Quick takes
Chicago 3-11: This is a Steve Redick production. Check out his still pictures here. The fire was in a thrift store at 5617 Belmont Street on Sunday night. Firefighting News has details on the fire. Here’s the Google Map Street View to see the before picture.
UPDATE – Firefighter reinstated and flag stickers are again allowed in Chester: A resolution came yesterday morning in the battle over the American flag sticker on a Chester City, Pennsylvania firefighter’s locker. Read and watch the latest.
Citing sources, Philly.com’s Joelle Farrell now reports FF Krapf will be paid for most of the 20-hours he missed due to his suspension. Also, there is now an explantion for the ambulance and police that showed up during the meeting yesterday morning-
Fifteen minutes after Krapf and union members entered the building to meet with Johnson, two police cruisers and an ambulance arrived at the station, at Providence Avenue and 14th Street. Union president Stacy Landrum said that he and a firefighter got into an argument and that the firefighter closed a door, which slammed into Landrum’s right hand. Landrum suffered a cut but said he would not press charges.
DC chief and council member again trade barbs: After the District of Columbia released the final report into water issues at a July mansion fire, STATter911.com asked the same question he’s been asking since the fire occurred. Why did it take this fire to implement recommendations that were made after a similar problem at a fire in 2007? Chief Dennis Rubin blames the city council for not fully funding the department. Council member Phil Mendelson says the chief never made the requests and is looking to blame everyone but himself. We have all the reports and lots more.
Speaking of water: One of my favorite sites that I don’t read enough of is thehousewatch.com. There is always a well written, interesting perspective on things (plus there is even a DC fire video I missed). And on Monday nights you get the latest from Ray McCormack and his “Tactical Safety” column. The latest installment is “Winning fires with water”.
Former chief owns problem home where three people died: A tragic story from Lebanon, Ohio where three people died in a house fire. The landlord is the former fire chief and there are lots of questions about the home. Read and watch more.
I nominate “Doc” Zaffater as chief of the Reserve Fire Corps: Shreveport Chief Brian Crawford has announced formation of a Reserve Fire Corps. Initially he is looking for 10 to 15 citizens to do non-emergency work like “accompanying members of the Fire Prevention division on schools and daycare visits, redirecting traffic at the scenes of major fires and assisting the day-to-day operations around the fire stations.” Click here for the full story. (At least you know the history of the corps will be preserved.)
Sometimes the boss has to get dirty: Such was the case in Australia when New South Wales fire service Commissioner Greg Mullins spotted a car fire. He leapt into action and called for help. The rig that arrived was then hit by a bus. The firefighters are fine. The bus driver not so much. Click here.
Little girls hit by car as they watched large fire: Distracted drivers and walkers near the scene of the fire (above) at an Edmond, Oklahoma apartment complex under construction may have contributed to two girls, ages six and seven, being hit by an SUV. Watch the story.
