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From Dallas, Texas, the news, apparently official … social media has taken over the news business. Actually this is old news. The video above has been on YouTube since 2010, but I realized I had never shared it with you. You see, those in the news business don't just make fun of you, they also make fun of themselves.

Read more about the video from KDFW-TV.

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This is what it has come to around the country. Firefighters in San Bernardino, California are so fed up with cuts and the related politics from City Hall they think the way to remove or reduce the political factor is to have an elected fire chief. While the ballot initiative IAFF Local 891 wants to propose to the citizenry is still a work in progress, what they are talking about seems to be the kind of structure that provides the kind of autonomy an elected sheriff usually has.

In recent years San Bernardino has seen 25 firefighter positions vanish and minimum staffing drop from four to three.

The firefighters will need 12,000 signatures if this idea is to make it on the ballot. Under this early version of the proposal, the first chief would be elected in the 2014 general election and would run the department without interference from the mayor or city council. The chief would also have the power to appoint some key staff members.

More details from Joe Nelson at Redland Daily Facts:

"Too often, the current administration at City Hall has injected politics into the management and operations of our Fire Department," said union President Scott Moss in a statement Thursday.

An elected fire chief, Moss said, would remove the taint of politics from decisions affecting hiring, promotions and fire protection policies at the department.

Sixth Ward City Councilman Rikke Van Johnson said he is unaware of any municipalities in California that have an elected fire chief, and that only 4.5 percent of city firefighters reside in San Bernardino.

"Out of 179 fire firefighters, there are only eight that live in the city. That's problematic to me," Johnson said.

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In Vacaville, California, Firefighter Louis Jones had a rather unique experience. Jones and his fellow firefighters responded yesterday morning to a medical call at a mobile home park in the 1000 block of Nut Tree Road. Something seemed quite familiar in the home where the emergency was located. The first thing to catch the eye of Firefighter Jones was a yellow plastic block that looked like the one he had until a week earlier. Jones' vanished, along with other items, when the home he was preparing to rent out was burglarized a week earlier.

From KXTV-TV:

"I was kind of in shock, " Jones said. "Wow, I used to have something like that, and kind of looked around and saw some of the tools laying there that looked sort of familiar."

Jones and fellow firefighters finished their call and then he called police.

It didn't take long for officers to recover Jones' washing machine and dryer, a lawn mower and a number of his personal effects.

Police arrested 47-year old Ricky Mankini, of Vacaville, and booked him into the Solano County Jail for possession of stolen property.

Unfortunately, Jones still hasn't recovered a quad he loved to ride and a number of other items, but police are still investigating.

From MercuryNews.com:

Vacaville police contacted Mankini at the hospital, wherehe was visiting his housemate, Jones said. A search of Mankini's vehicle revealed more stolen items and Mankini was arrested for possession of stolen property and booked into the Solano County jail, Lopez said.

"The only thing we recovered was the washer and dryer, a lawn mower, some paint, hinges, paint brushes and keepsakes — beer steins with firefighting related artwork," Jones said.

"Ninety percent of the stuff is still missing," Jones said. He estimates it's worth between $8,000 and $10,000.

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From CBC News:

Several businesses have been left in ruins after a blaze engulfed a three-storey building in a Surrey strip mall early Thursday morning.

The extent of the damage is not yet known and the cause of the blaze is still being investigated. Firefighters spent hours battling the blaze at 83rd Avenue and Scott Road. The fire rapidly spread through the building, devastating several businesses, including restaurants and a gym.

From CTV News:

About 10 fire trucks, three rescue trucks and 46 firefighters responded to the blaze and had it under control by 7:30 a.m., though crews remained on scene targeting remaining hot spots.

No injuries have been reported in connection with the blaze, but a BC Hydro worker who is believed to have fallen down near the scene was loaded into an ambulance.

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Audio from the fire, additional video & pictures at Monroe County Fire Wire

Letter from union via WHAM-TV

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A fire a week ago on Locust Street in Rochester, New York has become the center of a controversy. The union president says budget cuts and a fire department reorganization put lives and safety at risk. The fire chief says otherwise. Four firefighters and four civilians were hurt during the blaze (see the story below about their charred PPE).

From WHAM-TV:

President Jim McTiernan went on to detail various fire units that were out of service at the time that this fire was called in as well as the location of a Battalion Chief who had to respond from South Avenue because another Battalion Chief post was recently eliminated.

McTiernan’s letter also detailed the need for a round-the-clock Group Safety Officer that happened to be present at this fire scene but had been cutback on various shifts due to budgetary restraints.  A letter McTiernan sent to those same city leaders last week argued the union’s objections and concerns to cuts that lowered the number of on-duty firefighters from 99 to 86 over Fire Chief Caufield’s 4-Year Plan.

Fire Chief (John) Caufield fired back late Wednesday with a response of his own during an interview with 13WHAM News.  Chief Caufield said he disputes nearly every word of McTiernan’s letter and said that 13 firefighters were on-scene at Locust Street in four minutes and a total of 26 were on scene in eight minutes.  Caufield also pointed to a report from a senior officer, and a union member, who was at the fire scene and applauded the efforts and decisions of the firefighters that day.

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The news from New York indicates that New York's finest are now dealing with the opposite problem that is facing DC's bravest. It's a story that is worth paying attention to whether you are police officer or a firefighter.

As we've covered extensively, a recent order in the Nation's Capital banned on-duty wearing of any firefighter provided outer wear that has the DCFD logo on it. In New York, the city's top cop says you can't wear or use any items that say NYPD while off-duty without getting special permission. Reports indicate this came about after Commissioner Raymond Kelly saw a shirt with the NYPD logo and a controversial quote.

The Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association thinks this is infringing on the constitutional rights of police officers.

Here's coverage from a variety of sources.

From the AP:

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly has issued an order saying the department must approve clothing branded with the New York Police Department logo before officers can wear it.

Kelly said Wednesday the order is meant to make sure nothing inflammatory or derogatory appears with the logo. There have been instances where clothing says "NYPD" and also states something negative. He says officers are still police, even when they're off duty.

Kelly says the order is common sense, and no employer would allow the brand name of the company or organization to be used without authorization.

Union officials say the directive goes too far. Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch says telling police officers what they can wear in their private lives is a violation of free speech rights.

From the New York Post:

Some of taboo shirts’ slogans included the 81st Precinct’s “Bed Stuy do or die’’ and a shirt popular with homicide detectives that says, “Our day begins when your day ends.”

But some shirts have caused offense — such as one worn by some cops in Harlem that dubs the 30th Precinct the “House of Pain.”

Others disliked by brass include one that calls the 32nd Precinct in Hamilton Heights the “Tomb of Gloom.” 

From NY1:

According to the new rule, officers are not allowed to wear any sort of clothing or accessories with the department's image on them while off the clock.

Prohibited items include hats, pins, jewelry and clothing.

The ban also applies to non-clothing items like pens, mugs and ceremonial coins.

From SILive.com:

The order targets "any item of apparel which contains a Department logo or shield, or in any way identifies its wearer with the New York City Police Department unless approved by the Uniform and Equipment Review Committee, prior to being worn by a member of the service, uniformed or civilian, on or off-duty."

From the New York Daily News:

Pat Lynch, president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, said that the order goes too far and threatens officers’ constitutional rights.

“Telling police officers what images or objects he or she can own or wear in their private lives is a clear violation of the officers’ free speech rights,” Lynch said in a statement. “Many private citizens proudly wear NYPD apparel — and police officers can’t? It makes no sense. The PBA believes the order is patently unlawful and we will defend our members’ rights.”

One police source confirmed that the new restrictions came on the heels of Kelly spotting an officer wearing a T-shirt with the NYPD logo and a controversial quote.

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This is a fire yesterday in the 1500 blk Sheffield Avenue in Northeast Baltimore, Maryland. IAFF Local 734 reports the closest engine company was closed for the day. The union also reports three firefighters suffered minor burns.

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Above is Guy Zampatori video of a house fire yesterday on Dartmouth Avenue in Rochester, New York.

From an article by Victorie E. Freile at democratandchronicle.com:

The fire at 215 Dartmouth Avenue was called in about 12:45 p.m. by dozens of people in the neighborhood who saw smoke pouring from the roof of the three-story structure, said Fire Chief John Caufield.

Firefighters arrived to find flames shooting from the second floor, and upon entering the home saw that the fire had spread throughout the interior walls and ceilings of the house.

Firefighters began fighting the blaze inside, but changed tactics and left the home, fighting it instead from the outside, Caufield said.

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]]> http://statter911.com/2012/02/01/evacuation-ordered-rochester-new-york-two-alarm-house-fire/feed/ 13 http://statter911.com/2012/02/01/pre-arrival-video-house-fire-in-detroit/ http://statter911.com/2012/02/01/pre-arrival-video-house-fire-in-detroit/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:41:26 +0000 dave statter http://statter911.com/?p=27563

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This fire occurred at Winthrop and Acacia, but there is no indication when it happened.

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Watch video tribute to Pontiac Fire Department

From WDIV-TV:

Pontiac's financial emergency lead to the disbanding of the fire department.

Waterford Township has a $6 million annual contract to fill the void. It will employ most of the Pontiac firefighters.

"We have to build new bonds and be professionals for the good of the citizens of this community," said Cpt. Matthew Nye.

The plan is to evenly deploy Waterford firefighters and former Pontiac firefighters in each community. Two Pontiac fire stations will close.

From WXYZ-TV:

Tuesday afternoon, the firefighters prepared their final meal together as a Pontiac Fire Department. Forty-two of them will make the move to Waterford.

Several other are in the process of joining Waterford’s Fire Department.

Throughout the day, many people have been stopping by the building to support those worked there.  "We’ve got guys that are off duty that have been here all day,” said Fortney.

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