Quick takes
Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BXKOBFg-7A&hl=en&fs=1&]
Ring in the new year with FirePix1075 at a third-alarm fire in Queens: My man Michael “FirePix1075” Schwartzberg left the in-laws for just a little while on Rosh Hashanah. Long enough to bring us this video from Saturday’s fire in a row of stores on Farmers Boulevard in Queens. Now, that’s something I would have liked to have witnessed (I am not referring to the fire). For more on the fire check out Firefighter Spot.
The walls may not have come tumbling down, but it appears the fire department did: All 18 members of the Jericho, Arkansas volunteer fire department have resigned because the mayor axed Assistant Chief Don Payne. You may recall that Payne is recovering from a gunshot wound to the back after a police officer opened fire on him during a speeding ticket dispute in the courthouse. This story and situation seems to need some outside eyes looking in from both the government and the news media. (Brian Wilson over at FNC are you listening? This may be as good as your trip to Oklahoma for your Nowhere to Hide series.)
With The Guiding Light off television after 72-years this may be a good alternative. We have the latest, including links to an episode by episode account from Firegeezer Bill. Click here.
There is a lot of that resigning thing going around. Check out this mess from Maine: I am not sure I have sorted out every bit of this story from Island Falls, Maine, but it sure is interesting. The town’s selectmen are suddenly having to scramble to reconstitute a paramedic ambulance service and the fire department. They are also now begging their soon to be former fire chief to stay. This started when the deputy chief, who is also a paramedic, resigned after being charged with felony theft involving the town’s funds. The chief, also a paramedic, started getting harassed over the incident with the deputy chief and felt town officials weren’t supportive in the matter. He resigned, starting a string other resignations. Beyond that, you are going to have to read it on your own to get the rest of the story. Click here.
Another fire at embassy in DC: At 3:30 this morning the DC Fire & EMS Department responded for the second time in 22 days at the Embassy of Gabon in Kalorama at 2034 20th Street, NW. The first fire on August 30 did a few thousand dollars in damage to a bathroom and was intentionally set on a Sunday afternoon. No cause yet listed on this fire but damage is estimated at $100,000. Read the story. Click here for a picture of the building.
Call turnaround took longer than STATter911.com reported: Last week we told you about the delayed and understaffed response to a house fire on September 13 in Bowie, Maryland. While the first due engine didn’t have staffing to immediately respond and the second due had only two firefighters on board, county officials thought the biggest problem was the handling of the call at the 911 center. We reported it took 3:07 to set up the assignment and dispatch the call, but a STATter911.com reader discovered that the handling time was even longer. I based my time on the first entry made into the computer by the call taker at 19:29:39. The printout I obtained shows the call actually being initiated at 19:27:58. That’s 1:41 of additional time the call was being processed for a total of 4:48. Here is our previous coverage of the story including the CAD printout.
Mud wrestling: Four fire trucks and two support vehicles became stuck in the mud fighting a brush fire in Merit, Texas (Hunt County) on Sunday. The mud came from seven-inches of rain over the past 10 days. So, with that much rain, how did they get such a big brush fire going? Read the story.
Little Nashville Opry destroyed by fire: We have video and details of the fire late Saturday at the country music venue in Nashville, Indiana. Check it out.
Some must see video: If you haven’t seen the car fire and explosion from Sao Paulo, Brazil it is worth checking out. Click here.
Police aren’t filing charges in rescue squad passing ambulance incident: There was already bad blood between Quakertown Volunteer EMS and the Quakertown Fire Company in Hunterdon County, NJ when this incident happened. Police confirm that Rescue 91 passed the EMS unit on the way to an automobile accident and that the big rig swerved to avoid one of the fire company’s volunteers responding in the opposite direction. This forced the ambulance into a ditch. With a late notification and no independent witnesses the cops say they are staying out of it. Read the latest.
National coverage on sprinklers: The AP takes a look at the sprinkler debate. Check it out here.
Leapin’ lizards!!!: Watch the video as firefighters in Mississippi force a 6-foot long rare lizard out of a tree at a kindergarten playground.
Dundalk under water: Video and details from Friday afternoon’s 72-inch water main rupture that flooded many streets in Baltimore County, Maryland. Click here.
Layoffs spawn TV spot: East St. Louis, Illinois firefighters on the offensive after an almost 25% cut of personnel. Check it out. Also, here is some local TV coverage of the efforts by firefighters to rally the public.
VIDEO PULLED The British way: Some early, high quality video of the initial attack at a row home fire i
n the UK. Take a look. The video was pulled from YouTube. Hope it wasn’t because of the comments to STATter911.com.
The Egyptian way: Some early video of the initial attack on a restaurant fire in Cairo. Take a look. We have some interesting comments on both the UK and Egypt clips.
Volunteering in Vermont: A look at the challenges facing volunteer recruiting as training requirements increase. Click here.
Still some space left, but not much: Battalion Chief Chuck Ryan says, despite my planned speech, they are having a record enrollment for the Fairfax County Professional Fire and Rescue Officers Association 7th Professional Development Seminar set for October 1 and 2 in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Still time to register. Click here.
