Skip to content

Archives for

See all posts in the network tagged with

Mug Shot of the Month Award Goes To ….

Comments Off

Last-Minute Entry Takes the Prize

A SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK, DRUNK DRIVER was arrested Wednesday morning after he slammed into a police cruiser while he was turning a corner.  The police officer, who just happened to be assigned to the department's DUI enforcement team, promptly arrested Kevin Daly, 22, and charged him with driving while intoxicated plus multiple other charges.

Daly wasn't hurt, but the officer was later transported for minor injuries.  Daly was taken to the lockup where he had his picture taken:

Suffolk County Police photo

WCBS-TV Ch. 2 carried the STORY.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 17, 2011 • Filed under: current events, News • Tagged: , ,

Looking Back

Comments Off

*  *  *  *  *

Fire Engineering – January 1954

*  *  *

*  *  *  *  *

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 17, 2011 • Filed under: Looking Back • Tagged: ,

Grain Dryer Fire Pulls Two Alarms

1 comment

Tricky Fire Breaks Out a 2nd Time

A FIRE CALL FOR A GRAIN DRYER IN ADAMS COUNTY, Pennsylvania, Tuesday afternoon was escalated following the notice that some silo workers were trapped on the top.  While there were two men on the top catwalk when the fire was first seen, they were able to get down safely before the FD arrived.

Steve Roth / 911 Photography

Gettysburg Engine 1 arrived first to find heavy smoke showing from a 75-foot-high grain dryer at the AG-Com elevators.  The silo was 2/3-full with 2,000 bushels of corn that was being dried.  The silo has a center column that is heated from a fire at the base and it dries the grain that is inside.

The firefighters began supplying water into the dryer through access panels on the sides while AG-Com workers dumped the stored corn through bottom hatches and removed it with front-end loaders.

Steve Roth / 911 Photography

Approximately 30 minutes into the incident, it became obvious the material was still burning inside the bin when the visible smoke began changing colors, and fire presented itself through the side of the bin.  Moments later the fire was showing all around the top of the dryer. Units went to aerial operations as well as operating several deck guns.  The fire was knocked down quickly.

Steve Roth / 911 Photography

The twelve fire units remained on the scene until 5:30 pm.  While the company could not yet provide a dollar estimate of the damage, they said it would be "substantial."  The plant executive said that the dryer was not in use at the time of the fire and they do not know what started it.

The Hanover Evening Sun has the STORY.
Steve Roth 911 Photography has a 207-image photo gallery HERE.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 17, 2011 • Filed under: fire, Fires • Tagged: , , ,

Firetruck Crash in New Jersey Injures 5 FF’s

4 comments

Narrow Road, Wet Road

A BURLINGTON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, fire engine from the Lumberton Vol. Fire Company went off the road Wednesday night and wrecked, injuring five firefighters that were in the cab.

The truck was returning from a call around 7:30 pm and traveling along a narrow road in wet weather when it met an oncoming car.  As the engine driver eased over to pass the car, he went off the pavement and into a ditch while shearing the roof off of the pumper from tree limbs.

Pictured is Lumberton Engine 1311.  It has not been
confirmed if this unit, a 2004 KME, is the truck that
was in the accident.  (Lumberton FD website image)

The five FF's on board were all transported, but were soon released from medical care with only minor injuries.

The car that they passed continued on, but police say that the driver of the car is not considered to be at fault and they are not looking for him.

The Burlington County Times has the early REPORT.
Lumberton Fire Company No. 1 WEBSITE.

Hat tip:  Carmine S.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 17, 2011 • Filed under: apparatus, Fire Rescue Topics, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus • Tagged: , , , ,

Morning Lineup – November 17

Comments Off

Thursday Morning – Where is Everybody?

Like many people, I signed up for the Google+  (Google Plus) early on in hopes that a competitive alternative to Facebook would arise.  Not only is the Facebook outfit devoid of ethical responsibility to their users (referring to their personal information intrusions and peddling that info.), but their computer programmers are just short of the skills needed to keep the system running smoothly.  A day doesn't go by that I don't log on at least once and I am unable to view images or successfully click to a page.  They just never get it sorted out and sometimes it's infuriating.

Google's ethical record isn't a whole lot better than Facebook's, but they stay within the law (I think) and are not so careless with their "customers'" personal records.  And when it comes to computer programming skills, nobody but nobody can match them for quality and reliability.  Their programs and servers are solid and stable.  So it was (is) a hope of mine that the Google+ will eventually draw Facebook's population over to their cloud.  But it has been awfully quiet so far.  That's partly my fault, though.  I have not participated in getting it off the ground, but kind of sat by watching and hoping that everybody else would start the building out.  But it's been quiet. 

Google claims that they signed up 40 million users for Plus worldwide, but is anything happening?  Even Google's executive chairman Eric Schmidt didn't post his first Plus message until three months after they went live.  A columnist for Slate e-zine, Farhad Manjoo has come out an pronounced Plus as "dead" already.  In his column headlined Google+ Is Dead he writes:

The real test of Google’s social network is what people do after they join. As far as anyone can tell, they aren’t doing a whole lot. Traffic-analysis firms have reported that Google+’s traffic has fallen precipitously from its early peak.* Even Google’s own executives seem to have gotten bored by the site. After several public posts in the summer, co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin dropped off the site in the fall; they only started posting once more when bloggers began pointing out their absence. Eric Schmidt, Google’s executive chairman and former CEO, posted his first public message when Steve Jobs died. That was three months after the social network went live.

I was an early Google+ skeptic. Shortly after it launched, I likened its main feature—the ability to divide your friends into discrete groups, called Circles—to the process of creating a seating chart for your wedding. In theory, it was appealing to send "private" messages to certain groups, but in practice I thought most people would find it tedious to categorize their friendships. And apart from the Circles feature—which Facebook quickly co-opted—I didn’t think Google+ distinguished itself from its rivals in any compelling way. I still don’t.

And yet, I’ve been surprised by just how dreary the site has become. Although Google seems determined to keep adding new features, I suspect there’s little it can do to prevent Google+ from becoming a ghost town. Google might not know it yet, but from the outside, it’s clear that G+ has started to die—it will hang on for a year, maybe two, but at some point Google will have to put it out of its misery.

I'm not quite that pessimistic about its chances.  Google has a record of patience and deliberate growth without worrying too much about early financial losses.  They have the capital to support this thing while they work to get it right.  When they want to be, they can be that huge elephant in the corner that commands attention and I don't think they will go away.  Here's hoping, anyway.

Now let's start making some + marks on our checksheets and get the equipment checked out.  I'm going to get the coffee started before we meet back in the day room.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 17, 2011 • Filed under: morning lineup • Tagged: , , , ,

Upcoming Events

Comments Off

*  *  *

Some Upcoming Events to Plan on Attending

*  *  *

Northern Virginia Fire Rescue & EMS Expo

December 2, 3 and 4

Dulles Expo Center – Chantilly, Virginia (D. C. area)

Presented by Kelly Simon Trade Shows, Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
Phone:  800-747-5599
Website:  http://kellysimontradeshows.com/virginia/index.html 
Email:  ksimon@kellysimontradeshows.com

Hours:  Friday and Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday 10 am to 4 pm
Admission:  Adults $5, kids under 16 Free.
Click on website link for directions and hotel information.

*  *  *

Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival – 2012

78th Annual Firefighters Parade

The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, held annually in Winchester, Virginia, announced that the Firefighters Parade will be held on Friday night, May 4th, beginning at 5:30 pm.  This is the oldest and one of the largest firefighter parades in the world, and brings entries from dozens of states.

photo by Besant

Entry blanks for the parade for all units are now online and downloadable HERE.

Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival  WEBSITE.

*  *  *  *  *

Do you have a fire-related event, muster, antique show, flea market, etc., coming up? Send us the info. to: geezerguys (at) yahoo (dot) com. Be sure to include website links, graphics and phone contact, and we'll post it in our Upcoming Events listings. (Special thanks to Collectors Weekly for assistance http://www.collectorsweekly.com/ )

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 16, 2011 • Filed under: Upcoming Events • Tagged: ,

North Las Vegas Arson No Longer Considered a Booby-Trap

Comments Off

Police Believe That There Was No Intent to Injure

THE VACANT HOUSE FIRE IN NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nevada, last Saturday that was considered a possible man-trap for firefighters has been downgraded to simply an arson investigation. 

KTNV-TV image

The Las Vegas Sun reports:

Firefighters found the second story fully engulfed in flames and heavy smoke coming from the home, officials said. They discovered the fire originating from the top of the staircase and determined it was arson, Sgt. Timothy Bedwell said.

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries after falling from near the top of the 20-foot staircase because the banister had been removed, Bedwell said.

Investigators also found graffiti inside the home with words such as "kill," he said.

That led investigators initially to believe the home was rigged to injure responding firefighters, Bedwell said.

Firegeezer posted a video report on the fire on SUNDAY HERE.

KTNV-TV filed this video report that explains why the police have ruled out the attempted homicide:

 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 16, 2011 • Filed under: arson, Fire Rescue Topics, News, Videos • Tagged: ,

Nevada Fire Science Academy Due to Close

Comments Off

The Problem is Strictly Financial

THE FIRE SCIENCE ACADEMY AT THE University of Nevada, Reno will probably be shut down by the end of the year and sold to the Nevada National Guard.  The modern facility is widely used by firefighters from all over the world and also contributes to the Elko County economy.  But the school has an unsustainable debt that continues to increase with no foreseeable turnaround.  There is a $24 million bond indebtedness and a $12 million operating deficit.  The closure will cause the layoff of 28 people, as well.

Fire Science Academy photo

The Elko Daily Free Press reports:

"It is my decision to go to the Board of Regents to propose the closure. The actual decision will be with the Board of Regents,"UNR President Marc Johnson said Monday. "The reason is completely financial," he said.

The university plans to recommend the closure to the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents at their meeting Dec. 1-2 in Las Vegas, according to UNR’s announcement Monday.

Elko County, the City of Elko and the Elko Convention and Visitors Authority all contributed $25,000 a year under a sustainability effort to keep the doors open, and Carlin provided a break on water rates. Academy clients also contributed.

Johnson said the contributions from the cities and county were supposed to be a stopgap measure for three years while the academy sought funds elsewhere for long-term financial support, but that didn’t happen.

KRNV-TV posted this video report:

 

The sale of the academy to the National Guard is progressing and is expected to be completed within the next few months.  National Guard officials say that their usage of the facility will replace the room sales and related economic activities, plus a planned expansion construction program will benefit the area as well.

The Gardnerville Record-Courier has more DETAILS HERE.
The Elko Daily Times report is HERE.
University of Nevada press release HERE (click on letter for full size).
University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy WEBSITE.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

 

Posted by on November 16, 2011 • Filed under: education, Fire Rescue Topics, Funding & Staffing, Training, training-fire-rescue-topics, Videos • Tagged: , ,

From Chief to Cook to Con

Comments Off

Runner-Up For the Dunce Award

JEFFREY HAWKINS SERVED IN THE PONTIAC, Michigan, Fire Department for 22 years, the last 11 of them as fire chief and retiring last year.  Chief Hawkins, who listed his current occupation as cook for a film studio, appeared in a Michigan District Court yesterday (Tuesday) where he was charged with two counts of accepting a bribe as a public officer and one count of racketeering.

Hawkins' problem stems from 2009 when he reportedly solicited a bribe from the owner of Little David's Island Bar in Pontiac.  He wanted $1,000 to allow the bar to stay open despite having numerous code violations that should have caused the business to be shut down.  The publican paid Hawkins $500 and went straight to the FBI.  The feds then arranged for Hawkins to receive the second payment from an undercover officer.

The owner of Little David's says that there never were any code violations but the phantom violations were used as a ruse to get him to make a "charitable donation."

Reputed scene of the crime.
(photo by Little David's)

WXYZ-TV Ch. 7 had their camera in the court for yesteday's arraignment:

 

"Public safety officials who accept bribes and ignore their duty to protect the public are doubly dangerous," Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said in a statement. "To restore public integrity and protect public safety, this dangerous corruption must come to an end. We will hold corrupt officials accountable, wherever they are found."

Hawkins seemed to be amused by it all as he smirked, smiled and giggled throughout the entire arrest and arraignment.  The Detroit Free Press adds:

"He does not feel that it is a serious charge or threat to his freedom," said Hawkins' lawyer Elbert Hatchett after Tuesday's arraignment, in which Judge Michael Martinez ordered Hawkins to pay a $5,000 personal bond and wear a GPS tether. Martinez also ordered Hawkins to surrender his passport.

Hatchett said after the hearing that it was rare for the FBI to pass an investigation to the state.

The bribery charges carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison each; the racketeering charge, a sentence of up to 20 years. Conviction would bar Hawkins from ever again holding public office.

He will  return to court next Tuesday, November 22.

The Detroit News has more details HERE.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 16, 2011 • Filed under: crime, Fire Rescue Topics, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , ,

Morning Lineup – November 16

Comments Off

Wednesday Morning – Is This Guy For Real?

*  *  *

"The problem with Intenet quotations 
is that many are not genuine."
….. Abraham Lincoln, 1864

*  *  *  *  *

I am officially awarding the Digital Dunce of the Month prize to Tim Abbott of Crown Point, Indiana.  He certainly earned it.  Not long ago this newspaper clipping from a Letters to the Editor page started making the rounds on the internet:

Like most people, I got a good chuckle out of it.  But keeping Honest Abe's advice in mind, I had serious doubts about its authenticity.  I think you probably do, too.  There is just no way that anyone can be that dense, is there?  So I set out on a 5-minute research mission to see if I could find where this came from and sure enough, it was a genuine Letter to the Editor in the Northwest Indiana Times of Munster.  They published it in their online edition (HERE) on August 19 of this year.

Ok, so the newspaper clipping is genuine but what about Tim?  Is there such a person or was it a hoax letter that got by the editor?  My next step was to check out three separate reverse directories for what is a common-enough name (was that used to hide behind?) and there sure is a Tim Abbott in Crown Point.  I located and verified his address – which I am not going to publish here – and even found a photo of the clueless pensman.

So the letter is genuine and the name is not fictitious.  But did the real Tim Abbott send the letter and if he did, is he really that simple?  I decided not to phone him because by now he has probably gotten a thousand calls about this thing, and I just didn't feel like bothering with it.  I figure that if somebody planted the letter with his name on it, then The Times would have retracted it or qualified it on the webpage by now.  For me, the only question left is whether Tim was serious when he wrote it, or was it a deliberate attempt to be outrageous and get a faux complaint published?  (Mitch, this is something I wouldn't put past you.)  Whatever his intentions were, I will still issue the Digital Dunce of the Month Award to Tim, wildlife's friend.

You can read the history of John Duns Scotus' famous cap HERE.

Now let's go for another award and get this equipment checked out.  I need to get some more coffee started before we climb into the deer stand and watch the highway carnage.  See you back in the day room in a little while.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 16, 2011 • Filed under: morning lineup • Tagged: ,

Thieving Fire Marshal Pleads Guilty

Comments Off

Union Local Wants Their Money Back

THE FORMER RANCHO ADOBE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT Fire Captain who was arrested last month for stealing over $60,000 from his Local's treasury has pleaded guilty to the crime Monday at his court appearance.  Michael Bechtold, 39, waived his right to a trial and pleaded to one count after the prosecutor agreed to drop five other charges at his sentencing next month.

The Firegeezer REPORT HERE on October 29 told:

On Friday he was charged with embezzlement, grand theft, forgery and violation of his probation. He is accused of using all the stolen funds for personal use including season tickets to San Jose Sharks hockey games and a trip to Disneyland.

The members of his Local became suspicious when he began failing to provide the required financial reports on the bank account. After a few months of dodging the task, he submitted what appeared to be a forged report and the officers notified the sheriff's office.

Bechtold was currently serving as the FPD's fire marshal and had been on the job for about 15 years.

The thefts took place from 2006 until last month while he was serving as his Local's treasurer.

Bechtold, 39, pleaded guilty to a single count of grand theft and will be sentenced on January 10.  He is facing up to three years in jail.  The county prosecutor said that most of the money was used for paying bills and child support payments.  The Santa Rosa Press Democrat continues:

(The prosecutor), Ariyoshi said she has not decided yet whether she will seek the maximum but she will ask for full restitution for the firefighters union. None of the money has been recovered, she said.

"They just want to get the money back and they want him to get some type of penalty," Ariyoshi said.

Read full update in the Press Democrat HERE.
Local 1401 WEBSITE.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 15, 2011 • Filed under: crime, current events, Fire Rescue Topics, News • Tagged: ,

Firefighter Job Openings Coming

4 comments

At Least 50 FF's to be Hired.

THE SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VIRGINIA, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS have reached the end-point of promises from their volunteers and voted last week to hire 50 new firefighters.

There has been an ongoing controversy over the ability of the volunteer organizations to staff the fire and ambulance stations (many of them are separate) at nights and weekends when the current career FF's are off duty.  Also, there has been a reluctance of many of the volunteers to achieve the minimal certification required in Virginia to operate.  The Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star reported last week:

With little more than a year to meet minimum training standards, some 377 volunteer firefighters and rescue workers still need basic courses. And yet the county's free training classes still have empty seats.

Four times since August, training officials have had to cancel courses because so few volunteers signed up. "We're offering quality training here, and for some reason people aren't signing up," said Division Chief Jeff Bailey, who oversees training for all Spotsylvania rescue workers.

Last year, the Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors adopted minimum training standards, requiring every county firefighter and rescue worker to complete basic training courses by Jan. 1, 2013.

Mark Kuechler, president of the Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department, said the training standards need to take into consideration the experience of volunteers who've been fighting fires for decades, but who might not have the certification required. Volunteers want the county to establish a set of "equivalencies" that would take the place of certified training for veteran responders.

"We continue to skirt this issue," Kuechler said. "We've got plenty of firefighters with 20 to 30 years of experience who are part of these numbers showing they need classes."

But Deputy Chief Monty Willaford said there has been enough discussion about equivalencies. He said that most of the minimum training standards come from the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, which has had a certification program since 1979.

"I'm not talking last year; I'm not talking five years; I'm not talking 10 years," Willaford said. "The Board of Supervisors approved minimum training standards. They're not equivalents, they are certifications."

(Read the entire article HERE.)

The reluctance to serve extends to the willingness to put in duty hours at the fire and ambulance stations.  Too often recently, calls have been scrubbed from stations at nights and weekends for lack of anybody in quarters to take the call.  This situation reached the trying point for the supervisors three weeks ago when a working house fire one Sunday morning was not attended by any units from the first-due station.  It was 18 minutes before the first engines arrived from other firehouses.

From the Free Lance-Star:

At the time, Fire Chief Chris Eudailey was already reviewing the costs of staffing the stations 24 hours, seven days a week. Yesterday he told the Board of Supervisors that such coverage would require 50 new positions, plus two positions converted from part-time to full-time. The price tag for those positions would be $5.5 million annually once all the jobs are filled.

"We've been aiming for 24/7 for a long time," Supervisor Gary Jackson said. "We've tried everything we can think of to do it without adding the financial burden."

But volunteers said that with recruitment down, the agencies could not staff the stations for any more hours. So Jackson made a motion to create the 52 positions for career fire and rescue workers to staff the stations.

The county will need to train the new hires. The first 24 would be hired by April 1, and 18 more would start in October.

The full 3-page story is HERE.
Spotsylvania Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management WEBSITE.
Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department WEBSITE.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 15, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, Funding & Staffing, labor • Tagged: ,

Stay Out? Not Me! – Commentary

7 comments

Can Firefighting Be a Risk-Free Activity?

Someone from the USFA is pushing the end of interior firefighting. We all know there are winds blowing that way but it is a little bracing to see it stated so bluntly. You can sneer at the fact that he was talking to the Volunteer Chief Officers Section of the IAFC but that is really not the point. There is a battle for the soul of the fire service being fought between those who think any LODD is one too many and those who think that, in general, firefighters must die for the fire service to do what it should. Specifically, protecting lives and property.

I happen to be among the latter. I don't want to die, I don't want anyone on my crew or in my department to die, and I don't want any firefighter to die. And I will do everything I can to prepare and be very good at my job in the interest of preventing a LODD. But I know that property and lives are important and protecting those properly will require firefighters to do things that have a likelihood of causing so many injuries per thousand fires and so many fatalities per thousand fires. There is just no way around that.

The USFA official's statement that buildings are disposable is correct in the abstract but irrelevant in the specific. If you work in an affluent suburb then perhaps the buildings are more disposable than you might at first think. Insurance, savings, and tight social networks cushion any blows suffered by homeowners and residents. But in other areas the people have no safety net, no insurance, no savings, and live paycheck to paycheck. Losing houses and business in some areas is nothing short of catastrophic. It is both disrespectful and incorrect to say that those buildings and the property in them are disposable. The lives in them (which cannot be saved by exterior firefighting) are certainly not disposable.

So I say, stand up for property and for interior firefighting and saving lives, property, and livelihoods. If we decide these things are disposable then why do we exist?

………. Patrick Mahoney

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 15, 2011 • Filed under: commentary, FireHat • Tagged: ,

Updated – Third Alarm Pulled at Munitions Plant Fire in Pennsylvania

Comments Off

Updated Report

SEVERAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE on the scene of a major fire at a security munitions plant in Jamestown, Pennsylvania.   The Erie Times-News is reporting:

The fire at Combined Tactical Systems, 388 Kinsman Road, near Jamestown, was dispatched at 7:23 a.m., according to Mercer County emergency dispatchers. Responding departments included four from Crawford County, which were dispatched shortly before 7:30 a.m.

Products sold by Combined Tactical Systems include chemical munitions, impact munitions and flash-bang devices, according to information on the company's website.

Additional stock includes tear gas devices and door breaching charges.

The third alarm was struck just before 8 am.  The facility is safely isolated in a rural area.  No further information has been released yet.

Google Satellite View of the complex

Update, 4 pm Eastern:
A total of 14 fire departments were dispatched to the fire that was located in a building at the rear of the complex where smoke products are made.  According to the company CEO Don Smith, there were no injuries to the seven employees that were working in the building at the time, nor to any of the 170 other employees at the complex.

North Shenango FD photo (used with permission)

Read the smoke on this one….
North Shenango FD photo

The building, known as the "gas house," has a sprinkler system, but it did not extinguish the fire, according to the Jamestown FD spokesman.  The fire department had the blaze extinguished in about an hour, he said. 

The fire was extinguished in about an hour.  Fourteen
FD's responded to the call.  (Erie Times-News photo)

 Sources:
Meadville Tribune.
Erie Times-News.

Combined Tactical Systems WEBSITE.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 15, 2011 • Filed under: fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Fires, Haz-mat, HazMat • Tagged: , , ,

Morning Lineup – November 15

Comments Off

Tuesday Morning and a bad penny turns up (again)

Here we are, halfway through November already.  Year's end is racing up on us already.  It's hard to believe.  What's not hard to believe though, is that the shadiest of the shady used firetruck dealers is coming back online.  One of our readers who is with one of the many FD's that have been jammed by Ty Hubbard and his Firehouse 66 outfit caught THIS ITEM in a published registry recently.  It reports that the Georgia State Board of Used Motor Vehicle Dealers lifted the probationary status for Ty Hubbard, Firehouse 66, Townsend.

Longtime readers will recognize the names because we ran a few articles about the infamous Hubbard brothers (HERE, and HERE) and their shady practices of selling faulty equipment not as advertised, failing to provide clear titles, and in one case trying to sell some fire engines that they didn't even own (HERE).  Note: the images in the older stories have dropped out of the archive.  Our friend who sent along this recent link described to me their experience with the Hubbards and it is very typical of many others we have received over the past four years that we have been documenting their practices:

Late in 2009 we were scammed by Firehouse66 and were taken to the cleaners when they filed bankruptcy and our pending lawsuit fell through for false advertisement. The truck was described to us to have a 1250 gallon tank, but after inspection appeared to have some sort of tank modifications. We had it delivered and a month later, after repairs of quite a few things (sold as is in State of Texas), we weighed it for final state registrations and the truck was off 5000 lbs. We then found out the tank is only 830 gallons modified. But we learned a hard lesson and additional unspent $10,000 mistake without doing a full inspection of the truck.

Following their reorganization from bankruptcy and now released from their licensure probation, they are back in business under a new name, Firehouse Trucks.  Hubbard has apparently blended the business in with an auto racing team that he owns and runs.  Here is the banner for their NEW WEBSITE:

 

The leading description reads:

Firehouse Brands is sister company to Firehouse 66, Inc. well known in the fire truck industry for the past 33 years. Firehouse 66, Inc. facility is located on 200 acres in Townsend, Georgia. Here you will find we are a used fire truck apparatus dealer, sales leasing and refurbishing facility of fire trucks and army trucks. We have our very own machine, fabrication and paint shop. Our present inventory consists of approximately (20) fire trucks, (35) parts fire trucks and (50) army trucks. We specialize in Airport fire fighting vehicles, municipality fire and ladder trucks. We have supplied fire trucks all over the world.

So there you have it, like they say, He's baaaack!  Forewarned is forearmed, they also say.  One honest statement they make above is, … well known in the fire truck industry for the past 33 years.  We'll be keeping an eye on his activities.

But now we need to keep an eye on our own equipment and get it checked out for today.  I'll get some more coffee started.  See you back in the day room later.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *   

"Only you can prevent first responder"

Posted by on November 15, 2011 • Filed under: morning lineup • Tagged: , ,

Buildings Destroyed on Fire Island

Comments Off

7 buildings destroyed last night

From Bill Mason at Newsday:

About 20 fire departments, several called from the mainland, were battling an out-of-control fire early Tuesday in Fire Island Pines that destroyed at least two popular nightspots and a home, officials said.

The Fire Island Pines Fire Department requested help from mainland fire departments Monday night , fire officials said. Suffolk Fire Control officials said about 20 fire departments responded to fight the blaze on Fire Island Boulevard that was reported about 9:15 p.m.

The Fire Island News reported that Walter Boss of the Fire Island Pines Fire Department confirmed late Monday night that the fire destroyed the Pavilion, La Fountaine and a bay-front home. Businesses north of the Pavilion along the harbor appear to have been unscathed, he told The News.

20 departments fight blaze on Fire Island

From Suffolk FD Rant and Nassau FD Rant:

FROM SUFFOLK FD RANT:

TOA: 21:21
LOC: 36 Fire Island BLVD
Size up: Two commercial buildings confirmed on fire, SCPD also stating propane tanks exploding at this time.

From andrewkirtzman: Firemen boarding ferry to the Pines

Breaking News Network

U/D NY| Suffolk| Fire Island| *Working Fire*| 36 Fire Island Blvd| CMD adv fire in several commercial structures. Req extensive M/A from the mainland and brush trucks w/ manpower to the scene. Units rpt'ing "the whole town is on fire"| BNN | NY690/NYL5124/NYL026/NYL103 | #435454

U/D NY| Suffolk| Fire Island| *Working Fire*| 36 Fire Island Blvd| Fire coord adv they have fire in a large structure with a "tremendous fire load" on the 2nd fl which is free burning. Imminent collapse potential. Mainland M/A beginning to arrive. PD marine unit also flowing water. Fire is very doubtful| BNN | NY690/NYL5124/NYL026/NYL103/NYL160 | #435454

U/D NY| Suffolk| Fire Island| *3rd Alarm*| 36 Fire Island Blvd| Report from the scene indicate 7 building involved, at least 17 departments operating, more M/A from the mainland currently enroute to assist.| BNN | NJC4850/NY690/NYL5124/NYL026/NYL103/NYL160 | #435454

Pavilion building (2007)

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on November 15, 2011 • Filed under: Fires, Major Incidents, News, Urban Commander, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Updated – Major Fire at Isolated Catholic Retreat Center in Colorado

Comments Off

Incident Still Working

Updated – New Information and Videos Added.  Scroll Down.
Update #2 – Fire is Contained.

A FIRE HAS BROKEN OUT AT THE ST. MALO RETREAT in Boulder County, Colorado, Monday morning.  The call came in shortly before 8 am Mountain time reporting fire on the second floor of one of the multi-story buildings.

Estes Park News photo

The center is in a very remote area and communications from the scene are scant.  A local newspaper is reporting that firefighters reported fire coming through the roof of the north wing of the 49-room lodge.  The center's website describes the lodge building as:  "The three-story lodge offers 49 lodging rooms with private baths and balconies. With over 5,000 square feet of meeting space in large and small conference rooms…"

KDVR-TV Ch. 31 is now reporting:

A dispatcher with the Lyons Fire Protection District says firefighters reported heavy flames from the roof of a multi-story structure at the retreat.  Strong winds made fighting the fire more difficult. Fire departments from all over the area responded to the fire.

The commander on scene reported an interior collapse in the north wing of the building just before 9 a.m.

Firefighters went into defensive mode, which means they were trying to extinguish the flames from the outside of the structure only.

Satellite image of the St. Malo Center shows a potential
water source for the firefighters.

St. Malo Retreat and Conference Center WEBSITE.

Updated, 4 pm Eastern:

On-scene reports and video coverage are getting back to Denver.  A heavy windstorm has been beating the north-central Colorado for 36 hours causing a lot of power lines down and creating additional problems for firefighters.  They are now using a long-distance water shuttle from the town of Allenspark.  They have also broken the ice on the pond in front of the chapel to draft from.

KUSA-TV Ch. 9 has filed this video:

 

*  *  *

The Boulder County Sheriff, Sgt. Mike Dimond says communications are difficult because it is an isolated area plus cell phone service is very spotty. Dimond says he does not know the cause at this time.

The fire has not threatened the iconic chapel that was visited by Pope John Paul II in 1993.

The building  at #1 is where the fire is located.  #4 is the church.
Sketch taken from the St. Malo Center website.

The Red Cross has set up a canteen for the firefighters who have responded from Allenspark, Boulder, Longmont, and Estes Park.

There were no guests staying at the lodge.  The windstorms caused an extended power outage over the weekend and they were all sent home.  The employees that remained in the center all escaped safely.

The Estes Park News has posted this raw video of the fire:

 

KCNC-TV Ch. 4 is reporting:

(The) fire has heavily damaged a community residence, kitchen, conference room, library and lounge at the historic St. Malo Catholic retreat, but spared the historic church that Pope John Paul II visited during his 1993 trip to Denver.

Archdiocese of Denver spokeswoman Jeanette De Melo said the fire was under control at noon in the lodge and had not spread to the guest rooms. The lodge is located about 200 yards behind the church and is used year-round.

Ch. 4 also filed this video report:

 

Update, 5:30 pm Eastern:

The fire has been marked contained but has caused at least $1 million damage.  The Boulder Daily Camera is reporting this evening:

Boulder County sheriff's Cmdr. Rick Brough said the fire has been contained to the three-story, 49-room lodge's atrium, conference center and kitchen area in the northern half of the building, located at 10758 Highway 7. A roof did collapse in part of the burned area. Yet a firewall appears to have protected the guest rooms in the lodge's south wing, Brough said.

"They pretty much got it knocked down, but they'll be fighting it all night," Brough said.

Six people, believed to be St. Malo employees, were inside the building at the time the fire broke out, but nobody was injured, officials said.

An employee said that the building had sprinklers, but there is no report that, if they were there, that they activated.

The Daily Camera also posted this video taken at a later press conference given by sheriff Cmdr. Rick Brough:

 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 14, 2011 • Filed under: fire, Fires • Tagged: ,

FF Killed in Wreck – Father Responds on Call

Comments Off

Severe Shock to Father

NEAR FLEIN, GERMANY, SATURDAY MORNING a 28-yr.-old off-duty firefighter was killed in a collision with a transit bus on a country road.  Shortly before 8 am the bus and car, a VW Golf, collided on a gentle curve head-on, sending the VW careening along the guard rail. 

The car, seen farther down the road, smashed into the
guardrail and slid several yards beyond the impact point.

The unnamed driver of the car was a member of the Fleiner Fire Brigade and perished immediately on the scene.  It was the Fleiner firefighters that responded to the call and the driver's father was unknowingly one of the responding FF's on the first-arriving engine.

When the engine arrived on the scene, the father went into a heavy shock and had to be treated on the scene by the doctor.

The 45-yr.-old bus driver was similarly stricken and had to be transported.  Seven passengers on the bus were also treated, but not transported.

Three engines, an ambulance and a medical fastcar with a doctor were all dispatched on the call with about 20 fire and EMS people responding.

There is no information yet on what caused the collision.

Stimme News has the story and a video report from the scene HERE.
Stimme has a 10-image photo gallery HERE.

Hat tip:  Christian Lewalter

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 14, 2011 • Filed under: EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, News, rescue, Rescues • Tagged:

Product Review – Search and Rescue Hook

Comments Off

Firegeezer is collaborating with TheFireStore to have
firefighters in the field test and review products found in their catalogue
and then publishing the reviews here and in TheFireStore's
own fine blog, On Scene, which is posted several times each week.

*  *  *

This week we are reviewing the TFS Search and Rescue Hook, a device that can also assist as a door chock.  Its primary purpose is to serve as a secure and reliable source to hook a carabiner for a life-line into before entering a space for a search.  It saves time because once you chock the door, you will not have to search about for a tie-off point.  The Search and Rescue Tool performs both functions.  The manufacturer adds to the description:

  • Secures doors in open position simply by placing the hook over a hinge
  • Ring keeps door open and provides quick and easy attachment for search and rescue line, so you have a safe return to the door every time
  • Durable, all welded steel construction with red powder coated finish
  • For use on residential or commercial doors
  • Compact, perfect for pocket or under helmet band(weight: 4.5 oz / length: approx. 4”)
  • Made by a firefighter for firefighters in the USA

The Training Division of the Stafford County (Virginia) Fire and Rescue Department put the hook through a workout and this is what they found:

We made several trial uses of the Search and Rescue Hook in different settings.

　

*  *  *

Using a lifeline is not a standard evolution during our searches, but it does have practicality in R.I.T. situations and special circumstances.

　

We tried using the hook in a variety of situations and it was successful on door hinges and the perforated metal wall studs. It held firmly and was reliable. It was also quickly attched and hooked into.

　

In a commercial or other large area, there may be nothing to attach it to, however.

*  *  *

All the guys trying it felt that it is easy and convenient to deploy, yet limited in where it can be used. Overall, we liked using the hook when we could.

………. Lt. Matthew Warren, SCFRD.

For more information on the Search and Rescue Hook and to order one from TheFireStore, CLICK HERE to go to their catalogue page.

To follow their blog On Scene, CLICK HERE.

Stafford County Fire & Rescue WEBSITE.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 14, 2011 • Filed under: Product Reviews • Tagged:

Morning Lineup – November 14

Comments Off

Monday Morning – the Hunt for Homer Continues.

Since yesterday's Lineup was posted HERE, we've been getting some emails about the Hunt for Homer.  Homer Formby, that is.  When I was doing a cursory Google Search for Homer, I came across the brief time that he owned an island in the Florida Keys.  But I learned since then that he appears to have owned two islands similarly named.  Now don't quote me on this, but at first glance it looks like he owned both Big Munson and Little Munson Islands.

Millionaire Charles Newton Munson bought four islands in 1923, Big Munson, Little Munson, Carrier, and Cook's Islands.  Now it gets a little conflicting here, but we do believe that Homer donated Big Munson to the Boy Scouts of America.  The BSA operates an extensive water ecological program there called the Sea Base.  You can read up on that HERE.

Little Munson has a bit more drama connected to it because Homer sold it in 1982 for $1.25 million to Charles and Alexis Kelm where it looks like they had dreams of running an off-shore drug trade.  But that only lasted a few months until January 1983 when they were busted.  The Feds tried to seize the island, but a third person who was a part-owner was innocent of the operation and ended up with the Carribean paradise.  He in turn sold it in (1988?) to Florida entrepreneurs who built an "ecologically-friendly" beach resort that continues in operation today.  That island is now known as Little Palm Island (sometimes Sheriff's Island) and you can read up – perhaps book a room – at the Little Palm Island Resort & Spa HERE.

Little Munson Island, probably pre-1940's

Keep in mind that I haven't done a proper research on these ownership records, so don't quote me.  But it's a good place to start.

One of our readers believes that Homer will be 86 years old if he's still alive, but he's still missing from the public records.  So keep searching, folks.  Waldo has been found, but now we need to know:  Where's Homer?

We know where the check sheets are, so let's get those now and get the equipment checked out.  This is Monday…. expanded checklist today.  I'll get more coffee started.  See you back in the day room later.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

"Only you can prevent first responder"

Posted by on November 14, 2011 • Filed under: morning lineup • Tagged: , , , ,

Gas Blast Levels Chicago Home, Sets Others Afire

Comments Off

Middle-aged Couple Survive Explosion

AN EXPLOSION DESTROYED A CHICAGO, Illinois, home this morning (Sunday) leaving the brick 1-½ story structure nothing more than a pile of rubble while setting the neighboring homes on fire.

The house was left in a pile of rubble.  (Sun-Times photo)

The blast occurred at 6:30 am with two residents inside, a 46-yr.-old woman and her husband, age 61.  Neighbors rushed outside to find the house completely leveled with the roof on the ground.  The woman was found wandering in the rubble and the man who had apparently been in the basement found his way out.  Both of them were in tattered  clothing and suffering 2nd-degree burns.  According to an FD spokesman, they were both transported in critical condition.

When the neighborhood swarmed out to see what had happened, there was a small fire burning, but the wind picked up and fanned the flames into a larger fire before the CFD arrived on the scene.

Firefighters work from the burned-out neighboring house
to douse hot spots in the debris of the blown-up home.
(Tim Olk photo)

The two houses on either side had windows blown out and in one case, portions of the roof blown through.  Fires began in both houses and caused extensive damage to both.

The Chicago Tribune has the details and more including a video HERE.
The Sun-Times has MORE HERE.
ChicagoAreaFire has additional photos by Tim Olk HERE.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 13, 2011 • Filed under: explosion, Fire Rescue Topics, Fires • Tagged: ,

Updated: FF’s Targeted by Arsonist in Vegas

2 comments

House Fire Was Booby-Trapped

Update, Monday AM:  Police looking for vandals who have been using the house.  Scroll down for updated info. and video.

A FIRE IN A VACANT HOUSE IN NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nevada, Saturday afternoon has been classed as an arson.  On top of that, there is evidence that mortal harm to the responding firefighters was intended by the arsonist.

KTNV-TV

The call was dispatched around 4 pm Saturday and the responding units from North Las Vegas and Las Vegas found smoke showing.  When they forced entry through the front door, they were met inside with a device or set-up that appears to have been set to harm the firefighters.  The investigators are not disclosing what the device or layout was that is suspicious.

KTNV-TV filed this video report this morning:

 

The fire was located on the 2nd floor and was quickly extinguished.  Damage was minimal, but the entire house was smoked up.  The FD is estimating the loss at $100,000.

The NLVFD spokeman said that all efforts will be made to find the arsonist and if he is caught, he will also face attempted murder charges.

KTNV-TV has the DETAILS.

Update, Monday AM:

Neighbors are telling investigtors that there has been continuous activity in the house from nearby adolescents who have been using the vacant building as a "party house" for a long period of time.  The home was foreclosed on two years ago and has been vacant ever since.  A few months ago somebody bought it for $40,000 but made no effort to secure the property.

The investigators are not saying what they found that indicates the deliberate attempt to kill, but insist that the crime will include attempted murder charges.

KTNV-TV filed this updated video including views inside the house:

 

KLAS-TV has additional video and more information HERE.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 13, 2011 • Filed under: arson, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Fires, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

Volunteer Membership Plunges in NE Ohio

1 comment

More Dipping in the Money Pot

SEVERAL MAHONING COUNTY, OHIO, FIREFIGHTERS INCLUDING a former fire chief are facing prison time for a variety of illegal scams involving their own fire departments.

First, from Milton Township comes news that two men, one of them a lieutenant with the Milton Township Fire Department, have been arrested and charged with theft by running a scam that touched on his own FD. 

Milton Twp. FD photo

WKBN-TV, Youngstown reports:

Phil Bruss, a lieutenant with the department, and Dale Butterfield, a mechanic from Niles, were indicted this week by a Mahoning County grand jury on theft and stolen property charges. Police said the pair were partners in a company known as Northeast Ohio Emergency Vehicles, which reportedly sold parts for fire trucks online.

"They were taking orders from other fire departments as well. We did locate one from the Hancock Fire Department, where they had issued a check for $8,000 as well for parts which were obviously never sent. Check was cashed, their money was taken," said Milton Township Police Lt. Jeff Lewis.

Besides that volunteer department, which is located in Maine, police said the pair took nearly $85,000 from the Milton Township Fire Department for equipment that was ordered and delivered, but never paid for. Investigators said Bruss and Butterfield simply cashed a check from the township and kept the money for themselves.

At one point during the illicit activity, former-Milton Twp. Fire Chief Rick Pellin apparently steered one of the contracts from his FD to the phony company.  He is not being charged in this case, but he has troubles enough as it is.  Pellin will be sentenced next week on his conviction of stealing thousands of dollars from his family's private ambulance business which is now bankrupt.

WKBN-TV posted this video report on the goings-on:

 

Milton Twp. Vol. Fire Department WEBSITE.
October 2009 report on Rick Pellin and mother indicted on theft charges HERE.

*  *  *  * 

Beaver Twp. VFD photo

BEAVER TOWNSHIP HAS ITS OWN troubles with errant firefighters.  Two brothers, Richard and Randall Carr have pleaded guilty to theft after being charged with falsifying records.  They had been reporting that they were responding "on call" to incidents yet never showing up on the scene.  They had bilked the department of several thousands of dollars.  Richard Carr was a teacher at one of the local schools and has been suspended.

WKBN-TV also has this video report:

 

*

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 13, 2011 • Filed under: crime, Fire Rescue Topics, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Morning Lineup – November 13

1 comment

Sunday Morning – Anybody Seen Homer?

Do you remember Homer Formby?  You know, that guy with the folksy, country drawl who starred in his own tv commecials hawking his DIY furniture restoration and care products back in the early 1980's.  That was most people's introduction to the existance of Tung Oil (mind the spelling).  Even though I had never heard of Homer before, apparently he had been formulating his oils, varnishes and strippers for quite a few years, decades maybe.

Homer was a crafty fellow, it turns out.  After struggling along for all those years, just making it in the trade, he mounted the campaign where he saturated the tv airwaves with his commercials and in the proverbial "overnight" he became a household personality and sales of his tung oil, furniture refinisher, and lemon oil went through  the roof.  Not only did it make him an instant millionaire, but it raised both the profile and the value of his little company to the point where one of the "big guys," Sherwin-Williams bought him out just to get that goldmine of a brand name and mug shot that adorned every can of product.

Then after pulling the deal, Homer seems to have retired and melted gracefully into the background to enjoy his comfortable retirement.  But where did he go?  As best as I can tell, he is still alive but he certainly has successfully remained incognito.  A careful Google Search brings up references to the product which is still actively marketed by S-W, but zilch on any personal comments or news of his whereabouts.  A check with Wikipedia tells me that the name does not exist in their database.  I did learn that back when he started raking it in, he bought an entire island in the Florida Keys, but it was sold again several years later, and then no more Homer on the webscape.

 

I don't know why this popped into my muddled mind, but I became curious as to what he's been doing since then.  Maybe somebody out there can tell me, whatever happened to Homer Formby?

Before we break out the finishing pads, we'd better get this equipment checked out.  I need some more coffee, too.  I'll check on the Sunday breakfast while I'm firing up the Bunn-O-Matic, then I'll see you back in the day room.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Posted by on November 13, 2011 • Filed under: morning lineup • Tagged:

Winter Carnival Travel Tips

Comments Off

A few things to consider

Visualize you Vacation

Google Map, Mapquest, Microsoft Streets & Trips can establish the distance between the airport, venue and hotel. Wish I had that available when planning our first trip to Reedy Creek. The hotel "nearest to the east gate" was accurate, AFTER driving 20 minutes to cross the county line.

Scan the reports

TripAdvisor, Yelp, Fodors, AAA, Oyster and others offer reviews, pictures and details of hotels, restaurants and attractions. Quality of the information is variable, but they provide some nuggetts.

Read the fine print with aggregators

Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline, Travelocity, Get a Room, Kayak and others function as an online travel agent using multiple search engines to find the lowest price, shortest travel time, etc.

Some airlines and hotel chains see them as competition and deny access to their information. When purchasing a plane ticket or hotel reservation through the aggregator, you may have less options available when a problem arises. 

An attendee at a university seminar went through an aggregator to book a hotel. When she arrived, discovered that the hotel offered a cheaper rate when attending university functions. The hotel would not change the rate because the reservation was made through an aggregator.

A similar problem will crop up with a multiple segment plane trip that uses different carriers. If there is a disruption, rebooking becomes more complex.

Travel applications that rock

FlightStats provides realtime status of flights. Data is collected from airlines, airports, civil aviation authorities and travel reservations systems. FlightStats tracks over 90,000 operated flights each day.

Stormpulse.  Stormpulse takes information from the National Weather Service, NASA, Xplanet and others to provide a detailed projection in a map-based format that is valuable for decision-makers.

I used them to decide to bail out of a St. Louis conference early because of Hurricane Ike:

Details at "Eight Years Under the 'New' Normal"

OpenTable provides free reservation system that covers 20,000 restaurants in the United States, Mexico, United Kingdom and Canada. Includes reviews, price range and links to the restaurant webpage. Focused on urban areas, I find it very helpful.

Joe Brancatelli is a former executive editor of Frequent Flyer magazine. After the 2001 terrorist attack he created a business traveler membership site JoeSentMe.com.

He writes the business travel column for Portfolio.com. The November 9th column "Travel Dividends" provides additional helpful information.

Document rental car condition before leaving airport

Brantacelli points out that rental car executives have frequently made this recommendation. A half-dozen digital images may be an effective innoculation to the aggressive efforts to reduce their operating costs.  "A Year of Presidential Driving" discusses the changes in the rental car business model.

Hope that your Winter Carnival trips are great!

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on November 13, 2011 • Filed under: cars, crime, culture, News, Technology & Communications • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,