Raw video from two-alarm fire in Frederick, Maryland: This is from around 7:00 Wednesday evening on South Carroll Street. Click the image for the video. Firefighters were pulled from the building about 15-minutes after attempting an interior attack. Eventually the roof and a wall of this Civil War era building collapsed. You can read more about the fire at WUSA9.com.
Raw video from a tragic and controversial fire that occurred 16-years-ago: Someone uploaded to YouTube the amateur video shot in Edmonston, Maryland during a 1994 house fire that took the lives of a pregnant woman and two children. The Emerson Street fire is one of the most controversial in PGFD history after an order by the incident commander that firefighters were not to enter the burning home, despite bing told people were trapped. Dave has been debating with himself for a month over whether to rehash this painful episode, but where he wimped out others forged ahead. Click here for the video and details.
I think they made their point about the dangers of fireworks: In California, Jeff Granberry, the Redding Fire Department’s fire prevention specialist (and recent firefighter of the year), was demonstrating the dangers of fireworks for the news media (I am guessing you already know where this story is going). Granberry lit a roman candle that then malfunctioned. Despite wearing eye protection and protective clothing, Granberry suffered minor burns to an eye and his face. Read more.
UPDATE & correction to the Boise ladder crash: Boise Fire Department officials say they are looking at a “malfunctioning rear steering unit” that caused a ladder truck to swing wide and heavily damage a police department SUV and another vehicle on Tuesday. STATter911.com originally reported that this was a tiller truck. We were wrong. A source who asked not to be identified tells us, “It was a Pierce rear-mount platform with All Steer rear steering. The suspicion is that there was a glitch in the automated rear steering, but all of that is under investigation.”
Last October the department did have a tiller problem. That was when Truck 5 left the firehouse and sideswiped a pickup because no one was in the tiller seat. Here are details of the most recent crash. Click here for the October story.
Fire engine driver says he’s not guilty in cow stampede case: A not guilty plea from U.K. Firefighter Julian Lawford accused of starting a cow stampede with the siren on his fire truck. The cows crushed and killed a 75-year-old farmer. Here’s the latest.
Midland, PA firefighter charged in death of motorcyclist: Investigators say there was no emergency call when Jonathan Hogue “responded” with lights and sirens, speeding and passing cars last August. With a friend in the car, Hogue’s vehicle struck a motorcycle and two cars. The motorcyclist was killed. Firegeezer has the update.
Charges against one FDNY firefighter dropped in bar brawl: The prosecutor says Firefighter Michael Reilly was trying to be a peacemaker during the now infamous fight at a Brooklyn bar that included as many as 11 firefighters. At the same time Firefighter Ryan Warnock was indicted on two misdemeanor counts for the January melee at the Salty Dog in Bay Ridge. Here are details.
Baltimore firefighters take to the streets: Firefighters and cops showed up at a fundraiser in Mt. Vernon last night for Baltimore City Councilman Bill Cole. They carried signs claiming the City Council turned its back on them by reducing pension benefits. Here’s the story.
A day at the races: Make sure you sign up for the July 17th event at Gateway International Speedway in St. Louis supporting the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Click here for the details.
Citizen provides play-by-play of five-alarm fire in Brooklyn: Decent pictures from the fire in Bushwick at a kitchen cabinet warehouse that caught fire Thursday around 6:00 PM. The best part, as usual, is listening to the volunteer “reporter” provide the narration and do the interviews. More on the fire from the union news team at WCBS-TV. Aerial view here.
