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Quick Takes

Hobart, Indiana apartment fire: Fire at dawn on Tuesday with people jumping, including a woman who is eight-and-a-half months pregnant. You can read details here.

With the wonders of nature all around him this where Dave points his camera.

And Dave also hiked barefoot five miles through two foot snow drifts just to get to school each day: I just want you to know I left the warmth of my rustic cabin at Grant Grove in California’s Kings Canyon National Forest and hiked in the dark through bear infested woods in air that is almost too thin for human survival to get to the Internet connection at the John Muir Lodge so I can bring you today’s pearls of wisdom. I hope you appreciate me more now and stop sending those nasty comments. When my son Sam and I checked out the lodge earlier in the evening we found 15 or so people hunched over computers in the warmth of WIFI hotspot. We both had the same observation as we walked out. It was all men. Not one woman was geeky enough to do this in such a spectacular location with beauty all around you. I am particularly geeky because the only shot I am sending you from here is the one to the left. Apparently someone needed a little medical attention around 8:00 PM. We will be in nearby Sequoia National Forest the next two days.

Arrangements for Firefighter Christopher Wheatley: Firefighter Close Calls has all the details on how the Chicago Fire Department will say goodbye to Firefighter/Paramedic Wheatley.

Alarmed in Haverhill, Massachusetts about alarms that don’t work: A Boston TV station is reporting that dozens of red master boxes in commercial structures in Haverhill that were supposed to be alerting the fire department have not been working properly for two years, but the businesses weren’t notified. Here’s the story (thanks to our friend Emily Cyr).

New study says four is better than three: San Diego State University released its study yesterday saying that four firefighters on an engine company is the safest and most effective way to deal with California wildfires. Click here to read the study. Read more from SignOnSanDiego.com.

Attorney explains shoplifting charge against Houston FD’s Jane Draycott: As we told you yesterday the female firefighter who made headlines after saying she found racist and sexist graffiti sprawled in the women’s locker room at a Houston fire station has been charged with shoplifting while in uniform. Now comes word from her lawyer about the pressure Jane Draycott has been facing that may have triggered this most recent incident. Here’s the story.

Back home again for an educational opportunity: We mentioned it before, but there is still room available at Brunacini’s Hazard Zone Management Conference that will take place at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana on October 18th to 20th, 2010. Click here to register and learn details about the conference.

Roof operations in Detroit: This January house fire video has been making the rounds, including The Bravest Online and Firefighter Spot, so I thought I would join in after it was sent along by one of our very loyal readers.

Posted by dave statter on August 11, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Chicago Fire Department, Command & Leadership, Courts, Customer Service, Detroit Fire Department, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, Houston Fire Department, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, News, Quick takes, Social Media, Videos, fire • Tagged: Christopher Wheatley, Dave Statter, Detroit, Detroit Fire Department, EMS, EMT, firefighter, Firefighter Spot, Haverhill, Haverhill Fire Department, Hobart, Hobart Fire Department, Houston, Houston Fire Department, Indiana, Jane Draycott, Massachusetts, Michigan, paramedic, San Diego State University, SDSU, STATter911.com, Texas, The Bravest Online, The Hazard Zone Management Conference

No criminal charges in Florida radio fire stunt. Defense questions whether firefighter was really injured.

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See STATter911.com previous coverage of this story

About a month ago we told you that both the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office and Tampa Fire Rescue officials had been pushing for felony charges after their investigations into the really stupid radio station turkey fryer stunt last fall that set fire to a van and left a firefighter injured. But Hillsborough State’s Attorney Mark Ober has decided not to file charges against the people involved with M.J. Morning Show on WFLZ.

TBO.com reports that the radio crew will have to take part in a pre-trial diversion program:

Mark Ober announced that instead of facing misdemeanor charges, Todd Schnitt, host of the “The MJ Morning Show” on WFLZ, 93.3 FM, and two other members of his crew will have to enter a pre-trial diversion program for first-time offenders.

Schnitt, the two other employees and station owner Clear Channel Radio will donate at least $15,000 to Tampa Bay area charities that support fire and burn victims.

They also will engage in a four-week public service campaign to support those charities. The campaign will include five recorded announcements per day voiced by members of the show and a live broadcast from an event sponsored by or benefitting such a charity that would include interviews with victims, parents, volunteers and firefighters.

The station also will provide links to charities on its website.

Each member of the show also will have to perform 10 hours of community service at one of the charities.

Despite skating on these charges and being grateful, the attorney for the radio station went on the offensive questioning whether the Tampa firefighter was actually injured at the scene. The attorney cites conflicting reports about how the injury occurred. Maybe I don’t have enough insight into this, but I am not sure how slipping and falling and pulling a hose line are mutually exclusive. But according to WTSP-TV reporter Mike Deeson, the State’s Attorney report backs the claim from the lawyer. Deeson also says at the end of the video above that Tampa Fire Rescue officials who previously had gone public with their complaints about Ober’s handling of the case have now been “muzzled”. Here’s more:

While the WFLZ radio personalities were worried about being arrested for arson the morning of the fire, State Attorney Mark Ober says while these actions were irresponsible outrageous and offensive, it does not fit the legal definition of arson. However, Ober says it does violate the Hillsborough County Ordinance for open burning without a permit, which is a second degree misdemeanor.

We asked M.J.’s attorney, John Fitzgibbons, if this had been a John Doe, would the outcome be the same? He said, “Absolutely.”

And while internal memos show the program director of the radio station said people will either laugh or die, so it will be good on TV, Fitzgibbons and the Clear Channel attorney have been saying it was a waste of time to pursue criminal charges.

However, the State Fire Marshal’s Office disagrees. John Corbett points to the fact that a Tampa firefighter was injured in the incident. Corbett says it is not a waste of time to investigate any time a public safety official is injured.

But Fitzgibbons questions whether the firefighter was really injured. He says, in one report, the firefighter indicates he was injured while pulling out the hose. Another he indicates a different injury, which is inconsistent. In addition, Fitzgibbons says there is a video that exists that indicates the firefighter wasn’t injured. The State Attorney report agrees with Fitzgibbons.

And while the report does note a history of M.J. fire-related incidents since 2002, Fitzgibbons says his client and the station did nothing wrong. He says radio stations have been engaged in stunts for years and he maintains WFLZ took precautions, but something went wrong.

Posted by dave statter on August 8, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Courts, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Videos, fire • Tagged: Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, firefighter, Florida State Fire Marshal's Offfice, M.J. Morning Show, Mark Ober, Mike Deesonm, paramedic, radio stunt, STATter911.com, Tampa Fire Department, Tampa Fire Rescue, TBO.com, turkey fryer, WFLZ. WTSP

Quick Takes

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Early video as muffler shop burns in Chicago: Someone was rolling around 6:50 PM yesterday as the first engine arrived at Foster and Cicero (4801 W. Foster). There is later video of this 2-11 from our friend Steve Redick that you can find here.

Someone who gets it: If your idea of handling the news media at a fire or other emergency is to fill in the blanks of some script (At 3:30 PM our units arrived at 250 Main Street for a reported dwelling fire … ) you need to see this. In Buffalo, New York, Division Chief Scott Barry uses his moments in front of the cameras following a fire where two firefighters were hurt to tell a story and educate the public (and reporters) on the workings of his department. To me, this is effective communications and a great example for all of us. Take a look.

And now we know the rest of the story (or at least some of it): City officials are finally speaking out (as predicted, their initial silence stretched this story into another news cycle or two) about the apparent rift between police and firefighters in Daytona Beach. As we all figured, we were missing some elements behind memos from police that a firefighter told them to handle the EMS work at call were an 81-year-old woman was found on the floor. It turns out the firefighter in question is the union president. Part of the tension may have to do with the police chief accusing an unknown firefighter of witness intimidation in the case of a colleague arrested on a pair of sex charges. It is getting rather complicated to explain, so just read it yourself.

The welcoming committee: It says “Welcome to Baltimore”, but the message from the IAFF & FOP is a rather pointed one. Check it out.

What the tow truck operator spotted that the firefighters didn’t: This seems to happen once a year somewhere in the country. In Cleveland, Ohio firefighters missed the body in a burned out vehicle. Firegeezer has the story.

More than just pot growing accusations against FDNY member: The New York Daily News reports prosecutors claim that Firefighter Patrick Murray is a member of a gang known as “The Master Race”. Murray which is responsible for grow houses throughout Queens. His lawyer tells the paper, “He is not a member of any organization except the Fire Department of New York City.” Read the story.

Deadly moment captured on video: If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the video from Iran where a man was rolling off some video of a fire 10 days ago at a petrochemical plant when it suddenly exploded. Four people were killed. Click here.

Dave the video killer strikes again: Here is my advice for the day. If you are going to put your fire or other videos on YouTube, look at the clips with the same critical eye everyone else will BEFORE you hit the upload button. Think ahead a bit and project how you are going to defend any potentially controversial items on the video when the fire service community sees it on STATter911 or some other forum. If you are truly comfortable with the good, bad and the ugly that is on there then by all means post it. We know no fireground is perfect and there is always something to learn. But it doesn’t make a lot of sense to boldly put the videos out there and then have to take them down a day later because some people pointed out the obvious. My lecture is over (what a pompous pain this guy has become since he quit the reporter job). If you are wondering what the hell I am talking about click here and read the comments.

A social media dos and don’ts theme show: Similar to my advice above, when you are writing nasty things on Facebook about someone you work with or anything to do with your business you might want to think how this will play when your boss sees it. A woman who USED TO work for an ambulance service in New Zealand can now explain this concept better than I can. Here’s the story.

A payroll mess in Birmingham, Alabama: The way the mayor tells it police and firefighters are supposed to make the same annual wage but not the same hourly rate. Somehow that didn’t translate into practice and the council has given orders to reduce the salary of firefighters. It is also being linked to a federal case involving the city’s payroll computer. Firefighters are threatening legal action of their own. Check it out.

Posted by dave statter on August 4, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Chicago Fire Department, Command & Leadership, Courts, Customer Service, EMS Topics, FDNY, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, IAFF, News, PIO, Police, Quick takes, Videos, fire • Tagged: 2-11, alabama, Birmingham, Chicago, Cleveland, Cleveland Fire Department, Dave Statter, Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Fire Department, Daytona Beach Police Department, EMS, EMT, Facebook, firefighter, Firegeezer, Florida, Foster & Cicero, grow operations, Illinois, muffler shop, New Zealand, Ohio, paramedic, Patrick Murray, STATter911.com, Steve Redick, The Master Race

Quick Takes

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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.

Long Island house fire: Raw video from a recent house fire in Garden City Park.

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.

Train vs. ambulance: Firegeezer has the story of one from Vancouver Island that could have been a lot worse.

Posted by dave statter on July 28, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Apparatus Wrecks, Command & Leadership, Courts, Customer Service, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, HazMat, Quick takes, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus, Videos, fire • Tagged: Bridgeport, Bridgeport Fire Department, Cape Coral, Connecticut, Coweta County, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, firefighter, Firefighter Close Calls, Firegeezer, Florida, Georgia, golf cart fire, Irvington, James Corrigan, Jerry Springer, Jim Cadenhead, Michael Baik, Mini Taj Mahal, National 9/11 Memorial, New Jersey, Newark, North Carolina, paramedic, Raleigh, STATter911.com, Steve Velasquez, Steven Veasquez, Taj Mahal, Texas, Vancouver Island, West Virginia, Wharton, World Trade Center, WTC

Quick Takes

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Los Angeles explosion raw video: The video of the explosion that left three firefighters and a TV photographer injured has been sitting in the STATter911.com video player since yesterday morning (thanks to WUSA9.com’s Emily Cyr). Click the image above if you haven’t seen it. Emily cut out the sound because of some language issues. Here’s a longer versions with the shots leading up to and after the blast. Being on the road yesterday I didn’t have time to write about the fire at a firm that makes titanium golf clubs, but Bill Schumm did at Firegeezer.

Seven hours to change a flat: The Memphis Fire Department found out the hard way that the city no longer had anyone under contract to change tires on its fire trucks. Here’s the story.

Firehouse water battle leads to chief’s arrest: Assistant Chief Jason Ober faces assault, harassment and disorderly conduct charges when a water battle went awry at the Richland Township Fire Department in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. News accounts indicate firefighters were cleaning up from an event around 3:00 AM on June 27. They had been throwing water at each other and dunking people in a tub of ice water that held the beer. As Ober was carried toward the tub he broke free and broke bad leaving one firefighter bloodied. Read details.

Mayor thinks laid off firefighters could be source of female candidates: The mayor of Haverhill, Massachusetts has his eye on 23 recently laid-off firefighters from Lawrence, specifically the two women who lost their jobs. Mayor James Fiorentini, sensitive to the fact his department is all male, says he is asking for a ruling on gender specific hiring. Read more.

I guess this is one where you can’t say they will come down from the tree when they get hungry: It wasn’t a cat stuck in a tree that brought out firefighters in the U.K. This time it was a little boy about 40-feet above the ground. Here are the details.

Posted by dave statter on July 15, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Courts, Customer Service, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, HazMat, Los Angeles Fire Department, Major Incidents, News, Quick takes, Videos, fire, must see video • Tagged: California. Firegeezer. firefighter, Cambria County, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, Haverhill, James Fiorentini, Jason Ober, LAFD, Lawrence, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Fire Department, paramedic, Pennsylvania. Richland Township, Richland Township Fire Department, STATter911.com, titanium, water battle

UPDATE: Sex charge at one Spotsylvania firehouse leads arrest at another.

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Click the image to watch story from Peggy Fox, WUSA9.com.

From Peggy Fox, WUSA9.com:

It was a night of unwanted sexual taunting and touching in the place where she volunteers. The Station 1 firehouse with the Spotsylvania Fire and Rescue Department.

“If you don’t get hold of it and follow it up with criminal charges and prosecution it’s just going to run rampant,” says Lt. Col. Michael Timm with the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Department.

The 17-year-old female volunteer firefighter told a detective that two of her male counterparts, one a juvenile, and another 20 year old Steven Tyler Perry, made up a ruse to get her out of her sleeping quarters. They, they tried to get her take her clothes off.

“She held her ground. was adamant she was not going to disrobe. They pursued it, physically restrained her, wet her down with a hose, physically put her in the shower. She may have been very scared,” said Timm.

Perry is charged with a felony count of custodial indecent liberties.

Lt. Timm believes that the juvenile coming forward, gave another, older female volunteer courage to do the same to report an incident that happened here at the Chancellor fire station number 10.

Sixty-two-year old John Broadrup is charged with sexual battery after allegedly groping a 42 year old woman volunteer he was training.

“He made some sexually suggestive comments and then touched her inappropriately,” said Timm.

A longtime woman volunteer firefighter with Chancellor said when she heard about the charge against Broadrup, quote, “It’s about time.” She didn’t want to give her name or go on camera, but said she would not be surprised if more women came forward with similar accusations.

Posted by dave statter on July 14, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Courts, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, News, Police, Videos, fire • Tagged: Chancellor Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, firefighter, Michael Timm, paramedic, sexual misconduct, Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Department, Spotsylvania Fire & Rescu, Spotsylvania VFD, STATter911.com

Quick Takes

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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.”

Last October the department did have a tiller problem. That was when Truck 5 left the firehouse and sideswiped a pickup because no one was in the tiller seat. Here are details of the most recent crash. Click here for the October story.

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.

Posted by dave statter on July 2, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Apparatus Wrecks, Baltimore City Fire Department, Command & Leadership, Courts, Customer Service, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, FDNY, Fire Prevention & Education, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, IAFF, Major Incidents, News, Quick takes, Videos, fire • Tagged: Baltimore, Bat Ridge, Bill Cole, Boise, Boise Fire Department, Brooklyn, Bushwick, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, firefighter, Firegeezer, Frederick, Idaho, Julian Lawford, Maryland, Micahel Reilly, Midland, New York, paramedic, Pennsylvania. Jonathan Hogue, Ryan Warnock, Salty Dog, South Carroll Street, STATte911.com, Truck 5

Quick Takes

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$350,000 dollar car burns in Brooklyn: It’s not often you get that kind of loss on a car fire. Here’s the video and some rather profane commentary as a Lamborghini Murcielago burned on Saturday. Read details.

Appeals court sides with Prince George’s County on furloughs: A reversal of fortune for firefighters and police in Prince George’s County, Maryland. A federal appeals court sided with the county overturning a lower court ruling that furloughs that began in 2008 were illegal. Read more.

WTOL-TV image from inside the firehouse in Edgerton, Ohio.

Town hall comes down on fire station, literally: In Edgerton, Ohio a storm last night lifted the town hall roof and brought it down onto the fire station roof slightly injuring a firefighter. Read the story.

Another fire station damaged by storms: Fire Station 2 in Oak Brook, Illinois also suffered roof damage from a storm last night. Here’s more.

Details from a mayday: On Friday a firefighter hitting hotspots at a York Township, Michigan house fire suddenly ended up in the basement. Read details of the efforts to rescue Firefighter Joe Yurkunas.

Sprinkler law in Baltimore City to be signed today: Chief Jim Clack sent out this message this morning-

At a press conference this morning at 9 AM, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will sign a new fire sprinkler law for our city. The law requires fire sprinklers in all new one and two family residential structures built here in Baltimore after July 1, 2010. On that date, we believe Baltimore becomes the largest city in the United States to require residential sprinkler systems in newly constructed one and two family homes. Experience from around the country where residential sprinklers are required tells us that this important public safety legislation will save many lives in the years ahead.

Much of the credit for the new law goes to our Fire Marshal, Raymond O’Brocki and our Maryland State Fire Marshal, Mr. William Barnard. Both are true professionals. I know it takes a lot of courage to stand up to the lobbyists for the construction industry, but our elected officials decided this life safety effort was critical to achieving our goal of Zero Fire Deaths. I am extremely proud to serve with each and every one of them.

Judge okays 9-11 settlement: From the New York Times-

A federal judge formally approved a settlement on Wednesday between the city and workers who say their health was damaged during rescue and cleanup operations at ground zero, allowing the agreement to move forward to a vote by more than 10,000 plaintiffs.

At least 95 percent of the workers — including firefighters and police officers, building janitors and volunteers — must approve the settlement by Sept. 30 for it to take effect. Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein of the United States District Court in Manhattan described the deal as “fair, adequate and reasonable” and urged the workers to accept it.

New fire commissioner in Chicago: A 33-year-veteran and third-generation firefighter is the new man in charge. Read more about Robert Hoff.

Firefighter fights back after being sued by chief and deputy chief: An update on a Halifax, Nova Scotia story where the brass is suing over what was said about them on the Internet by a firefighter. The firefighter says he is a whistleblower about safety issues. Read the details.

Posted by dave statter on June 24, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Chicago Fire Department, Command & Leadership, Courts, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, News, PGFD, PGFD (MD), Quick takes, Videos, fire • Tagged: 9-11 settlement, Brooklyn, Chicago, Dave Statter, Edgerton, firefighter, Illinois, Joe Yurkunas, Lamborghini Murcielago, Maryland, Michigan, Oak Brook, Ohio, Prince George's County, Prince George's County Fire/ EMS Department, Robert Hoff, September 11, STATter911.com, York Township

Appearance in a Keanu Reeves movie while on disability has Lockport, New York trying to fire firefighter

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Above, a December 21, 2009 story from WIVB-TV

Excerpts from an article today in The Buffalo News by Thomas J. Prohaska:

The city is trying to terminate Firefighter Michael Collette, at least in part for acting in a movie while he was off work on disability.

Two sources with knowledge of the details of the case said Thursday that the state Workers’ Compensation Board is about to charge Collette with a Class E felony for allegedly defrauding the disability system.

Penalties would include repayment of all compensation benefits since the finding of fraud, and a lifetime ban from ever receiving such benefits again, said the officials, who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak on a confidential personnel matter.

Alderman Joseph C. Kibler, who serves on the board, said the reason for trying to fire Collette was “because of fraud. He was making money while on disability. . . . That’s a no-no.”

Collette said in an e-mail, “I can’t comment on what Mr. Kibler said and perhaps he should not be commenting either, as there has not been a hearing and I have not been terminated.”

It was believed he had a small part in the movie “Henry’s Crime,” starring Keanu Reeves, which filmed scenes in downtown Buffalo in December. Many in and out of City Hall were convinced by a photograph published in The Buffalo News or by videotape aired on two Buffalo television newscasts that Collette was the man playing a security guard in a bank robbery scene, filmed Dec. 16.

“Somebody on workers’ comp should not be in a full sprint down Main Street,” said the source, who insisted on anonymity.

Kibler said that was not Collette’s only source of outside income, but he wouldn’t disclose the others. However, it is known that Collette operates a transportation company, Mac Limousine, which provided service for the moviemakers while they were in Buffalo.

The city has been battling with Collette for more than a year. He went off active duty in March 2009, although he said he hurt his back moving a box of files in the firehouse in October 2008.

Posted by dave statter on June 11, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Courts, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, News • Tagged: Buffalo, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, firefighter, Henry's Crime, Joseph Kibler, Keanu Reeves, Lockport, Lockport Fire Department, Michael Collette, New York, paramedic, STATter911.com, Workers' Compensation Board

Quick Takes

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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.

Update on Sandwich firefighters: Click here for the latest on two Cape Cod firefighters injured in what officials say was a backdraft during a house fire. The Sandwich chief downplayed the role of a closed fire station in having any impact on what happened. You can watch the story here.

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.

Ambulance stolen: Firegeezer has never met a stolen ambulance story he didn’t like. Read the latest one from Indiana.

Motel fire in Guilderland, New York: A fire at the Governor’s Inn and Suites on Route 20 in Guilderland early Monday morning.

Posted by dave statter on June 2, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Apparatus Wrecks, Command & Leadership, Courts, Customer Service, EMS Topics, FDNY, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, IAFF, Major Incidents, News, Quick takes, Videos, fire • Tagged: battalion chief, Cape Cod, Dartmouth, Dave Statter, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, EMS, EMT, Endicott, firefighter, Fort Walton Beach, Governor's Inn and Suites, Guilderland, Massachusetts, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Middletown, New York, paramedic, Robert Morganthau, Route 20, Sandwich, Sandwich Fire Department, STATter911.com, U.S. District Court

Quick Takes

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Water Valley, Mississippi house fire: This fire was at Buena Vista and Grandview yesterday afternoon. Firefighters dealt with temperatures in the 90s. The North Mississippi Herald reports it took a little more than an hour to bring the fire under control.

Union & chief offer differing views on PGFD’s holiday staffing: IAFF Local 1619 is again making waves about the reduced staffing during a holiday. In this case it is two holidays. Friday is Firefighter Appreciation Day and Monday is Memorial Day. Rather than doling out premium holiday pay Chief Eugene Jones says the combined system allows the department to still provide quality service using volunteers. Andrew Pantelis, the union president, thinks the safety of the citizens is in jeopardy. Read all about it.

An ice cold memory that got pretty hot: As Dave continues to make his way through his desk and the archive room in the waning days of his TV career, he found a must see close call from 1994. Check out this video of DC firefighters making a hasty retreat due to frozen hoses and pumps. You will also see that I retrieved from my desk a picture of the man who shot the video.

Woman calls 911 to report that firefighter appears to be drunk: An Orlando district chief is under investigation after a woman claims he was drunk in uniform at a pizza joint. Listen to the audio and read and watch the details.

Bees sting rescuers arriving at fatal crash: One of the two trucks involved in a pileup with two cars on I-35 near Lakeville, Minnesota was carrying thousands of honeybees. Two people died in the crash. Click here for the story.

My wife calls this the ultimate in multi-tasking: A Minnesota woman gave birth on the way to the hospital last week. That happens. But how man times has the woman been behind he steering wheel of a car? Amanda McBride did turn the wheel over to the father of the child as they moved down the road to the hospital. Here’s more.

Chicago suit gets new life: Here’s the lead from the Chicago Tribune – “After more than a decade of legal wrangling, thousands of black applicants for Chicago firefighting jobs celebrated a Supreme Court ruling Monday that found they did not wait too long to sue the city over a 1995 hiring test they deemed discriminatory.” Read more.

Firefighters give a hoot: Responding to a fire a fire truck from Missouri’s Wentzville Fire Protection District saw something fly into the windshield. Only after being at the fire for an hour did they realize they hit an owl and the injured bird was sitting dazed on top of the rig. The firefighters saved the owl. Read the details.

You never know what’s in those things: In Orlando yesterday fire swept through storage lockers at the Orlando Business Center. Not only did four explosions keep firefighters on guard but it turns out people and animals were being “stored” there.

Posted by dave statter on May 25, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Courts, Customer Service, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, HazMat, Videos, fire • Tagged: Amanda McBride, Chicago, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, firefighter, Florida, Illinois, Lakeville, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Orlando, Orlando Business Center, paramedic, STATter911.com, Water Valley, Wentzville, Wentzville Fire Protection District

Quick Takes

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Arson blamed for Sunday afternoon house fires: A pair of homes that burned in Tampa is being looked at for a connection to a strong of 22 arsons in the area. One vacant home burned and a second home used by an adjacent business was damaged in the 1500 block of E. 17th Avenue. Firefighters kept the fire from spreading to the main building of Tommy’s Wholesale. Click here to read more about the 3-alarm fire.

Firefighter John Glaser: A Shawnee, Kansas firefighter died in a house fire Saturday night. Thirty-three-year-old John Glaser was a six-year member of the department who leaves behind a wife and two young children. Here’s our coverage.

What did the firefighters know and when did they know it?: Free Lance – Star reporter Dan Telvock has an interesting follow-up to his story about the fire in Spotsylvania County, Virginia where firefighters couldn’t find the woman talking to 911. According to Telvock, a police report by a sheriff’s deputy who was first on the scene indicates the deputy gave some important details to firefighters about who was in the house. Telvock reports this information was not part of the official review of the incident ordered by County officials. Read more.

Remember her? I warned you this Australian trainer would get more publicity than any of you for her efforts at firefighting. Tash Bennett helped put out a fire in a palm tree while doing some topless sunbathing. Now she is posing for the men's magazine ZOO Weekly (source for picture above) and says a firefighters' organization in Illinois is bringing her in to speak. Click the image to read more.

Hazmat from 22-years-ago: From the STATter911.com Archives (actually I found it on my desk) a 1988 story on a series of hazardous materials incidents in the Washington area and a look at how firefighters were trained to handle such things. There are interviews with the late Warren Isman, then chief in Fairfax County, and Pat Walsh, a STATter911.com reader who was then a DC lieutenant. Check it out.

Firefighter charged in pipe bomb incident: Volunteer firefighter Walter Scott Jr. from Salisbury, New Hampshire told police he found the bomb and then took it back to his garage before calling for help on March 16. Scott is now charged with reckless endangerment for tampering with the bomb. Read and watch the story.

Caught on video – master stream hits chief: Video from Stamford, Connecticut shows a very lucky chief.

Lt. and crash victim wrestle for gun: In Florida, Port Orange Fire Department Lt. Joe Carrasquillo spent his 44th birthday facing the barrel of a gun held by a man who crashed his vehicle. Read the dramatic story of how this one ended.

Mobile sick-out: The latest news report indicates there were eight firefighters out sick Sunday compared to 31 on Saturday in what some are calling a spontaneous sick-out in the Alabama city. The department recently closed three fire stations and dropped minimum staffing to three. Firegeezer has the original story.

Lawyers not interested in case of collapsed gurney: The daughters have the video showing their father hitting the ground after the gurney he was on collapsed during unloading at a Michigan hospital, but no lawyer is interested in helping them sue. Read why.

Sheriff says no to raise for firefighters: In Broward County, Florida where the fire department is part of the sheriff’s department the top man is saying no to a raise ordered by a special magistrate. Read details.

Long Island fire: Lots of video from last week’s fire in Baldwin in a block adjacent to the firehouse. Click here.

Three-alarms for vacant electronics plant in New Jersey: Struthers Dunn electronics moved to South Carolina 16-years-ago but their old building is still around in Mantua Township. It burned early Saturday. Click here to read more about the fire.

Posted by dave statter on May 24, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Courts, Customer Service, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, News, Quick takes, Uncategorized, Videos, fire • Tagged: alabama, Broward County Sheriff, Dan Telvock, Dave Statter, E. 17th Avenue, EMS, EMT, firefighter, Firegeezer, Florida, Lt. Joe Carrasquillo, Mantua Township, Mobile, Mobile Fire Department, New Hampshire, paramedic, Port Orange Fire Department, Salisbury, Sandy Hill, sick-out, Spotsylvania County, Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Department, STATter911.com, Struthers Dunn, Tampa, Tampa Fire Rescue, Tash Bennett, Tommy's Wholesale, topless firefighting, Walter Scott, ZOO Weekly

Quick Takes

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House fire in Buffalo: Shawn McMahon and Don Murtha shot this fire last night at 275 Strauss Street. There is a report of one person burned. Their still pictures can be found here. Click here to listen to the fireground audio from Erie County Fire Wire.

Explosion in Cleveland: We have audio from FireSceneAudio.com and brief early video following yesterday’s explosion that destroyed three homes and damaged many others in a Cleveland neighborhood. Here’s our coverage.

4K a year to volunteer in one part of Prince George’s County, Maryland: The Bowie Volunteer Fire Department has presented an incentive plan to the Bowie City Council that would allow active volunteers to receive a stipend of up to $4000 each year. At the same time the firefighters want Bowie to consider operating its own fire department, separate from the short staffed PGFD, and similar to what is done with the Bowie Police Department. Virginia Terhune has the story at Gazette.net.

It’s the cover up: A good reminder of how not to handle things when they go wrong. Two Fond du Lac, Wisconsin police officers were fired recently and two firefighters received lengthy suspensions after one of the cops became involved in an off-duty crash. The firefighters were passengers in the car and according to fdlreporter.com had been drinking. The news reports indicate what made things worse was the cover up of the crash that came about with the assistance of an on-duty officer and the firefighters. Here are the details.

Firefighter to return to work after child rape charges dropped: More than a month ago a Worcester, Massachusetts firefighter was arrested at the firehouse and charged with raping a seven-year-old girl who was “well known” to him. A grand jury found there was no evidence to move this case forward and the charges will be dropped. The firefighter is expected to soon be back to work. Here’s the story.

Mayor Menino on firefighter’s raise: Boston’s mayor writes a column on the 19% raise an arbitrator awarded firefighters and says the money isn’t there. Check it out.

Now retired firefighter and son to stand trial for murder: An update on that ugly road rage scene in Philadelphia. A now former Philly firefighter and his son have been ordered to stand trial in the beating death of a man. Here is the latest.

An announcement for jobs where you might want to keep your bags packed: FossilMedic Mike Ward posts the announcement for the medical director and assistant medical director positions in the DC Fire & EMS Department at Firegeezer. I lost count long ago how many people have filled that post in the almost 30-years I have been covering the department. I do know this will be the third medical director since Chief Dennis Rubin took over three years ago.

Posted by dave statter on May 13, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Career - Volunteer Issues, Chief Dennis Rubin, Command & Leadership, Courts, Customer Service, DC Fire & EMS Department, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, News, PGFD, PGFD (MD), Police, Quick takes, Videos, fire • Tagged: Boston, Bowie, Bowie City Council, Bowie VFD, Buffalo, Dave Statter, Don Murtha, EMS, Erie County Fire Wire, firefighter, Firegeezer, Fond du Lac, FossilMedic, Maryland, Massachusetts, medical director, Mike Ward, New York, paramedic, Shawn McMahon, STATter911.com, Strauss Street, Thomas Menino, Wisconsin, Worcester, Wworcester

Drinking & responding – two stories: – A firefighter strikes a cop & a chief tries to handle an EMS run.

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From Guilderland, New York (Albany County) comes the story of a volunteer firefighter responding in his personal vehicle to a house fire on Curry Road early this morning. Jordan Carleo-Evangelist reports at TimesUnion.com that Captain Thomas Fortunes of the Stanford Heights Fire Department struck and sped past Officer Don Jones who was directing traffic at the scene of the fire. Here’s more:

Fortune’s 1999 Saturn sedan clipped Jones’ right arm and kept going, prompting Officers Mike Minette and Joe Mazzone to give chase and ultimately stop him, police said.

Police said Fortune was discovered to have a blood-alcohol content of .15 percent, just shy of twice the .08 percent legal limit, and was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, reckless endangerment and failure to comply with a lawful order.

Jones was treated by Guilderland EMS. The extent of his injury was not immediately clear.

Above is the earlier video from KCCI-TV. Click here to watch the latest story.

Read police report from Carlisle, Iowa

The second story is a follow-up to the one above we brought you earlier this week from Carlisle, Iowa. A man told a local TV station that the fire chief who responded to his wife’s diabetic emergency was acting in a very strange manner. Now KCCI-TV has obatined the police report in this case and it indiates Chief Scott Burger was intoxicated. Here is an excerpt from the KCCI- TV story:

According to the report, a Carlisle police officer who confronted Burger after the incident said Burger admitted to drinking two beers, which he also acknowledged was against policy.

The report said, “Mr. Burger provided a sample of breath, which indicated his breath-alcohol content at 0.152.” The legal limit in Iowa is 0.08, nearly half of the test result.

In the report, emergency crews from Frasier Medical Services who also responded to the 911 case said Burger was acting unprofessionally.

“They described Mr. Burger’s behavior as ‘just not right’ and ‘goofy,’” the report said. “They advised that Mr. Burger’s behavior was unprofessional because he was very close to the individual’s face with his own.”

Another officer’s report said, “Two of the men had direct contact with Chief Burger and they stated he was actually hindering their ability to help the situation.”

Posted by dave statter on May 7, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Courts, Customer Service, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Fires, News, Patient Management, Police, fire • Tagged: Albany County, Carlisle, Chief Scott Burger, Curry Road, Dave Statter, Don Jones, drunk driving, drunken driving, dui, DWI, EMS, firefighter, Frasier Medical Services, Guilderland, Iowa, Joe Mazzone, Mike Minette, New York, paramedic, Scott Burger, Stanford Heights Fire Department, STATter911.com, Thomas Fortune

Quick Takes

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Three-alarms in Baldwin, New York: Seven firefighters suffered heat exhaustion after a fire broke out at Jerry’s Pizzeria in Baldwin and spread to apartments and other businesses. Click here for Part 2 of the video. More on the story.

Medic unit stolen this morning: A TV station was on the scene when police recovered a Columbus, Ohio paramedic ambulance and took a man into custody. Check it out.

“It was disgusting Lorain politics at its best”: The words of the fire chief of Lorain, Ohio after the City Council killed a deal to save the jobs of four firefighter. Chief Tom Brown says the budget cuts could mean days when only two of the city’s four stations will be open. Here’s the story.

Fire chief and deputy get to sue over “toxic comments” made to website: Firefighter Nation’s Bill Carey found this very interesting story from Halifax, Nova Scotia where two top fire officials have the court’s okay to go after their “anonymous” enemies. The lawyer for the chief and deputy chief says he now has information on who made the posts thanks to previous rulings that forced a newspaper and Internet providers to cough up the data. The comments centered on allegations of racism. Here’s the story.

Fire chief’s actions on medical call brings suspension: A man in Carlisle, Iowa tells KCCI-TV the person helping his diabetic wife was slurring his words and didn’t seem to know what he was doing. The man who responded to the 911 call is the chief of the Carlisle Fire Department. He’s now been suspended. Check out the story. Watch the video.

A ‘far cry’ from Ricci: That’s what a federal judge wrote in ruling against a white firefighter from Mount Vernon, New York who had filed a discrimination case. Read the details.

Collapse in Orlando caught on video: Two firefighters were injured at an apartment fire yesterday. Firegeezer has the story and the video.

Another DeKalb County firefighter wins his job back: WSB-TV reports a second DeKalb County firefighter has won his job back after being fired for his role in the botched response to a fire that killed an elderly woman. Click here for the latest.

Former firefighter witnesses murder of police officer: Bill Langevin ran to the side of Sgt. Joe Bergeron Saturday after seeing the Maplewood, Minnesota police officer being shot in the head. Langevin spent four years as a St. Paul Police Department officer and twenty more as a firefighter for the city. He got on the officer’s radio, called for help and provided a description of the killers. Click here to read the story and here to watch it.

Houston fire captain critically wounded at birthday party: Senior HD Captain Ricky Johnson, assigned to Station 74, was shot in the lower abdomen while attending a birthday party off-duty. A neighbor, complaining about the noise, killed the man throwing the party for his wife and wounded another man. Click here for more.

Missing equipment? Check eBay: That seems to be the pattern these days. In Sheboygan, Wisconsin a lot of the $20,000 in PPE and other fire & EMS equipment that was missing was being sold on line. A now former firefighter has been charged. Here’s the story.

Punishment for firefighter who lost equipment seen as too harsh: In Toledo, Ohio an arbitrator ruled a firefighter gets 80 percent of his wages back after being docked 120 hours for leaving a radio on the running board of a rig. The firefighter also is no longer required to pay for the lost radio. Here’s more.

New head of internal investigations in Los Angeles: Following a 220 page report critical of how discipline was documented and handled in the Los Angeles Fire Department, a new boss of the Professional Standards Division has been announced. She is Assistant Chief Roxanne Bercik, a 26-year veteran who most recently ran the Homeland Security Division. Read more.

Posted by dave statter on May 4, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Courts, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Houston Fire Department, Los Angeles Fire Department, Major Incidents, News, Police, Quick takes, Videos, fire • Tagged: Bill Langevin, Carlisle Fire Department, Chief Tom Brown, Dave Statter, DeKalb County, Dekalb County Fire Department, EMS, fire department, firefighter, Firegeezer, Florida, Georgia, Halifax, Homeland Security Division, Houston Fire Department, Iowa, LAFD, Lorain Ohio, Maplewood, Minnesota, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Orlando, paramedic, Professional Standards Division, Ricky Johnson, Roxanne Bercik, Sgt. Joe Bergeron, St. Paul, Station 74, STATter911.com, Toledo, toxic comments

Court rules against white firefighter’s claim promotion denied because city caved into Vulcan pressure. Judge says Mount Vernon, NY case a ‘far cry’ from Ricci.

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By Timothy O’Connor, LoHud.com:

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a white Mount Vernon firefighter who said he was passed over for promotion because of his race.

Calling it a “far cry” from a case where the City of New Haven, Conn., was found by the Supreme Court to have engaged in reverse discrimination, U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel rejected the lawsuit filed by Joseph Carroll.

Carroll, 50, sued the city in December 2007, five months after his upgrade to lieutenant was stopped when the Vulcan Society of Westchester, a black firefighters’ group, opposed his promotion as violating a federal decree aimed at increasing the number of African-Americans in the department.

In his lawsuit, Carroll claimed he was denied his promotion by the city because the city caved into pressure from the black organization.

His lawsuit appeared to get a lift last year after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a predominantly white group of New Haven, Conn., firefighters whose promotions were rejected after the city threw out the results of a 2003 Civil Service test.

The court ruled 5-4 in Ricci v. DeStefano that New Haven officials wrongly tossed the test after black firefighters did not score well enough for promotion, and the city feared a potential lawsuit.

But Seibel said in her 17-page ruling Friday that unlike New Haven officials, the City of Mount Vernon did not take any steps designed to deny a promotion to Carroll, who was a 19-year veteran of the department.

Mount Vernon officials waited for the city Law Department to evaluate the Vulcan Society’s complaint regarding the consent decree. The Vulcans’ protest came four days before the 2004 test list for promotion expired.

The Law Department did not respond before the list expired, necessitating the use of a 2007 list where Carroll placed lower. The first two firefighters promoted to lieutenant from the new list were white.

“There is no evidence that the delay occasioned by consideration of the Vulcan Society’s objections was a pretext for discrimination,” Seibel wrote, adding that there was no evidence the Law Department deliberately dragged its feet as the old list approached its expiration.

Posted by dave statter on May 4, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Courts, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, News, fire • Tagged: Cathy Seibel, Connecticut, Dave Statter, discrimination, firefighter, Frank Ricci, Joseph Carroll, Mount Vernon, New Haven, New York, reverse discrimination, Ricci v. DeStefano, STATter911.com, Vulcan Society

Former firefighter accused of stealing $20,000 in gear & equipment. Items sold on eBay.

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Article from SheboyganPress.com:

A former volunteer firefighter will make an initial court appearance today for allegedly stealing more than $20,000 worth of gear from the Town of Sheboygan Fire Department and auctioning it on eBay.

Items reported stolen included two sets of fire gear, 15 pagers, 13 defibrillator batteries, two defibrillators, a dash-mounted two-way radio, a set of vehicle emergency lights and a device that changes traffic lights to green as fire trucks approach, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday. The stolen equipment was valued at $23,000.

Jamie M. Jochmann, 30, of 1342 N. 38th St., could face up to five years in prison on a count of felony theft. He has no prior criminal record, but he does have another pending case for an alleged theft in January.

Jochmann has admitted to the fire department thefts and told investigators he took items between mid-2008 and spring 2009 after losing his job at the Elks Club, records show. He was fired from the fire department after the thefts were discovered.

According to a criminal complaint:

The investigation began in March 2009 when the fire department reported the two-way radio — valued a $5,000 — had been stolen along with the vehicle light, a hose washer and a projector. The fire department discovered other items missing in the months that followed.

The Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department served a search warrant at Jochmann’s house in January, at which point he admitted to the thefts. Records from his two eBay accounts showed he tried to resell many of the items reported missing earlier, as well as a voice amplifier, Jaws of Life hydraulic pump, firefighting helmet and other smaller parts.

The complaint filed Friday also charged Jochmann with misdemeanor theft for allegedly taking numerous items from a Town of Sheboygan home where he worked as a handyman.

The homeowners reported stolen an iPod, GPS, bottles of wine, collectible coins and bills, two Ducks Unlimited prints and at least $500 in cash their down-syndrome son had saved up, the complaint said. Jochmann’s eBay account showed he resold the coins, iPod, GPS, prints and bills.

Jochmann denied taking the wine, coins and $500 in cash.

Posted by dave statter on May 3, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Courts, Fire Rescue Topics, Funding & Staffing, News, Police, fire • Tagged: Dave Statter, eBay, firefighter, Jamie Jochmann, Sheboygan, Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department, STATter911.com, Town of Sheboygan Fire Department, WI

Quick Takes

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Early video of New Chicago, Indiana house fire: Edward Malik again beats the fire department to the scene. This time not in Gary, but to the east in New Chicago. The fire killed a a few pets.

REMINDER: Don’t forget to check our player to the right for lots of new videos from around the country. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Firefighter says she slept with supervisor in an effort to stop the harassment: Kate Ellis is suing the U.K.’s Hampshire Fire and Rescue. Ellis, as the only woman at her station, claims she had to endure constant jokes, leering and innuendo. Ellis testified she tried put an end to it by becoming a notch on the bedpost of her supervisor. Here’s the story that appears to be getting prominent play by Britain’s tabloids.

Click the image for more of Ian Haight's photos of a strip mall fire Thursday in Waterloo, Ontario.

Mayor says firefighters may be selling overtime shifts to help others inflate retirement: In Rochester, New York, Mayor Robert Duffy has notified Attorney General Andrew Cuomo that city firefighters may be padding pension payments. Duffy said it appears some firefighters were taking “kickbacks” to allow more senior members to inflate their wages in the final years in an effort to get a higher pension. The union says no proof of this was found in an investigation three-years-ago and calls the mayor’s actions retaliation. Click here for the details.

Two firefighters fall through roof of home: In Union, Missouri one of two firefighters who came crashing though the roof of a ranch style home in Union, Missouri is in a burn unit. They fell fifteen feet shortly after getting onto the roof to begin venting operations. Here’s the story.

After NIOSH urges a Massachusetts firefighter seat belt law, a look at policies outside Boston: Despite state law currently exempting firefighters from having to buckle up on the job, other Massachusetts chiefs say, unlike Boston, they require seat belts. Check it out.

Boston columnist says she wants to be a firefighter, mocking decision to give 19-percent raise over four-years: Despite her advanced age and “pathetic fitness level”, Boston Globe columnist Yvonne Abraham has written an open letter saying she wants to be a part of “Firefighterland”, “a beautiful place with no connection to the economy whatsoever”. Here’s an excerpt-

Elsewhere, the city is shutting libraries and giving school custodians the ax. But in Firefighterland, it’s all dollar signs and days off.

That’s because for four years, the firefighters union refused to give an inch during negotiations with the city. Instead, they attacked the mayor and tried to scare the public. It worked. That arbitrator in Albany just gave them a whopping 19 percent-plus pay increase over four years.

Award for Siarnicki: Former Prince George’s County, Maryland chief and National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Executive Director Ron Siarnicki recevied the Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award at FDIC. During his acceptance speech Siarnicki announced military firefighters will now be included in the NFFF Memorial. Read coverage here and here.

Florida firefighter charged in home invasion: Investigators say Punta Gorda Firefighter Ernest Bowen is suspected of planning the robbery of a prominent family and getting more than 100k in jewelry and money. Here’s the story.

Florida planning chief gets disability payment from another fire department: Read the story about the controversy surrounding Pasco Fire Rescue planning chief’s disability payment from Tampa.

The volunteer shortage: Tom Lindtveit, who has contributed in various ways to STATter911.com, has a letter to the editor of Occupational Safey & Health magazine/online that is worth checking out. Captain Tom looks at the demands placed on volunteers and how it impacts recruitment and retention. Read the letter.

Posted by dave statter on April 23, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Boston Fire Department, Command & Leadership, Courts, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News, Quick takes, Videos, fire • Tagged: Andrew Cuomo, Boston, Boston Globe, Dave Statter, Edward Malik, EMS, FDIC, firefighter, Firefighterland, Florida, Hampshire Fire & Rescue, home invasion, Indiana, Kate Ellis, Lake Station, Lifetime Achievement Award, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Chicago, New York, NFFF, NIOSH, Ontatio, paramedic, Punta Gorda, Robert Duffy, Rochester, Rochester Fire Department, Ron Siarnicki, roof collapse, STATter911.com, Tom Brennan, Tom Lindtveit, Union, VFD, volunteer firefighters, Waterloo, Yvonne Abraham

Quick Takes

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Pennsylvania apartment fire: This fire was reported at 1:45 Monday morning at the Willow Creek Apartments in Ephrata Township (Lancaster County). Two alarms were sounded. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries. It is a fairly new sprinklered building, but news reports indicate the fire began outside, on the balcony of a third floor apartment. Read more.

Chief Tom Carr’s announcement: A difficult one to report for those of us who are fond of Charleston Fire Chief Tom Carr. Yesterday Chief Carr told his staff and the citizens of Charleston he is dealing with Parkinson’s disease. The chief plans to continue running the department. Click here to read his message to Charleston’s firefighters and watch the press conference. Read Billy Goldfeder’s words about his friend Tom Carr.

Update on Baltimore’s Jeffrey Novack: The Baltimore City firefighter continues to recover from many broken bones and serious burns following the April 7 fire at 3910 Liberty Heights Avenue. Jeffrey Novack’s home town paper in Pennsylvania talked with his firefighter/radio reporter dad Al, who provided a lot more details about his son’s condition. Here’s the story.

Ammo takes firefighter’s eye: That’s the latest on Ventura County, California Firefighter Paul Torres. You may recall he was hit on April 5 by exploding ammunition during a house fire. Read and watch the story.

Brain drain in Fairfax County: Darryl Louder is the latest assistant chief leaving the Fairfax County Fire Rescue Department for a chief’s job. Chief Louder is getting about as far away as he can get from us. He’s been picked to run the Contra Costa Fire District in California. Read more. By contrast, Assistant Chief Dave Rohr is staying about as close as he can get to his old office. It was announced earlier in the month Chief Rohr is walking across the street to take over as chief of the City of Fairfax Fire Department.

Video from substation fire: Click here and here for good video of a Pinellas County, Florida electrical substation burning last night and a foam truck moving in to put out the fire.

911 calls from Austin plane crash into IRS office: Austin police released the recordings of the calls about the fiery plane crash into the building housing the IRS on February 18. WUSA9.com’s Emily Cyr loaded them into our player (at the upper right of the blog). You can listen to the calls here, here, here, here, here, here and here. We also have the calls made about the fire at pilot Joe Stack’s home here, and here. Read more.

NIOSH wants Massachusetts to require seat belts for firefighters: One of the recommendations following the January, 2009 crash of Ladder 26 that killed Lt. Kevin Kelley. Read the report.

Also in Boston, Globe wants the pay raise slashed: Editorial writers at the Boston Globe are urging the City Council to reduce the 19-percent raise for firefighters over four-years cleared by an arbitration panel that also ordered mandatory drug and alcohol testing. Read the view from the paper.

Two go through the floor in Columbus, Ohio: We have the fireground audio from FireSceneAudio.com and video of yesterday morning’s fire that took the life of a woman and injured two firefighters. Click here.

Audio from Houston crash: You have likely seen the pictures of Houston Fire Department’s Engine 13 following Monday’s crash into the underside of a freeway overpass. Here’s the radio traffic.

Firefighter and son could face murder charges: Now that a 55-year-old man has died from an April 8 beating, a Philadelphia firefighter and his son are expected to be charged with murder. The pair are accused of attacking Mark Wallace and fleeing the scene after Wallace walked in front of their car. Here’s the story.

Sunday’s 4-alarm fire in Union, New Jersey: You have probably seen lots of pictures and video from the weekend wind swept fire in Union that spread to four buildings. This version is from our friend Paul Bassett. Make sure you check out Paul’s still pictures by clicking here.

Posted by dave statter on April 21, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Aviation Incidents, Baltimore City Fire Department, Boston Fire Department, Command & Leadership, Courts, Customer Service, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Major Incidents, News, Quick takes, Special Operations, Videos, fire • Tagged: Austin, Baltimore, Billy Goldfeder, Boston, California, City of Fairfax Fire Department, Contra Costa Fire District, Daryl Louder, Dave Rohr, Dave Statter, EMS, Ephrata Township, exploding ammunition, Fairfax, Fairfax County, firefighter, Firefighter Close Calls, Firefighter Spot, Florida, Hammon Avenue, Jeffrey Novack, Kevin Kelley, Ladder 26, Lancaster County, Mark Wallace, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, NIOSH, paramedic, Paul Bassett, Paul Torres, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pinellas County, Progress energy, STATter911.com, Texas, Union, Ventura County, Virginia, Willow Creek Apartments

Quick Takes

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Gas main fire: In Somerset County, New Jersey firefighters spent a good portion of yesterday dealing with a burning gas line in Franklin Township. The fire started after a crew working on a drainage project struck the 6-inch plastic line around 10:40 AM. The fire destroyed two trucks and a backhoe belonging to the contractor. It also scorched power lines with about 115 customers losing power. The gas burned until about 2:00 PM. Read more about the fire. Pictures from the fire. Watch a video from one of the responding fire companies.

Videos ‘R Us (How do you make that backwards “R”?): We haven’t done a video roundup in months, but Emily Cyr loaded so many in the player to the right yesterday they just spilled over into the main blog. The best video shows drivers apparently doing self colonoscopies instead of realizing that towering geyser coming from the sheared off hydrant in Carson, California could have very well undermined the roadway as they drive through the flooded street. We also have fires from Michigan, Massachusetts, Illinois and California. And we added the awful looking aftermath video of Houston’s Engine 13 after it struck a bridge support injuring three firefighters yesterday. Click here to see all of the clips.

Mayday in Columbus, Ohio around 4:30 this morning after a firefighter fell though the floor of a home on Medina Avenue. We are told the firefighter was quickly removed. Another firefighter suffered smoke inhalation. The injuries to the firefighters aren't considered life-threatening. An elderly woman who was missing has been found dead inside the home. Click the image for more from WBNS-TV.

Whine by winemaker uncorks firefighter anger: Do you recall the letter to the editor we linked to last week from a Napa Valley winemaker? We ran the letter because our gut told us that this was not the last we would hear of Dario Sattui and his complaint that American Canyon, California firefighters are overpaid, underworked and have a great pension. We were right. A Santa Rosa firefighter called for a boycott of Sattui’s wines and the Internet is helping to fuel the backlash. Here’s the story. You can also read a couple of letters to the editor with a different view than Mr. Sattui’s.

More complaints and some regeneration work-arounds: Looking at our stats yesterday there seemed to be quite an interest in Boca Raton Chief Tom Wood’s guest column about DPF regeneration on newer rigs. Some writing in shared similar time-out problems and others had ideas on at least partial solutions. Click here and scroll down for the comments.

Arbitration panel orders drug testing and a big pay raise in Boston: Four years of a bitter standoff between firefighters and Mayor Thomas Menino apparently have come to an end. An arbitration panel gives the firefighters a 19-percent pay raise over four-years (retroactive to July 1, 2006). At the same time there will now be random drug and alcohol testing. The raise is significantly more than other city workers, including police, have received. Here’s the story.

Chief loses buggy after stopping to help at crash scene: A Cal Fire battalion chief stopped to help at the scene of a traffic collision near El Cajon yesterday. One of the people involved in the crash jumped in and took off with the pickup truck. It was soon recovered undamaged. Here’s some more info.

Flint firefighters are at their breaking point: That’s the contention in the headline and story from WJRT-TV after two firefighters were hurt in weekend fires. There have been more than 100 fires so far this month in Flint. The city has been operating with 23 fewer firefighters after last month’s layoffs. That could soon change. Read and watch the story.

Geezer on fire: While many of his fellow bloggers are hard at work in Indianapolis (see below) Bill was posting like crazy yesterday. Just click and scroll.

How the local media views FDIC: Check out the story from WISH-TV. Or you can go right to the source at FireEngineering. com. And don’t forget the bloggers gathering Friday night. You will find details and various reports from Indianapolis from many of the other folks who cohabitate with us at FireEMSblogs.com.

Network looks at shrinking volunteer force: ABC News is the latest with a story about the nation’s dwindling resource of volunteer firefighters. Click here.

Two Texas firefighters return to the job after lengthy battles. One is sent home: We told you yesterday about the return of Houston’s Jane Draycott nine-months after the graffiti incident at Station 54. Her return was apparently uneventful. You can read more here.

Things weren’t as easy in Beaumont where James Mathews has been fighting to get his job back since an arrest in 2008. He won an arbitration, but was sent home hours after his return to the department yesterday. Here is the latest.

Market fire in the Philippines: This is from Cabadbaran City, a city in the province of Agusan del Norte, where faulty wiring is blamed for starting the fire that destroyed the Cabadbaran City Public Market early yesterday morning. Read more about the fire.

Posted by dave statter on April 20, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Boston Fire Department, Command & Leadership, Courts, Customer Service, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, HazMat, Houston Fire Department, IAFF, Major Incidents, News, Quick takes, Videos, fire • Tagged: Agusan del Norte, American Canyon, battalion chief, Beaumont, Boston, Cabadbaran City, Cabadbaran City Public Market, Cal Fire, California, Columbus, Columbus Fire Department, Dario Sattui, Dave Statter, El Cajon, EMS, FDIC, firefighter, Firegeezer, Flint, Flint Fire Department, Franklin Township, gas main, Houston, Houston Fire Department, Indianapolis, James Mathews, Jane Draycott, Massachusetts, Mayor Thomas Menino, Michigan, Napa Valley, New Jersey, Ohio, paramedic, Philippines, Santa Rosa, Somerset County, STATter911.com, Texas, volunteer firefighters

Colorado Sheriff’s Deputy Steve James charged in arrest of Battalion Captain Dan Dailey. The latest in the dispute between Leadville & Lake County.

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Left to right: Deputy Arin Hart, Battalion Captain Dan Dailey, Deputy Steve James, Cell phone image provided to the Herald Democrat.

Watch KGMH-TV earlier story on the dispute

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

Lake County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Steve James has been charged following the March 27 confrontation at the jail where James and another deputy put Leadville/Lake County Fire Rescue Battalion Captain Dan Dailey in handcuffs and into a cell. District Attorney Mark Hurlbert has declined to place charges against Dailey. News reports indicate Sheriff Ed Holte is not available for comment.

Excerpts from an article by Ann E. Wibbenmeyer, Lakeville Herald Democrat:

District Attorney Mark Hurlbert, on Thursday, said, “It came down to a public safety issue.”

James, said Hurlbert, prevented a woman in need of medical attention from receiving that care.

The charges are first-degree official misconduct, obstruction of medical personnel and trespassing on public property. All are class-two misdemeanors.

The third charge, explained Hurlbert, is when a public servant is in a public building and is kept from his duties.

Excerpts from an article by Mike McPhee, The Denver Post:

On the evening of March 27 a Leadville woman drove to the sheriff’s office to file an abuse complaint against her husband. While talking to James and Deputy Arin Hart, she complained of a neck injury. James had the sheriff’s dispatcher in the next room issued an emergency call for an ambulance.

But Fire Capt. Dailey was monitoring the radio and responded, as well as the ambulance. When he arrived with two other firefighters in the sheriff’s office, James and Hart ordered the firefighters to leave.

Dailey refused. So the deputies handcuffed him and put him in jail while the two other firefighters left. Police Chief Mike Leak arrived at the jail awhile later and removed Dailey from his cell.

Fire Chief Robert Harvey said later that Dailey had acted appropriately by responding to the emergency call.

Leadville officials said there has been a two-year feud between the Sheriff Ed Holte and the fire department over who should be dispatched first to emergency calls. Holte believes the deputies should respond to most calls first to assess the situation, then call the fire department if needed.

However, Mayor Bud Elliott accuses Holte of violating an agreement between the city of Leadville and Lake County over the choice of first responders.

Hurlbert sent investigators to Leadville shortly after the jailing and released his conclusions on Wednesday.

“Our primary concern was the safety of the public,” Hurlbert said. “We felt the deputy kept the EMT (Dailey) from treating the person and that the EMT was merely doing his duty.”

Hurlbert said his office is continuing to investigate another incident last week in which Deputy John Ortega used a Taser stun gun on 30 high school students during a career fair at the school. Ortega, who was immediately suspended for one week without pay, said the students had asked him to Taser them and had given him permission. School officials said the students did not give their permission.

Excerpts from an article by Dayle Cedars at KMGH-TV:

Mayor Bud Elliott and Fire Chief Bob Harvey said this incident stems from an ongoing dispute between the sheriff’s office and fire department.

“It is reprehensible,” said Harvey. “This is what we are all about; being there to render aid to assist and care. So, as far as I am concerned, this could have been more appropriately handled had my crew been allowed to begin the basic life support procedures and then taken care of (other issues) later. This was not the appropriate time, place or event for these issues to come out.”

Dailey did not want to comment on the charges filed against James when reached at the firehouse Wednesday evening.

Posted by dave statter on April 15, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Courts, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Major Incidents, News, Police, fire • Tagged: Bob Harvery, Colorado, Dan Dailey, Dave Statter, Ed Holte, EMT, firefighter, John Ortega, Lake County, Lake County Sheriff's Department, Leadville, Leadville Police Department, Leadville/Lake County Fire Rescue, Mark Hurbert, Mayor Bud Elliott, Mike Leak, paramedic, Robert Harvey, Sheriff Ed Holte, STATter911.com, Steve James, Taser

Quick Takes

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One of the Chinatown videos we missed: With all of the videos that were shot during the 7-alarm fire in Manhattan, we overlooked this one (but Firefighter Spot didn’t). It is well worth watching, as what appears to be some of the last FDNY members in the building exit 253 Grand Street under cover of some streams. Also, here is a series of videos showing another view of the rescues made early in the fire.

Two very interesting stories about dealing with fires in your own home: The first is from Cocke County, Tennessee where Matthew Whaley is the “Dispatcher of the Year” for how he dealt with a woman reporting her home on fire. That woman happened to be Whaley’s wife. Click here.

Anne Arundel County Fire Department’s Justin Davidson had a rude awakening earlier this week during a visit to his parents’ home in Wallingford, Pennsylvania. While taking a nap, his mother burst in saying the house was on fire. Firefighter Davidson sprang into action. After Davidson, the first first responders on the scene were police who almost arrested the firefighter for failing to listen to their directions and leave the home. Maybe they were the safety police, because Davidson was fighting the fire dressed only in shorts and a T-shirt. Here’s that story.

Two burned on Georgetown University campus: WUSA9.com’s Emily Cyr (who puts those videos in the player on the upper right of this page) has some details on the overnight fire. Click here.

Apparently it was not an official bring your assault rifle to work day: All indications are a Memphis firefighter had nothing sinister in mind when he brought the weapon to the firehouse last week. News reports indicate he just wanted to show off his new purchase. The firefighter received a written reprimand. Here’s the story.

Houston firefighter at center of controversy to go back to work, again: The last time Jane Draycott came back on the job following an incident of hate filled graffiti it didn’t go so well. That was when then Chief Phil Boriskie and other top officials brought the gang at Station 54 together for a meet and greet that quickly fell apart. When we linked to Wednesday’s article about Draycott filing suit against the department, we failed to point out that she is tentatively scheduled to again come back to work on Monday. Read more.

State Supreme Court gives victory to New York firefighters: The Village of Johnson City has been told by the courts to honor the contract with firefighters. According to the ruling, Johnson City officials should have gone to arbitration with IAFF Local 921 before six firefighters were cut last June. Read the details.

Firefighters in San Jose fighting proposed cuts: Claiming response times are already too high, San Jose firefighters are making the case against budget cuts that would reduce the number of fire trucks on the road. They are also pointing out how they believe the city is wasting money that could be better used. Watch the story from our video player. Read more here.

Firefighters grab suicidal woman: Sounds like a pretty dramatic scene in Santa Cruz, California as firefighter teamed up with police to save a woman hanging from a sixth floor balcony. Here’s the story.

Supersize me: A look at how EMS in the Denver area is buying equipment to deal with obese patients. Read the details.

Mill fire in Pennsylvania: PumpFire.com posted this video from the fire early yesterday morning in North Manheim Township at the warehouse for a textile manufacturer. Firegeezer has the story of how firefighters found the fire on the way back from handling a vehicle collision.

Posted by dave statter on April 15, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Courts, DC Fire & EMS Department, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, Houston Fire Department, IAFF, Major Incidents, News, Patient Management, Police, Quick takes, Rescues, Videos, fire • Tagged: 7th-alarm, assault rifle, California, Chinatown, Dave Statter, DC, Firegeezer, Georgetown University, Grand Street, Houston, IAFF Local 921, Jane Draycott, Manhattan, Memphis, Memphis Fire Department, New York, North Manheim Township, Phil Boriskie, pumpfire.com, San Jose, Santa Cruz, STATter911.com, Tennessess, Texas, Village of Johnson City, washington

Quick Takes

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Multiple vehicles burn in front of motel: Firefighter Spot found this one first. The cars were burning at the Comfort Inn off Scott Avenue in the Morgantown, West Virginia area on Monday.

Radio traffic from fire engine crash in Baltimore: Baltimore City Fire Department Engine 36 and Engine 14 both were responding on the box at 1223 Mosher Street when each rig ended up on the northeast corner of Edmondson Avenue and N. Fulton Avenue. We have details, some pictures and two versions of the radio traffic (one on the collision and the other focusing on the fire, which went to two-alarms). Here is our coverage.

Woman charged in fire next to firehouse that left Baltimore firefighter injured: As we told you last week, the fire at 3910 Liberty Heights Avenue that seriously injured Firefighter/Paramedic Jeff Novack was suspicious. Now, a 19-year-old woman has been charged with starting the fire. Here’s more.

The chief and the council chairman have a civil public meeting.

A veritable love fest: One of my favorite TV shows are the episodes of the DC City Council Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary where Chief Dennis Rubin is the guest star. For more than a year it has been the place to go if you like public hearings that aren’t dry and boring. Even when they have dealt with the type of budget minutiae that puts many of us in the mood for a power nap, Chief Rubin and Chairman Phil Mendelson have kept the conversation quite lively. Basically they just don’t get along. But if Monday’s hearing on overtime is any indication, maybe these two may have buried the fire axe. In one hour and fifteen minutes of facing each other there was none of the fireworks that we’ve seen in the past. Check it out yourself. Also, here is Chief Rubin’s written testimony explaining the issues behind over budget overtime spending.

Judge reverses arbitrator leaving Buffalo firefighters having to pay back the city: On average, firefighters could be out $230 each month to reimburse the city for a pay raise a judge says they shouldn’t have received. That’s on top of rolling back the increase. The union makes the case this could actually be a good thing. Here’s the story.

Union president fired, two others suspended over spreading of information about chief and his wife: This is an update on a story we previously told you about in Jackson Township, Ohio. Despite support coming from as far away as Colorado, the town trustees fired Scott Harr, who is president of IAFF Local 2672. Two other firefighters were suspended. They are accused of leaking details from an incident report about a response to their chief’s home involving a domestic issue. Even though there is a union, the firefighters do not have collective bargaining under Ohio law that exempts unincorporated areas of less than 5,000 people. Read the latest.

One of the more amazing stories in recent days: Firegeezer takes a close-up look at how that trucker in Dallas, Texas escaped his rig during a fiery crash that left the flaming wreckage dangling over a bridge. Take a look.

Also, Bill takes a nostalgic look back at a “Fire-Pal”. This is for the radio geeks among us.

Houston’s Draycott files harassment suit: Last week they were celebrating the history making shift of an all-female engine company. Now, the Houston Fire Department has a lawsuit to deal with from a woman firefighter who is at the center of a long running episode involving concerns about harassment and discrimination. The case of Jane Draycott at Station 54 has also left Houston looking for a new fire chief. Here is the latest.

People eyeing Flint jobs: The struggling Michigan city may actually be in a position to soon hire a dozen or so firefighters, thanks to the grant money we have told you about. Here is the latest.

Chief reports on fire station closing: In Lufkin, Texas the chief reports on the first week without Station 3. Click here for the details.

Pittsfield, Massachusetts fire: This apartment fire began around 7:30 PM last night on Wahconah Street. Click here for details.

Posted by dave statter on April 14, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Baltimore City Fire Department, Chief Dennis Rubin, Command & Leadership, Courts, Customer Service, DC Fire & EMS Department, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Funding & Staffing, IAFF, Major Incidents, News, Videos, fire • Tagged: Baltimore, Buffalo Fire Department, Chief Dennis Rubin, Clinton District VFD, Comfort Inn, Committee on Public Safety & the Judiciary, Dallas, Dave Statter, fiery crash, Fire-Pal, firefighter, Firegeezer, Flint, Flint Fire Department, Houston, IAFF Local 2672, Jackson Township, Jane Draycott, Jeff Noack, Liberty Heights Avenue, Lufkin, Maryland, Michigan, Morgantown, Ohio, Phil Mendelson, Scott Harr, STATter911.com, Texas, West Virginia

All women crew makes history in Houston. Watch the story from HFD’s Station 10.

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The Houston Fire Department has been under a lot of scrutiny over the number of women firefighters in the department and how they are treated. Just yesterday morning we were telling you about conflicting issues as city officials try to follow Mayor Annise Parker’s wishes for resolving the mess at Station 54 over the graffiti incident involving Firefighter Jane Draycott (click here and scroll down).

Now comes word of a notable moment yesterday involving female members of the department. Here are excerpts from an article by Rucks Russell at KHOU-TV:

Houston’s first all-female fire crew made history Thursday night, operating a fire pumper truck and hitting the streets together for the first time.

“We joked about this amongst ourselves,” said Captain Bonnie Richter, a 14 -ear veteran of the Houston Fire Department. “I think it’s pretty cool between us, but it shouldn’t be different for anyone else.”

Richter was joined on shift by three other women, who either through rotation or prior scheduling, found themselves in the glare of history at Fire Station 10.

“We’re going to do the same job that we came to do this morning. It’s not going to be different for us,” added Richter.

The all-female crew responded to emergency calls in their district hours after Mayor Annise Parker announced the unprecedented assignments during her State of the City address.

Members of the crew said they hoped not to be singled out for any special recognition, calling themselves no different from anyone else.

Posted by dave statter on April 9, 2010 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Courts, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Houston Fire Department, News, Videos, fire • Tagged: Bonnie Richter, Dave Statter, Engine 10, firefighter, Houston, Jane Draycott, Mayor Annise Parker, paramedic, Station 10, Station 54, STATter911.com, Texas

Quick Takes

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Two from Washington State – TV crew stumbles onto house fire & a rekindle: A reporter and photographer from KOMO-TV in Seattle spotted the smoke and beat the firefighters from Marysville, Washington to the scene of this house fire on Saturday. Read more in this account from the reporter. Click here for an extended version of the video above showing much more of the firefighting operations. About 25 miles to the south on I-5, there was a house fire around 7:30 Monday night in Lynwood that left a man critically burned. Firefighters saved the man’s reptiles but reported the house was full of debris. Some of that debris wasn’t completely extinguished and about 2:00 Tuesday morning the fire took off again. Watch the story.

Big Love meets Backdraft: That’s one way to describe the story unfolding in twin polygamous communities along the Arizona – Utah border. Investigators say a central figure in their fraud and misuse of funds probe is the fire chief for the two towns. His home and four fire stations were among the places raided yesterday. Here’s what we put together on the story.

Two firefighters killed in the UK: James Shears, 35, and Alan Bannon, 38, died Tuesday night at a high rise fire in Southampton. Click here for details and video from the deadly fire.

A former Martin County (FL) firefighter and his twin brother are accused of stealing drugs from an ambulance parked at a hospital. Security cameras caught the theft. Click the image to read the story and watch the video.

Primary & secondary searches fail to turn up elderly woman, eventually found in the bathtub: Firefighters in Northwoods, Missouri didn’t find the body of Gail Banks until her godson went looking for her hours after the fire at her home was extinguished. Read and watch this story.

County commissioner who criticized firefighter pay gets more security: In Clark County, Nevada Steve Sisolak has been leading the charge over firefighter overtime and compensation. Sisolak says the number of harassing phone calls is increasing. Read more.

Fire chief says no: Corning, New York Chief Stephen Monroe is retiring after 10-years as chief because some of the things he has been asked to do by the city manager conflict with his style of principle-based leadership. The chief is not going into detail publicly but the thought is much of it has to do with budget cutting. Firegeezer has this interesting story.

Firefighter who walked into power lines is in critical condition: Click here for an update on Donnie Thimmes, the 65-year-old firefighter from Berne Township, Ohio who walked into a live wire at a fire on Monday. Firefighter Close Calls has the original story.

South Carolina firefighters charged with arson: A 21-year-old and two 16-year-old volunteers from Cowpens have been arrested. Their chief talks about the arrests. Here’s the story.

Airport firefighting crew may be cut: The talk is that one of three fire stations could close as budget cutting comes to Lambert Airport in St. Louis. Read the details.

Marcia Martinek took this picture of firefighters protesting in Lake County on Monday. Click the image to read her article.

A little bit more on the Colorado sheriff vs. fire department battle: Still haven’t heard any details on the Monday night meeting that was scheduled to address the arrest of a fire captain who was on an EMS call inside the Lake County Jail. There is now a picture and details of Monday’s protest by firefighters. There is also this video I missed a few days ago that has on-camera interviews with the sheriff and the fire chief.

Timing is everything: A success story in the case of a one-year-old child who stopped breathing yesterday in Prince George’s County, Maryland. A Kentland VFD engine crew, just back from a three-hour brush fire, was sent on the call. Before they got very far, the call came to them as a car blocked the engine’s path. Inside was the child. Firefighter/EMT Fred Caramiello was able to quickly dislodge an obstruction and get the choking infant breathing again. Click here to read the press release from PGFD Chief Spokesman Mark Brady.

The brotherhood: My blogging brother Rhett Fleitz, who I seem to be willing to throw under the bus at a moment’s notice, takes a look at what the term brotherhood means for firefighters. Check it out at The Fire Critic.

Leadership- A Question of Character: As you would expect, Ben May in his Firehouse.com column goes a lot deeper than shallow Dave did in his recent posting about leadership and honesty. Ben looks at Osceola County Fire Rescue where, besides honesty, they talk about things like patience, kindness, humility, respectfulness, selflessness, forgiveness, accountability, and commitment. Here’s Ben’s column and an interesting view of servant leadership.