FF reported dead in L.A.blast; Routley report on VA fire; New Baltimore chief steps right into the fire; Car rides through fireground
(Updated at 7:45 PM)
One FF reported killed, others injured near LAX
KTTV-TV image
KCBS-TV and KTLA-TV are reporting one firefighter died this afternoon after responding to an underground explosion near Los Angeles International Airport. The firefighter and others were apparently caught in a second explosion. Below is an earlier report from KNBC-TV:
At least two firefighters were injured Wednesday in an underground explosion just northeast of LAX, fire officials said.
Fire officials said both firefighters were in critical conditions.
At least one rescue helicopter was dispatched to the scene. The explosion happened at the southwest corner of Sepulveda Boulevard and La Tijera Boulevard.
The explosion was in an electrical vault, according to fire officials. Authorities said the blast appeared to be “electrical in nature.”
Video from news helicopters showed damage to a credit union for Department of Water and Power employees, but it was unclear whether the blasts caused the damage.
Firefighters were called to the location to investigate dislodged manhole covers. During the investigation, several explosions occurred, according to fire officials.
Sepulveda Boulvard was closed during the investigation.
Ron Myers of the Los Angeles Fire Department said authorities did not have information regarding the cause of the explosions or the extent of the firefighters’ injuries.
Routley report on Alexandria, VA high-rise fire
Consultant J. Gordon Routley’s report on a 3-alarm fire at the Alexandria Knolls apartments on Edsall Road that injured 6 firefighters has been delivered to the mayor and council. The fire was caused by a lightning strike during a thunderstorm. There were numerous other emergencies throughout Alexandria during the storm.
I haven’t had a chance to read the report yet. You can click here to see it.
In his cover letter, City Manager James Hartmann summarized the issues this way:
The incident analysis of the August 25th fire at Alexandria Knolls West details a number of serious issues that negatively affect the ability of the Alexandria Fire Department to safely and effectively address emergencies in our community. Issues noted by the consultant include: a shortage of qualifiedlexperienced personnel to adequately staffloperate the Fire Communications Center; the need for additional dispatcher training to handle 9-1 -1 calls; preparation for EMS personnel to operate safely at fire incidents; the need for additional Fire-EMS incident management resources, training, and practice; a shortage of command officer support for major incidents; limitations of existing high-rise operating procedures; Fire computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system and mobile data browser (MDB) limitations; the need for enhanced regional mutual-aid coordination; the need for additional firefighters (from 3-person to 4-person minimum staffing) on engine and truck companies; the need for a fully-staffed heavy rescue company; the need for an additional battalion aide to provide support for each on-duty battalion chief; the need for a full-time lightlair unit driverloperator to ensure 24171365 availability; and the need for three shift safety officers to provide round-the-clock, safety-focused oversight for employees involved in emergency incidents.
Click and Clack. Or is it click for Clack? New Baltimore chief checks into TWD to open dialogue.
It can be a place where you need might consider donning full hazmat gear before entering. If you are a big city fire chief (or even a small time fire & EMS reporter) you better have thick skin when reading what they have to say about you on thewatchdesk.com.
There is little doubt Chief Jim Clack already knows that. But he has made his presence known with a thread titled New Chief Checking In. It can be found in the Baltimore City section of TWD.
Skeptical at first, everyone now seems confident that they are actually conversing with the man about to take over their department.
Chief Clack’s initial post is below. Click the image see a larger version. Click here to view the entire thread.
Car drives through fire scene — driver arrested
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ucp-VNxZuI&hl=en]
This is from a fire at a discount store in Crestwood, IL. At about :55 you will hear radio traffic about a car riding around the building as firefighters are going to work. The car travels through the fireground and then stops. Police arrive very soon and take the driver into custody.
More on the fire here (but nothing on the arrest).
Howard County, MD 2nd-alarm
This is raw video from the two-alarm fire Sunday morning at the Town & Country Apartments in Ellicott City, MD. Two firefighters were hurt by a falling air conditioning unit. Click the image above to see the video.
NJ 2nd-alarm
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7dO_nqy6Oc&hl=en]
From Fay Avenue in Elizabeth, NJ on Tuesday around 12:30 AM. One woman suffered serious, but non-life threatening injuries.
Mississippi house fire
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Sc8Ov813QE&hl=en]
Here is the caption with this video: “Bruce and Chickenbone firemen worked to extinguish a fire that engulfed an old home on Hwy. 9 in Bruce Tuesday afternoon.”
More from MA 4th-alarm
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-MjjpGTuIM&hl=en]
Better video from the fire Monday at a granite company in Taunton.
Citizen firefighters
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOqTOKWuphI&hl=en]
A truck fire somewhere.
House fire
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMEFA4w8t_Y&hl=en]
I think I saw the Punta-Gorda Fire Department on a coat. Don’t know when.
Update: Just received (10:20 AM) this comment about the video-
You have a good eye, I took this video about a 3 weeks ago during a course for Light Technical Rescue Team Instructors. We were coming back from our luch break when two classmates and myself saw the column of smoke and the arriving units, so we followed. The incident commander on scene was a student in our class and is a Division Chief for Punta Gorda FD. You can check out more of my pictures and videos at www.myspace.com/wwesi or www.firefighternation.com/profile/wwesi
