The video above is news coverage of Wednesday's hearing involving Macon-Bibb County Lt. Stephanie Burke, who was demoted from captain by Chief Marvin Riggins after learning of Burke's involvement in a September 18 hazing using a fake gunman at Station 108. The clip below has a longer, unedited version of the video that prompted the punishment. Chief Riggins narrates that video explaining why he believes Burke knew more than she admitted. At the bottom is the video that was posted to YouTube.
During testimony Wednesday, a former Macon-Bibb County fire captain denied that she had helped plan a hazing prank at a fire station.
Stephanie Burke also denied that she told another firefighter to video the prank. The video was later posted on the social media website YouTube, prompting an investigation and subsequent disciplinary action.
Earlier in the hearing, Fire Chief Marvin Riggins testified that Burke’s reactions on the video did not indicate to him “someone who is afraid.”
Burke took the stand Wednesday afternoon to say she knew about the stunt in advance, but didn't know the details.
In fact, one firefighter texted her to say he couldn't find anyone to play the role of a shooter, so the stunt was called off.
When the masked gunman entered the station house that day, she said, she was scared at first, but soon realized that the prank was back on.
Earlier, a Macon-Bibb fire battalion chief defended Burke. James Wallace was the first witness for the defense.
He says Burke was good at her job as captain and he would be glad to have her back in that role. He said demoting Burke to lieutenant for her role in the hazing stunt was too harsh.
Five firefighters were disciplined in the case.
Wallace today said he had heard scuttlebutt that a prank was in the works against a new private at Station 108. He says he did not know exactly what was happening, he'd just heard talk of it.
Wallace says pranking rookies had been a tradition at the fire department.
Wallace says he was on the other side of the building when the prank happened. He found out about it when he walked back across and everyone was laughing.
He said he saw the video that night and told them they would end in the chief's office for that. He says he thought that would end it.
Wallace says if he had to recommend discipline for Burke he would agree with a 20-day suspension but not demotion.
"Her, or any of them, I would take them back today," Wallace said when asked if he would be willing to have Burke serve as captain again.
Earlier in the day, Macon-Bibb's fire chief testified that Burke lied to him about planning the videotaped shooting stunt.
Chief Marvin Riggins was the first witness today against Burke.
He said he talked to Burke the day after the videotaped hazing stunt. When he asked her if she knew about the prank, Riggins says Burke told him she was as surprised as the rookies.
Riggins then showed an unedited version of the hazing stunt. He stopped it at several spots to point out Burke.
He says he can see Burke laughing with other firefighters while it happened. She put her hands over her ears just as the firecracker was set to go off, and she jumped up to give high fives at the end. The chief says those actions show she was not scared and had to know about what was happening.
Riggins says after initial interviews, three firefighters gave additional statements saying Burke was more involved than she let on.
Riggins says he asked her repeatedly if she was involved, and she said no.
During cross examination, Riggins says firefighter Justin hill came to him saying he did not feel safe or comfortable at station and was having sleep issues. He was one of the rookies at the firehouse, he said.
Capt Tom Musselwhite was the next witness for city. He was ordered by the chief to conduct a criminal investigation on the incident.
Musselwhite says after looking at the video frame by frame, there was no doubt everyone but the rookie was involved.
He says Burke laughed, moved away from the camera so you could see the rookie, and she clapped at the end.
Burke's hearing began just after 9 a.m. at Macon City Hall.
In his opening statement, Judd Drake the city's attorney, said Burke is guilty of improper conduct, breaking city guidelines, dishonest and disgraceful conduct.
Drake says video and testimony will show Burke failed to accept responsibility and was dishonest to the chief.
Burke's lawyer says the captain is a 25-year veteran of the department, who has never been never been disciplined and worked through the ranks.
She says Burke lost two months' pay and was demoted. They're asking the judge to overturn Chief Marvin Riggins' decision, restore her captain's rank and repay the days lost
Two firefighters have already had their appeal hearings. Josh Brewer who video-taped the incident was demoted and suspended. Christopher Hughes, who says he brought the gun used in the video, was fired.
Firefighters allegedly staged the stunt as a hazing prank, and the video was posted to YouTube.
I had much more grand plans in store for the first annual STATty Awards, but I became sidetracked earlier this week (more on that in an upcoming post). I would like to tell you this is an exhaustive review of all the videos we have posted this year and that it was presented to an esteemed panel of judges for review, but that would be a lie. To be honest, these are ones that I recall with the help of a quick scan of the blog and the website stats for the year. I am sure there are a few really good ones the STATys overlooked. But your job is, as always, to keep me honest. Please write in about the ones I have failed to honor.
As usual, we are showing you the good, the bad and the ugly. The things that will make you laugh, cry and sometimes even scream and throw things at your computer.
Please note that I purposely stayed away from a category that is among the most important to us all, line-of-duty-deaths. I don't want to indicate in any way that one firefighter's death is more significant than another's. Because it is only me administering this website, I am unable to cover each death (something I have never been pleased about). But please, as the year ends, take a moment to remember all those we have lost.
Thank you for the amazing support you provide STATter911.com. One of the most satisfying comments I regularly receive is from company officers who tell me they use the videos on this site (again, the good, bad and ugly ones) almost daily in training for their firefighters. Believe it or not, I keep that in mind with each one I post.
We have had a nice jump in readership this year with a real spike over the last two months that so far is holding. It gives us the indication we have a lot of new readers. Again, I thank you.
From Mrs. STATter911.com, STATter911.com Jr and Mr. STATter911.com, a very happy, safe and healthy new year.
Best story of the year: One house fire, two victims, two firefighters.
There is a legendary story about the Texas Rangers being so tough that for one riot, all you really need is one Texas Ranger. Well in Mogadore, Ohio this dramatic video showed if you have two fire victims in one burning house you only need two Mogadore firefighters. We know that isn't ideal and how any of us would want it, but that's what Ben Stasik and Nick Sansom were faced with on September 23. The pair did Chief Don Adams and the fire service proud in how they handled it.
When I stumbled across it on YouTube, I was quite amazed that something like this was caught on video and had to watch it twice to figure out everything I was seeing. My initial post was based on just my observations, butwould you believe (sorry Chief) I heard from Chief Adams who filled in the names and provided STATter911.com with the fireground audio. Our stories, four days after the fire occurred, brought in some local media attention that then went national. The two posts are here and here.
Most viewed story and a runner up for the best story: A newsman with compassion.
In May, WKTV-TV photojournalist Tim Fisher put together a six-minute TV report about his experience covering a fire that killed a mother and three young children in Utica, New York. Tim told us of a couple of things that sometimes happen at these tragic incidents. This included Tim being attacked by someone close to the family for shooting pictures. But Tim focused on the efforts of firefighters who were criticized by some for not doing enough. I urged everyone when I posted this story to take the time to watch it. If you still haven't seen it, here is another chance. Thank you Tim for what you showed us. Read the post and the comments about the story.
Most controversial story: ESU and FDNY pulling car off of man.
The two posts on this story brought in more than 150 comments. It showed a motorcyclist trapped under a car in Brooklyn on September 1 and the efforts of FDNY, soon joined by NYPD's ESU, to extricate the man. Things didn't work out too well as the ESU officer attempted to raise the rear of the car with spreaders. The first story is here. The second story had video that was much clearer, but that clip has now been pulled from YouTube.
Most chilling moment on video (by far): The rescue of Firefighter Robert Wiedmann, FDNY's Rescue 2.
What can you say about this one that hasn't been said already? Our thoughts and prayers for FDNY's Firefighter Robert Wiedmann during his recovery. The original stories are here and here.
Another heart stopping moment: Pennsylvania firefighter almost goes through the roof.
This was a June fire in Washington Township (Lehigh County). Check out the 2:00 mark and you will see this fire could have turned out quite differently. Here's the original post.
Most viewed video on STATter911.com's YouTube Channel: Ambulance blowed up real good.
Bladensburg, Maryland Chief Randy Kuenzli was kind enough to share his September video of an ambulance getting its roof raised in Mt. Rainier. Click here for the full story.
The runaway winner in this category: Very lucky firefighters as burning truck takes off.
The firefighters never give up award goes to: A Detroit firefighter's efforts to make the roof caught from above.
In August a news chopper captured video of a Detroit firefighter's difficult time trying to make it topside on a burning home with a steep peak. Here's the original story.
The award for the poorest excuse for poor performance goes to: Washington, DC 911 director who blamed 14 minute delay on a computer glitch.
We should all have 911 callers who were as calm and responsive as Ellie Cossa trying to report what turned out to be a fatal crash on a major DC roadway during a January 26th storm. But as nice as the woman answering the call was, for 14 minutes she just couldn't figure out Cossa's location that could have easily been discovered by looking at a map or calling just about any fire station in the city (or even having your own knowledge of major roadways in your jurisdiction). The problem was, even though Ms. Cossa was reading a road sign right in front of her describing the next exit just a few feet away, the road on that sign and the major road where the crash occurred don't physically intersect and hence the intersection wasn't in the computer. The editor of STATter911.com, who was a fire dispatcher in the stone tablet days, cried foul when the 911 director tried to tell WTOP/WJLA reporter Mark Segraves the call taker did a good job and that this was just a glitch in the computer system that needs fixing. Sorry folks, this is a training issue where your employees have to know how to function when the computer doesn't. Check out my complete rant. (Okay, I admit this one is more audio than video, but it's my blog and my awards.)
The camera never blinks award goes to: Florida firefighters pay the price but teach us all a lesson.
This was one of the more popular videos of the year. An Orange County, Florida firefighter and lieutenant on Rescue Engine 58 must have forgotten that their every move is being watched when they confronted a driver in a car who wouldn't get out of the way. Their actions turned out to be career changers. Read the story.
A personal favorite: The Kenneth M. Cox Building.
It was an honor to be there on Memorial Day Weekend as IAFF Local 36's offices were officially named the Kenneth M. Cox Building. Kenny was the long time VP of the Washington, DC local and is still active in the union despite health issues. Kenny has long been one my favorite people in the fire service and a disciple of our mutual friend, the late Hal Bruno. When I posted the story I also included film and documents about a 1971 legendary rescue that Kenny and DCFD Truck 8 were involved in that I had been saving for just the right moment. Click here to see it all.
Another personal favorite: Chicago Fire Department – Everyone Goes Home.
The comments that have come into NFFF over this thought provoking film produced and directed by my friend Rob Maloney have been wonderful. These lessons learned the hard way by Chicago firefighters are something everyone should see. Read more here.
The beating a dead horse award goes to: Dave Statter.
The nerve of this self-proclaimed champion of the First Amendment (and all-around pompous ass) brings back a year old video to support his usual rant about dealing with people with cameras. But there is another motive for adding this December post. In it are a bunch of videos, some of the them really compelling, showing firefighters making rescues during 2011. Click here to see them.
The self inflicted wound award for the video that should have never happened: Macon-Bibb County Station 19 firehouse prank video.
The fallout from this ill-conceived idea and video from September is still occurring and I am somewhat tired of writing about it. Please don't let this happen to you. If you want to read more we have posts here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.
Worst performance by an actor in a continuing series: Dave Statter.
Yes, we know Rhett Fleitz, AKA Fireboy from Roanoke is his son. But do we believe for a moment the tears were real and he cares at all about the boy? I didn't think so. This performance is as bad as the one Rhett does trying to imitate a firefighter. No one has yet to believe a 4'6" teenager is driving fire trucks in Roanoke (see below).
Best performance by an actor in a continuing series (runner-up): Capn' Willie Wines.
Sincere, believable, good looking and great mustache. He has it all. Plus he told the truth back in August about Fireboy (or at least part of the truth). This was the most popular episode of the Fireboy in Roanoke series and you can see why when you have top notch performer like Willie. IronFiremen.com has many more episodes (but not the complete boxed set) posted.
Best performance by an actor in a continuing series (champion): Preston Fleitz.
Smart, cute kid, social media maven, wise beyond his years and future star. More of the truth finally comes out. As Dave told you long ago, FireCritic.com was written by a child. Is anyone who has read the site surprised? Only problem with this performance is that the Virginia Labor Commission had to pay a visit to the set because of some child labor law violations. Read more at FireCritter.com.
In conclusion.
That's it. The first annual STATtys. The STATty's motto: We hope to do better next year, but I am sure we will find some excuse if we don't.
Joshua Brewer, a Macon-Bibb County sergeant who was demoted to firefighter and suspended for ten weeks, and Chris Hughes, a firefighter who was fired, went before Judge Bob Herndon yesterday to appeal the discipline handed out by Chief Marvin Riggins after a rookie prank was made public on YouTube in September. According to news reports, Brewer, Hughes and their attorney James Radford made the case that there has been a long culture of hazing in the department. The men told the judge they were just following the direction of then Captain Stephanie Burke who was acting battalion chief the day a friend of Hughes' burst into the station pointing a fake gun and ordered everyone on the floor.
Chief Riggins testified that both men were candid and upfront about their involvement when interviewed during the investigation. According to the chief's testimony, Stephanie Burke did not admit she was involved in the planning. Riggins said it was later determined Burke had been dishonest and her original five day suspension was increased to 20 days and she was demoted to lieutenant.
The lawyer for the two firefighters, James Radford, said that the punishment for their roles in the prank were "excessive" because a superior, Capt. Stephanie Burke, helped organize the hoax.
Hughes testified that Burke started planning the prank three days earlier and had tried and failed to obtain a gun. Hughes said he brought the gun to work instead.
Riggins says neither Hughes nor Brewer implicated Captain Burke when he initially interviewed them, but in follow-up interviews they said she played an important part in the hoax.
Riggins testified that Burke told him she didn't know how the prank happened.
Riggins says Hughes had several previous policy violations and suspensions and said he made the decision to terminate him after looking at the whole picture.
The Chief said the prank was meant to scare two rookie firefighters and that one of them was "psychologically upset" by the fake shooting.
Hughes testified that a similar prank occurred when he was a rookie firefighter and that Stephanie Burke planned it. She was then a lieutenant.
When asked why Hughes’ conduct warranted termination, Riggins said “I felt that the behavior and conduct of Mr. Hughes was inexcusable. He had totally crossed the line.”
Riggins admitted that he couldn’t recall an instance in which a firefighter was fired or demoted as a result of a similar prank.
Brewer said supervisors used the examples of pranks involving firefighters’ genitals when explaining the anti-hazing policy, which was revised last year.
As for their claim they were following directions of Captain Burke, Chief Riggins testified that a grievance process is available for those questioning decisions by supervisors.
The judge says he will have a ruling within ten days of receiving the transcripts from the hearing. Stephanie Burke's appeal of her demotion and suspension is scheduled for January.
Macon.com's Amy Leigh Womack is once again breaking news on the fake gunman prank uploaded to YouTube at Macon-Bibb County (GA) Fire Department Station 108 that resulted in one firefighter being fired and others being demoted. Reviewing documents received through an Open Records Act request, Womack is reporting that Chief Marvin Riggins initially gave Capt. Stephanie Burke minimal punishment of a two shift suspension despite the report of Capt. Tom Musselwhite investigating the incident that Burke had full knowledge of the prank ahead of time.
In an interview Chief Riggins told Womack, “I trusted my firefighters and my officers to tell me the truth.”
Reading Womack's article you get the indication that in reality Chief Riggins trusted only some of his officers. He believed Capt. Burke, but not Capt. Musselwhite.
Here's Burke's initial account:
In a Sept. 19 written statement, then-Capt. Burke said she had heard talk of firefighters playing a joke on a rookie at her Peake Road station. But when a masked gunman entered the station, she said, she was as surprised as the rookie.
“I ran to get away,” she wrote.
According to the article, Burke wrote she soon realized it was a joke that they were possibly playing on her. She apologized for not taking decisive action but “whatever my punishment is, just know I was not directly involved.”
So, that's what Chief Riggins believed, despite the person in charge of the investigation telling him otherwise. More from Womack:
Fire Capt. Tom Musselwhite wrote in his investigative report, dated Sept. 20, that in his opinion, all the firefighters involved in the prank were knowing participants except for the rookies.
Riggins admitted Wednesday that he didn’t believe Burke was a knowing participant in the hoax when he ordered her to be punished with two days of suspension while other firefighters involved in the video received punishments ranging from longer unpaid suspensions to demotion and termination.
It was only after additional evidence became public, showing a longer video and text messages reported to be from Burke, that the captain was demoted to lieutenant and given a two month suspension. Womack reports Lt. Burke will now be assigned to the Fire Prevention Division.
Macon-Bibb firefighter Christopher Hughes, fired for his part in a videotaped hazing stunt, says he didn't plan the hoax shooting.
He says it was planned by fire Capt. Stephanie Burke, who now faces demotion and loss of 60 days' pay in the viral-video case.
Hughes spoke to 13WMAZ's Amy Aubert Friday afternoon. He said hazing stunts, like the Sept. 25 hoax at Fire Station 108, are not unusual.
He said, when he was a rookie firefighter, he was fooled himself by a similar stunt six years ago. He says that stunt was also planned by Burke.
He says this is one of at least three similar stunts in the department over the years, and no one was ever punished.
Hughes said he lit firecracker after being grabbed by the "gunman".
Hughes says he has text messages from Burke that show she asked him to supply a fake gun for the hoax.
Fire Chief Marvin Riggins says he fired Hughes because he supplied the weapon used in the video.
Hughes says he thinks he's being punished more severely because he's lower in rank than Burke.
On Thursday, mayoral spokesman Clay Murphey said Riggins was told that Burke knew of the stunt in advance, but Burke denied it. In any case, Murphey said, the chief believes Burke should have acted to stop it.
We could not reach Burke for comment. She has until Monday to appeal Riggins' punishment.:
I had written privately to some fire service friends that something wasn't making sense after punishment was handed out following the hoax robbery and shooting prank at Macon-Bibb County Fire Department Station 108 on September 18. How did the captain on that shift, who was seen in the video, get away with just a two day suspension when others were demoted and fired?
The indication from city officials was that Captain Stephanie Burke didn't have prior knowledge of the prank. Okay, but the chief said he didn't know about the video until the press started asking questions on September 19. Isn't the fact that the chief didn't hear from the captain or through the chain of command about this incident enough in itself to take some pretty severe action against the captain?
Well apparently there are bigger issues about Captain Burke's role than just my question. In fact, she is now Lieutenant Burke. And instead of a 2 shift suspension, Burke now has 20 shifts off. That's the equivalent of two months' pay. A spokesman for the mayor says the more severe discipline came from additional information provided to Fire Chief Marvin Riggins.
Macon.com reporter Amy Leigh Womack has been talking with the only firefighter to be fired because of the prank, Chris Hughes. Hughes showed Womack what he says are text messages between him and Burke.
The messages are associated with the same phone number Burke answered Thursday afternoon.
Hughes said the plan for the prank began Sept. 16, two days before the incident. He and Burke were working together and she asked him to obtain a “fake” gun.
The following day, Hughes sent a text message to Burke: “I got the fake gun.”
She replied, “Ok, calling Levi back.”
Hughes explained Thursday that a man named Levi, whose last name he didn’t provide, helped plan a similar prank in the past.
The gunman seen in this month’s prank was Hughes’ friend, not a firefighter, Hughes said.
Macon-Bibb County Fire Chief Marvin Riggins said in a Tuesday afternoon press conference that discipline that could include firings or demotions may come as early as today (Wednesday) in the aftermath of the video posted on YouTube Sunday evening of a prank targeting two rookies at Station 108. Riggins said five of the seven firefighters present were in on the hoax involving a man with a gun, but the rookies were not. The chief says he spoke with the two rookies. Riggins said while they were frightened they are taking the incident in stride.
WMAZ-TV reports the Bibb County Sheriff's Department looked into the incident but Sheriff Jerry Modena says no crime was committed.
Macon Bibb Fire Chief Marvin Riggins says some firefighters could lose their jobs or their rank over a prank video filmed in a Bibb County fire station.
Macon Bibb Fire Chief Marvin Riggins says he is "appalled" by a prank video filmed in a Bibb County fire station.
He said at least five firefighters were involved in the prank, which involved a hoax shooting staged at Fire Station 108. He says a firecracker was used to simulate the sound of a gunshot.
Firefighters talking outside at the Peake Road station where the prank was filmed went inside Tuesday morning when a Telegraph reporter and photographer arrived. Later, someone could be seen peeking through blinds at the front of the station.
Capt. Stephanie Burke answered the door and said that firefighters had been instructed to refer all comment to Riggins or the mayor’s office.
Although firefighters involved in the incident weren’t on administrative leave Tuesday, Riggins said he expects disciplinary action will be taken within the next 24 hours.
Authorities are still trying to identify the masked person seen in the video, and they are checking to see if that person is a Macon police officer or a Bibb County sheriff’s deputy.
It is rare that you find near unanimity in the STATter911.com comments section, but this video from Macon-Bibb County Fire Department's Station 108 has done the trick. So far today, with more than 60 comments, there have been three major themes:
1. This was a bad stunt to even think about performing.
2. It was a terrible idea to have a camera rolling while this was going on.
3. It was even a worse idea to post the video to YouTube (and with credits!!!).
The video was added to YouTube Sunday evening, removed about 12-hours later, and then reposted by someone else. In the meantime, besides being seen on STATter911.com, FireCritic.com, Firefighter Nation and now Firehouse.com, it also caught the attention of the local news media this morning. They have been in touch with the fire department and the mayor's office.
Riggins first viewed the video about 11:50 a.m. with Macon’s chief administrative officer, Thomas Thomas, and mayoral spokesman Clay Murphey.
It was clear that the video exhibited behavior “that would not be condoned in his department,” Murphey said of the chief’s reaction. “I imagine there will be repercussions.”
Riggins said he’s “deeply saddened” by the video.
“This isn’t the way we treat our employees,” he said.Riggins said he didn’t know the identity of the original poster who used the online handle “FirefighterBoomer519.”
The department has policies prohibiting hazing and firearms, he said.
Macon.com also talked to County Commissioner Lonzy Edwards who heads the Public Safety Committee:
Besides the video seemingly showing public safety employees in positions of responsibility wasting time paid for by taxpayers, Edwards noted that it also comes at a time when Macon and Bibb County have been trying to find solutions to recent gun violence.
Milwaukee firefighters get two late last night: Video above is from a house fire on Milwaukee's north side around 11:00 PM Sunday where a man was found on the roof and a woman was discovered who wasn't breathing. News reports indicate she was revived in the medic unit. Read more. Firegeezer is also on this one.
'Gunman' bursts into station as part of rookie prank: A pretty elaborate production, complete with simulated shots fired and video credits, was posted to YouTube last night from a Georgia fire station. Check it out quickly before it melts.
If you won't listen to me, listen to them - Firehouse lawyers discuss cameras & first responders: These firehouse lawyers actually have law degrees. We are talking about Chip Comstock, John K. Murphy, Brad Pinsky, and Curt Varone. On their Fire Service Court radio show they discuss the recent camera incidents including the one in Suffolk County, New York where a first responder gets into a tug of war over a camera with a WNBC-TV photographer. For some of you who don't believe what I have written on this topic, here are the experts who bridge the world of firefighting and law. Well worth your time. As Curt Varone points out, when public safety workers interfere with picture taking by the public it is often the firefighters, EMS crews and cops who are breaking the law. This Internet radio show has the potential to save you and your department a lot of problems. Click here.
More hints how to keep your department out of trouble: In St. Charles, Missouri I will be at the Gateway Midwest Firefighter & Leadership Training event October 21-23 with Don't Be a STATter911 Headline: Reputation Management for the Digital Age. What other website gives you hints on how not be featured in its content? But there is a lot more to this gathering than what I have to offer. Check it out. I am told you can also still put STATTER in the promo code for a discount.
And speaking of Missouri: Glenn Usdin's FireTruckBlog.com paid a visit nearby to St. Louis for Firefighter Weekend and the Great Fire Engine Rally and has two videos. Check them out.
Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation's scholarship application announcement: Mike Hildebrand tells us it's that time of year for a great opportunity and a way to remember Deputy Chief James Yvorra. Here are the details -
The Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation is accepting applications for the 2011 scholarship awards competition. The application deadline is October 11, 2011.
Since 1989 YLD has awarded more than $110,500 in scholarships to emergency responders throughout the United States. Any active duty career or volunteer member of the Fire, Rescue, Hazardous Materials, and Emergency Medical Services may apply. In 2010, YLD issued three awards of $2,500.
To request or complete an application on line visit our web site at www.yld.org.
Iowa firefighter killed at crash scene: Not a lot of details yet on this story from Shelby, Iowa. Firefighter Michael Collins, 41, of Minden, was killed directing traffic around a crash scene on I-80. Click here.
Two days of air show disasters: In case you missed it we have the raw video of the air crashes in Nevada and West Virginia, along with the emergency radio traffic from the MCI at the Reno disaster. Click here for Reno and here for Martinsburg.
Tea Party spot getting some attention: New Haven Fire Fighter Local 825 is getting noticed in the media for its TV commercials that STATter911 Communications helped produce on the pension issue. Read more.
Runaway fire chief caught: Firegeezer has been following the story of an Oklahoma fire chief who split with the money. Also, the chief is not a virgin when it comes to being arrested. Check it out.
Five fires in four hours: It has been a while since we checked in with Michigan's Flint Fire Department, but they still fight lots of fire there. They had five fires in vacants in four hours over the weekend. Here's the story.
And finally … what are you a man or a mouse? A firefighter or first responder?: With the simple statement on his Facebook status, "Only you can prevent 'first responder'" has Ray McCormack started a movement? Admittedly, I have been part of the problem in the past (I made fun of it in the early days of the blog, resisted it for a while and then, like the wimp I am, just went with the flow). But no longer. What do you think?
House fire in Joliet, Illinois: No details on this one other than it was posted to YouTube yesterday.
UPDATE - The original poster removed the video around 11:00 AM EDT, but someone else has put it back up. It was up longer than I expected. The video was removed about 12 hours after it arrived on YouTube and four hours and fifteen minutes after it was posted to STATter911.com.
The video above was posted to YouTube last night complete with credits for this production. It's from Station 108 of the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department. Whatever happened to sending them out for a can of friction loss?
When the masked gunman entered the station house that day, she said, she was scared at first, but soon realized that the prank was back on.
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