Edgewater Road. Eight children were on it when the truck suddenly began to roll down the hill, crossing Edgewater Road before hitting a tree. None of the children were injured.
Tim Hall, the chief of the volunteer company, said yesterday he was at the party and near the truck when it began to move. When he saw what was happening, he took off running to try to stop it.
Picture by Matt Stevens.
“I just did what I thought I had to do,” he said.
But he fell and hurt his knee before reaching the truck.
Hall said he doesn’t know how or why the truck started rolling. The brake was on and a wheel chock – a device placed in front or behind a wheel to keep it from moving – was in place, he said.
One of the parents told police investigating the crash that he heard a “loud clicking noise” right before the truck began rolling.
He and another parent ran after the engine. One of them was able to get into the rear passenger’s-side area of the fire truck and grab the steering wheel, running it into a tree at an adjacent home. County fire officials said Saturday that the engine rolled from 441 Edgewater Road to 445 Edgewater Road.
According to police, volunteer Firefighter Lisa Hall, the chief’s wife, parked the engine and put the brakes in place. She is in training to earn certification to drive the engine on calls. Their son, Timothy Hall Jr., another volunteer, also was there, police said.
He said he followed safety protocol at the scene. The engine was off, the keys weren’t in the ignition, and there were wheel chocks in place to prevent rolling.
A fire engine at a birthday party on Saturday in Anne Arundel County, Maryland started rolling away with eight children on board.
Picture by Matt Stevens via The Capital.
Witnesses tell WMAR-TV that a firefighter jumped into the driver’s seat and was able to steer the rig into a tree. That firefighter was hurt, but the children were not injured.
The Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Company had Engine 201 parked on Edgewater Road in Pasadena for a community event. Several children were on the fire engine throughout the day. At one point, the emergency brake was released and the fire engine rolled down the hill, said Battalion Chief Steve Thompson. One firefighter was injured after somehow trying to stop the engine.
“There were several children on the fire engine,” Thompson said. “They were looking at it and crawling inside.”
FireSceneAudio.com posted the radio traffic from yesterday’s crash involving Houston Fire Department’s Engine 13. Three firefighters had relatively minor injuries after the rig hit a support to a freeway overpass while responding to a school bus collision. Click here for more on this crash.
Club house burns in Hopedale, Massachusetts: This fire occurred Sunday night at the Hopedale Country Club. Read more about the fire.
Houston’s Engine 13 crashes: Three firefighters were hurt after the rig hit a bridge support while responding to a collision involving a school bus just after 10:00 this morning. It occurred as the engine was on the 610 Loop merging onto westbound 290.
Make sure you look at some of the heads-up driving in this video: With a fountain of water like this coming out of the ground would you trust the road surface enough to drive as close as some of these citizens? This geyser, in an industrial area of Carson, California, was apparently active for two hours after a hydrant was sheared off.
Cahokia, Illinois fire: People had moved out of this house just days before it burned.
Two-alarm house fire in Fair Oaks, California: Three people escaped this burning home around 2:30 Sunday morning. Read more about the fire.
Petoskey,Michigan apartment fire: No injuries in this fire at the Lafayette Apartments around 2:30 this morning. Read more.
Early this morning in Rochester: Lots of fire on Wadsworth Street in this Guy Zampatori video. Pictures and fireground audio can be found at Monroe County Fire Wire.
The regeneration blues coming to a firehouse near you: Read how one fire chief finds the time-outs for regeneration on his department’s newer diesel engines quite maddening and potentially dangerous. A guest column from Boca Raton Fire Rescue’s Tom Wood. Click here.
UPDATED Houston’s Draycott scheduled to return to is back at work today: “I want to be treated like everybody else. I want to be able to go to work and not be harassed, not be retaliated against.” That’s what Firefighter Jane Draycott told the Houston Chronicle’s Terri Langford yesterday, a day before her scheduled return to HFD’s Station 54 at Bush Intercontinental Airport. Draycott attempted a return in January and found herself in the middle of a “team building” exercise with her fellow firefighters. That four-hour session resulted in a lot of transfers and the resignation of the fire chief. It has been nine-months since Draycott made the news after racist and sexual graffiti were found on Draycott’s belongings in the women’s bunk room at the firehouse. Watch as Firefighter Draycott arrives at Station 54 this morning.
Car smashes into ladder truck … inside the firehouse: Click here to read how police say the driver of a car that crashed through the bay door of a firehouse in Wisconsin may not be at fault.
Driver jailed after crashing into fire truck: Police say two motorcyclists racing near Missoula, Montana led one of them into the back of a fire truck injuring a firefighter. Here’s the story.
A busy weekend in Flint: A dozen fires, including one in a vacant warehouse Saturday that spread to another building. Officials believe 10 of them were intentionally set. So far in April there have been 107 fires compared to 37 last year. This latest arson spree began the day before layoffs were initiated at the end of March. Read and watch the story.
Erosion of political influence: That’s the title of FossilMedic Mike Ward’s latest entry on Firegeezer. Mike is wondering if these budget battles, where firefighter overtime and pensions are targeted, are taking a toll on firefighters who might otherwise enjoy the backing of the public and the politicians. Check it out.
If you would like to tell Mike Ward you agree with him or that he is full of it: You can do so in person this week at FDIC during the big Meetup at Indy on Friday at the Rock Bottom Brewery. Lots of bloggers from FireEMSBlogs.com and elsewhere will be on hand, along with their many groupies. You can even get a free drink ticket for the event by stopping by these booths-
FireRescue Magazine, FirefighterNation.com and FireEMSBlogs.com: Booth #3755
I had hoped to be there, but recent knee surgery is keeping me very close to home. My doctor didn’t think I could handle the trauma of the procedure and at the same time deal with the sharp barbs from Rhett Fleitz, The Fire Critic. But you can listen to the latest Indy news from Rhett and his partner John Mitchell (Fire Daily) on their live Firefighter Netcast (or is it Nutcast with that crew?) out of Booth 3755 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Read more.
Rescuer needs rescuing: A Phoenix firefighter helping to rescue a hiker who fell off a mountain trail fell victim to the heat. Click here to read and watch the story.
Chief Thomas R. Wood, from City of Boca Raton website.
Over the past couple of weeks Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services (FL) Chief Tom Wood has been giving STATter911.com a fire chief’s view of dealing with the challenges of regeneration in front-line fire trucks and ambulances equipped with diesel particulate filters.
Even with a non-technical mind like mine, I find the subject and the issues quite fascinating. I invited Chief Wood to share his experiences with our readers in a guest column.
Chief Wood (and STATter911.com) are interested in others with similar issues, including departments that have possibly found solutions to these problems. As always, we are glad to provide space for anyone with a dissenting view on this topic. Just contact STATter911.com at dstatter@wusa9.com.
All Fire and EMS apparatus should be exempt from the EPA Diesel Emission Regulations.
Chief Thomas R. Wood, CFO
Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services
6500 Congress Avenue, Suite 200
Boca Raton FL 33487
561-982-4040 twood@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Truck 4's DPF housing. Boca Raton Fire Rescue photo.
Imagine you are in the Army and involved in a tank battle. All of a sudden an “idiot light” comes on telling you to regenerate your tank’s diesel motor. The commanding officer radios the enemy and requests a “regeneration time out”. This sounds ridiculous and is ridiculous! Thus, the U.S. military was exempted from the 2007 and 2010 EPA diesel emissions regulations. Now imagine you are a Fire Rescue or EMS agency responding to a vehicle crash with serious injuries on the Interstate. You start the fire engine and the “idiot light” comes on. You think there will be enough time to complete the call, but before you even arrive, the motor shuts down and will only re-start in one minute increments. You are on the inside lane of an five lane busy highway and crossing to the right shoulder will not be easy in 60 seconds. This was just one of our wonderful experiences with diesel regeneration. If “time outs” on the battlefield were considered ridiculous for the military…why is it acceptable to have these “regeneration time outs” on emergency fire and EMS incidents???
We have 5 new (2009) Horton Medic Units, built on a Freightliner chassis with Mercedes diesel motors. We have 1 new (2009) Sutphen ladder truck with a CAT diesel motor. All 6 of these meet the EPA 2007 diesel motor standards and require “regeneration”.
This wasn’t so bad for the first 6 months. However, as the diesel particulate filters (DPF) became saturated, we discovered the world of “regeneration”. There is no gauge. An “idiot light” comes on and instructs you to “regenerate”. If you fail to do so within a specified time period, the motor shuts off and will only restart at one minute intervals. Now we can expect to have these 6 units “out of service” every few days for 30 to 45 minutes at a time. That is if the system works. One of these units has failed to regenerate two weeks in a row, after trying for nearly three hours. The software we purchased for an extra $2,000 also would not diagnose the problem. In both cases the unit was towed to the dealership for repair, and as of April 5 it remains “out of service”.
We have established a new computer aided dispatch (CAD) Code for “regeneration activity”, so we can track it better and so the battalion chiefs know why the units are out of service.
For a short term solution, I have suggested replacing the diesel particulate filters with new ones and sending the originals out to be refurbished. The local CAT representative tells us they are not available for purchase!!!
I just can’t wait for my whole fleet to have these wonderful systems!!!
The IAFC should take this issue seriously and petition the EPA to exempt fire and EMS apparatus, in the same fashion that military vehicles were exempted.
This insanity needs to stop before lives are lost!
After submitting his original article to STATter911.com, Chief Wood added this new information:
Update…04/14/2010
It has been suggested that our employees were confused with the dash board light indicating “regeneration is needed” and the one indicating “extremely hot exhaust”.
Both symbols use the same basic design. The regeneration one has the image of a filter and the hot exhaust one has the image of a thermometer. At a glance, one could be confused. Very high exhaust temperatures can be generated during “passive regeneration” which can occur when the apparatus is under normal driving conditions. Thus the light warning you not to park near combustible items comes on, and some may think they are being told to regenerate. I am not fully sold on this theory yet.
We have learned of multiple recalls for the regeneration equipment on our one CAT motor. This is Day 9 and the ladder truck remains O.O.S. as it is not completing the regeneration process.
We are trying a new process of having our shop force the regeneration via the vendor provided software.
Police say a camera surveillance system shows a pickup involved in a collision that sent a car smashing into the garage door of the Manitowoc Fire Station on Thursday ran a red light at South 10th Street while traveling east on Franklin Street.
Manitowoc Police Lt. Charles Boldt said the video of the accident shows the navy blue Chevy Corsica entered the intersection just as the traffic light turned yellow about 9:15 a.m.
Boldt said the camera surveillance system, set up on the bridge crossing the river at 10th Street, monitors the intersection.
“When the truck struck the car, the light had turned yellow,” Boldt said. “After the vehicles hit each other, the light was red for southbound traffic (on 10th Street).”
Boldt said the truck’s driver, Jim Backus of Eau Claire, received a citation for the accident. Boldt said more information would be made available when a police report is filed.
The Corsica’s driver was sent to Aurora Medical Center. Boldt did not know the status of his injuries.
Backus told the Herald Times Reporter after the accident that he didn’t know what happened but said he had a green light when he entered the intersection.
The truck had a smashed front end and a flat left-front tire.
No firefighters were injured.
Deputy Fire Chief Gregg Kadow said the fire department is getting estimates on the garage door and ladder truck that were damaged in the accident.
An 81-year-old city man was killed Tuesday morning in a motor vehicle crash that involved a stolen vehicle, according to a preliminary report from Vineland police Detective Lt. Thomas Ulrich.
Craig Matthews, The Daily News.
Alfred S. Costantino was driving his red Plymouth Voyager from Holmes Avenue onto Chestnut Avenue when a white SUV struck his van, Ulrich said.
Police took Jones into their custody after the accident. Vineland EMS took Jones to South Jersey Healthcare Regional Medical Center for complaints of pain following the collision, but Ulrich said his injuries are not life threatening.
Jones will be charged will felony murder – a murder committed during another crime, which in this case was theft of the vehicle, Ulrich said. The Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office already approved this charge as well as another charge for eluding police, he said.
New Jersey Department of Corrections photo of Michael A. Jones.
Police are speaking with a judge now to get Jones’ bail set.
Franklin police Capt. Cleo Howe said it was stolen from the Franklinville Fire Company’s paramedics’ station. He referred further details to Vineland police.
State police notified Vineland police that the stolen vehicle was in Vineland’s jurisdiction around 9 a.m. Vineland police saw the vehicle around Sherman Avenue and started a pursuit.
The pursuit ended on Chestnut Avenue shortly before the collision, which Ulrich said happened around 9:08 a.m.
Vineland police blocked off the area to traffic as they investigated. Vineland Fire Department also sent a rescue vehicle and engine to the scene.
You will definitely want to see this one: I figured it was just a matter of time before we saw the video from a camera from the locomotive of the Amtrak train that hit Detroit’s Ladder 13 earlier this month. That time is here. Check it out.
Some DC fire action: Broadcast engineer and historian Tom Buckley had his camera at the ready when the DC Fire & EMS Department showed up in his neighborhood yesterday morning. Here are the results.
Rosenbaum son-in-law gives view on latest DC EMS problems: Toby Halliday sat on the task force formed to reform EMS in the Nation’s Capital after the serious problems noted about the care provided to Halliday’s father-in-law, David Rosenbaum. With new, high-profile incidents receiving a lot of attention, Halliday provided The Washington Post his thoughts on the progress made since the task force made its final report. Click here.
Accused firefighter/arsonist doesn’t fit the usual pattern: The stories we find about firefighters setting fires tend to be about younger, newer members of a department. That is not the case with 43-year-old Stark Liedtke who has now been fired after 22-years as an on-call firefighter with New Hampshire’s Alton Fire Department. Investigators say Liedtke admits to setting 11 fires over four years. Here’s the story.
Firefighter reinstated after firing: This is a rather complex sexual harassment case from Westbrook, Maine that we first mentioned in October. The allegations were rather graphic. Now, a state labor board has told the fire department to reinstate Firefighter Matthew Lamontagne. Here is the latest.
Parity means pay up: The City of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania has once again been told to live up to its promise that firefighters are to get pay parity with the cops. It could mean 13k for each firefighter. Read about the court ruling.
Aw chute: This is a really stupid story (but if it weren’t for things like this many of you would find the work much more boring). A 20-year-old man, acting on a dare from some children, wanted to show that he could make it down a home’s laundry chute. You can guess the rest and who had to come save the guy. The rescue apparently traumatized a young girl. Read more from Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
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