Close call, multiple views; FF/hero wins comp case; Burning & stole ambulance; Deadly 1944 Ohio explosion; Another casino fire; Topeka battle goes on
(Updated at 7:05 PM)
Old video of the day: On 2:30 PM on October 20, 1944 in Cleveland, Ohio, the first in a series of explosions that killed 130 people and destroyed a square mile of the city’s east side. It started with a leaking liquefied natural gas tank in the East Ohio Gas Company’s tank farm. The film above shows the aftermath. Read more.
Prince William County, VA report
There has been great interest in the report released Saturday looking into the April, 2007 death of Technician I Kyle Wilson. Since it is STATter 911’s local area, I have added a link to the reports and our coverage on the left side of the blog.
Two ambulance fires
In Columbus, Nebraska early this morning the call was a for a building fire at the Midwest Medical Transport Company. Inside firefighters found the engine compartment of one of the firm’s ambulances burning. Read the article, here.
A little later in the day a fire broke out in a garage that houses ambulances for Wishard Memorial Hospital in Marion County, IN. Read the story.
On another ambulance topic, FireGeezer looks at the issue of stolen ambulances (he’s had a long list lately).
Taking a closer look at a close call no one mentioned
A number of fire service websites reported yesterday about Monday’s motel fire in Oklahoma City that injured one firefighter after a 4-inch hose burst. Steve Marshall, an alert STATter 911 reader, saw the video from KOCO-TV and spotted a close call no one mentioned. At 31 seconds into the video, just as the reporter on the scene tosses to the videotape, you will see a shot as water from a ladder pipe cuts through a wall and sends debris on to firefighters below.
Looking around the Internet I discovered a much clearer view of the same moment from NewsOK.com. It comes at 48 seconds in the video above. Apparently none of those firefighters were injured.
As for the hose bursting, KWTV-TV was rolling from its helicopter when that occurred. It comes at :58 in this video just before the chopper camera zooms in.
Firefighter who won Carnegie Hero medal wins comp case (for now)
I missed this when it was published on Friday, but it is an interesting issue worth reading about. Keith Leuci was recognized by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission for pulling a man trapped in a burning car to safety in August of August, 2004. Click here to read the description of the rescue (just type in Leuci’s name). He also received a valor award from the Atlantic County Firefighters’ Association.
At the time Keith Leuci was a member of the Cologne VFC in Hamilton Township (Atlantic County), NJ. Leuci was in his own vehicle when he happened upon the fiery crash in Egg Harbor Township. Leuci was injured during the rescue and applied for workers’ comp benefits through both Hamilton Township and his fire department. The claim was denied because he was not officially on-duty and Egg Harbor had not requested mutual aid.
Keith Leuci says his injuries forced him to give up his remodeling business and move to a less expensive place (Tennessee). But he got some good news last week when a judge ruled in this favor. Here is an excerpt from The Press of Atlantic City:
Judge Cosmo Giovinazzi III ruled in Leuci’s favor Thursday, said his attorney, Christopher Day.
The Cologne Fire Company and its insurer “took the position that instead of rescuing the person who was in the car, he should have gotten approval from the chief or somebody,” said Day, who also represents The Press of Atlantic City. “There was about a 30- to 60-second window to save the individual, so his choice was to rescue the person or let him die.”
“It’s totally amazing we need a court to tell them the right thing to do,” Day said. “I hope their family is never trapped in a vehicle when they need help.”
Leuci, who lives in Tennessee, said he was driving to the airport Thursday afternoon for a trip back to New Jersey when Day called him with the news.
“I broke down in tears, I had to pull over,” he said. “I’m hoping that, out of the kindness of their heart and, without being rude, common sense, prevails and(the insurance company) won’t appeal it, so I can get back on my feet.”
Jim Pietras, the lawyer representing the Cologne Fire Company, said Thursday evening he was unaware of Giovinazzi’s ruling. After he receives a copy of the judge’s decision, he will meet with his client and decide whether to appeal.
Day said an appeal is unlikely to succeed, as Giovinazzi is one of the most respected judges in the state.
Another hotel-casino fire
7-alarms were called on Tuesday to handle a relatively small but stubborn fire under the roof of the Great Cedar Hotel at Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Watch the story from WFSB-TV. Read the story.
Union and Topeka chief keeps on going
The latest chapter between Topeka Fire Chief Howard Giles and IAFF Local 83 is over transfers. The union says the transfers are retaliatory. The city says its to spread experience around for public safety. Read and watch the story.
Chief accused of threatening 2 volunteers scheduled for trial next week
The two former volunteers in Rollinsford, NH say the chief tried to hit them back in September after they didn’t respond on a call. The pair claim they were following the chief’s orders not to take calls while in a training class. Watch
the story.
