Quick takes

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Buffalo union brings up staffing shortages. Funeral information. More details from the fire: In the story above, the issue of fatigued firefighters working overtime due to department staffing shortages is discussed by the union. From radio traffic and information provided by the union it is clear that Firefighter Croom died while searching for Lt. McCarthy who had called a mayday. Both ended up in the basement. We have more details, plus links to funeral information and more about the two firefighters. Click here.

Caught on video – a different story from Buffalo: A TV photographer was there when two men jumped from their burning boat on Buffalo’s waterfront Tuesday afternoon. Click here to watch the video.

You must remember this, a kiss is just a kiss. Or is it?: That’s the question in Winnipeg. By now you may have heard the story of a meeting between a married firefighter and a woman who is not his wife in a shed behind Station 4. The firefighter claims nothing more than a kiss occurred. The encounter lasted six to eight minutes (that’s a long kiss) and was interrupted by an emergency call. The firefighter told his story to a disciplinary panel and has received his punishment. Click here to read the details.

More on buff’s convention: We showed you the well deserved tribute to Hal Bruno at the recent International Fire Buffs Associates convention in Washington. There, of course, was much more to the convention. Click here to read the account that Vito Maggiolo filed for STATter911.com.

Arsonist keeps Shreveport firefighters very busy: Fires at four locations were discovered in about 90-minutes beginning just before 4:00 AM Tuesday morning in downtown Shreveport. A 38-year-old man is under arrest. A third-alarm was needed for one blaze that destroyed the Shreveport Regional Arts Council building. That fire was discovered by Engine 1 handling a set auto fire. A reporter covering the three-alarm fire discovered trash and vehicles on fire outside a rescue mission. Then a police officer found the last fire behind a church. Click here for the timeline. Here is aftermath video of the three-alarm fire.

Omaha staffing ordinance is history: In a 5 to 2 vote, the city ordinance that requires fire trucks to be staffed by at least four in Omaha was repealed yesterday. It has been an emotional debate that even prompted a TV commercial by those against the staffing requirement (click here). The union still has the staffing requirement as part of its contract, but opponents believe this will pave the way for the next negotiations. Click here and here for more.

Detroit chemical plant: Firegeezer has a good wrap-up of the chemical plant fire from early in the week with pictures and video. Check it out.

Fire chief fired over refusing to cut budget gets some city money: Remember Chief Donald Barnes of Shaker Heights, Ohio who lost his job after he refused to cut any further and lay off firefighters? Not sure how it fits into the city’s budget plans, but Chief Barnes is now $81,000 richer from severance pay. Click here for the details.

PT ban causes battle in NJ: In Passaic they are still fighting over the city’s ban on allowing firefighters to exercise in firehouse workout rooms because of a captain’s $60,000 workers’ comp settlement. Read the details.

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Collapse (forced) caught on video: From a house fire on Lincolnway in Columbia City, Indiana. Check out what happens starting at 22-seconds. It explains why the brush truck has such good position on a house fire.