Quick takes

It sounded like a bomb: The reaction of three DC firefighters who were below deck of the John H. Glenn Jr. as it was hit by a 160-foot dinner cruise ship. Click here for the exclusive video of the collision that also took out an FBI boat.

Playboy Channel and sleeping in “tightie whities” results in firings, demotions and suspensions: A summary of a department-wide harassment probe that began last summer in Volusia County, Florida’s fire department. Two captains are gone and four lieutenants have been demoted, suspended or both. Read the article.

Firefighters in building as it collapses: A recently abandoned TV station building in Port Arthur, Texas caught fire on Monday afternoon. Four firefighters were inside as the roof came in. They are okay. Read the story. Watch the video.

PGFD firefighter makes off-duty rescue: Anne Arundel County, MD’s fire chief has high praise for Rachael Edney. Off duty from her job as a Prince George’s County firefighter, Edney jumped into the frigid South River to save a 61-year-old man. Read more. Read the press release.

9-year-old makes the call as siblings are inside burning house: Click here to read the story and listen to the 911 call from a fire in Fort Worth, Texas on Sunday.

Funeral arrangements for murdered EMT: Click here for details about the funeral for Cape Vincent (NY) Fire Department EMT Mark B. Davis. Davis was gunned down during a medical call Friday night. Learn more about Mark Davis.

Police chief puts out hotel fire by himself: That’s the story from one Pennsylvania town. Read it here.

Firefighters mum as neighbors point to water problems during fatal fire: From Selden, NY in Suffolk County, a 29-year-old woman died following an early morning apartment fire on Monday. The neighbors say firefighters couldn’t get water. Water works says it only makes sure the hydrants are working but doesn’t guarantee pressure. Fire department isn’t talking. Read the details.

Neighbors and homeowner have similar complaints in GA: The citizens want to know why a fire hydrant near a burning home in Hephzibah wasn’t used. They claim firefighters were delayed in getting water on the fire. The chief says otherwise. Read and watch the story.

I think we have a theme going today. Neighbors in NC also have water on their minds: An apartment fire in Charlotte and the closest hydrant is broken. Neighbors aren’t happy. An elderly woman was injured and firefighters quickly knocked the kitchen fire with water from the tanks. Read and watch this story.

Deaf fire chief: FireGeezer looks at the story of Chief Mark Kite from the Yukon VFC near Pittsburgh. You may recall the issue of deaf firefighters recently became a part of the audit report investigating the practices of the recently dissolved Gainesville District VFD in Prince William County, VA.

Now we know the real reason firefighters break windows: It is kind of like a smoke alarm for the really heavy sleepers. Read the story from Brewster, NY.

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NJ 2nd Alarm: From Sunday in Perth Amboy, a fire in a vacant commercial building.