Quick takes
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Vehicle fire spreads to apartments: Sunday night at the Hickory Ridge Apartments in Peoria. Things get quite interesting for neighbors at about the three-minute mark. Click here for what it looked like in daylight.
Atlanta 911 director again admits problems: Still not clear on the specifics, but the man who runs Atlanta’s 911 center admits there were problems over the weekend at the time neighbors reported a long delay responding to a house fire. Read and watch the story.
Rhode Island firefighter talks about surviving gas explosion: Michael Difazio knew the firefighters had to move back when he was unable to shut off the flow of gas after an SUV hit an apartment building. They didn’t move back quite fast enough. Six firefighters and a police officer were hurt in the explosion. Read and watch FF Difazio’s story.
Controversy in Clifton: An agreement allowed New Jersey’s Clifton Fire Department to return to full strength after some recent cut backs. It also paved the way for Norman Tahan’s promotion to deputy chief. Tahan’s move up sparked a small protest from Jewish residents who believe Tahan is anti-Semitic. Read the story. Watch the story.
FDNY makes closings official: The FDNY is giving the required 45 days notice that as of July 1 Engine 4, Engine 161, Engine 271 and Ladder 53 are permanently closed. These companies have been shut at night since January. As you can imagine, there are some unhappy people. Click here for the story.
Newspaper compares minimum staffing to featherbedding: An interesting story and newspaper editorial in Haverhill, Massachusetts. The story looks at the mayor’s view and the union’s view of high overtime expenses. The union believes the biggest factor is that the city hasn’t hired a firefighter since 2005. The mayor makes the case against the minimum staffing of three on a fire truck, or at least wants the ability to hire part-time workers to meet that requirement. There’s a lot more from both sides. In a follow-up editorial, The Eagle-Tribune takes the stand that union work rules, including the staffing provision, inflates firefighter costs. All of it is worth reading.
Firefighter layoffs rejected: In East St. Louis, the Financial Advisory Authority rejected the City Council’s budget because it lays off five firefighters. That in turn puts the city in violation of its collective bargaining agreement with the IAFF requiring minimum shift staffing of 58 firefighters. Read more.
Fire chief paints bleak picture: In Lehigh Acres, Florida the fire chief warns of layoff of firefighters, fire station closings, and ambulances that won’t be staffed. Read the details.
The picture in San Francisco: After a 2004 report said San Francisco had too many fire stations, firefighters convinced voters in 2005 to approve an initiative that calls for fully funding all 42 firehouses. The way it was written gives city officials an out and is now allowing them to consider rotating closures of fire stations. Here is an overview of the issue with links to relevant articles.
Staffing Central: The entries above reminds us that Firefighter Close Calls has been compiling details of staffing cuts around the nation. It is an interesting list and they want your input. Check it out.
Two-alarm house fire in Loudoun County: A WUSA9.com reader sent in some pictures from Sunday’s fire in Broadlands. Click here.
The benefits of high blood pressure: Not really. Just a silly Japanese public service announcement with a unique way to put out a brush fire. Check it out.
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Firefighting in Switzerland: This is a video about a fire in a beauty salon in Sion in April. It appears to have been put together by the fire department.
