Quick takes
More must see TV. This time from Columbus, OH: The image above is from WCMH-TV of a 3-alarm fire early Monday morning on the North Side. Click here and here for videos of that fire. But if you want to see the much better stuff from Columbus, check out this rescue of a woman from an apartment fire on Saturday.
Latest on arrest in Delaware hit & run that killed firefighter: A Bear, Delaware man has been charged with manslaughter in the death of Firefighter Michelle Smith of the Delaware City Fire Company. This morning we have a more detailed account of the events. It turns out Delaware City normally would not have been on that call. The crew was filling in for the Wilmington Manor Fire Company due to its installation banquet. Click here for more.
Assistant chief defends himself in puppy beating: Los Angeles County Assistant Chief Glynn Johnson says the dog almost bit his thumb off. That’s part of Chief Johnson’s defense after being charged with animal cruelty. Read more. Watch story. Watch raw video from press conference. See interview with Chief Johnson and neighbors shortly after the incident.
Making more OT than straight time: Driving a fire engine in Sacramento is lucrative for four engineers who are racking up the OT. They are each taking home $75,000 to $85,000 above their base pay. A fire captain took home more than $94,000 in overtime on a base salary of $81,000. No question that they earned it. But the Sacramento Bee says there are questions about efficiency and safety when firefighters are working more than 90 hours in a week. Read the story.
Or, if you would prefer to just see how your salary and OT matches up against Sacramento FD’s top ten, click here for the chart.
A rough crowd viewing the doggy ice rescue video: Our most viewed and commented on story from yesterday is the Colorado video of the ice rescue that went bad. As expected, there are not many speaking in defense of the dog owner or his foul mouthed family. If you haven’t seen the video, you should. Just remember we warned you about the language. Click here and feel free to add your own words on the subject.
Draft on fighting fires in vacant buildings: NIOSH is seeking comments on its draft document as it looks to reduce LODDs and injuries from fighting fires in vacant structures. Read the details.
It’s not as if it is Rescue Me: FossilMedic Mike Ward is so excited about the DVD release of The Battalion he even invokes my name. Read what Mike has to say about it.
Mike’s publisher, FireGeezer Bill Schumm, as usual, has provided a more complete story on something I discovered a while back. Bill gives us the details behind some old Los Angeles videos that popped up on YouTube. Click here.
I hate when that happens: Among many other videos at Firefighter Spot is one involving a pike pole, a collapsing home and a firefighter with no gear. Click here.
