DC derailment raw video; FFs watch house burn; Seat Belt Pledge; Video from 2 large Cleveland fires; Recruit axed in knot class; Pool drain rescue
(This entry is updated throughout the day, so please scroll down. Last update 11:30 p.m.)
The remains of former dispatcher and fire photographer Wes Gerald leave the Lincolnia United Methodist Church. Click here for more on the funeral of this long-time friend to the fire service.
Breaking News: Rail cars fall into river. Concern for structural stability of the railroad bridge.
There has been a train derailment in Washington, DC. It is on the CSX tracks over the Anacostia River. DC Fire & EMS Operations Chief Lawrence Schultz said about 10 cars, of an approximately 90 car coal train, have derailed, with at least 6 of the cars falling off the bridge into the river. There are no reports of injuries. A command post has been set up at the skating rink in Anacostia Park on the east side of the river.
Early reports indicate this may involve a runaway train, or portion of a train, but Chief Schultz could not confirm that information.
Chief Schultz, speaking at a 5:00 p.m. press conference, said the first units on the scene, shortly after 3:00 p.m., were the department’s fire boats. Schultz said, for the first half-hour, firefighters searched for possible victims. After consulting with CSX, it was determined there were no victims. Firefighters made sure the train on the west side of the bridge was secure and also placed about one-thousand feet of booms in the river on both sides of the bridge.
Schultz reports there is a sheen on the water that is petroleum based and speculates it might be some sort of brake oil. No locomotives derailed.
There is concern for the structural stability of the bridge. Chief Schultz said as soon as possible, they hope to give the okay to move some of the undamaged cars off of the bridge to reduce the weight on the span. Federal and local transportation officials are on the scene.
This same railroad bridge was shut down for a while late last year so CSX could repair structural problems. Also, the track and signaling in that area, and through nearby Benning Yard, have recently been upgraded.
5:00 p.m. report and news conference
An early report from the scene is here
Raw video from the scene is here
Raw video of firefighters forced to watch house burn
For more than two hours, from late Wednesday night until early Thursday morning, Prince George’s County, MD firefighters stood by as a house was destroyed by fire. It happened during a police standoff in Hillcrest Heights. More details and raw video of the fire as it spreads through the home can be found here.
Seat Belt Pledge
The firefighter above was on a different type of campaign when that picture was taken 30-years-ago. Now, he’s Dr. Burton Clark, who along with others, brought the National Fire Service Seat Pledge to Washington, DC. Click here for video excerpts of Thursday’s event and to see a 1977 interview with Dr. Clark.
2 dead in house fire in the Poconos
The picture at top is from the Pocono Record of a deadly blaze that spread to a second home in East Stroudsburg, PA on Thursday. The video shows later stages of the fire. WithTheCommand.com has the details.
Woman who just joined Marines dies in early morning fire in MD
A room and contents fire at a Bethesda home overnight has left a 23-year-old woman dead. Details from wusa9.com.
Raw video of Cleveland fires
The photo above is from The Plain Dealer in Cleveland. The paper and its website have details of two significant fires, just hours apart. One Thursday night and the other early this morning. WKYC-TV has raw video of this morning’s warehouse fire here, here, and here. More video, including a collapse that almost hit two police officers from Thursday night’s blaze. Details from the paper:
Firefighters have been at 1120 and 1146 East 152nd Street since 3 a.m. They got the blaze under control at 6:48 a.m. and were calling for more personnel to relieve the exhausted night shift.
The buildings are being referred to as “the old Clark Controller complex.” They are next to Collinwood High S
chool’s athletic field, which is unaffected. The high school is a block north of the fire.
The fire began just hours after the blaze that destroyed two adjoining buildings on West 25th Street. That spectacular fire Thursday night spewed thick black smoke that was visible for miles, even in the dark. The blaze destroyed Priceless Cleaners and Monroe’s Cabaret, an adult entertainment club.
Knot at all cool
Grant Mishoe at SConFire.com is running a story this morning from Columbia, SC where a recruit has been dismissed because of taking lessons learned in a knot tying class quite a bit too far. The Columbia FD says the recruit tied a noose and placed it around the heads of 2 other recruits.
3-year-old’s arm trapped in pool drain
Sun tan oil and other lubricants didn’t work, so firefighters in Lee County, FL (above) sent the child to the hospital, drain pipe and all.
2nd-alarm in Rochester
Everyone escaped from an apartment building (above) that burned at 2:00 a.m. in Rochester, NY.
A thank-you from a firefighter’s mom
As Sgt.Michael LaCore and Firefighter Charlie Shyab continue to make progress at the Washington Hospital Center Burn Unit, we have heard how thankful all of the families are for the support they have received. Sgt. LaCore’s mother, Madeline, has written some of her thoughts on a blog she has at the DVMmoms website. Here is part of what she wrote:
I must have said those two words, at least, a thousand times in the last week. .. And I mean them from the bottom of my heart. Today, Michael’s condition was upgraded from critical to serious. Thank you ALL for your continued prayers and support. Firefighters from as far away as Alaska, Texas, Indiana, Canada, Massachusetts and other states have sent heart felt emails. Retired and active Firefighters from surrounding jurisdictions of Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Fairfax County, Brandywine, Md., St. Mary’s County, Kentland, Burtonsville and other areas have come to see Mike and support the family. Also, thanks to Harold Schaitberger, President of the International Association of Firefighters, for his visit.
And I can’t say enough about the DC Firefighter’s Burn Foundation who have maintain a 24 hour vigil for Mike and Charlie Shyab at Washington Hospital Center’s MedStar Burn Unit. Both of them have received the best medical care from Dr. Jim Jeng, Dr. Marion Jordan and the medical team of fabulous nurses, doctors and others.
National Mall tunnel hydrant questions answered
STATter 911 has been wondering why “out of service” signs remain on most of the hydrants in the 3rd Street Tunnel more than 2 months after we first reported on the problem. Just a month ago, the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) told us most of the 28 hydrants had been fixed. Now, a spokesman reports only 5 are still not working. On Thursday, both DDOT and DC Fire & EMS agreed what is needed next is a re-inspection of the hydrants by the fire department. We are told that is in the process of being set up. We will let you know.
Vehicle fire at the pumps
The video above appears to be from Mumbai in India. A crowd gathers and tries to handle a burning car at the fuel pumps. Part 2 is here.
Oops
No details on the video above. Just a description of what you will see: A tractor-trailer driver trying to turn the rig around got more than he bargained for.
