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Quick Takes

Judge orders New Haven to promote firefighters: Operating under the instructions from a Supreme Court decision, a U.S. Distict Court judge has ordered the promotion of 14 firefighters. The judgement officially finds the City of New Haven violated the rights of a group of white firefighters after two promotional exams were tossed out five-years-ago. New Haven officials say they will follow the order “as soon as practical”. Watch the video above and read the latest on this closely watched case.

NEW- EMS crew officially passed over for fire company: The conflict between New Jersey’s Quakertown Fire Company and Quakertown VEMS came to light for most of us after a passing incident between a firetruck and an ambulance went bad (click here & scroll down for previous coverage). A recent Tri-Data study determined the fire company was best at providing EMS for Franklin Township. Now Franklin Township has made it official. Read the latest.

It never ends in Bourne: The last we looked at the troubles in Bourne, Massachusetts, selectmen had launched their own investigation into the ongoing troubles surround Lt. Kelli Weeks. But now that the investigation is underway, firefighters are not happy statements are being taken under oath and are concerned about repercussions. Click here for the latest story. Click here for our previous stories and updates on the Bourne Fire Department.

Los Angeles County chief says 21-years is enough: Chief P. Michael Freeman is not the longest serving chief in Los Angeles County’s history. It would take another 6-years to reach that record. But Chief Freeman says it is time to go. Already allowed to serve beyond the normal mandatory retirement age of 60, the chief says he wants to spend more time with his family. Chief Freeman came to Southern California after 24-years with the Dallas Fire Department. Read more.

Chief Gene Doherty of the Revere Fire Department is in trouble with his mayor after letting a firefighter use Ladder 2 for a ride to the chapel.

A very unusual situation in New Jersey leads to chief’s resignation: There are a lot of unanswered questions surrounding the Fair Haven fire chief’s plunge into the Navesink River Sunday night. It happened after Shaun Foley hit a pole while driving the chief’s vehicle. Foley was rescued after a 45-minute search that included the U.S. Coast Guard and New Jersey State Police. Foley, who faces drunk driving and other charges, has now resigned. Here’s the latest. And here’s what was reported earlier in the day.

Crack pipes found at fire that hurt ex-Knicks player: Dean Meminger was pulled unconscious from the burning Bronx home Sunday. Now there are reports crack pipes were found in the house, but a cause of the fire has not been listed. The 62-year-old former New York Knicks player is currently in critical but stable condition. Read details.

Family Dollar update from the expert: Our resident expert at Family Dollar store fires at FireEmsBlogs.com is Firegeezer Bill Schumm. So we leave the update to Monday’s fires in Rochester to the Geeze. Click here for the latest.

Posted by dave statter on November 25, 2009 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Bourne Fire Department, Command & Leadership, Courts, FDNY, Los Angeles County Fire Department, News • Tagged: Bourne, Chief Gene Doherty, Chief P. Michael Freeman, crack pipe, Dallas, Dean Meminger, discrimination, Fair Haven, Family Dollar, Firegeezer, Franklin Township, judegement, Kellli Weeks, Ladder 2, Los Angeles County, Navesink River, New Haven, New York Knicks, promotion, Quakertown Fire Company, Quakertown VEMS, retirement, Revere, Ricci, Shaun Foley, Tri-Data, wedding

Quick Takes

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As Firegeezer has been warning us: Click here for videos, fireground audio, pictures and more from our extensive coverage of two fires at Family Dollar stores in Rochester, New York yesterday. Our friends at Monroe County Fire Wire have a series of HD videos, like the one above from Scott Ellman. As you may be aware, the Geeze has been keeping tabs of the number of fires in Family Dollars and other similarly named stores. So we can’t say he didn’t warn us.

Firefighters cleared of wrongdoing in death of elderly woman at fire, but there were a series of issues: This is an update on a story from New Zealand where there were allegations an elderly woman was left in a burning home and could have been removed sooner. The first crew to reach the woman was running out of air. They assumed she was dead and left her. A second crew found here alive, though she later died. While the firefighters were cleared of wrongdoing, the report does indicate the woman was declared dead when she actually wasn’t, there may have been confusion over a policy of leaving bodies in place for investigators and there needs to be improved search and rescue training. The report also confirmed that two senior officers had been drinking at a barbeque prior to the fire breaking out, but each believed it did not impair their ability to deal with the fire. Overall the report found the firefighters on the call “responded appropriately”. Click here for more. Watch the story here.

Click the image to watch a report on the seven-alarm fire at a large apartment complex under construction in Dallas, Texas. The first firefighters found fire in electrical equipment. Seven firefighters were hurt, including some in a floor collapse. The fire burned for more than 12 hours.

Firefighter talks about floor collapse that sent him and others to the hospital: Cincinnati’s Fred Averill talks about the fire Monday that sent him and others tumbling through a hole in the floor. Read and watch the story.

Who’d a thunk it?: A study of the data in Boston has found that some firehouses are busy and some aren’t. Now that’s a headline for you. Anyway, the question on the table is what to with that information. There is a suggestion of moving firefighters around. Read the story.

Firefighter’s son charged in dad’s murder: You may be familiar with the story of the Waco, Texas firefighter whose body was found in his burning home. Ramonell James’ son, burned in the fire, has now been charged with shooting his dad and setting the place on fire. Here’s the story.

Pranks for the memories: Too much time on their hands and a lot of dedication to scaring the rookie. Check it out.

Posted by dave statter on November 24, 2009 • Filed under: Boston Fire Department, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fireground Audio, Firehouse Pranks, Fires, News, Reports, Videos • Tagged: 7-alarm fire, Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, data, dumpster, Family Dollar, Firegeezer, floor collapse, Fred Averill, Monroe County Fire Wire, murder, New Zealand, pranks, Ramonell James, report, Rochester, Scott Ellman, study, Texas, Waco

UPDATED- New videos, photos & fireground audio from 5-alarm fire in Rochester, New York. Second fire of the day at a Family Dollar. Lookout broadcast for suspect.

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Above is raw video from the fire at Ridge-Clinton Plaza taken by DemocratandChronicle.com.

Monroe County Fire Wire has fireground audio from both fires and a series of pictures (Video from MCFW below)

Photo gallery

UPDATED AT 7:20 PM: Two fires in Rochester, New York today at Family Dollar stores. The first was out quickly. That was not the case at the second fire. It occurred about two miles away and was reported 50-minutes after the first blaze. There is a lookout for a suspect. Firegeezer Bill Schumm has been writing for months about fires at Family Dollar stores and the chain’s similarly named competitors.

In an interview at the bottom of this entry, Rochester Fire Department Chief John Caufield called the second fire one of the fastest moving fires in his career. The chief says the first arriving units had smoke in the building that quickly showed itself as a rapidly advancing fire throughout the building.

Here is the latest from DemocratandChronicle.com:

A four-alarm blaze in a Rochester Family Dollar store that started around noon today spread through the Ridge-Clinton Plaza.

Rochester Fire Chief John Caufield said the blaze was under control at 5:20 p.m. today, although firefighters will be on the scene throughout the night.

Dozens of fire trucks are at the scene, and the front and rear of the building are fully engulfed, with flames shooting through the roof. Portions of the plaza have collapsed. Heavy black smoke is blanketing the area. The smoke was visible from miles away.

Traffic on Route 104 near the fire site — restricted much of the afternoon — was open again in both directions by 6:30 p.m..

Caufield would not label the fire arson, but he said, “We’re definitely going to look at that. We certainly want to explore that angle.”

He said that a team of investigators from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are expected to arrive in Rochester tomorrow morning to assist in the investigation. Caufield said that they would provide assistance because of the magnitude of the fire and because of the fire reported at a different Family Dollar store about the same time today.

The fire investigators were called on because of “the multimillion-dollar loss here and “We have some questions about the cause of this fire and we need some of their expertise to help us do some of the analysis.” Caufield said.

Dozens of fire trucks are at the scene, and the front and rear of the building were fully engulfed, with flames shooting through the roof. Portions of the plaza have collapsed. Heavy black smoke blanketed the area. The smoke was visible from miles away.

A crowd of nearly 200 onlookers has gathered to watch, many taking photos.

Rochester Fire Lt. Willie Jackson said the fire started around noon at 1731 N. Clinton Ave. More than 60 firefighters from 15 city companies and at least two suburban departments are at the scene, he said.

Jackson said there have been no firefighter or civilian injuries and all customers of plaza businesses were able to escape safely.

A cache of paint, paint thinner and other possibly explosive chemicals was safely removed from the Auto Finishers Supply Co. store in the plaza, Jackson said.

Joe Ignizio, 35, of Greece, co-owns the Fireball Wireless store just two doors down from the Family Dollar. He said he was working in his office in the back of the shop when he heard people rush outside. He was surprised by how quickly the fire moved.

“The flames are in there now,” he said earlier of the store his family has run since 1994. “I didn’t think it would get this far.”

“A whole lot of people (in the plaza) are going to be out of work,” he said.

The North Clinton Avenue fire is the second fire at a city Family Dollar store this morning. A fire at the store located at 836 N. Goodman Street was reported at 11:39 a.m.

Jackson said that fire was “small and contained.”

He said authorities have notified all local Family Dollar stores that “there may be a problem.”

Around 12:15 p.m., 911 dispatchers broadcast a “special attention” call throughout the county for police agencies to be on the lookout for an apparent arsonist striking Family Dollar stores.

Jackson said the city’s arson investigation team was at the scene, but he would not speculate on the cause of the fire.

The video above includes an interview with Rochester Fire Department Chief John Caufield.