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Raw video: Bus fire & MCI inside DC’s 3rd Street Tunnel under The Mall.

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A fire this morning has shut down the 3rd Street Tunnel under The Mall near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. The fire on a school bus that was being towed is now out. Drivers and passengers in the tunnel were forced to abandon their vehicles and DC Fire & EMS Department crews evaluated many for smoke inhalation. Some, including police officers who assisted in the evacuation of the tunnel, have been transported.

A second alarm and mass casualty task force were dispatched.

WTOP Radio:

Drivers are being escorted back to their cars after a school bus fire inside the 3rd Street Tunnel in Southwest closed the tunnel, forcing people to evacuate.

WTOP’s Neal Augenstein, who is on the scene, says about 60 people were removed from the tunnel after the fire was reported around 10:30 a.m.

 Image via IAFF Local 36 Twitter feed.

D.C. Fire and EMS spokesperson Lon Walls says the bus was on a tow truck when the fire broke out. He says the blaze has been brought under control.

Police evacuated drivers who were behind the bus after smoke from it began wafting back.

One woman tells WTOP the incident brought on an asthma attack. 

WUSA-TV:

An empty school bus that was being towed caught fire in the northbound side of the 3rd Street Tunnel. The northbound and southbound sides of the 3rd St Tunnel are closed.

The fire was reported at approximately 10:30 a.m. Monday. Between 40 and 50 cars were in the tunnel at the time, say authorities, and the tunnel was filled with smoke. Some of the fumes from the fire made it into the ventilation system at the nearby D.C. courthouse.

 Image via IAFF Local 36 Twitter feed.

About 30 people who abandoned their vehicles in the tunnel are waiting for a Metrobus to shelter them. The people describe a boom, followed by smoke and flames. the same people are praising police for their fast evacuation. There were no major injuries but at least one asthma attack.

DC Police are escorting people back to the tunnel via police cruisers to get their vehicles.

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Image from Brian Hopkins, WJLA-TV.

Posted by on May 21, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Major Incidents, Mass Casualty Incident, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sheriff’s vehicle hits fire-police member. Volunteer was directing traffic at collision scene in Theresa, New York.

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Theresa, New York  veteran volunteer Lance Willix was struck by a Jefferson County sheriff’s vehicle and seriously injured while directing traffic at the scene of a collision Friday evening.

WWNY-TV:

“We were involved in traffic control and at that time, one of my fire police on scene was actually struck by a vehicle,” said Theresa Fire Chief Mark Savage.

It was driven by a Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy.

In a statement overnight, sheriff’s deputies said “Early indications are that obstructed views due to vehicle congestion at the accident scene may have contributed” to the deputy’s vehicle striking the firefighter.

WatertownDailyTimes.com:

Mr. Savage said he was only a few feet away from Mr. Willix, 67, Theresa, when he was hit. “I heard the impact,” Mr. Savage said. “I turned around and there he was. All I could do was try to keep him still.”

Mr. Willix was taken by helicopter to Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, where a nursing supervisor said he was listed in fair condition late Friday. 

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Posted by on May 19, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, News, Police • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Another crash video: Fatal collision Tuesday as Russian rescue rig drives into oncoming tractor trailer.

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Earlier today we posted a video of a fire truck versus car intersection collision from 2010. Our readers say this video is from Russia (but still no details on the crash).

What I didn’t know, but just ran across was this dramatic and tragic video of a collision between some sort of rescue vehicle and a tractor trailer that, according to the information on the video, occurred on Tuesday. The only information I have been able to find (unless someone is able to translate the TV news report below) is from LiveLeak that claims it happened in Spasskaya-Polist’, a town in Russia and that two people were killed.

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Posted by on May 17, 2012 • Filed under: EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, must see video, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

VFD duty crew removes shingles from roof of Pine Hill, New Jersey mayor’s home. Investigation says it was all kosher. Citizens say otherwise.

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Read internal investigation of the incident

Should firefighters from the local volunteer fire department duty crew be on the roof of the mayor’s home removing shingles with the fire trucks parked out front? That’s the question in Pine Hill, New Jersey after that exact scenario took place on April 6, Good Friday.

WCAU-TV put an investigative reporter on the case after neighbors sent in cell phone pictures. The cameras were rolling when the neighbors confronted Mayor Christopher Green ten days later.

Mayor Green contends he did nothing wrong and that the firefighters were there to help his son who is a junior member of the department.

From WCAU-TV:

“They drove the fire truck down to my house, so that if they got a call, they could go to the call,” said Mayor Green.

“What if they fell off your roof and couldn’t go to a call?” asked one resident during the meeting. “How are you going to explain that? Who was going to pay for them if they fell off your roof?”

“I would have paid for them,” answered Mayor Green. “When individual members ask for assistance they help each other.”

“Regarding sending the apparatus with a full duty crew so that the truck will be at the ready, I feel I made the right decision and I’d make the same decision tomorrow,” said Pine Hill Fire Chief John Greer.

An internal investigation done by the city’s personnel director (also a former mayor) found that Mayor Green did nothing wrong. The chief, who was one of those helping out on the roof, says he is thinking of quitting because the department has become a “political football” in this episode.

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Posted by on May 8, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, News, Social Media, Reputation Management, News Media, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pre-arrival video: Police check out burning house that shut down Ohio University street party. Arson ruled in Athens Palmer Fest blaze. Watch suppression efforts, crowd contol & what certainly will become a classic interview.

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If you haven’t seen some of the videos from the house fire at the annual street festival in Athens, Ohio called Palmer Fest, please take a moment to check them out.

The street party in the Ohio University neighborhood was shut down Saturday evening because of the fire. The fire has been ruled arson. Scores of people were arrested as confrontations occurred between police and those attending the festival.

In the video above you will see police officers approaching Side C of the home at 11 Palmer Street as the basement burns. The videos below show the smoke conditions on Side A before firefighters arrived, a supply line dropped on Palmer Street parting the crowd, a line going through the Side C basement door, suppression efforts through a window on the second floor and a soon to be classic interview with a young woman who says she was in the house when the fire started.

The narration on some of the videos may also become classics, including this line from the video taken inside a neighboring house: “Who farted?”

Video above includes the pre-arrival view from Side A & crowd control efforts.

WCMH-TV:

A house fire in the middle of Palmer Fest in Athens has been ruled arson and officials are offering a reward for information in the case.

The house fire occurred at 11 Palmer Street at about 7 p.m. Saturday, in the heart of the area where students and others hold Palmer Fest, a gathering of house parties and music.

Video above shows the supply line being dropped down Palmer Street.

AthensNews.com:

The fire, reported shortly after 7 p.m. at 11 Palmer St., prompted Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl to declare Palmer and the immediate surrounding neighborhood as a riot area at 7:35 p.m., allowing police to clear the neighborhood of partiers soon after.

The house was occupied at the time of the fire, with one unidentified partier caught on video talking about noticing smoke coming from the basement and taking shots of liquor in honor of the fire before evacuating the premises.

At 1:06 in the video above a line is stretched into the basement door on Side C.

WJW-TV:

According to the police report, party goers began throwing bottles at emergency responders and inhibiting police officers from clearing the scene of the fire. Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl declared Palmer Street a riot area at 7:35 p.m. after the crowd resisted police force.

Officers then went house to house, shutting down the fest. The area was cleared by 8:20 p.m.

The vantage point from a neighboring home is seen in the video above. It shows the line going into the second floor window & same great narration from the residents.

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Above at 1:37 is the apparent spokeswoman for those who live in the house that caught fire.

Posted by on April 30, 2012 • Filed under: Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, must see video, News, Police, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Did you hear the one about the cat, the Doritos bag, the utililty pole & the firefighters? It really happened in St. Petersburg, Florida.

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Which came first the climb to the top of the pole or the bag? No one seems to know for sure just how a cat ended up on the top of a pole in St. Petersburg, Florida on Tuesday with a Doritos bag on its head. Lt. Ron Kidwell of St. Petersburg Fire Rescue & Station 1 and a newly hired firefighter, Kelly Blake, dealt more with how to get it down rather than worrying how it got there.

Kameel Stanley, Tampa Bay Times:

“That cat was just shaking,” Kidwell said. “It had no idea what was going on.”

As the animal teetered, Blake reached out with gloved hands.

The cat squirmed. The red Doritos bag went flying.

It was about 20 feet to the ground, but the cat landed on its feet, Kidwell said.

It was last seen running behind a nearby house.

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Posted by on April 29, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, must see video, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Judge orders man to donate to FD & apologize to firefighters. Victim pays the price for water rescue.

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Judge Garrett Page in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania wasn’t happy that 55-year-old Donald Pierce of Philadelphia didn’t think the barricades blocking a flooded road in the Willow Grove area during Tropical Storm Lee weren’t for him. After Pierce drove around that silly obstruction in the road he soon needed help. Of course it was up to firefighters to save his butt. Which they did.
But a police officer who said he saw Pierce drive around the barriers in his red minivan charged the man with three counts of recklessly endangering others and reckless driving. The three counts were one each for the three firefighters who risked their lives in an attempt make sure Pierce walked away from the mess he created for himself.
According to Margaret Gibbons at PhillyBurbs.com, as part of an agreement, Donald Pierce entered a guilty plea to a charge of disorderly conduct.  Judge Page yesterday fined Pierce $300 and ordered him to make a $1000 donation to the Willow Grove Fire Company and send letters of apology to the three firefighters who tried to reach him.
Here’s a description of the rescue from PhillyBurbs.com:

The vehicle drove into the flooded roadway and got about halfway through the swift moving flood waters when it became disabled. The force of the water pushed the van to the side of the road and up against a guardrail.                           

Three Willow Grove firefighters, trained in water rescues, entered the flooded roadway to rescue the driver but, after getting about halfway to the van and in water up to their hips, had to abandon that attempt because they were in danger of being swept downstream because of the swift flowing floodwaters.

A second attempt, using an Enterprise Fire Co. ladder truck, was successful.

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Posted by on April 27, 2012 • Filed under: Courts, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, News, Police • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Must see video: Two Orange County, CA firefighters standing over manhole when it explodes. Injured captain tells his story.

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We first told you about this incident yesterday in Quick Takes. We were alerted to this video of a very close call for firefighters and police by a STATter911.com reader. The incident happened Sunday evening in Yorba Linda, California. The series of explosions from a manhole was caught on a police car’s dash-cam. The police arrived first and saw the smoking manhole and waited for firefighters.

When the firefighters arrived to take a close up look another explosion occurred. Captain David Wolf of the Orange County Fire Authority was thrown ten feet by the blast. Wolf and a firefighter suffered minor burns and bruises. Wolf told KCBS-TV he was very lucky. That interview is in the video below

Elix Michaelson, KABC-TV:

Eventually, a fire captain and firefighter approached the manhole and looked down. The electrical vault unexpectedly exploded, literally sending the fire captain flying into the bushes.

The firefighter headed for the bushes to administer aid and the two police officers were also prepared to help when all of a sudden there was another explosion. The men rushed to get the fire captain out. As he was being dragged to safety, the fourth blast went off.

“The fire captain and the firefighter were properly equipped to approach that. We’re taught to approach carefully. They were investigating what they thought was a fire. They didn’t expect it to explode like that,” said Concepcion.


KCBS-TV:

“When we got there, you could see that it was just a little bit of smoke. There wasn’t a lot of smoke coming out, so I thought, ‘OK, the incident is kind of over. It’s now just protect anyone from going into an open manhole,’” he said.

But that would prove to be the least of his worries. As Captain Wolf gazed down to see what he describes as a small electrical fire inside the vault, a rare event occurred – the vault exploded.

“I kind of tried to roll away from it. And the next thing I know is that when my firemen was kind of dragging me. I found out later it was my firemen I didn’t know, but somebody had picked me up from the back of my coat and dragged me,” he said.

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Posted by on April 24, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, must see video, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fireground audio & more early video: Jet crash & fire at Virginia Beach apartment complex.

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More videos from plane crash

Additional audio from ScanMD.org

Above is fireground audio from today’s jet crash in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Below is more early video showing forcible entry by police officers and firefighters as they perform searches in units adjacent to the fire.

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Posted by on April 6, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Aviation Incidents, Command & Leadership, Emergency Communications, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Dispatch, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Fireground Audio, Fires, Major Incidents, News • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Citizen videos from jet crash at Virginia Beach, VA apartment complex.

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We were on the road today, out of position, unable to post, when we got word from one of our former TV colleagues that an F/A-18D fighter jet crashed into an apartment complex in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Firegeezer.com and FirefighterNation.com have earlier coverage. On this page are various videos from YouTube, including pre-arrival video taken by those nearby.

AP:

Two Navy pilots ejected from a fighter jet Friday, sending the unmanned plane careening into a Virginia Beach apartment complex and tearing the roof off at least one building that was engulfed in flames, officials said.

Six people, including both pilots, were taken to hospitals, officials said. The Navy said both aviators on board the jet ejected before it crashed around noon and were being taken to hospitals for observation .

Bruce Nedelka, the Virginia Beach EMS division chief, said that witnesses saw fuel being dumped from the jet before it went down, and that fuel was found on buildings and vehicles in the area.

“By doing so, he mitigated what could have been an absolute massive, massive fireball and fire,” Nedelka said. “With all of that jet fuel dumped, it was much less than what it could have been.”

The crash happened in the Hampton Roads area, which has a large concentration of military bases, including Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base in the world. Naval Air Station Oceana, where the F/A-18D that crashed was assigned, is located in Virginia Beach.

Three buildings were destroyed, and two more had significant damage, Virginia Beach fire department spokesman Tim Riley told WVEC-TV.

The fire had been put out, Nedelka said, and now crews were going through the buildings to search for anyone who may have been inside.

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Posted by on April 6, 2012 • Filed under: Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Major Incidents, News, Training & Development, Uncategorized, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Baltimore City announces closing of Trucks 10 & 15 & Squad 11. Other companies moving. End of rotating closures.

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PowerPoint: Baltimore City Fire Department Strategic Analysis, Presentation on ending rotating fire company closures, April 5, 2012

IAFF Local 734 says citizens lives placed in danger

Companies scheduled to close on July 1: Truck 10 at 1503 W. Lafayette Avenue; Truck 15 at 1223 N. Montford Avenue; Squad 11 at 5714 Eastern Avenue.

Companies scheduled to move on July 1: Engine 33 from 801 E. 25th Street to 1223 N. Montford Avenue; Truck 27 from 2700 Glenn Avenue to 5500 Reisterstown Road; Truck 6 from 1001 E. Fort Avenue to 15 S. Eutaw Street; Rescue 1 from 15 S. Eutaw Street to 1001 E. Fort Avenue.

WJZ-TV:

Three city fire companies will disband, four more must find new homes. It’s part of the fire department’s efforts to do away with rotating closures.

It’s important to note that no firefighters will lose their jobs and no fire stations will be closed. But this is a big shuffle of fire personnel and equipment and some worry it leaves city residents at risk.

“We are going to be there just as quick as we are today,” Jim Clack, chief of the Baltimore City Fire Department, said.

Baltimore Sun:

“We’re not laying off any firefighters,” Clack said. “We’re not closing any fire stations. We’re taking some firefighters from one area of the city and moving them to other stations.”

“Obviously, I don’t want to have anybody closed,” said Rick Hoffman, president of the firefighters union. “It makes our job a hell of a lot harder. We’re at bare bones right now. I don’t know how these people sleep at night. … They are gambling with the lives of the citizens of Baltimore and the lives of the firefighters serving Baltimore.”

Under the current plan, 72 firefighters would be transferred and 21 officers would be demoted, including six captains and nine lieutenants. The changes, Clack said, make the department more efficient and could improve response times.

WBAL-TV:

Clack said the move will put a ladder company amid all the downtown high rises. 

“We don’t want to have holes in our coverage in the city, especially for  EMS and fire. We want to be able to get there (to fire calls) within five  minutes,” Clack said. 

Baltimore Firefighters Union President Rick Hoffman said replacing Truck  6 with the city’s only specialized rescue unit will leave a peninsula in south  Baltimore unmanned and exposed. 

“Their response was, ‘It only takes an extra couple minutes to get down  there,’” Hoffman said. “Hold a match to your backside for two extra minutes and  let me know how that feels.”

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Chief Jim Clack, Baltimore City Fire Department photo.

Posted by on April 6, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Baltimore City Fire Department, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Funding & Staffing, News • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Must see video: Atlanta mud rescue. Firefighter falls trying to free man drowning in mud.

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Atlanta Fire Rescue spent part of Saturday rescuing a man who was drowning in mud at a construction site. One of the firefighters involved in the rescue also became briefly trapped.

WGCL:

It happened as the man was walking along Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway around 8 a.m.

He walked across a muddy area near a bridge and then sank into the mud and became totally submerged.

Firefighters used a ladder to help pull the man from the mud.

WSB-TV:

(Battaltion Chief David) Dore described the Saturday event as a choreographed tornado of activity, after someone walking by happened to look down and saw a muddy arm move over the sea of mud.

Rescuers made a floating, plywood bridge to him, authorities said.  While one group of firefighters rigged up ropes, another group made a floating catwalk to him.

“At one time, his face went under and the Grady medic was able to get his face up and actually scoop the mud out of his mouth,” Rhodes recalled about the dangerous mission. “We also had a firefighter stuck trying to get him that we thought we were going to have to get, and a Grady medic partially stuck here.”

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Posted by on March 28, 2012 • Filed under: Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Major Incidents, must see video, News, Rescues, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

UPDATE – Chief resigns: Alcohol troubles again for Carlisle, Iowa chief. Latest off-duty incident follows previous on-duty EMS response.

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Above is the story from May of 2010.

May 2010  coverage including police report

Carlisle Fire Department website

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UPDATE from WOI-TV:

The Carlisle Fire Chief submitted his resignation letter Monday afternoon. This comes after a run in with the police on Saturday night.

In 2009, police say Burger was drunk when he responded to a call to help a diabetic woman. He was suspended for 6 months in 2010, but petitioned to get the job back.

We contacted Burger for comment, but could not reach him. Assistant Fire Chief Galindo was serving a suspension before he was charged with a DUI this weekend. The city council won’t comment on what the suspension was for because it’s a personnel issue.

Earlier:

In Carlisle, Iowa Saturday night Fire Chief Scott Burger and Firefighter Roy Galindo, who is a former assistant chief, were arrested on alcohol related charges. This apparently did not occur in a fire department vehicle. Galindo, who was driving, is charged with operating while intoxicated, excessive speeding and having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle. Chief Burger was only charged with the open container violation.

Not the biggest of stories to bring you. In fact, we rarely mention off-duty alcohol infractions. But this one has an interesting twist. We had shared with you a previous story about Chief Burger and alcohol that happened on duty. Something that the Des Moines Register’s Kevin Kirkpatrick made note of in an article today:

Burger served a six-month suspension without pay from the fire department in 2010, following an April 2009 incident where he allegedly showed up intoxicated to an emergency call to help a woman who was having a severe diabetic reaction. Burger also served a yearlong suspension from the city’s emergency medical service; he was however allowed to be an ambulance driver for the department during his suspension. 

As part of the suspension, the Carlisle City Council required Burger to undergo a chemical dependency evaluation and comply with its findings and to complete a chemical dependence awareness program. 

According to council documents, Burger successfully completed these requirements and successfully petitioned the council for reinstatement to the city’s fire department and EMS in November 2010.

The City Administrator told Kirkpatrick disciplinary actions for the men could be a topic at a City Council meeting tonight.

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Posted by on March 26, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, News, Police, Social Media, Reputation Management, News Media • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Must see video: Camera captures Philadelphia Fire Department ambulance rollover.

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Earlier coverage from Firegeezer.com

FirefighterCloseCalls.com on stopping at red lights

Above is a must see video from this morning’s wreck of Medic 50 in Philadelphia this morning. It shows the collision occurring and the immediate aftermath.

Philly.com:

The ambulance, Medic Unit 50, was northbound on Broad Street with its lights and sirens on when it was hit by a silver Chrysler sedan that was westbound on Callowhill Street about 7 a.m. 

The ambulance flipped onto the driver’s side of the vehicle and the sedan, its front end smashed in, ended up facing toward the northeast corner of Broad and Callowhill.

KYW-TV:

Two Philadelphia Fire Department paramedics were taken to Hahnemann University Hospital for treatment. The paramedics’ injuries did not initially appear to be serious.

There were no patients inside the ambulance at the time of the accident.

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Image from WPVI-TV.

Posted by on March 23, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Major Incidents, must see video, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

News reports: Driver intentionally hit & killed Jacksonville, Arkansas Captain Donald Jones. Firefighter Jason Bowmaster & police officer critical.

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Bryce Allen, charged with second-degree murder.

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FirefighterCloseCalls.com

FirefighterNation.com

Jacksonville FD Facebook page

Video from crash scene

Captain Donald Jones, a 31 year veteran of Arkansas’ Jacksonville Fire Department, was killed late last night when a man drove his vehicle into firefighters and police at a crash scene on Highway 161. Police are saying the actions of Bryce Allen were intentional. Firefighter Jason Bowmaster and a police officer are listed in critical condition.

KTHV-TV:

Jacksonville police say they now believe a driver intentionally sped up and hit and killed a firefighter and injured two other emergency personnel Monday night in Jacksonville.

The vehicle had left the roadway and struck a gas main. A Jacksonville police officer and two Jacksonville firefighters were working the scene when a van left the roadway and struck all three.

 Captain Donald Jones.

One firefighter, Capt. Donald Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. The other firefighter, Jason Bowmaster was med-flighted to a Little Rock hospital while the police officer was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital. Both are in critical condition at the time of this release.

KARK-TV:

Crews were called to the scene in the 8400 block of Highway 161 South around 11:00 Monday night after a car crashed, causing a gas main break. While emergency crews were clearing the accident, a van veered off the road, hitting three — two firefighters and a police officer.

Capt. Kenny Boyd with Jacksonville PD has identified the driver of the van that killed the firefighter as 47-year-old Bryce Allen of Jacksonville. He has been charged with 2nd degree murder and two counts of criminal intent to commit 2nd degree murder because he allegedly did not try to stop.

Boyd has also identified Allen as the son of Thelma Allen, the driver of the original car that crashed and caused the gas main break.

Statement from Jacksonville Fire Department Chief John Vanderhoof:

A Fire Chiefs worst nightmare is the loss of a Fellow Firefighter, that has been killed in the Line of Duty. Captain Donald Jones was killed in the Line of Duty while engaged in Firefighting activities on March 19,2012.

He started his career with the Jacksonville Fire Department on December 24, 1980. He served for 31 years of dedicated service with the Jacksonville Fire Department.

He will be missed by his family as well as his Firefighting Family. He will always be in our hearts and memories.

Please pray for his family, his brother firefighter and police officer that was injured at the same time, and his other fellow firefighters.

Posted by on March 20, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

UPDATED: Firefighter killed in Abbotsford, Wisconsin fire. Snow covered theater roof collapsed & took life of Colby FD member. Four others injured.

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Click here for Tribune-Phonograph article

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UPDATED 6:15 AM

A press conference is expected to be held today to announce the identity of a firefighter from the Colby Fire Department who died yesterday after the collapse of a snow covered roof during a fire in the Abby Theater in Abbotsford, Wisconsin. Below is the latest information.

Watch report from WEAU-TV

WBAY-TV:

Clark County officials in central Wisconsin say a Colby firefighter died while helping fire crews from nearby Abbotsford battle a fire Sunday afternoon.

The towns are just west of Wausau.

The fire gutted the historic Abby Theatre in downtown Abbotsford.

The Abbotsford fire chief says the roof of the theatre was weighed down by snow, and collapsed during the fire.

Marshfield News Herald:

The fire, reported at about noon, inflicted "substantial damage" to the theater in the 200 block of North First Street, Apfelbeck said. The four exterior walls were left standing, but the "roof completely collapsed," he said.

"There was a lot of heat, a lot of smoke," said Apfelbeck, soot coating his clothes and face, after most of the fire had been extinguished. "It was a bad fire."

Apfelbeck said the collapsed ceiling trapped three firefighters inside. The other two firefighters suffered injuries from falling bricks, he said.

Click here for Marshfield News Herald coverage.

EARLIER COVERAGE

FirefighterCloseCalls.com:

We regret to advise you that a Firefighter from the Colby (WI) FD was killed in the Line of Duty this afternoon-while on a mutual aid fire call. The fire was in the Abby Theater in Abbotsford and is reportedly a major loss-it started around noon. At some point during the operation, several Firefighters were injured when the roof collapsed. EMS units as well as a medical helicopter transported.

Tribune-Phonograph:

Four firefighters battling the blaze were transported to the emergency room in Marshfield, including one who was airlifted by the Spirit helicopter, according to Abbotsford fire chief Jody Apfelbeck.

The ceiling caved in while firefighters were inside the theatre and an unspecified number of them were trapped, he said.

WSAW-TV:

The Clark County Coroner says one of the four firefighters injured when the roof of the Abby Theatre collapsed, has died.

He isn't releasing a name at this time. NewsChannel 7 has learned a press conference is scheduled for tomorrow. A location and time have not been released.

WAOW-TV:

The Clark County coroner has confirmed that one firefighter has died after a blaze at the Abby Theatre in Abbotsford.

A Nursing Supervisor at Ministry St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield says three other firefighters were treated and released.

Posted by on March 4, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, Major Incidents, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

UPDATE – Must listen to radio traffic & damage video: Tornado destroys Kentucky firehouse. Milton Fire & Rescue Station 2 hit this afternoon. Department featured in videos on STATter911.com.

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Trimble County fire & rescue live audio

UPDATE

This is a message this evening on Facebook from Milton Fire & Rescue Chief Jason Long:

We lost a Station, an Engine, fish fry trailer, ice trailer, gear, radios, pagers, ETC. We had one member inside and he was not hurt. The only part left standing was the small part he was in. WE WILL REBUILD AND WE WILL NOT STOP OUR EFFORTS AT PROTECTING THIS COUNTY. Great job by all people involved. I could not be prouder of this county for the way it has handled this day. Thank you to everybody, I am very proud. Thank you to all thos who have requested to help us in our time of need. I can't say thanks enough.

EARLIER COVERAGE

Above is a picture from Milton Fire & Rescue's website of what Station 2 used to look like. The firehouse, in Trimble County, Kentuky near the Ohio River, was reported to be leveled this afternoon by what has been described as a tornado.

Here's what the Courier-Journal is reporting:

There were no injuries because no one was inside the station on Ky. 421 near Kings Ridge Road, said firefighter recruit Joey McQueary, who was answering phones at the department’s main station.

McQueary said the department is all-volunteer and all fire personnel were at headquarters when the other station was hit.

Radio traffic from Radioman911 on JustinTV as tornadoes are spotted approaching and hitting Milton Fire & Rescue Station 2. Firefighter describes station destroyed at 5:26.

On January 22 we showed you video of Milton Fire & Rescue handling a house fire on Palmyra Road. In fact, since 2008 we have featured a series of dash-cam videos from Milton Chief Jason Long (June, 2009 and August, 2008).

We are glad all the firefighters are safe and wish Chief Long and the department a speedy recovery from today's storms.

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Click here for Milton Fire & Rescue's Facebbook page.

Posted by on March 2, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Dispatch & Communications, Emergency Communications, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Dispatch, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Fireground Audio, News • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Must see videos: Collapse of large apartment building in Astrakhan, Russia. At least 8 dead after natural gas explosion.

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Make sure you also check out the video below. It is raw video from a neighboring apartment showing close-up the damage on the lower floors after the explosion. At 2:22 in this clip the major collapse occurs.

DailyMail.uk:

This was the moment a blast ripped through an old Soviet-style block in southern Russia today sending it crashing down like a house of cards.

The nine-storey building in the city of Astrakhan, 800 miles south east of Moscow, collapsed in an explosion believed to be caused by natural gas.

The Moscow Times:

A witness told the news agency (Interfax) that the bottom floors were destroyed initially, followed by those above, causing rescuers to be trapped in the rubble.

"First there was an explosion, approximately in the area of the second or third floor, and the second and third floors collapsed — the wall came down. I saw two people scramble out of there. We crawled in to help, and at that moment the other floors collapsed. I saw two people get buried, and another few who went in there remained inside," the unnamed witness said.

Investigators said the explosion was likely the result of a suicide attempt by a man living on the third floor who had threatened to kill himself on multiple occasions in the past.

RT.com:

­Emergency workers say they have located eight bodies but have so far been able to extract only two. Identification of the bodies is underway. Meanwhile, rescue workers are continuing to sift through the rubble for the missing.

A total of 26 people have so far been rescued. Two children were among 15 people injured. Five remain in hospital, some with serious fractures and other injuries.

The Emergency Ministry has sent a second plane to Asktrakhan bringing more rescue officers and search dogs. The plane is equipped with two medical modules to facilitate the evacuation of the seriously injured.

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Posted by on February 28, 2012 • Filed under: Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, HazMat, must see video, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fire, police & EMS audio: Chardon, Ohio school shooting this morning. Five students injured. Gunman in custody.

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From WKYC-TV:

Officials now say five students have been injured in a shooting at Chardon High School.

Three of the victims–all said to be students–were taken to Metro by Life Flight.  Two of the victims were taken to Hillcrest Hospital.

The victims were found in three locations inside the school.

The gunman–also believed to be a student–is in custody.  The sheriff says the teen turned himself in to bystanders off site from the school in Chardon Township.

From the AP:

 A gunman opened fire inside a high school's cafeteria at the start of the school day Monday, wounding four students, officials said. A suspect was in custody.

FBI agent Scott Wilson said there was one suspected shooter. He wouldn't discuss the extent of the students' injuries.

The shooting was reported around 7:30 a.m. at the 1,100-student Chardon High School about 30 miles east of Cleveland, said Civil Deputy Erin Knife of the Geauga County Sheriff's Office.

Television news footage showed anxious parents escorting children away from a school building, and ambulances could be seen outside.

"We don't have any status updates on the students," Chardon schools spokeswoman Ellen Ondrey told The Associated Press. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to them. We are very concerned."

A spokeswoman for Cleveland's MetroHealth System said a medical helicopter was dispatched to the high school. Angela Kiska, of the Cleveland Clinic, told WJW-TV in Cleveland that two of the victims were transported to Hillcrest Hospital.

Bob Herp, a Chardon trauma nurse, was at a command scene at a local Wal-Mart store where he told WEWS-TV helicopters were on the ground.

From WKYC-TV.

Ondrey said all classes in the district were cancelled.

Students at the high school and middle school had already started their day when the shooting happened, but bus runs for elementary school children were stopped, Ondrey said.

Parents of high school students were told to go to Maple Elementary School to pick up their children.

"We want to make clear that the students are safe," she said, advising parents not to rush to pick up students because the area is "extremely congested. The lines are very long."

Chardon is a city of about 5,100 residents.

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Posted by on February 27, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Dispatch & Communications, Emergency Communications, EMS Dispatch, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Dispatch, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Fireground Audio, Major Incidents, Mass Casualty Incident, News, Police, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Latest from PGFD: Bladensburg VFD Firefighters Ethan Sorrell & Kevin O’Toole both in critical condition with burns.

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Photo by Billy McNeel.

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Fireground Audio & Earlier Coverage

Bladensburg VFD

Riverdale VFD

PGFD PIO blog

Notes: Bladensburg VFD Chief Randy Kuenzli confirms both Firefighter Ethan Sorrell and Firefighter Kevin O'Toole have connections to other departments in addition to Bladensburg VFD. Sorrell at the Buies Creek FD in North Carolina and O'Toole at the Bethpage FD on Long Island.

Also, this fire occurred on the same side of 57th Avenue just a few doors away from a November 2008 house fire that left two Riverdale VFD firefighters with burns after a flashover.

In addition, Mark Brady tells STATter911.com the annual banquet for Bladensburg VFD is tonight and that both firefighters have indicated to Chief Kuenzli they want the events to go on as scheduled and for everyone to enjoy themselves.

This fire was at 6318 57th Avenue on November 21, 2008. The flashover burned two firefighters from Riverdale. Picture by Tony George. See more pictures.

From PGFD Chief Spokesman Mark Brady at 9:30 AM:

Three firefighters remain hospitalized at the Washington Hospital Center after sustaining injuries battling a house fire in Riverdale on Friday evening.

Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Fighter Ethan Sorrell, 21 years of age, remains in "Critical" condition with burns to his airway.  Family members left Durham NC, last night to be with him today.

Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Fighter Kevin O’Toole, 22 years of age, was evaluated late last night/early this morning as being in "Critical" condition with 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 40% of his body.  Family members from Long Island, NY, were en route last night to be with Kevin.

Riverdale Volunteer Fire Fighter Michael McLary, 19 years of age, continued to receive treatment for injuries to his upper body/ribs.  His ribs are not fractured, however, bruised with possible cartilage damage.  He may be released as early as today.  Family members were with him last night.

Dozens of family, friends and fire service personnel have been at the hospital throughout the night with the injured firefighters and remain there today.  The Burn Unit at the Washington Hospital Center, their Doctors and staff are the very best at what they do – treating burn patients.  

The Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department sincerely appreciates the support provided by the DC Firefighters Burn Foundation.  The Foundation is dedicated to assisting in the recovery and rehabilitation of injured firefighters and burn patients in the D.C. Metropolitan Area.  Members of the Foundation were at the hospital before the first firefighter arrived and started support efforts for the injured firefighters, family and co-workers.  Two of the injured firefighters have primary family members coming from out of town.  The Foundation made accommodations for them at a nearby hotel and will continue to provide support for as long as is needed.

Firefighters that have been previously burned and treated at the Burn Unit become members of a fraternity.  These firefighters return to the Burn Unit whenever a firefighter receives burn injuries and provide valuable insight to family, friends and co-workers about the treatment and recovery process.  One of those fraternity members is Riverdale Volunteer Chief Chuck Ryan.  He sustained critical burn injuries while on the job with DCFD.  Ryan was at the Burn Unit overnight helping others to understand the treatment process that Bladensburg firefighters were receiving and what to expect in the days to come.

The volunteer leadership of Blandensburg, Riverdale, College Park as well as Fire Chief Marc Bashoor and the entire Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department acknowledge and are grateful the tremendous outpouring and offers of assistance from fire departments across the National Capitol Region.  We are also inspired by the numerous well wishes, thoughts and prayers being offered from across the Country for our injured firefighters.

Prince George's County Fire Investigators continue their work to determine the cause and origin of the fire.  The investigation is open and on-going.  Fire loss to the vacant structure is estimated at $75,000.

Updates on the medical condition of the injured firefighters will be provided as additional information becomes available.

Prince George's County Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor will be at the Washington Hospital Center and will make himself available for comment anytime after 9:30 am.  Please contact me to make arrangements.

Posted by on February 25, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Major Incidents, Mass Casualty Incident, News, PGFD, PGFD (MD) • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Must see video: Fire department helicopter shatters after emergency landing.

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On Wednesday, a Eurocopter AS350 operated by the State of Para Fire Department in Brazil broke apart after an emergency landing. There was video rolling when this occurred.

According to the site helihub.com:.

Helicopter landed due to excessive vibration, which continued as ground resonance which shook the aircraft to bits. 4POB all got out safely – the commander, the second pilot, a doctor and a nurse.

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Posted by on February 24, 2012 • Filed under: Apparatus Wrecks, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Major Incidents, must see video, News, Patient Management, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Teen volunteer rolls POV at deadly South Plainfield, NJ fire scene. Goes right to work despite injuries.

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More on the fire at Firegeezer.com

By now you may have heard about the deadly fire in South Plainfield, New Jersey around 3:00 this morning that left five people dead, including four children. The story is covered in the video above and by our friend Bill Schumm at Firegeezer.com.

Some of the articles I have read refer to a car crash in the same block this morning. A few neighbors say it was the noise of that crash that woke them. News reports indicate that South Plainfield Fire Department volunteer Nick Smith was in his personal SUV heading to the scene when it collided with another car and rolled three times. Despite the violent collision, Smith went to work at the fire.

It isn't clear who was in the other vehicle. That driver suffered minor injuries and has been described in one article as a "a good Samaritan going to help with the fire" and in other articles as a member of a volunteer fire department or rescue squad.

From James Barron at The New York Times:

A volunteer firefighter was treated for minor injuries sustained in a car crash outside the burning house, at 1407 Clinton Avenue at Laurel Lane. Officials said the vehicle of the firefighter, Nick Smith, collided with another car. His sport-utility vehicle rolled over three times, the fire chief, Thomas Scalera, said, but Mr. Smith got out and went to work, joining more than 40 volunteers despite his minor injuries. Chief Scalera said the driver of the other car, who was not identified, was not seriously hurt.

From Ken Serrano MyCentralJersey.com:

… he collided with another vehicle driven by a good Samaritan going to help with the fire. The accident coincidentally took place right outside the burning home.

Scuffed and scraped, Smith managed to climb out of the vehicle and start unrolling hoses for firefighters set up at the scene of the two-alarm fire, Scalera said.

His fellow firefighters had to persuade Smith to get treated at a local hospital, Scalera said.

Once released from the hospital, he returned to the firehouse on Maple Avenue after the fire was brought under control to help pack up hoses, Scalera said.

Smith suffered a swollen lip and scrapes on his face, the chief said.

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Posted by on February 23, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Fires, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Firefighters say rules wouldn’t allow them to go beyond ankle deep to reach drowning man in lake three feet deep. Inquest in UK brings out similarities to Alameda, CA case.

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Alameda, California drowning coverage

Remember the controversy last Memorial Day weekend over the drowning in Alameda, California when firefighters weren't allowed to go into the water after Raymond Zack because of a lack of training and/or certification by the firefighters? A somewhat similar incident that happened before the Alameda drowning is making headlines in the United Kingdom as part of a coroner's inquest this week.

It happened at Walpole Park in Gosport, England last March. Forty-one-year-old Simon Burgess drowned.

Testimony indicates the firefighters who arrived to see Burgess face down in the water decided from a distance there were no signs of life and waited 11 minutes for a water rescue team. They cited health and safety rules that prevent firefighters from entering water more than ankle deep. The firefighter in charge also ordered others not to go into the water.

The news from the inquest prompted Telegraph columnist Philip Johnston to write:

How have we got to the stage where our emergency services are so straitjacketed by rules and regulations that they cannot walk into three feet of water to save a man’s life?

It would be easy to blame the fire chief for behaving like a fool, yet he was following a set of procedures that simply defy rational understanding.

Here's some of the news coverage.

From MailOnline:

A fire chief ordered a policeman and a paramedic to leave a drowning man in a 3ft deep lake 'because they thought he was already dead', an inquest heard.

Police Constable Tony Jones and paramedic Robert Wallace volunteered to jump into the lake but were given strict orders not to do so by fire station watch manager Tony Nicholls.

Adhering to force policy not to enter water more than 'half a boot' deep unless in a life-critical situation, he ordered his crew not to retrieve the body and to wait for the water rescue team, based at Fareham, which arrived at 12.31pm.

From The News:

Gosport watch manager Anthony Nicholls was the firefighter in charge.

He said: ‘At first I could not see anyone in the water and I had to ask members of the public to point him out to me.

‘There were no visible signs of life. I could only see a small part of him.

‘In my mind I’m thinking this person has been in water for maybe up to 15 minutes.

‘This was a body retrieval rather than a rescue.’

From 4rvf.co.uk:

Deborah Coles, the control room manager at Hampshire Fire and Rescue, told the inquest that she took the call from Hughes at 12.17pm and, within a minute, had sent a fire appliance, a water rescue trained crew and a water support unit. She told the inquest, "The specialist teams are there to deal with water which is over half a boot in depth. At 12.20pm, the fire crew confirmed attendance and at 12.25 they told us a male was floating face down." She went on, "The water support unit arrived at 12.31pm. At 12.46, we received a message requesting our press officer attend the scene. At 12.52, an update came in saying a male had been recovered, and at 12.58 he was taken to hospital." Burgess was pronounced dead at 13.42.

From BBC News:

After the hearing, Mr Burgess's father, David, said: "We will never know if Simon could have been saved, if he had been pulled from the water as soon as the emergency services arrived on the scene or if it was already too late for him.

"When a loved one is involved in an incident like this, you can only hope that everything possible is done to save them regardless of how small the chances of success are."

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Posted by on February 22, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Customer Service, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Major Incidents, News, Patient Management, Rescues, Special Operations • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Must see video: Explosion at Wichita building fire.

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Sean Black Photography

SeanBlackPhotography's channel on YouTube caught a sizable explosion during a Wichita building fire. It appears to be from the fire yesterday morning that included a series of explosions that already had heavily damaged the metal building belonging to Hall Steel and Fabrication, Inc at 800 N. Wabash by the time firefighters arrived.

From KSN-TV:

When fire crews arrived, several of the walls had already buckled because of the force of the blasts.
 

Tanks of acetylene, oxygen and propane inside the building were exploding from the intense heat and soon after they arrived, firefighters realized they had even more to worry about.

"We did have a lot of acetylene tanks stored right next to the building, and also some oxygen tanks and some forklift stuff,"  said Robert Wolfe, Wichita Fire Department Battalion Chief. "That was one of our main concerns to keep stuff cool because if that would have ignited it would have hit the other building on the other side."

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Posted by on February 17, 2012 • Filed under: Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, must see video, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Remembering Joshua Weissman, Alexandria Fire Department paramedic.

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Read InsideNova.com coverage

Washington Post photos

The picture above is from Elliot J. Goodman from yesterday's funeral for Paramedic Joshua Weissman of the Alexandria Fire Department. Below is some of the television news coverage.

Posted by on February 17, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Alexandria Fire Department, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, Major Incidents, News, Police, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,