IN LIAONING PROVINCE, CHINA a fire in a popular restaurant swept through the 3-story structure killing 11 and sending 16 others to the hospital.  Police have arrested two cooks and the restaurant manager.

A FULTON COUNTY, GEORGIA FIREFIGHTER died in a house fire early this morning.  He and another FF were trapped when the floor above them collapsed onto them.  Assoc. Press story here.  Channel 11 video. 

WOW…..CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?  Sony has developed a color tv screen that is as thin as a sheet of paper.  Just think of the possibilites…you could wear it like a t-shirt,  put it up like wall paper and if you drop it, it won’t break because it bends.

POLICE AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS in Sweden are going around teaching school children not to set themselves on fire and then jump in a lake.

A RECENTLY-RETIRED FIRE MARSHAL IN S.E. MICHIGAN has been charged with evidence tampering, falsifying documents and planting evidence in several cases.  He was the handler of one of five dogs in the state trained to sniff out flammable materials.  He may also be facing charges in several more counties where he was called out to investigate fires.

The Macomb Daily reports:

Law enforcement officials said a Chesterfield Township firefighter saw Wallace “spiking” or dropping a chemical accelerant at the scene of a fire. The firefighter informed Detective Sgt. Brad Kersten of what he had witnessed, and an investigation was launched.

Police and fire officials concocted staged fires for Wallace to work on to see if they could catch him in the act, setting up hidden video cameras to tape his actions. State Police in Gladwin set up a similar operation, also with video surveillance.

Rummel/Times Herald photo
Eastpointe Fire Marshal Jeffrey Wallace watches his arson dog, Cops, sniff through the remains of a barn fire in November on McLain Road in Clyde Township.

FIRE IN A VACANT WAREHOUSE SPREAD to a storage lot filled with car dealers’ new cars.  Unusual wind patterns spread the fire sporadically through the lot and carried embers as far as ½ mile away.  There was an upgraded FD response because of the weather conditions.  At least 53 cars were damaged, some totally. 
LAFD photo

The Los Angeles FD has the full story and excellent photo coverage here.  Channel 9 video here.  Channel 7 video here.

Channel 13 photo

IN WAVERLY, INDIANA, A CAR HYDROPLANED on a wet road into an oncoming fire engine.  Three firefighters and the car’s driver were transported to local hospitals with minor injuries.

WHO’DA THUNK THAT A VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUAD would be operating right in the heart of Brooklyn?  The Bedford-Stuyvesant Volunteer Ambulance Corps is scraping along with a lot of heart, meagre donations and empty promises from the Borough government.

INITIAL INDICTMENTS AGAINST AT LEAST 24 PEOPLE for conspiring in a major casino swindle were handed down Thursday in San Diego.  The investigation began in March, 2002 and is still expanding.  Officially, it claims that the ring cheated at least $3.3 million out of 18 casinos in the U.S. and Canada.  However, the Justice Dept. is estimating that the total value of the fraud is actually in the $15 - $20 million range.  One of the conspirators is the son of Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.

ON SUNDAY MORNING AN ITALIAN TRAIN was halted just north of Rome because the locomotive was on fire.  The 400 passengers were unable to exit the train because of high traffic on the adjacent tracks.

Photo410 says:
Just as I thought, Kasey Kahne did real well at Charlotte last night in the Busch race.  Let’s see if he can repeat.  I still think the Hendrick cars are going to be tough to beat.  But I’ll be sticking by Kyle Petty & Dale Jr.  I’m really loyal to Kyle and Petty Enterprises.   As far as Indy goes, I’d love to see Sarah Fisher win, or an Andretti or Foyt.

Firegeezer says:
Down at Charlotte I’m going to say that this is the time for Ryan Newman to take it all.  He has the pole and he loves the track.  Others to bet on are Kurt Busch, Dale Jr., and Tony Stewart.  But if you get good odds, take Jimmie Johnson.

Indianapolis is a no-brainer:  Castroneves should take it.  He’s on the pole, has a 500 win to draw on, and the best racing team in the world behind him.  If he doesn’t finish, though….I’d watch for Sam Hornish, Jr., Dan Wheldon, or Michael Andretti.  Of the three gals, I think Danica Patrick will do the best with an 8th place finish.

Coca-Cola 600 starting lineup here.
Indy 500 starting lineup here.

NOTED RACE-CAR OWNER ROGER PENSKE has achieved what people don’t even dream about.  He has cars on the pole positions for both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 today.

While Penske has had commanding success at Indy and is the favorite to take today’s race, he is considered  a real long-shot in Charlotte.