Quick takes
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Fire at a vacant lumber company: This is a short clip from the fire before dawn on Saturday at the Church Hill Lumber Company in Queen Anne’s County, MD. The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office says the fire was deliberately set. See more small clips here, here, here, here, here and here. Read a detailed account of the fire from the Church Hill Volunteer Fire Company website.
New Haven decision today: The Supreme Court is expected to release a decision today on Ricci v DeStefano. That is the reverse discrimination case where 20 firefighters from New Haven say they were denied promotions for racial reasons. Read more.
Well it’s not like any fires occur there: In the past, Lawrence, Massachusetts has been dubbed the arson capital of New England. There has long been a fire problem in the city. Still, with the budget issues everyone is facing, the Lawrence Fire Department isn’t being spared. On the loss of 14 firefighters and two firehouses Chief Peter Takvorian tells The Eagle-Tribune, “I cannot provide an adequate level of public safety in the city. It is just not possible.” Chief Takvorian added, “With these low levels, there will be negative consequences. It’s not a matter of if it will happen. It’s a matter of when.” Read the article.
Layoffs in Portland, Maine: The union says the city won’t consider its cost cutting moves and wanted concessions instead. The firefighters said no to a wage freeze and now are expecting a layoff announcement this week. Read more.
A new form of roulette coming to Las Vegas?: Clark County, Nevada is now considering rotating closures, dubbed by some as brownouts and by others as firehouse roulette. Read more.
Speaking of gambling: They are back in business in Joliet, Illinois three months after the fire that damaged the Empress Casino on the waterfront. Read more.
Fire and gunfire at a Detroit apartment building: Police shot and killed the gunman on Sunday. Neighbors say he is the one who set the fire and wounded two people walking by the building and fired on police and firefighters. He apparently was fed up with the rats and bugs. Details are here.
Clearly there was a pattern on Sunday in Michigan: A few hours earlier, in Ypsilanti Township, sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a man leaving his mother’s burning home. She was already dead inside. Read the details.
Looking for a job as a fire chief?: Firegeezer has some job leads for you.
Ambulance fees on the table again: County Executive Isiah Leggett’s bill is before the Montgomery County (MD) Council again with a Tuesday deadline on the issue. Click here.
Disabled woman saved by neighbor from California fire: Click here for some good quality video of a mobile home fire in Loomis on Sunday. Before firefighters arrived a neighbor kicked down the door and rescued a disabled woman. More on the story from KOVR-TV.
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Apartment fire in Kansas: Chopper view of a fire on Friday in Shawnee.
