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A career-volunteer battle in The Bronx. Aviation VFD says it will defy FDNY & continue responding despite arrest threat.

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Chief Romeo Toro has told the New York Daily News the Aviation Volunteer Fire Department will continue to respond to jobs in and near the Classon Point neighborhood of The Bronx, despite the possibility of arrest. AVFD, which has been around since 1923, has had financial problems in the past and only recently began operating again.

FDNY told Aviation to butt out after a confrontation at a bus accident on the Brunkner Expressway last Thursday. NYPD ended up detaining the chief and one of his lieutenants for 25 minutes.

Despite a very clear letter from FDNY Commissioner Salvatore Cassano Chief Toro told the Daily News, "Yes, we will risk arrest". The chief says he will only listen to an order from the mayor or the Office of Prevention and Control.

More from John Doyle's article in the New York Daily News:

“We hereby demand that AVFD immediately cease its operations and discontinue making any representations that AVFD is authorized by the City of New York or the FDNY to provide emergency medical and firefighting services,” he (Cassano) wrote.

The volunteers are “operating without the proper training, equipment and authorizations” and are endangering the public and city firefighters, Cassano added.

“The FDNY has advised its field personnel to prohibit AVFD from operating and to contact law enforcement if necessary,” he wrote.

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Posted by on January 25, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, FDNY, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, News • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ohio voters side with firefighters & other government employees. Issue 2 rejected.

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From the AP:

Ohio’s new law limiting the collective bargaining abilities of 350,000 unionized public workers has been defeated after an expensive union-backed campaign that pitted firefighters, police officers and teachers against the state’s Republican establishment.

The law hadn’t taken effect yet. It was thrown out today amid high turnout in a year without a presidential election. Current union rules will stand until the GOP-controlled Legislature plots its next move.

Republican Gov. John Kasich traveled the state to promote retaining the law, which set new minimum contributions for public employee health care and retirement and banned strikes, among other provisions.

Supporters promoted the law as a means for local governments to save money and keep workers. Opponents said the union limits threatened public safety with little proof of cost savings.

Posted by on November 8, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Breaking News, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, News • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Maryland county executives pulling back a bit from volunteer fire commission changes. Updates from Prince George’s County & Montgomery County.

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Previous coverage here and here

Some interesting developments in the news about plans to change the structure and authority of volunteer fire commissions in both Prince George's County and Montgomery County.

In PG, County Executive Rushern Baker, in hopes that a compromise can be worked out, pulled back emergency legislation yesterday that would radically change the Prince George's County Fire Commission. The original plan would have Baker appoint commission members who live in the county and add career firefighter and civilian members to the panel. Currently, the all-volunteer commission is elected by the volunteer departments. The latest version keeps those changes but the commission would maintain control of its budget.

Here's more from Daniel Leaderman at Gazette.net:

“The fire chief has advised the county executive that due to the tremendous efforts of our volunteers … they should be given an additional opportunity to come to a consensus on this reorganization, ” Brad Frome, Baker’s deputy chief of staff, told the council Tuesday.

A new executive order that maintains the residency requirement and changes to the appointment process but does not revoke the commission's authority over the $12 million in budget funds, was to be introduced Tuesday afternoon, Frome said. That order would not go into effect until March 1, which the administration feels is ample time to reach a compromise and alter the legislation as needed.

In Montgomery County, County Executive Isiah Leggett appears to be not quite as passionate as Chief Richard Bowers about removing the commission's veto power over the chief's orders.

Here's more from Victor Zapana at The Washington Post:

“I agree with the sentiment of trying to provide some level of conformity and some level of direct manning and control and having the chief far more supported than he is today,” said Leggett, who did not attend the public hearing. “There’s still a question that this bill might be able to do that.”

Leggett said he has heard of alternatives but declined to say what they are. Both Bowers and Marcine D. Goodloe, president of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association, say they remain firm on their stances. Bowers: chuck the veto entirely. Goodloe: keep it as it stands.

Posted by on October 19, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Funding & Staffing, Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service (MD), News, PGFD, PGFD (MD), Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Funding, accountability & your image. Strategies for dealing with increased scrutiny of your fire department, firefighters, unions & associations.

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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.

Posted by on October 4, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Funding & Staffing, IAFF, Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service (MD), News, PGFD, PGFD (MD), Social Media, Reputation Management, News Media • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Washington Post looks at fire commission battles in two Maryland counties. The latest from Montgomery & Prince George’s.

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Read Prince George's County press release about Fire Commission changes

It is an interesting time in the neighboring counties of Montgomery and Prince George's in Maryland. Each county has bills readied that would significantly alter the relationship between the fire commission and the fire chief. Both proposals would shift power away from volunteers and to the career chief. This morning, The Washington Post's Victor Zapana has an article looking at the issues in each county.

Below is an excerpt, But it does not do justice to the article or the topic. Click here and take the time to read the whole thing.

On Tuesday, (Montgomery County) Council members Marc Elrich (D-At Large) and George L. Leventhal (D-At Large) will propose legislation that would take away the veto power of the commission, which has volunteer, union and civilian members.

The bill is the latest salvo in the struggle over how volunteers fit in local communities that were once once largely rural but now are mostly suburban and even becoming urban.

Montgomery County is not alone in grappling with the issue. Next door, Prince George’s County is considering changes, too.

On Tuesday, County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) will present the Prince George’s County Council with two bills to remake the county’s fire commission and strip it of supervisory and budgeting powers.

In both counties, the volunteers oppose the bills.

Posted by on September 27, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, IAFF, Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service (MD), News, PGFD, PGFD (MD) • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Press release: Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker submits legislation to ‘reform’ volunteer run fire commission.

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Below is a press release issued yesterday from the office of Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker:

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III Announces “Fire Protection Oversight Improvement Bills”
County Executive proposes reforming Fire Commission

Upper Marlboro, MD – Today, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III submitted two pieces of legislation to the Prince George’s County Council that will reform the Prince George’s County Fire Commission.  These reforms will include requiring that members of the Fire Commission live in the County, as well as ensuring that there is citizen representation.

“Researched and proposed by our transition committee, this legislation aligns with my administration’s agenda of creating responsibility and accountability in all areas of Prince George’s County government,” said Baker.  “In addition, these legislative amendments will ensure that public safety expenditures will be dedicated more efficiently to the protection of our citizens as well as all of our first responders.”

This legislative concept originated as a public safety goal for the Fire/EMS Department proposed by the Rushern Baker Transition Committee which specifically recommended that Prince George’s County should consider changing the structure, composition and role of the Fire Commission to include external and internal stakeholders as commission members who should be appointed in a manner that is consistent with other panels/boards that control Prince George’s County funding.  To read the Fire/EMS recommendations in the full transition committee report.

One piece of legislation submitted today reflects an existing Executive Order signed by the County Executive that changes the manner of selecting members of the Fire Commission as outlined in the schedule of legislation attached to the Charter.

In addition, a companion piece of legislation makes changes to the County Code regarding the functions and responsibilities of the Fire Commission and further defines its membership.

The current composition and function of the Fire Commission were established in 1970 and represent a vestige of the early formation of the fire service and County Charter.  They do not reflect how current modern fire service organizations are organized, nor how County funding distributions are or should be made.   The members of the Fire Commission are elected by volunteers in the individual fire stations, and there is no residency requirement for the Commission. 

Currently, the County Executive, Fire Chief and Prince George’s County Council do not have a role in the approval or removal of members of the Fire Commission, who have “de facto” authority over $12 million in public County funds.

Prince George’s County Fire Chief Marc Bashoor remarked, "Volunteers have been and will be a valuable part of the Fire/EMS Department.  In the past nine months, I have doubled the number of volunteers actively involved in our operational Command and Safety areas.  This administrative reorganization brings the Fire/EMS Department structure and administrative functions more in line with modern Fire/EMS Services.  I fully support the County Executive’s efforts to improve the efficiency and transparency of our administrative functions."

This legislation would mirror the nomination and confirmation process for boards and commissions as outlined in the Charter.  A nomination process would increase the likelihood that the Fire Commission will include more diverse representation, reflective of the communities that the Fire/EMS Department currently serves.  Furthermore, Commission members including career and volunteer fire fighters as well as the general public would be nominated by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council.  The new Commission would consist of:
•         Three members representing the volunteers,
•         Three representing the career service,
•         And three representing the Prince George’s County citizenry at large. 

Bob Ross, President of the Prince George's County Branch of the NAACP, stated, "Anytime the community has the opportunity to be a more inclusive part of the government, we all win.  I wholeheartedly support this change in the Fire Commission.  The Fire/EMS Department is an important part of the Prince George's County Government.  Our residents deserve and should expect more opportunities like this, to improve transparency and inclusiveness."

Furthermore, this legislation would re-align the mission of the Fire Commission to serve in an advisory capacity for the Fire Chief, unifying the fiscal and administrative processes under the authority and accountability of the Fire Chief.  It would also clarify the authority of the Fire Commission to review requests and make recommendations about the expenditure of County funds and would clarify the approval and expenditure authority under the Fire Chief.  The Fire Commission would continue to serve a functional review and advisory role with regard to the budget, providing a check and balance to assure fiscal decisions serve the public interest.  Additionally, the Fire Commission would serve in an advisory capacity regarding the budget of the volunteer fire fighters, policies and procedures as well as recruitment and retention programs.

Administratively, this legislation would reorganize the Fire/EMS Department with four Deputy Chiefs, to reflect the addition of a Deputy Chief in charge of the Human Resources (HR) Command.  The HR Deputy would have direct representation and accountability for the Volunteer administration.  This Deputy Chief would be selected from the Volunteer ranks, or would be required to document extensive volunteer Fire/EMS service, including previous service as a Volunteer Chief in the County system.

The proposed legislation will restructure the Fire Commission by improving its mission and objectives, while continuing to enhance citizen engagement as well as advocate for the needs of the fire service, both volunteer and career.

 

Posted by on September 20, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Funding & Staffing, IAFF, News, PGFD, PGFD (MD) • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Career-volunteer battle in Loudoun County, Virginia. Staffing pulled from Middleburg VFD after ‘heated’ words.

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Click above for Middleburg VFD website.

Loudoun County Department of Fire, Rescue & Emergency Management

Leesburg Today is reporting that Loudoun County (VA) Department of Fire, Rescue & Emergency Management career firefighters were removed from the Middleburg fire station eight days ago and are operating out of firehouses at Aldie and Philomont. The paper reports that details of the incident have not been spelled out, but what both sides seem to agree on is that there have been increasing tensions that resulted in a dispute on the evening of July 13.

From the article published yesterday:

Fire-rescue spokesperson Mary Maguire would only say that the volunteer company "has indicated the career staffing was no longer needed."

Paul Draisey, treasurer of the volunteer department whose son Brad is its president, acknowledged there were "heated" words between the two sides, but said the company did not ask the career staff to permanently leave.

"No one empowered to act on behalf of the corporation, our nonprofit, said to leave," Draisey said. "We have not said, ‘pack your stuff and go.'"

Draisey indicated that the volunteers have beefed up staffing since the career firefighters departed, but Loudoun County Chief Keith Brower told the paper that other nearby companies will be dispatched simultaneously with Middleburg as a backup. Brower also said, "We are willing to go back as they need us."

According to the article, career staffing had been increased at Middleburg's request after a number of volunteers resigned last August because of concerns raised by the Loudoun County Fire-Rescue Commission.

Posted by on July 21, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Loudoun, Loudoun County, News, Social Media, Reputation Management, News Media • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Karl Granzow Jr., former PGFD deputy chief, admits extortion & tax evasion. Raid on fire department office lead to arrest of County Executive Jack Johnson.

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September, 2008 raid

More STATter911.com coverage of Karl Granzow Jr.

More details from The Washington Post.

When Lt. Col. Karl Granzow Jr.'s office at the headquarters of the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department in Largo, Maryland was raided by the FBI in September, 2008 we were lead to believe two things by various sources: this was connected to a development project known as Greenbelt Station (which at one time was to include a fire station); the raids were just a stopping off point on the trail that would bring about the downfall of Prince Georges' County Executive Jack Johnson.

Today, almost three years later, comes word that Karl Granzow entered guilty pleas in March as part of the same corruption probe that resulted in Johnson's arrest. Granzow retired from PGFD in April, 2009.

From Andrea Noble, The Washington Times:

The guilty plea of a retired Prince George’s County fire official was unsealed Monday in federal court, linking him to the large-scale corruption probe that has taken down developers, public officials and police officers in the county over the last several months.

Karl Granzow, 46, pleaded guilty in secret to conspiring to commit extortion and to income tax evasion on March 11. Mr. Granzow, a former lieutenant colonel in the county fire department, admitted in his guilty plea to partnering with county developers for more than 10 years to bribe public officials for development favors related to the Greenbelt Station development project. 

From Lizz Essley, The Washington Examiner:

Granzow, who was an official responsible for the fire department's Management Services Command at the time of the briberies, had ownership interests in Greenbelt Metropark, a company trying to build a mixed-use project near the Greenbelt Metro Station.

For more than 10 years, Granzow and co-conspirators offered state and local officials money, meals, drinks, trip expenses, campaign contributions, hotel rooms, airline tickets and more in exchange for rulings that would favor their development projects, according to Granzow's guilty plea filed under seal on March 30.

From the AP:

He also admitted bribing public officials in exchange for acts that benefited a development near the Greenbelt Metro station. Granzow’s co-conspirators, developers Patrick Ricker and Daniel Colton, have also pleaded guilty. Their pleas were unsealed after former County Executive Jack Johnson pleaded guilty to corruption.

Federal sentencing guidelines call for Granzow to receive between 2 ½ and three years in prison. No sentencing date has been scheduled.

Posted by on July 18, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, Courts, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, News, Police • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Marc Bashoor confirmed as Prince George’s County fire chief

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Marc S. Bashoor has been confirmed by the County Council as the chief of the Prince George's County (MD) Fire/EMS Department. Here's an excerpt from Daniel Valentine's story at Gazette.net:

Marc Bashoor was unanimously confirmed as fire chief amid applause from an audience of uniformed firefighters and EMS workers.

“I know this process is very long,” Baker told the council. “I appreciate the tough questioning and sincere way you went about this.”

Bashoor is a 23-year worker with the county fire/EMS department who left for an emergency management post in West Virginia in 2005. He returned after Baker was elected late last year to take over the department, which handles more than 179,000 fire and emergency calls per year.

Now here's a question for you. News wise it has been an unusually quiet period for PGFD since Chief Bashoor took over at the start of the year. Is it because Marc Bashoor is so good at what he does or is it because his friend Dave Statter retired from the TV news business a year ago?

Either way, congratulations chief.

Posted by on July 12, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, News, PGFD, PGFD (MD) • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Union Fire Company in Bensalem, PA suspended. Township blames leadership. News reports cite April water supply issue & other problems.

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Previous coverage of this story

In April we told you about a report from WTXF-TV that Chief Vincent Troisi of the Union Fire Company in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania (Bucks County) was under investigation. The TV station reported at the time that the chief was being investigated for "refusing to supply water to a paid fire company that arrived first on the scene of a warehouse fire" and instead gave water to the volunteer fire company that arrived later.

Now the whole fire company have been suspended by Bensalem officials. Here's what WTXF-TV reports today:

Bensalem officials announced Monday that the Union Fire Company's operations have been suspended due to its leader failing to follow township orders.

"Over the past 12-18 months, there have been many incidents and issues where the leadership of the company has failed to follow both the administrative and operational directions from the Township," says the news release from the Bensalem Township Department of Public Safety.

More from WPVI-TV:

There is some speculation that some of the volunteer firefighters took issue with the fact that the township hired full-time paid firefighters last year using federal grant money.

Among the problems – officials say the volunteer fire company failed to send the proper number of firefighters to fires, sent civilians to fire scenes and tried to beat the township's paid firefighters to fires.

Furthermore, the township has been investigating reports that the Union volunteer company delayed getting water to the paid firefighters who were fighting a fire at a building on State Road on April 19th.

Posted by on June 13, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Fires, News, Social Media, Reputation Management, News Media, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Volunteer vs. career? Investigation underway into whether Pennsylvania chief withheld water from paid crew.

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WTXF-TV is reporting an investigation over how the water supply was handled last week at a warehouse fire in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania (Bucks County). According to the TV station, there is bad blood between volunteer and career firefighters over funding that was taken from the volunteers' budget and used for salaries of the career firefighters. Here is what the TV station is reporting about the specifics of the investigation:

Vincent Troisi is chief of the Union Fire Company in Bensalem and he told Fox 29 on the phone Tuesday that he's under orders not to talk while an investigation is happening.

Troisi would not say what he's being investigated for.

But a source tells Fox 29 that Troisi is being investigated for refusing to supply water to a paid fire company that arrived first on the scene of a ware house fire.

The source says instead Troisi supplied the water to the volunteer fire company that was the second to get there.

Posted by on April 28, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Customer Service, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Regime change at Burtonsville VFD. Leadership resigns & takes demotions in battle with Montgomery County, Maryland.

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Read March 18th statement by Burtonsville VFD

STATter911.com previous coverage

Mike Ward at Firegeezer.com provides insight from thewatchdesk.com

A spokeswoman for the Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department has told Gazette.net, "As of 0700 hours Sunday morning, we suffered the most devastating loss of leadership in the history of the department. Both our chief and our president have resigned, [and] the majority of our operating officers have resigned their positions as well."

This is the latest development in the battle between the leadership at Burtonsville and Montgomery County Chief Richard Bowers.

Here's more from the article by Jeremy Arias:

Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Chief Robert E. Ryan and four other senior volunteer officials resigned from their posts as Burtonsville volunteers Saturday while also requesting demotions from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service that oversees both career and volunteer firefighters countywide.

The move came in response to county fire and rescue service Chief Richard R. Bowers' Feb. 24 decision to transfer command of the Burtonsville station to career firefighters following complaints that the station's volunteers were mistreating their career counterparts, even urinating on the door handles of career firefighters' vehicles, said county fire and rescue spokesman Assistant Chief Scott Graham. Volunteer officials contested the complaints, saying those that were found to be substantive had been investigated and dealt with while also arguing that Bowers' action was illegal, said Burtonsville Volunteer Firefighter Department spokeswoman Tami Bulla.

Since Saturday, a steady number of volunteers have shown up to help the department staff its emergency response vehicles, according to both Graham and Bulla.

At least two command-level volunteers, a captain and a lieutenant, remain active with the Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department, Bulla said, but the long-term future of volunteers at the station is uncertain.

Posted by on March 21, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service (MD), News • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Quick Takes: March 14, 2011.

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 House fire in Schaumburg, Illinois: Larry Shapiro’s video from a fire early Sunday morning at 808 Holyoke Court in Schaumburg, Illinois. Click here for Larry’s still pictures and here for more info from ChicagoAreFire.com.

Friday night on the Ohio River turns into an unexpected dinner cruise: The Covington Fire Department had to go after a run-away building when a waterfront floating restaurant decided to spread its wings and cruise. A nearby bridge kept the building from going too far. Click here to watch as firefighters brought almost 100 people to safety.

Fire videos from the weekend: Early video from St. Mary’s County, Maryland house fire; House fire in Cumberland, Rhode Island with two firefighters hurt; Moma’s Pizza burns in Lehigh Township, Pennsylvania; Neighborhood kid captures video of Miami-Dade apartment fire.

Deal reached in Deale blown engine controversy: Glenn Usdin provided some interesting insight a few weeks ago on blown engines during pump testing after a 1991 pumper owned by the Deale (MD) VFD suffered such a fate while in the hands of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department shop. Deale and the county went back and forth for a while over who was financially responsible in this case. Now an economical solution has been found. FireTruckBlog.com has the story. Click here. 

Threats & other verbal attacks are now a way of life for Clark County, Nevada firefighters: The long and nasty battle over compensation for firefighters in Clark County that resulted in a probe of sick leave abuse has taken its toll. Scott Wyland in the Las Vegas Review-Journal spent time with firefighters, including some named in the probe, and describes the less than warm reception firefighters are often receiving. Here’s the article.

More image problems as the Bee stings Sac Metro FD: An editorial in the Sacramento Bee on Sunday has the title “Sac Metro salaries are a disgrace”. Overtime seems to be responsible for the high salaries. And the Bee thinks this is the problem – “Either by contract or policy, set staffing levels are maintained. If a firefighter calls in sick, another is called in on overtime. Generous overtime boosts already generous salaries.” The Bee fails to discuss or seem to care why those staffing levels are in place.  Then there is this shocker – “It’s worth noting that a part of the firefighter’s work day is spent sleeping, watching TV, cooking or relaxing in the firehouse.” It should also be noted the chief of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, Bill Sponable, announced his resignation on Friday citing the current economic woes. Click here to read the editorial.

Fireworks cache takes out home: Firegeezer has the story from Blue Springs, Kansas of a man handling some of the large amount of fireworks he stored in his home. The Fourth of July came very early and the man is lucky he was left with only minor injuries. The house is a different story. Click here for the story. 

Firefighters dressing in drag, showing their butts & dancing with college girls, all in the name of charity: Of course that headline can only mean one thing. Cincinnati firefighters are back in Fort Myers Beach, Florida for spring break. News-Press.com’s Chris Umpierre looks at this 28-year tradition that has on occasion raised some eyebrows. The picture to the right is by Amanda Inscore, News-Press.com. Click here for the story.

Is help on the way for crumbling Cleveland fire station?: The situation was described as dire last fall at Station 36- “There was standing water and exposed wiring in the dungeon-like basement. A large metal plate had been placed in the fire truck bays because the floor was collapsing. A plastic garbage can collected water dripping from a leaky roof.” Now Cleveland.com’s Mark Gillispie provides an update on a promised new station.

Martha’s Vineyard house fire: Firefighter Spot first posted this fire from the evening of March 5 in a house under renovation on Linton Avenue in the Town of Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts.

Posted by on March 14, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, Customer Service, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, FireTruckBlog.com, Funding & Staffing, Major Incidents, News, Quick takes, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Virginia joyride makes international news. Local TV focuses on the cop & underage drinking angle.

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Previous coverage of this story

TV stations in DC went back for more yesterday on the fire truck ride heard ’round the world. I saw the story of the DUI arrest of a volunteer firefighter from Hamilton, Virginia featured on network newscasts and even in a London tabloid (even though they did use an FDNY rig to illustrate the story). Unfortunately it is another good example of how the Internet quickly spreads the bad news far and wide. I can think of cases of more outrageous behavior in previous generations that resulted in death or serious injury that didn’t get anywhere near the attention this story did.

The firefighter’s mug shot is now forever on the web and will be very easy to find. That’s not good news for his future. While I try to avoid preaching on the blog, this may be a good lesson for firefighters who have been engaged in similar behavior. Besides all of the physically harmful things that could have come from this incident, the  instant destruction of your reputation as it travels the Internet at the speed of light should really give you pause (and, of course, there is the reputation of the fire department).

The stories yesterday focused mostly on the passengers aboard the retired fire engine at the time the deputy sheriff pulled it over. All are or were volunteer firefighters who the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said had been drinking. Of particularly interest, for obvious reasons, were the off-duty Leesburg police officer and the 19-year-old firefighter.

From Sherri Ly at WTTG-TV:

“Everybody in the vehicle had been drinking,” said (Investigator Vincent) DiBenedetto, saying they were all intoxicated. The passengers were allowed to leave with someone sober and not charged.

“It’s definitely one of the most serious breaches we have. One thing we are expected to do is follow the laws we’re enforcing,” said DiBenedetto.

Leesburg police suspended the officer, an officer sworn to uphold the law and presumably keep drunk drivers off the road.

“Driving drunk in a little Toyota… that’s a dangerous thing,” DiBenedetto said. “When you take a 30 foot long fire truck going 67 miles per hour on what is basically a country road it’s a lot more serious.”

As if the mix of alcohol, firefighters and police wasn’t bad enough. The one woman among the volunteer firefighters inside the truck, is only 19 years old and in the company of a police officer who had to know she wasn’t old enough to legally drink.

From Julie Parker at WJLA-TV:

“Sounds like it was a pretty dumb thing to do,” said Bill Donohue, a Hamilton resident.

Investigators said Swanson’s recorded blood alcohol content was 0.08 after the deputy caught up with him.

ABC7 tried to contact Swanson for comment at his home, located next to the old fire station where the older model pumper is stored. ABC7 received no response.

Posted by on March 8, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Loudoun, Loudoun County, Major Incidents, News, Social Media, Reputation Management, News Media, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Montgomery County takes over Burtonsville VFD. Cites sex, public urination & safety concerns at MD firehouse. Volunteers call it retaliation over ambulance fee fight.

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Coverage of 2009 incident at Burtonsville VFD

From WJLA-TV:

In a move that some firefighters said is long overdue, Montgomery County took over operations at the Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department in Montgomery County last week.

What’s allegedly taken place over the last year prompted this drastic step: Public urination, fornication, destruction of property and delays in responding to calls, according to the Montgomery County Fire Department spokesman Scott Graham.

Some firefighters at Station 15 said the situation has become so bad that no one wants to work at the station anymore.

The head of the Montgomery County Career Firefighters’ Association put it this way: “It’s a zoo and the animals have been running the zoo.”

Above is the story on the 2009 incident where a career firefighter was urinated on by a firehouse guest.

In a memo chief Richard Bowers sent out Thursday, anyone now entering the station must report to an on-duty career officer. They must also follow any orders that officers issues.

While leadership there has been put on notice, the volunteers can still carry out their duties. The department spokesman said citizens are still safe.

The man who leads the county’s volunteer fire fighters said this is retaliation for the volunteers’ activities working to oppose the county’s failed ambulance fee proposal.

Eric Bernard, of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, admits there was a volunteer who brought a guest who urinated in a bunk bed. But he said that was dealt with in 2009.

Posted by on March 1, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Funding & Staffing, Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service (MD), News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Video: Virginia Fire Chiefs Association Mid Atlantic Expo 2011. Hope to see you there.

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I am heading to Virginia Beach for the weekend and will be the one causing a great deal of indigestion during Sunday morning’s breakfast meeting at the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association Mid Atlantic Expo 2011. Fire Rescue TV’s Martin Grube beat me there (but then again he’s always there) and has this little video preview for you. Enjoy. Hope to see you. 

Posted by on February 25, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Just squeeze me: An interesting look at new apparatus & old buildings on FireTruckBlog.com.

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Read more at FireTruckBlog.com by Glenn Usdin

Many years ago I gave a speech at a fire department banquet in Virginia. It was my first visit inside this fire hall. One of the things I noticed immediately was the ladder truck and how it fit into its bay. It was clear to me the only way this truck was leaving the building is if the tillerman ducked on his way out. I’m not exaggerating. I believe I even cracked a joke that night about a friend of mine who was rather short being assigned as permanent tillerman. (See Rhett it isn’t just you. I’m a regular Randy Newman, but without talent).

How fire departments adapt new, large rigs into old, smaller firehouses has caught the attention of the mainstream press. Specifically the Boston Globe. Check out FireTruckBlog.com which is featuring that article today.

Posted by on December 11, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, News, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lancaster mayor threatens suit over claim of ‘two-hatter’ harassment. Says IAFF is disrupting mutual-aid. Union denies charge & believes city is violating ruling. Both city trucks broken.

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Read Glenn Usdin’s commentary at FireTruckBlog.com

Mayor Rick Gray from Lancaster, Pennsylvania says he is having the city prepare a lawsuit against IAFF Local 319 over what he says is harassment by union members against volunteer firefighters with companies that respond mutual aid into the city. Gray is also threatening disciplinary action. The mayor believes undermining mutual aid agreements impacts the safety of the citizens.  

The chief of Manheim Township Fire Department says two of his volunteer, who are also career firefighters (we are told not in the City of Lancaster), have taken an indefinite leave of absence. Chief Rick Kane says he has suspended a mutual aid agreement with Lancaster because of the problem.   

Plum Street fire photo by Glenn Usdin.

 According to LancasterOnline.com the current and future union president say they are unaware of any harassment and point out they also did not know of any mutual aid agreements. Gray says those agreements aren’t in writing, but are verbal. Battalion Chief Ken Barton, president until the first of the year, believes the city is violating a 1997 arbitration ruling that says they can’t use volunteers unless they first call in off-duty firefighters.  

Apparently what has brought this to a head is the breakdown of the city’s two ladder trucks with no replacements in sight. The truck work is now being handled by mutual aid companies.  

FireTruckBlog.com’s Glenn Usdin, in looking at the dispute, the economic realities and the equipment issues brings up the point that it is important to have a “Plan B in place for emergency replacement of necessary apparatus”. Click here for Glenn’s commentary.  

 
When fire raged in the first block of North Plum Street early Monday morning, four city firefighters were there in less than a minute.

The house was right behind the city’s fire Station 3. But after the first dozen on-duty city firefighters were at the scene, the next to arrive were firefighters from surrounding municipalities.  

One woman died and two children were critically injured, but without the aid of firefighters from Lancaster Township, Lafayette and Millersville fire companies, the situation could have been worse, said city fire Chief Tim Gregg.  

Without their help, the flames might have spread down the row of narrow homes, he said.  

Which is why Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray was angry Tuesday at what he believes are efforts by some city firefighters to undermine mutual aid agreements between the city and surrounding municipalities.  

Gray said some city firefighters have harassed volunteers who have come into the city.  

Barton said he believes the city is overusing the volunteers to supplement the paid fire bureau.  

“We’re being cut more and more and more, and they want to rely on somebody else come in and save our butt,” he said.  

Kane said he believes the volunteers are caught in the middle of a labor dispute between the city administration and the union.  

Posted by on December 8, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, Courts, Customer Service, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, IAFF, Major Incidents, News, Uncategorized, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

UPDATE: Marc Bashoor new Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department chief. Read letter to PGFD employees & volunteers.

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Click here for letter from Acting Chief Marc Bashoor to PGFD employees & volunteers (LINK NOW WORKING)

Message from IAFF Local 1619 president Andrew Pantelis on departure of Chief Eugene Jones & the appointment of Marc Bashoor

The new Prince George’s County Executive, Rushern Baker, has announced an acting fire chief. He is Marc Bashoor, who retired from the department in 2005 as a lieutenant colonel. Bashoor is a 23-year veteran of PGFD. More recently Bashoor has been the Director of Homeland Security for Mineral County, West Virginia. 

Mineral County photo of Marc Bashoor.

We should also point out that, in his youth, Bashoor was an intern in the weather department at Channel 9, where I used to work. Luckily he decided on a more reputable career path.  

You can read more about the new appointments at WUSA9.com. 

Here are excerpts from a press release by PGFD Chief Spokesman Mark Brady: 

“While the Transition Committee continues an extensive search for the best possible applicants, reviews the current state of county agencies, and seeks best practices to deliver a more effective and efficient county government, these experienced and talented individuals will be able provide the expertise and leadership needed during this interim period of transition,” stated County Executive Baker. 

All of the announced appointments of County Executive Baker, besides Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, require County Council approval. 

Photo of Marc Bashoor by PGFD's Mark Brady.

Prince George’s County Acting Chief Marc Bashoor is a retired 23 year veteran of the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department. During his 23 years of service, Bashoor rose through the ranks of Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department receiving numerous citations and commendations including the Fire/EMS Department Silver Medal of Valor. 

Concurrent to his emergency management duties in West Virginia, Bashoor has served as a consultant with the United States Veterans Administration, a fire service adjunct instructor with the Texas A&M University, and is a member of FEMA’s Technology Transfer Working Group. Furthermore, Bashoor has been recognized by the Maryland Police Training Commission as a National Incident Management System (NIMS) subject-matter-expert. These highlights merely touch the surface of Chief Bashoor’s experience and commitment to public safety. 

Posted by on December 6, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, PGFD, PGFD (MD), Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Siren’s song is not music to the ears of all in Graton, California.

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We’ve heard this tune many times before. Another town wrestles with the siren at the volunteer firehouse. This time a new fire station is being built in Graton, California. While many in the town say they are comforted by the siren, a small group is trying to prevent the old siren from being brought to the new building.

Posted by on December 4, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Fire chief talks about his burns & those who rescued him. Watch interview with Dauphin Island, Alabama’s Brad Cox.

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In October we told you about the fire that critically burned Dauphin Island (AL) Fire Chief Brad Cox. Cox is also a fire medic with Mobile Fire-Rescue. Because he was injured as a volunteer he was not able to use his benefits from Mobile. His colleagues from Mobile joined with others and raised $115,000 to help Chief Cox and his family. Mobile Fire Chief Stephen Dean told WALA-TV that they initially expected to raid 20 or 30-thousand dollars. Cox hopes to be back to work in about four months.

Here’s more from WALA-TV:

“Never thought I’d be that person in need,” said Cox. “Words cannot adequately describe the appreciate I feel for the kindness shown to myself and my family by our community. In addition to the kind donation which will help to ease our burdens.”

“Made it to where I have time to get healthy so I can get back on the streets,” said Cox.

Cox suffered burns on 17 percent of his body and was sedated for three weeks after the fire.

“I was five feet into the door, when there was a flash over and the pressure blast happened,” said Cox. “When I was trapped inside the fire I was unconscious and I had ran out of air. A Dauphin Island firefighter got me out, and a police officer. Even my wife helped pull me down the stairs. They saved my life, pulled me free.”

Cox is still recovering from his injuries. He was released from the hospital Friday, but is still very weak and has a long recovery ahead of him.

“I’ve been beating their goals,” said Cox.

“Biggest thing: never put yourself alone in a fire. I was fortunate that I had a radio with me and Mobile Fire Department training allowed me to survive as long as I did,” said Cox.

Posted by on November 24, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News, Uncategorized, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Quick Takes

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A truly fascinating video: I apologize if you have seen this before, but I had not. This version was posted to YouTube yesterday. It’s reported to be a 1941 film of members of Italy’s fire brigade strutting their stuff. The first thing that comes to mind watching the coordination and timing is synchronized swimming. Sure enough, later in the film they are all in the swimming pool. I don’t know if they could fight fire, but it looked pretty and some of those moves took a lot of guts. The idea that Mussolini made sure the trains ran on schedule is now seen as legend rather than fact, but this film seems to show his firefighters had their timing down. 

Our reader’s words come to life : It isn’t quite Masterpiece Theatre but we have put together dramatic readings of some of the recent comments to STATter911.com. It is quite moving. Pure poetry. While not really a “must see” video, it’s kind of in a category of its own. Click here to watch the video. 

Buy this book! Will Wyatt's And a Paycheck, Too! would make a great holiday gift. Click the image to read why Will wrote it and why Dave likes it.

Speaking of comments: We have quite a lively debate over the ambulance wars story from Las Vegas. A lot of interesting arguments over the best model for providing EMS. Click here. 

30th anniversary of a deadly fire: There were a lot of lessons from the MGM Grand fire of November 21, 1980. But as one of our reader’s wrote, not all of them have sunk in 30-years later. Particularly how effective automatic sprinklers are. We have gathered reports and videos for your reading. This history lesson is well worth your time. Please take a look. Over at Command Safety, Christopher Naum had the same idea but went quite a few steps further. 

Two for the price of one in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania: I always like it when I am researching one interesting story and find another one in the process. That was the case over the weekend where a search for the details behind the video of  a burning ambulance brought me to the story of a rugby team that trashed the Bloomsburg Fire Department banquet hall. Read it all here. Update- Bloomsburg FD was able to hold a Sunday morning breakfast fundraiser despite the damage. Click here to read and watch the story. 

Looking again at FDNY firehouse closings: Firegeezer has the latest on the revived plan to shut down 20 firehouses at night on a rotating basis. 

Controversy over FDNY calendar: It’s not what you think. It isn’t about sex. It’s about money. Here’s the story. 

Distracted driving: One of our readers from South Portland, Maine sends this reminder of distracted driving. A driver on a cell phone hit this police car and injured Officer Rocco Navarro. Click the image to watch an interview with the officer.

Mississippi house fire: I have no clue how to pronounce the name of the time but this is our second recent video of a fire in Kosciusko. Check it out. 

911 issues during Ocean City, Maryland cardiac arrest run: Audio, documents and a very interesting story about an October, 2009 incident. If you missed it Friday, here it is. 

And they are off – turkey fryer fire week: Already one in Fort Myers, Florida. My guess is it will be the beginning of a trend for the week. (What, is Carnac the Magnificent now running this blog? Are you sure you want to go out on a limb with that prediction, Dave?) 

The volunteer blues in South Dakota: Around the Rapid City area volunteer fire departments are seeing the same trend as elsewhere in the country. The Rapid City Journal has a detailed article on the impact of the reduced availablity of volunteers and how many departments are wrestling with the idea of hiring career firefighters. Here’s more. 

Texas fire leaves four dead: A Sunday morning fire in a Harlingen trailer park left four people dead and one injured. Read more. 

My favorite story of recent days: The Fire Critic got in early on the woman who almost laughed herself to death at a comedy club. Read the story and watch the video. It’s a shame the “Critic” isn’t old enough to get into a club where they sell booze and have adult humor.

 

 They’re out. They’re in. They’re out again?: The saga of Flint, Michigan firefighters. They have been asked to take a 10 percent pay cut or lose a dozen firefighters. Likely cut, the firefighters who were brought back from previous layoffs thanks to federal grant money. But, of course, if the new layoffs occur, the city might have to pay back that money. What a mess.  

Posted by on November 22, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, Customer Service, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, FDNY, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, News, Police, Quick takes, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Charles County, Maryland firefighters say there was no horseplay at controversial Virginia fire. Claim King George did not have adequate staffing & did not handle fire well.

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Click here for video from the fire and our initial coverage of this story

Firefighters from Charles County, Maryland are telling a different story about their actions at a September 20 house fire across the Potomac River in King George County, Virginia. On Thursday there was a town hall meeting covered by Fredericksburg.com where citizens complained and fire officials agreed that the fire was mismanaged and the conduct of the firefighters was “atrocious”. In her original article reporter Cathy Dyson wrote, “some firefighters danced around and played on a rescue stretcher, gave each other high-fives and rode a pink scooter across the lawn.”

Dyson has now talked with firefighters from Charles County. Here are excerpts from her latest story:

“King George did not have adequate staff and manpower to put in the right places like we did,” said Clifton Butler, volunteer assistant chief at Newburg Volunteer Rescue Squad and Fire Department in Charles County. “When we got there, we went to work and did what we were supposed to do.”

Jason Moore, fire chief of LaPlata Volunteer Fire Department, said his unit was dispatched 30 minutes after the first trucks responded. He expected to help with cleanup and was surprised that the fire was still raging.

“That thing should have been well out by then,” he said, adding his ladder truck probably got to the scene 50 minutes after the first units arrived. “It was chaotic, to say it lightly, from the simple matter of who’s in charge, who’s calling the shots.”

Butler said firemen may have slapped a few high-fives when the fire was out, to show they were glad the situation was handled and no one got hurt.

“But there was no horseplay,” he said.

He said no one from King George was doing anything while the Maryland firefighters worked.

“We took a lot of our pieces to come over and protect the citizens of Dahlgren because we know they needed it,” Butler said.

Moore, from LaPlata, was “personally offended” that King George would place blame publicly instead of talking about the issue privately, among the departments involved.

“You don’t put your dirty laundry out on the street,” Moore said. “I’m not gonna spit in your yard, don’t spit in mine.”

Neighbor Don Diehl said he lives nine houses down and went to the fire scene at least half an hour after the first trucks got there. He didn’t go earlier because he was watching Monday night football.

“What I saw was an orchestrated effort to put the fire out,” said Diehl. “That would be my judgement as a layman.”

Posted by on November 6, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, Customer Service, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, Major Incidents, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Firefighters feel ‘unappreciated’ after election fails to provide funding. One department in Nacogdoches County, Texas may close. Second may sell equipment.

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Two fire departments in Nacogdoches County, Texas are contemplating drastic changes now that the public has spoken and failed to vote for funding an emergency service district (ESD). The former career firefighter who lead the oppposition has now donated $150 to one department and changed the message on the electronic sign that told people to vote down the ESD to one that asks the public to make donations to their local VFD. Here’s more from KTRE-TV: 

“It’s kinda a slap in the face, that how dare you ask us,” said Bryan Loudenslager, Melrose volunteer firefighter. “But in the midst, if they have an emergency we’re there all hours of the night. Now that we have an emergency that we need funding, we were unable to get that,” said Loudenslager.

Opponents say it boiled down to one issue. “People are tired of paying property taxes and this was going to be another one of those,” said Nathan Alders Jr. He actively campaigned against the proposal that would provide authorization to levy a tax not to exceed 10 cents on each $100 valuation of taxable property within the district.

The Woden Fire Department is contemplating closure. “We really feel unappreciated,” stated Woden’s fire chief, Rickey Jones. “I don’t know what direction we’re going to go, but we don’t have money. It’s up to the community to decide if they want a fire department, ” said Jones.

In Melrose the plan is just short of a rummage sale. “We’re going to have to sell off some equipment to go ahead and make ends meet,” said Loudenslager. The department owes money on a truck they obtained through a matching grant. There won’t be enough money to pay the notes if a whole lot of money doesn’t come in within the next three months according to loudenslager.

Alders said no one needs to shut down or sell off. “I think what we may need to do is scale aback just a little bit and get a budget and work within that budget,” said the retired career firefighter for the Nacogdoches Fire Department.

Posted by on November 5, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Command & Leadership, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Funding & Staffing, News • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Quick Takes

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 The “Hornet’s Nest” on the scene: Video from DC’s Engine 4 arriving on the scene at 2811 Sherman Avenue, Northwest early yesterday morning.

Raw video & fireground audio from DC 3-alarm hi-rise fire: Click here for Vito Maggiolo’s video, fireground audio and WUSA9.com coverage of yesterday afternoon’s fire at 1444 Rhode Island Avenue, NW.

Ambulance fee defeated in Montgomery County, Maryland: In an extremely controversial campaign that pitted career versus volunteer, voters soundly rejected the idea of billing insurance companies for EMS service in Montgomery County. The vote was 135,000 to 116,000. Without the fee, county officials have warned of significant budget cuts for fire and EMS that could include the loss of 100 career firefighter positions. Read details.

Fire based EMS to remain in Sheboygan, Wisconsin: It was a narrow victory separated by 500 votes but a move to take EMS from the Sheboygan Fire Department and farm it out to the private sector was defeated. Chief Jeff Hermann sees this as a victory for the citizens. Read more.

Child born hours after mother escapes fire that killed two other children: A pregnant woman suffering from smoke inhalation gave birth shortly after escaping a fire in Norman, Oklahoma. The fire took the lives of two young children and injured others in the Larkins family. Here’s the story.

Video of a 1989 close call in Phoenix: Video and lessons learned in an old video from Phoenix showing the crew from Ladder 27 falling though the roof of a home with a lightweight truss roof. Here’s a look back.

No love here: As expected, the man accused of stealing a helmet from Boston’s Ladder 26 isn’t getting much sympathy from STATter911.com readers. If you haven’t seen it, here are the video and the comments.

Reasons to laugh: I offered an olive branch to my friend and mutual tormentor Fire Critic Rhett Fleitz yesterday and sang his praises for giving us a reason to laugh (other than at him) with a great video posted yesterday showing the cops view of fire and EMS on the scene of a highway crash. Click here if you haven’t seen it (it’s worth the time). The good will didn’t last long because Rhett’s good friend, and our fellow blogger, Willie Wines, went and ruined it all by having us once again laugh at Rhett Fleitz, the King of the fire/EMS blogs. Long live the king. If you are really bored, but need a really good laugh, click here.

A serious blog: While I am wasting your time with the foolishness above, over at Firegeezer.com they take their fire and EMS news seriously. Geezer and FossilMedic have a bunch of good postings, including the latest from the strike in London and an update on Roseville, California shopping mall fire and sprinkler controversy. Click here and scroll down. 

Another community surprised by firefighter OT: In what as been a pattern in recent years, a news organization is doing a story how firefighters are making as much money as top city managers. This time it’s Long Beach, California where some firefighters and officers have doubled their salaries by working a lot of overtime. Here are the details.

Minneapolis concerns: Firefighters talk about past and future cuts and how it impacts fireground operations and safety for citizens and firefighters. The story is illustrated by a deadly fire in April. Here’s more.

Posted by on November 3, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Chief Dennis Rubin, Command & Leadership, Customer Service, DC Fire & EMS Department, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service (MD), News, Police, Quick takes, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,