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Quick Takes

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Lots of fire and lots of video: A Sunday afternoon fire that burned well into Sunday evening in Jonesville, Michigan. The fire spread from a restaurant to a furniture store. Click here for much more video.

James R. Beavers of Elgin, Illinois after his run-in with firefighters and the man who took this picture, Bill O'Neill at Elginet.com. Truly a story you don't want to miss.

James R. Beavers of Elgin, Illinois after his run-in with firefighters and the man who took this picture, Bill O'Neill at Elginet.com. Truly a story you don't want to miss.

Must see video of accused arsonist fighting with firefighters who just saved his child: Firefighters in Elgin, Illinois rescued a toddler who was in a high chair inside a burning home. The child’s dad, James Beavers, is seen on the video giving grief to firefighters as and after the kid was brought out of the home. Firefighters appeared quite restrained as Beavers started doing a little pushing and shoving. Police arrested Beavers and then charged him with arson. Click here for our coverage.

More must see video – Workers caught in explosion at Utah refinery: The U.S. Chemical Safety Board has shut down the Silver Eagle plant. They released multiple videos of the blast. Click here to watch the clips.

Three-year-old boy pulled his burned sister from a fire: Pretty unbelievable story. The mother of the children died in the same blaze in Arizona. Click here to read the story.

Things changing quickly in New York: The deadly fire was on Wednesday in Crown Heights, killing a father and his two children. By Thursday morning union leaders were again blasting city officials for a delay in the dispatch, calling it another example of what happens when you cut fire dispatchers out of the call taking process and leave it to the police. They called for the 911 recordings to be released. The city denied there was a problem and released the audio on Friday. By Friday afternoon it was announced fire dispatchers would be brought back into the process to “consult” with police department workers who were taking the 911 calls. This concept begins tomorrow. The New York Times has a report and Billy Goldfeder gives his analysis at FirefighterCloseCalls.com.

Pharaoh curses firefighters: At least it probably seemed that way to a group of Australian firefighters and their families. They were part of an annual event at Melbourne’s Luna Park when they became trapped upside down on the ride Pharaohs Curse. The firefighter’s on-duty colleagues were called, but the ride eventually decided to cooperate and brought them down after about six-minutes. Read the story.

Have you seen me? This Dalamation has been missing from Sacramento Fire Station 2 for three days. It isn't possible the pooch left on its own. Click the image to read more about the missing dog at SacramentoPress.com

Have you seen me? This Dalamation has been missing from Sacramento Fire Station 2 for three days. It isn't possible the pooch left on its own. Click the image to read more about the missing dog at SacramentoPress.com

I wonder if he fights with himself at the scene about whether to clear the roadway?: The new fire chief for South Carolina’s Clearwater Fire Department is Aiken County Sheriff Michael Hunt. Read more.

Definition of firefighter came into play as killer gets life sentence: In case you missed it on Friday, a judge has found Joseph Taye guilty of first degree murder. Taye, a paraplegic, ran down Firefighter Michelle Smith at the scene of an accident in Delaware last year and left the scene. Because the judge ruled that Smith was a firefighter at the time, even though she was handling EMS duties, it is a mandatory life sentence for Mr. Taye. Read the latest.

Video from DC second-alarm: Chris Oliphant sent us video from Saturday’s house fire on 47th Street, NW. Click here.

Philly fire injures 14: Five-alarms needed for the large apartment buildingfire Sunday morning in Lawncrest. Check it out.

Just aim for the lights: Firegeezer has the story of a suspected drunken driver hitting an ambulance head-on. No one was hurt in the Knoxville, Tennessee collision.

A late reminder: I totally missed last week’s installment from Ray McCormack at thehousewatch.com. Click here for Tactical Safety: Shortcutting the Stretch Eventually Stings.

Boardwalk blaze: Click here for video and pictures of a three-alarm fire on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City. (But it took the better eyesight of Firegeezer Bill Schumm to notice the business next to the one with all of the red stuff coming out of it had a sign saying Hot Spot.)

Three, including a former fire chief, are charged in connection with forged training documents in Colorado: Click here for the story from Sheridan and Federal Heights.

Connecting with STATter911.com: Besides our web address, www.STATter911.com, you can find us lots of other ways. Join our a fan page on Facebook. We are on Twitter. We are part of FireEMSBlogs.com and FirefighterNation.com. You can also get the home delivery version. 

Frustration in Maine over firefighter/arsonists: We told you about two firefighters in Maine charged with arson a few days apart. WCSH-TV takes a look at the bigger picture.

Posted by on November 23, 2009 • Filed under: 911, 911 Audio, DC Fire & EMS Department, FDNY, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Arson, Fires, HazMat, Major Incidents, must see video, Police, Quick takes, Special Operations, Training & Development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Paraplegic driver guilty in first-degree murder of FF Michelle Smith. Definition of firefighter important in case of slain Delaware City Fire Company member.

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DE Delaware City Michelle Smith

More from FirefighterCloseCalls.com

Previous STATter911.com coverage here, here, here and here

From Sean O’Sullivan at DelawareOnline.com:

Paraplegic Joseph Taye was found guilty today of first-degree murder for running into Michelle Smith of the Delaware City Fire Company on Dec. 20 2008 as Smith tended to an injured man lying on the side of U.S. 13.

By the end of a 10-day bench trial in October, there was no doubt that 29-year-old Taye had been driving the car — using a stick to work the pedals — that struck and killed Smith, 29, and defense attorney Joe Hurley had largely conceded that point.DE New Castle Taye

The question that did remain for Superior Court Judge Jerome O. Herlihy to decide was Smith’s status at the time of the accident. If she was a firefighter, then Taye was guilty of first-degree murder, which carries an automatic sentence of life in prison. If she was best defined as an ambulance driver or emergency medical responder – or even a firefighter who was not “in the line of duty” when she was struck – then Taye was guilty of the lesser offense of manslaughter, which carries a minimum sentence of two years in prison and a maximum of 25 years.

In a brief proceeding this morning, Herlihy ruled that even though Smith was not riding on the fire truck that responded to the scene, and was not dressed as a firefighter that night, she qualified as a firefighter under the law because she had completed her training and had been designated a firefighter by the Delaware City Fire Company. In addition, Herlihy said the duties, and commonly accepted definition, of a firefighter go far beyond just fighting fires and include such things as responding to motor vehicle accidents.

The evidence in the case concluded five weeks ago and all sides had been waiting for the judge to render a verdict.

Several days ago it was announced that Herlihy would be announcing his verdict this morning, so the courtroom was packed to overflowing. Dozens of emergency services personnel from around the county, attending in dress uniform, had to wait in the hall because they could not fit into the courtroom.

DE Delaware City crash sceneWhen Herlihy read his verdict on the lead charge, a small cheer came from Smith’s family. Taye, who is in a wheelchair and was in court dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, had been staring at the floor during the proceeding, briefly looked up an over at the Smith family, then returned to staring at the floor.

Herlihy then announced he also found Taye guilty of manslaughter, first-degree assault, reckless endangering, leaving the scene of an accident and driving with a suspended license.

Hurley said his client would be appealing the ruling.

As Taye exited, a family member shouted, “Love you Joe,” and “Ain’t nothing but another fight.”

Outside the courtroom, prosecutors Sean Lugg and John Down said they were pleased with the result.

Dave Carpenter Jr., a spokesman for the Delaware City Fire Company, praised the ruling as a landmark. “It sets a precedent for defining a fire fighter,” he said, and can now be used to help protect others.

Posted by on November 20, 2009 • Filed under: Breaking News, Courts, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, Major Incidents, News • Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,