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Dash-cam, helmet-cam, fireground audio: House fire in Carlisle, Pennsylvania where young firefighter suffered a heart attack.

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First of all let me wish you a happy, healthy and safe new year and thank you for the support you continue to give STATter911.com. Our plan for 2013 is to continue to provide the best and most interesting fire videos available and relevant fire and EMS news. Make sure you “like” the STATter911.com page on Facebook where we have been providing links to additional material that doesn’t make this site and breaking news before we have a chance to post it here. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

Our first video for 2013 is from Carlisle, Pennsylvania (Cumberland County). SAT6767 posted it New Year’s Eve but it was from a house fire on Thornwood Lane on December 11. That fire received some attention because Firefighter Christopher Darhower, 29, suffered a heart attack due to a blocked artery. An interview with Firefighter Darhower three days later is below (sorry I missed this story when it occurred).

On a side note, looking at the original articles about the house fire, the headline in a local paper caught my attention because it gives the dog that died in the fire top billing over the firefighter hospitalized with trouble breathing. I like dogs too, but come on. Sorry to start 2013 off by ticking off dog lovers.

It wasn’t just The Patriot-News that thinks a dead dog trumps an injured firefighter (click here). Maybe my news judgment sucks after being away from it for a while, but I would put the firefighter first.

Anyway, back to the fire. Here’s the description with the video above:

Dash and helmet cam of a working fire in a one story single family dwelling with Collyer Mansion conditions. The fire was ruled accidental in nature. One firefighter injury (cardiac related) and the dog perished in the fire.

abc27 WHTM

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Posted by on January 1, 2013 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Dispatch & Communications, Emergency Communications, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Dispatch, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fireground Audio, Fires, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Walter Patmon Jr. second Chicago firefighter to die in 10 days. Became ill after fire.

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Adam Sege & Nancy Stone, The Chicago Tribune:

For the second time in little more than a week, Chicago firefighters made a sad procession to the morgue today to honor a fallen colleague.

Walter Patmon Jr., 61, an 18-year veteran, died late Sunday night after going into cardiac arrest within hours of responding to a small kitchen fire in the 1500 block of West 99th Street, according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Will Knight said. The firefighters discovered meat burning on a stove, officials said.

After returning to his firehouse, Patmon experienced shortness of breath while cleaning equipment, Knight said. He was taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital, where he went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at 11:21 p.m.

WGN-TV:

Firefighter Walter Patmon Jr., 61, was an 18-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department.  He worked out of Engine Company No. 121 at 1700 West 95th Street.

Patmon returned to his firehouse last night after responding to a small kitchen fire in a home on West 99th Street.  He said he felt short of breath and was rushed to Little Company of Mary Hospital.  On the way he went into cardiac arrest and later died.

Patmon is survived by his wife and three daughters.

Jessic D’Onofrio, WLS-TV:

“Walter was a super dude. I mean, every day when we see him, he always got a smile,” said the Chicago Fire Department’s Michael Griffin.

Patmon, who was known by his childhood nickname “Bubble,” was just a few years away from retirement.

“I used to say, ‘Walter, you’re kind of in a busy fire house. Isn’t it time to kind of slow down?’ He said, ‘No, I’m not going anywhere. I love this fire house. I love this department, and I’m staying where I’m at,’” retired senior firefighter Irving Brown said.

Patmon’s death comes three days after the funeral of Cpt. Herbie Johnson, also of the Chicago Fire Department. 

Posted by on November 12, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Chicago Fire Department, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Fires, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Man’s use of green line proves fatal. Port Ludlow, WA mobile home fire.

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We have posted a lot in recent years about green line use by homeowners, neighbors and even arriving fire chiefs. In the Paradise Bay community of Port Ludlow, Washington a mobile home caught fire Friday evening. A man living next door grabbed the green line for exposure protection and apparently had a fatal heart attack while doing so.

ptleader.com:

A 17 year-old male who was living at the home told firefighters he had put some cedar firewood into the stove on top of a few remaining embers then went outside to his car to get his cell phone, according to the PLFR press release. He had left the stove door open and sparks from the wood ignited the carpet. When the resident returned to the house, he attempted to put the fire out but by then, it had spread to the drapes and rapidly moved to the rest of the dwelling including multiple add-on structures, which were all destroyed.

Meanwhile, the owner of the house next door, concerned the blaze would get to his residence, hooked up his garden hose and began to defend the side of his house facing the burning structure.

peninsuladailynews.com:

The unidentified man hooked up his garden hose and began to water down the side of his house facing the burning structure, said Duty Chief Lonnie Reynolds of Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue.

“Moments later, the gentleman suffered a heart attack and collapsed,” Reynolds said in a written statement.Despite attempts to revive him, he died on the way to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton, Reynolds said.

Posted by on June 10, 2012 • Filed under: EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Fires, News • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Arrangements for ex-Chief Bruce Turcotte, Hopelawn Engine Company #1

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Photo by Keith Addie, www.njfiregroundphotos.com.

Previous coverage here & here

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Funeral Arrangements for Ex-Chief Bruce Turcotte of the Hopelawn (NJ) Engine Company #1:

Wake Service's will be held on Monday, 1/23 from 1900 hours till 2100 hours and Tuesday , 01/24 from 1400-1600 hours and 1900 till 2100 hours with a Firefighter Wake Service to be held  @ 1930 hours at the Mitruska Funeral Home, 531 New Brunswick Avenue, Fords, NJ, 08863 followed by a funeral mass on Wednesday morning, 01/25, at Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church, 26 Maple Avenue, Edison, NJ, 08837 at 1000 hours.

Visiting Fire Departments are asked to park their vehicles at the Fortunoff's wing of Woodbridge Center Mall, Route 9 South, Woodbridge, NJ, 07095 for shuttle service to the staging area at the St. Johns First Aid Squad building parking lot beginning at 0900 hours. Companies are asked to provide anticipated headcount, if possible, by RSVP to hecofficers@aol.com .

Lodging is available at the Hampton Inn Woodbridge, 370 Route 9 North, Woodbridge, NJ, 07095, (732) 855-6900. Mention "Hopelawn Fire" at time of reservation.

Further information regarding the wake and funeral can be obtained by contacting Captain Joseph Heintjes, Public Information Officer, at joe.heintjes5@gmail.com .

Posted by on January 21, 2012 • Filed under: fire, Fire Rescue Topics, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, News • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Neighbor discovered downed firefighter in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Hopelawn VFD’s Bruce Turcotte found slumped behind wheel. Son was also at house fire.

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Photo by Keith Addie, www.njfiregroundphotos.com.

Read entire Woodbridge Patch article about FF Bruce Turcotte

Read entire Star Ledger article about FF Bruce Turcotte

Previous coverage of the fire

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Krista Sweeney had rushed backed to her home yesterday afternoon after hearing about a fire in the neighborhood. Deborah Bell at the Woodbridge Patch reports that as Sweeney was walking up Jefferson Street she passed a fire engine and saw what she at first thought was a mannequin behind the wheel.

Looking a little closer, she realized it was actually a man in the driver's seat. It turned out to be Bruce Turcotte, a former chief of the Hopelawn VFD. According to Bell's article Sweeney alerted firefighters on the scene:

The firemen looked at one another and in seconds, they had located Turcotte, dragged his body from the cab of the fire engine, and were furiously working to revive him.

"They didn't know [that he was injured.] You couldn't see him from where they were fighting the fire. The ambulance blocked it. You had to be where I was," she said, as she was walking towards her house to see Turcotte's unconscious body in the fire truck.

The Star-Ledger reports that Bruce Turcotte's son Brian, also a Hopelawn firefighter, was on the call:

Turcotte, a former chief of Hopelawn Engine Company No. 1, excelled to the end, said Brian Turcotte, the fallen man’s son and a firefighter himself with Hopelawn.

The younger Turcotte was there Thursday for his father’s final mission, a fatal residential fire on Jefferson Street in the Menlo Park Terrace section of the township.

Turcotte went into cardiac arrest after Hopelawn’s Rapid Intervention Crew arrived at the scene, according to his son and a statement from fire Capt. Joseph Heintjes. According to Heintjes, the elder Turcotte was assisting in stretching hoses so the engine company crews could advance to the building.

A short time later, he was discovered unresponsive behind the wheel of the truck.

In addition to Firefighter Turcotte's death, a man was found dead in the basement of the burning home. Woodbridge's mayor told The Star Ledger the same home had a fatal fire in the 1970s.

Posted by on January 20, 2012 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hopelawn VFD Firefighter Bruce Turcotte dies at Woodridge, NJ house fire. Collapses while stretching hose. Civilian found dead in home.

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The Star-Ledger's coverage can be found at NJ.com.

Photos from the fire by Noak K. Murray, The Star-Ledger

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From NJ.com:

Volunteer fireman Bruce Turcotte, of Hopelawn Volunteer Fire Department in Woodbridge, suffered the heart attack while helping to extinguish a fire at 33 Jefferson Street in the Menlo Park Terrace section of the township this afternoon.

Turcotte later died at JFK Medical Center in Edison, according to Woodbridge mayor John McCormac. He was 58.

“Bruce was an outstanding fire fighter and public servant,” McCormac said. “He loved the fire company. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.” 

Firefighter Bruce Turcotte. Photo by Keith Addie, www.njfiregroundphotos.com.

From WNBC-TV:

Firefighters were called to 33 Jefferson St. at about 1:20 p.m., according to Woodbridge Township spokesman John Haggarty.

They were told a person was unaccounted for, and went into the home to retrieve the missing man. Firefighters found the deceased male victim in the basement, said Haggarty. He has not been identified.

A lifelong firefighter with the Hopelawn Fire Department was laying a hose outside when he suffered a heart attack, according to Haggarty.

Posted by on January 19, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Fires, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, News • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Funeral arrangements for Worcester Firefighter Jon Davies & Mount Vernon Firefigher Kevin Townes.

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Thanks to The Secret List for passing along arrangements for the two firefighters who died on Thursday.

Firefighter Jon D. Davies Sr, Worcester Fire Department

The funeral for Firefighter Jon D. Davies Sr. will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 24 Mulberry St.

As you know, Firefighter Davies, a 17-year veteran of the Worcester Fire Department, died in the Line of Duty yesterday after he and his partner went back into the burning building at 49 Arlington St. to search for another person believed trapped inside.

The building collapsed, killing Firefighter Davies and injuring his partner.
Calling hours at Mercandante Funeral Home, 370 Plantation St. is 3 to 8 pm Wednesday.

Firefighter Kevin Townes, Mount Vernon Fire Department

Funeral arrangements have been set for Firefighter Kevin Townes, the City of Mount Vernon firefighter from Pleasant Valley who died of an apparent heart attack while responding to a blaze Thursday morning.

Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Camelot Funeral Home, 174 Stevens Ave., Mount Vernon.

The funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at Grace Baptist Church, 52 S. Sixth Ave., Mount Vernon.

Posted by on December 10, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Fires, IAFF, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, News • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fire engine transport of heart attack victim may have saved his life. Montgomery County, Maryland firefighters praised for snow response.

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From WUSA9.com’s Elizabeth Jia:

Melvyn Newman shakes the hands of the first responders at Fire Station 23.

He survived his first heart attack during the snow storm that trapped the area’s commuters in a massive gridlock, Jan. 26, 2011. Through the thunder snow, four first responders treated and transported Newman in a fire engine.

“They were very efficient, capable, and cool, fortunately, knew what they were doing,” says Newman who later choked up and says words cannot fully express his gratitude to his rescuers.

During snow fall, Newman felt tightness in his chest after shoveling his driveway around 7 p.m. His wife, Linda Singer, saw him lying down inside the house. She realized he was suffering from a heart attack and dialed 9-1-1.

“He was just totally white, no coloring at all, and he was shaking like a leaf,” says Linda Singer. She says after getting the busy tone a few times, she got through to a dispatcher. Four first responders arrived in a fire engine.

Lead paramedic Dwayne Dutrow says he was determined to get Newman to Suburban Hospital before his heart stopped.

The snow storm slowed down the rescue. The crew treated and transported Newman to the hospital in 18 minutes, according to Dutrow.

The fire engine navigated its way around stranded cars and snow- covered roads.

“I tried to figure the best way to get there, stay away from hilly terrain and go as flat as possible,” says Lawrence Morton, the driver.

“It was unprecedented and the traffic conditions were terrible at best,” says Montgomery County Fire Chief Richard Bowers.

The physicians at Suburban hospital said he had ten or fifteen more minutes before he might not have survived the heart attack, according to Newman.

Fire Chief Bowers says Newman’s rescue is a shining example of the importance of the work done by four-person first responder teams.

Posted by on February 7, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service (MD), News, Rescues, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Reporter reports on 911 problem in the Nation’s Capital then has a heart attack & needs 911.

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Jennifer Donelan is a wonderful TV reporter at WJLA-TV in Washington who was always friendly competition when I was at WUSA-TV. DCRTV.com’s Dave Hughes reports that Jennifer is in the hospital recovering from a heart attack that occurred moments after a 5:00 PM live shot yesterday:

WJLA-TV picture.


She developed chest pains and breathing problems after the news piece and WJLA news crew members called for an ambulance. She was taken to Washington Hospital Center. We hear that Donelan is resting comfortably today in the hospital’s ICU after doctors inserted two stents to remove blockage in her heart arteries.

But there is more to this story. It turns out that my friend Jennifer was in the District of Columbia when this occurred. The story that she was reporting was the one above questioning the 911 response for an infant in cardiac arrest in the 5000 block of Benning Road in Southeast. Shortly after going live on TV telling that story the crew on the live shot had to call 911 to get help for Jennifer. We are told the response was quite prompt.

It’s one of life’s little twists. In fact it is something I always figured would happen to me with all the stories I did about 911 issues. We wish Jennifer a quick recovery and hope she’s back out on the streets soon keeping us informed.

Posted by on September 9, 2010 • Filed under: 911, Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, DC Fire & EMS Department, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,