Quick takes
FF dies in Philippines: The early word doesn’t paint a very clear picture of how FF Jaime Aloriza died during a paint store fire in Manila on Sunday night. In the same short article, the report talks about a heart attack, something falling on the firefighter and chemical fumes. Here’s the story. Here’s some video.
A lot of fireworks from PGFD, but none being shot from anyone’s butt: The plan to cut career overtime by using volunteers is getting quite a few comments. The plan is also in place to help cover for possible firefighter furloughs. Comments are still coming in on Prince George’s County’s plan to change the state grant fund formula. Click here and here to join the sometimes heated discussions.
Gee, with the ambulance billing story, that makes three lengthy articles in a row I have written about PGFD that have generated more than 175 comments and I never once mentioned Kent…… .
Never can say goodbye: Previously on STATter 911, we have looked at the poor track record of making firings stick in a fire department and a 911 center. Today our focus is on the police. Specifically in Chicago, where the police board would rather sentence you to suspension for two years than give you your walking papers. Here’s the story.
Since we are on the police beat: The Washington Post today may have our area’s version of the disabled Boston firefighter who took 8th place in a bodybuilding contest just six weeks after getting his full salary, tax free. The Post has the story of a retiree who “finished second place for his age group in a physical fitness challenge that included push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, a vertical jump and a 1.5-mile run”. That same man is a former assistant chief of the Montgomery County Police Department and collects a tax-exempt, $95,000 disability pension. William O”Toole is currently the executive director of the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Commission. This all comes from an inspector general’s report that claims 60-percent of the Maryland county’s police officers who have retired in the last four-years, have done so with a disability pension. Here’s the story.
“It is unbelievable to me that our tax dollars are being spent to fight safety improvements.”: That’s the quote from Glenn P. Corbett, an associate professor of fire science at John Jay College, about the General Service’s Administrations position on new regulations for office skyscrapers. It’s part of an article in The New York Times on the federal agency’s efforts against new codes that came from lessons learned on 9-11. Click here.
141 saves a month: That’s the Fire Brigades Union Scotland’s story and they are sticking to it. In an effort to fight against cuts of front line service, the union is putting some numbers behind the work of fire crews. An excerpt from a BBC News article:
The fire union said “human tragedy” lay behind these incidents and the numbers emphasised why it was “fighting against cuts to front line services”.
A total of 4,181 people were rescued from house fires in Scotland in the period 2001-2005, the most recent five years for which data is available.
A further 4,280 people involved in traffic accidents were also rescued in the five years to 2005/6.
Old construction apparently saved the day: Someone brought to our attention this story from the middle of August about the 3-alarm warehouse fire in Richmond. Right after the fire, Richmond FD PIO, Lt. Mike Oprandy gave the local CBS affiliate a tour of the scene, making the case that a little brick went a long way. Click here to watch the video.
Videos. We’ve got videos: A lot of interesting stuff added in our weekend video roundup. Good audio and video from a Detroit second-alarm. More videos from Friday’s 2-11 in Chicago. In another clip you will wonder where the PPE went. There is video from a burning grocery store owned by a volunteer in IL. Plus, some firefighter funnies. Click here.
Construction walkway collapse video: One more video to look at. This is the security camera’s view of the collapse in San Diego that hurt 16 people. Click here.
Fairfax tries harder: Houston edged out Fairfax County in this year’s MDA collection. Still, despite a USAR deployment and lousy weather, IAFF Local 2068 Communications Director Joel Kobersteen reports more than $502,000 was raised, just 65K behind Houston’s much larger department. Click here to see the station totals.
Note that DPSC (Department of Public Safety Communications), raised more than $12,000. What were they doing, requiring a donation from 911 callers before they send help? Congratulations to all.
Two captains arrested after testimony against chief: Some interesting stuff going in at the Guam FD. Check it out.
The gas pipe blues … or is it yellows? The Geezer is well grounded: I was reading the Indianapolis Star’s investigation of CSST thinking I really should post this. Luckily the more technically minded FireGeezer Bill Schumm got to it first (Sometimes if you stall just long enough, the decisions are made for you. At least that’s what I would teach if I ever gave a leadership seminar.)
Bill has a lot of links for information on Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing, lightning and fires. Click here.
Two NC fire survivors heading to Washington: There is a press conference on Capitol Hill Tuesday for 2008 National Campus Fire Safety Month. Among those speaking will be two survivors of the Ocean Isle Beach, NC fire that killed seven South Carolina college students last year. Click here to read more.
