FF shot; FF Dixon funeral; Videos from IL, CA, NY, WA, PA; Posing mayor won’t quit; 9 FFs charged with arson in 8 days; Arson in Cambridge, MD fatal
(Updated at 7:30 PM, Sunday)
Old video of the day: We have discovered an early prototype of the modern day quint in this 1940 film. Click the image above to watch the film. While we don’t have the time for a complete critique of this fire that destroyed what appears to be an historic firehouse, we have a few observations. Chief 13 is clearly one of those screamers who just doesn’t have the respect of his troops. He also likes to toot his own horn. We understand staffing issues, but the chief probably should not be driving the ladder truck. The use of underage children in an active firefighting role could be an issue that a number of federal and state agencies might want to investigate. We also don’t think it is advisable for a family member (uncle) to have direct supervision over other relatives (nephews). Clearly, if your last name isn’t Duck, you have little chance of joining this department. Once again, the issue of cameras in the hands of first responders could come back to haunt this crew. They give us a view of some bunk room antics that probably shouldn’t be broadcast to the world. We will leave the fireground tactics to those with a little more expertise than I can offer.
Breaking news: Multi-alarm fire in Philly
The fire is in a multi-story warehouse type building in the 1300 block of N. Front Street. The image above is from WTXF-TV.
The fire has gone to 6-alarms. It is reported to be in a furniture manufacturing shop. At 7:30 PM the fire was reported under control. Here is some video from KYW-TV.
Firefighter shot by gun that no one fired
A Muskogee, Oklahoma firefighter is recovering after being shot in the thigh during a house fire late Friday night. Fire Chief Derek Tatum says the bullet came from a gun that had been exposed to the heat from the fire. The firefighter, who hasn’t been identified, is now recovering at home. The story from NewsOK.com.
Ouch!
The Belle Valley, PA fire department had been waiting for the return of its pumper after being refurbished at Sutphen. It was on its way home Saturday when the firefighters stopped to help out at an accident along I-79 during a snowstorm. Someone plowed into the rear of Engine 31. The firefighters apparently are going to be okay. The engine will once again need some work. Chief Billy Goldfeder at FirefighterCloseCalls.com has more.
New homes for firefighters apparently killed proposal for new station
Lockport Township, MI has long had housing next to its fire station that “first responders” can live in rent-free. Planning for a news firehouse included three similar homes. That may have been the deal killer preventing a special assessment district to pay for the project. Read more.
Funeral for Firefighter Jarrett Dixon
On board a 1951 Mack B pumper, Baltimore County FF Jarrett Dixon was escorted to Pikesville’s Druid Ridge Cemetery on Friday. Dixon died three days after suffering chest pains while on duty. Michael Schwartzberg, FirePix1075 took the pictures above. He has details from the day, along with more than 100 pictures from the church and the cemetery that can be seen here. You will want to check it out.
Striker strikes gold
A Miami-Dade Fire-Rescue canine named striker found a crash victim in marshes around 2:00 AM Saturday. Read the story
A mayor for all seasons
Right now it is the stormy season in Arlington, Oregon. We told you a little more than a week ago about Mayor Carmen Kontur-Gronquist, she of the black bra and panties fame, posing on the local fire engine (before she became mayor). Now Mayor Kontur-Gronquist has gone public with her story and her effort to stay on the job. She talked to ABC’s 20-20. Read the story. Watch the story.
FDNY response video
Here’s all the information with this video:
FDNY Queens 2nd-alarm. E275 L133 arrive 1st due at a fire involving 2 private dwellings.
2-11 church fire in Chicago
A fire Friday morning in a church on Chicago’s West Side. Read the details.
Sacramento auto repair shop
The owner of this business was burned in the two-alarm fire on Thursday afternoon. Read the details.
Apartment fire in Baghdad
According to the YouTube posting this is not war related, it is just a fire. No date given.
State president defends Boston union
Boston’s union leaders have been under fire in recent weeks. A letter to the editor in Saturday’s Boston Globe from President Robert B. McCarthy of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachu
setts gives a different view:
YOUR LEAD Jan. 15 editorial “Blitzed by the firefighters union” was an absurd and false illustration of the conduct of the Boston Firefighters Union. To blame the firefighters for the mismanagement of the Boston Fire Department is ludicrous. The Globe is the entity that has been blitzing with wave after wave of negative stories and editorials since October. The paper has been fueling the fire and essentially negotiating the contract for the City of Boston.
If Sam Tyler of the Boston Municipal Research Bureau is Mr. Know It All, why doesn’t he run for elected office?
The Boston firefighters will not be intimidated to accept a unilateral management contract by the city’s threatening actions. The Boston Firefighters Union will negotiate under the law for a fair and equitable contract that will improve the Boston Fire Department and place members on a higher plane of skill and efficiency.
I am confident, as a participant of the Joint Labor Management Committee for the past 25 years, that the committee members will perform their duties faithfully and impartially in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth and their oath of office.
Early video of MO house fire
Neighbor starts rolling before fire trucks arrive. Fire on Thursday involving firefighters from Battlefield and Brookline, Missouri.
CA house fire with dog rescue
Good, early video from a Long Beach, CA house fire. No date given.
House fire in Rochester
A second-alarm on Roycraft Drive on Saturday in Rochester, NY.
9 firefighters arrested on arson charges in 8 days
Fire investigators in the US and Australia have been kept busy by firefighters. A look at a bad week and some old reports on the problem. Click here to see our coverage.
Another multiple-alarm fire in Cambridge and a fatal fire that is arson
An very busy week in Cambridge, MD. An apartment fire this morning on Choptank Street. Also on Willis Street, Thursday night, an apartment fire killed a man. This comes following the major blaze that gutted businesses on Race Street on Tuesday. WBOC-TV has the coverage.
Update: The fatal fire is an arson case and two arrests have been made. The latest from WBOC-TV.
Two Baltimore fires
It was also busy last night and early this morning in Baltimore. The picture above is from WMAR-TV showing a fire that destroyed 3 rowhouses in the 700 block of Brune Street.
Just before 11:00 PM two-alarms were sounded for a lumber yard fire at Pulaski Highwat and E. Monument Street.
DC water rescue
We told you yesterday about Lt. Steve Von Briesen from DC’s fire boat jumping in to pull a woman out of the Washington Channel early Thursday. The audio of some of that operation was released. DCFD.com has it (We have it too, but we are missing one of the files and STATter 911 is always glad to link to the nice folk at DCFD.com).
You may recall this is at least the second such save by the boat crews in about 7 months. You can see video of Rich Shaffer’s plunge, here. At least he had the good sense to do it in June.
PA fire
2-alarm house fire in Montgomeryville, PA. No date.
Police rescue man from burning car
Just posted to LiveLeak, this video is from Ames, Iowa at the end of December.
Storage units in WA
Fire in a self-storage complex in Spokane. No date.
Netherlands subway fire
In Rotterdam teens are caught on camera setting fires. No date listed.
Not fire and rescue related, but easily could have been
This will be one of the more brilliant driving maneuvers you will likely have seen recently.
