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Jail Time For Ambulance Thief

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Why You Shouldn't Drink and Drive

A DRUNKEN SOCCER FAN WHO STOLE an ambulance so that he wouldn't have to walk home was sentenced to 4 months in jail Thursday.  Tyrone Weir, 35, got separated from his friends in London, England, last month following a soccer match and had no transportation home, so he started walking the 30 miles homeward.  Before he got very far he came across an idling London Ambulance that was parked in front of a house where the crew was tending to a heart attack victim.  Seeing an opportunity, Weir got into the cab and merrily drove away.

The ambulance crew reported the theft immediately and loaded their patient in a car driven by the "trained responder" who was also called to the scene.

Following an APB by the police, the Essex constables spotted the missing ambulance parked in front of Weir's house where they confronted him.  They noticed that Weir was unsteady on his feet and smelled of alcohol.  When Weir refused to submit a breath sample, he was arrested and taken to the local police station.  His refusal was awarded with an automatic 2-year suspension of driving privileges.

Tyrone Weir  (Eastnews photo)

The Daily Mail reports:  He appeared before magistrates in Chelmsford (Thursday) where he admitted taking a vehicle without consent, failing to provide a specimen of breath, driving without insurance and possessing cannabis. The former managing director of a fishing retail company described himself as ‘sickened and stunned' by his actions.

But chairman of the bench Sheena Collins told him: ‘This matter is so serious only custody is suitable. It is at the top end of the guidelines for taking without consent, aggravated by the fact you had been drinking and this was a potentially life-threatening situation.' He was sentenced to 16 weeks in jail.

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Posted by on December 17, 2011 • Filed under: ambulances, crime, EMS Topics • Tagged: , ,

Two Dead in Icebreaker Fire

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Blaze in Living Quarters of Ship

A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE LIVING QUARTERS of the Russian icebreaker Vaygach on Thursday while the ship was underway in northern Siberian waters.  The fire moved upward consuming two more cabins in the next level and was still growing when the crew managed to extinguish it after 2-½ hours.

The Moscow Times reports:

The fire broke out in the early morning hours as the icebreaker escorted another ship through Yenisei Bay toward Murmansk from Dudinka, officials said.

Operator Pavel Bazhukov, 32, of Murmansk, and equipment foreman Valery Morozov, 55, of Zheleznogorsk, in the Kursk region, were killed. Senior engineer Alexander Shevchenko, 44, of St. Petersburg, suffered severe burns to his upper respiratory tract and was rushed back by helicopter to Dudinka, Rosatomflot said.

The reactor aboard the ship was not damaged, officials with Rosatomflot said in a statement on its web site.

The Finnish-built ship has been in service since 1990. Earlier this year, a sister ship, the Taimyr, leaked radioactive cooling water from its reactor in the same area and had to be escorted to Murmansk for repairs.

archival photo of the Vaygach (Vaigach)

The Moscow News adds:

A charging mobile phone together with a turned on TV and fridge could have been the reason for a fire on an atomic ice-breaker Vaigach, which killed two people on Thursday.

A short circuit in the cabin of the second mechanic was apparently due to an overload on the electrical grid of the ship en route to Murmansk from port Dudinka in the Krasnoyarsk region, according to an investigative group.

A criminal case has been opened, but since the areas damaged by the blaze have no electric lighting at the moment, investigators are still working to come up with more possible versions. "In the conditions of a polar night it’s impossible to carry out a detailed inspection of the accident scene," Alexander Yakimov, representative of the Emergency Situations Ministry in the Krasnoyarsk region, told RIA Novosti.

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

Morning Lineup – December 17

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Saturday Morning – Happy Hunting

Let's start off the weekend with a couple of animal-not-a-moose stories, shall we?  First we stop by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in eastern Tennesse, the nation's (and the world's) premier nuclear research and testing laboratory.  The 35,000-acre reservation conducts a controlled hunt on three weekends during deer hunting season and held the third one last weekend.

Earlier this week they announced this year's take and informed the hunting community that for the three weekends, 177 bucks and 144 does were taken. The largest buck for the year weighed 183 pounds, ORNL said. The most points for the year was 22. The largest doe weighed 127 lbs. Of that total, three deer were retained at the checking station because they had too much radioactive contamination, the lab said.

Which begs the question, if your deer glows in the dark, can they still nab you for spotlighting?

Next we move up to Sussex County, New Jersey, in the upper NW corner of the state where Dave the Cable Guy had the fright of his life Wednesday.  The Cablevision technician visited a house in Hopatcong on a repair call and was told that the connection was in the basement which is only accessible from an outside doorway. 

As he entered the rough, unfinished area, "I heard a growl and I thought, what is that noise?" Dave Cornine told WCBS-TV.  He turned around and saw an enormous black bear waking up in the corner. He didn’t stick around to make friends with the beast. "I just freaked out, threw my tools down and ran out of the basement," he said.

Animal Control officers were called and after a chase through the neighborhood, caught up with and tranquilized the black bear, then transported it back to the wild.  They said that it weighed approximately 550 pounds.

WCBS-TV continues:

The homeowner, 85-yr.-old Frank Annacone said that he doesn’t usually lock his basement door and that it was probably slightly ajar, allowing the big bear to push his way inside. He told the reporter that he only goes downstairs occasionally to check heating oil levels.

Animal Control officers believe the bear had been living in the basement for at least several weeks. The bear had fashioned a den of his own in the basement, bringing in twigs and leaves, in anticipation of a long winter's stay.

Channel 2's news camera was on the scene in time for the chase and capture, then went into the model den for a visit in this video report:

 

We'd better get our own den in order now and get this equipment checked out.  I'm going to get some nice winter coffee going before we meet back in the day room.  And be alert when you go into those basements!

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

Calcutta Hospital Fire Update

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"Every time I see incidents like AMRI I'm convinced we really are
a third world nation with delusions of greatness,"

THOSE WERE THE WORDS OF Omar Abdullah, the chief minister of the state of Jammu and Kashmir where Calcutta / Kolkata is located in India, after he saw the preliminary report on the deadly fire in the elite, high-dollar hospital  last Friday.

The death toll has reached 96 so far with several people still in critical condition after a large fire in the basement filled the 5-story hospital building with thick, deadly smoke.  (See Firegeezer video report HERE.)  There are several such hospitals in the city that cater to the rich and charge major sums for private rooms and multi-room suites.

A special report to the Toronto Globe & Mail continues:

The fire took place at the AMRI Hospital, one of the elite private medical institutions that dot India’s big urban centres. These hospitals provide the latest in diagnostic and surgical procedures, offer wealthy patients multi-room in-patient suites, "platinum waiting lounges" and charge as much as $1,000 a day as a basic bed rate – not much, compared to private medical care in the West, but fees accessible only to a tiny Indian elite.

But as details released in the past few days from the investigation of the fire make clear, the "first world care" offered by the hospital was only skin deep.

The investigation has, so far, found out that:

  • The hospital was not sprinklered.
  • There were no functioning smoke alarms.
  • The staff had no fire training.
  • When the fire began, most of the on-duty staff fled the building, abandoning their patients.
  • Many mobile patients who could have self-evacuated could not leave their rooms because the windows were sealed and there were no fire escapes
  • When the fire broke out, many neighbors poured into the hospital grounds to begin rescuing the trapped victims, but the hospital security guards closed the gates to keep people out, thus contributing to the death toll.
  • When the first fire engine arrived two hours after the fire began, they were also locked out of the grounds.

  • Hospital management was storing diesel and other highly flammable materials in the basement – as fuel for generators, to cover for frequent power outages – as well as trash, much of which was also highly combustible, including boxes, gas cylinders, electric cable and old mattresses.

NY Times / Reuters

The Globe & Mail continues:

(An) investigation by the Times of India revealed that in October, when a private security guard in the hospital found a small fire and called the fire department, hospital management suspended him without pay in punishment.

When the Kolkata fire department launched an inspection of other private city hospitals in the wake of the AMRI fire, it found that most lacked working fire alarms, and many were storing waste onsite. Several had approach lanes too narrow for fire-tending vehicles to reach them, and dysfunctional hose systems.

Probhir Rose, director of Woodland, one of the city’s oldest and most prestigious hospitals, reacted angrily to suggestions his hospital was unsafe, telling the Indian Express that his facility had a fire alarm system, they just weren’t using it.

Nine hospital executives have been arrested and are being held.  There are strong codes on fire safety in hospitals, but the fire inspectors are routinely bribed by the hospitals to overlook non-compliance.

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Posted by on December 16, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, investigations • Tagged: ,

Junior Firefighter in Senior Trouble

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A Career Ended Before it Began

A "JUNIOR MEMBER" OF THE HUDSON, NEW YORK, Fire Department is about to become a former junior member.  On Wednesday night he thought he would take a fire engine for a drive, but couldn't get it started.   So the 15-yr.-old boy hopped in the utility van and drove away.  Within a few minutes he had the police on his tail trying to pull him over, but instead he tried to outrun the law.

WXXA-TV Ch. 23 fills in the next part of the story in this video report:

 

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Posted by on December 16, 2011 • Filed under: crime, News, Videos • Tagged:

Promotional Opportunities in Highwood – Update

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Let the Police Chief Run It

IT WAS LAST MONTH ON NOVEMBER 2 when we told you (HERE) about the Highwood, Illinois, Deputy Fire Chief Ronald Pieri having been arrested for fiddling his time sheets.  You will probably recall the story when reminded that is the tiny town that has no fire chief and assigns the deputy chief to run the show.

Ron Pieri  (Lake County Sheriff photo)

Pieri was arraigned Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to six felony charges relating to false time reports.  The Highland Park News reported:

Lake County judge Daniel Shanes read Pieri the charges Wednesday morning, which include two counts of official misconduct, three counts of theft ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, and one count of false entry. Sentencing guidelines call for two to 30 years in prison, depending on the count, the judge explained. Fines can reach $25,000 for each, if found guilty.

Additional details of the government’s case, which were revealed in court Wednesday, allege that Pieri’s timecards between Jan. 1, 2006, and Dec. 31, 2010, reflect hours he did not work. The pay in question also worked to increase his overall benefits package, said judge Shanes reading the charges.

Highwood Mayor Charlie Pecaro said that the city is conducting interviews for an interim-chief, but in January they will consider hiring a public safety chief who would run both the police and fire departments.  Pieri has been on paid administrative leave since he was arrested on November 1.

Firegeezer notes:  That's the ticket… instead of giving a raise to a firefighter promotion, send the money over to the police budget to give their chief a big raise while he lets the FD run itself.

Hat tip:  Mark D.

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At Amazon -GREAT DEALS on DVD's

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Posted by on December 16, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, crime, Fire Rescue Topics, labor

Morning Lineup – December 16

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Friday Morning – Don't be Alarmed

One of our loyal readers, Mark Donovan came across an industry bulletin from the Alarm Industry Communications Committee, a group of monitored alarm businesses who make their living installing home and business fire and security alarm systems.  The bulletin (reprinted HERE) warns their members about a bill that is working its way through the U. S. Congress that will allow monitored alarm signals to bypass the alarm company's switchboards and go directly to the 9-1-1 dispatch center.

On the surface this looks like a pretty good idea and a pretty bad idea.  The good part is that alarm signals will go to the dispatch center in a lot more timely fashion.  During the year that I worked in dispatch, we were constantly confounded by alarm companies who repeatedly called the wrong fire departments to report alarms sounding, and in a high number of instances the report from the alarm company was delayed by several minutes.  And I'm talking about 15 minutes or more.

Univ. of Iowa photo

The bad part is that a high percentage of monitored alarms are not true emergencies or mistaken signals.  This new bill includes the so-called personal emergency devices that elderly and handicapped people wear ("I've fallen and I can't get up!").  An excerpt from the AICC bulletin reads:

The problem could well result in 9-1-1 operators being flooded with automatic sensor generated calls, from security devices, as well as Personnel Emergency Response System (PERS) calls. The alarm industry which currently screens these calls before they are forwarded to 9-1-1 centers knows from experience that the vast majority of these calls from burglar and fire alarm systems as (well as) from PERS systems do not require dispatch. The overwhelming majority of PERS calls (99%) do not require the dispatch of emergency services. In many cases the senior is seeking just to talk with someone or has inadvertently set off the alarm. Currently the alarm industry screens all these calls before they are sent to the 9-1-1 operator to determine whether emergency services need to be dispatched. On an annual basis we screen over a 100 million calls a year. Of that, the industry resolves in the high 90% without a referral to 9-1-1 operators.

There is a lot more to this issue than just that, however.  The bill does not mandate the signals to go directly to the dispatch centers, but allows the localities to require it if they want to.  I get the impression that the Congress is creating the legal process that will allow a variety of "new" communications, such as phone texts, videos, and other electronically-generated digital messages to be directed to 9-1-1 centers.  And of course, cynical me strongly suspects that the alarm companies are trying to protect their turf and keep their own alarm centers populated and operating.  My first response when I read this was to think that if they are getting 90% false calls, then they had better get their act together and either reduce the rate, or stop peddling them as "emergency" devices when they obviously aren't.

We had better get our own non-emergency response to the apparatus now and get it checked out.  I'm going to send a signal to the Bunn-O-Matic and get a fresh pot started.  See you back in the day room in a little while.

 

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Posted by on December 16, 2011 • Filed under: dispatch, Dispatch & Communications, morning lineup

Looking Back

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Fire Engineering – April 1957

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Posted by on December 15, 2011 • Filed under: Looking Back • Tagged: , , ,

The Janus 4000 – Another Tunnel Firetruck

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One of our readers, Tom Parquette of Branson, Missouri, is also a fire historian, researching notable fire tragedies in our history.  Recently he prepared and sent us this timely and interesting article about another tunnel fire engine with two front ends.  He tells us:

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Nenad Illisic's report (HERE) regarding the delivery of the Croatian Merkur Tru ZE1 dual cab apparatus for use in the Croatian Tunel Ucka brought to mind one of my favorite studies in fire history:

The Mont Blanc Tunnel Fire of 1999

And the Development of the Janus 4000 Fire Engine

by Tom Parquette

The Mont Blanc tunnel runs between France and Italy. Opened in 1965 the tunnel operated for years with minor fire incidents which were largely handled by the vehicle operators before arrival of any departmental response units. The Mont Blanc Tunnel is about 7.2 miles in length and some 28 feet wide, two lanes. The operation of the tunnel as an infrastructure facility was handled by two national government agencies given that the border of France and Italy was in the tunnel itself. A tunnel authority functioned on the France side and a tunnel authority functioned on the Italian side of the tunnel (border). This included fire departments operating at each end of the tunnel as well.

Italian entrance

March 24, 1999 a Belgian reefer truck entered the tunnel and proceeded until the driver sensed something wrong with his truck and stopped to check it out. At that time the truck burst into flames.

Wikipedia has an excellent (and very accurate) synopsis of this event at this link; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Blanc_Tunnel which, according to my historical research, does fairly represent this event.

A June 30 1999 report by the French Office of Interior regarding the tunnel fire http://www.firetactics.com/MONTBLANCFIRE1999.htm details the status and condition reports of various infrastructure and responders as either deficient or contributory to the severity of the event. It is posited that the fire continued for some 50 hours and prevented entry into the tunnel itself for some 5 days.

I won't repeat what is contained in these reports here (to avoid lengthy repetition) but the study is fascinating and I believe, overall, the casual observer is left with what really was a disconnect between responding authorities (radio frequencies were not compatible between the French and Italian resources) and the use and design elements of the ventilation equipment designed into the tunnel itself.

The usual finger pointing and blame laying took place, of course. In 2005, some 6 years following the disaster, 13 were convicted and sentenced for various 'crimes' and or omissions of responsibility leading to the death of 39 persons including the lead fire commander of, I believe, the Italian 'side'.

See conviction press here: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/27/world/europe/27iht-tunnel.html

The University of Manchester did perform a thorough post event study which is quite informative here: http://www.mace.manchester.ac.uk/project/research/structures/strucfire/CaseStudy/HistoricFires/InfrastructuralFires/mont.htm

During the review, refitting and restructuring of the Mont Blanc Tunnel, it's operation and support systems, the newly created authority comprised of French and Italians actually began working together as a separate entity (the ATMB i.e., Auto Routes Mont Blanc), and contracts were let to design and manufacture apparatus which would be effective and not fall victim to the problems experienced in 1999. The result of that engineering was the BAI MAN Janus 4000 Bi-front. The Janus (for the two headed Greek God of doors and entrances) is a bit larger than the Croatian model and is designed as an attack vehicle as opposed to the passenger/rescue function of the Croatian unit. 2 of the Janus units are in service. My information has it that 3 were actually constructed, but I don't know where the third ended up.

The BAI Janus 4000 Bi-Front was designed and built by BAI of Italy following the 1999 tragedy. The tunnel is over 7 miles long and fire equipment and personnel couldn't reach the victims for two days. The BAI Janus 4000 is really cool. Janus, of course was a Greek god of doors and entrances I think and had two heads. Hence, the name.

It is designed with two complete control cabs as you can see in the photos. The apparatus can travel up to 120 mph in either direction without turning around. It can also maneuver sideways and diagonally like a crab in tight spaces. It is fully pressurized. It carries full fire gear along with a 4,000-gallon litre water tank and 500-gallon foam tank. Each unit costs the US equivalent of $560,000 in 1999. I'm told something on this order was designed, built and employed in the tunnels between New York and New Jersey in the 1920s but haven't been able to really substantiate that. There are 3 of the BAI Janus 4000 Bi-Front units in existence.

………. Tom Parquette, Branson, Missouri

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Posted by on December 15, 2011 • Filed under: apparatus, Fire Rescue Topics, history • Tagged: ,

Fire Department Shuts Down After Embezzling Officers Drain the Treasury

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No performance bonds?

THE LEWISBERRY COMMUNITY FIRE COMPANY in York County, Pennsylvania, had to close its doors and cease operating in September when it could no longer pay its bills.

This Tuesday police arrested and charged Jennifer Cassada, 37, and Markwood Albright, 37, with theft. Cassada is the department's former president and treasurer while Albright is the former fire chief.  Investigators said the two, who were romantically involved, had taken and spent more than $11,000 on personal items and pleasures.

The York Daily Record reports:

The fire company could no longer pay workers compensation, municipalities dropped its services so it no longer responded to calls, and it was evicted from the fire hall, (Police Chief John) Snyder said.

Members of the fire department had suspicions about how the money was being used, Snyder said, but it took some time to get access to the accounting books.

The investigation began in October 2010 and was passed on to Newberry Township Police from the York County District Attorney's Office in October 2011.

Sgt. Steven Lutz with Newberry Township Police was head of the investigation and found that $4,373 had been spent on a Caribbean cruise, $1,288.38 was used to purchase items online through PayPal, $6,154.14 was used to pay utility bills and $8,990 in cash withdrawals were taken from the general account and the fireman's relief account for no apparent reason, according to charging documents.

They were arraigned and charged with theft by unlawful taking, access device fraud, criminal conspiracy and receiving stolen property. They each posted $25,000 unsecured bail and were released Tuesday.  The investigators believe that much more than that has been stolen, but much of it was in cash and will be hard to trace.

According to the Daily Record, the Lewisberry Borough Council asked the nearby Fairview Fire Department in September to provide primary fire protection in the borough.  They moved in to the building that housed the former Lewisberry Community Fire Company in November are using the same volunteer system, involving volunteers from the old fire department.

WHTM-TV filed this video report:

 

 

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Firegeezer points out that responsible fire departments carry performance bonds, a relatively cheap form of insurance against internal thievery and embezzlement. Why wasn't that done here?

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Posted by on December 15, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, crime, Fire Rescue Topics, Law & Justice, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

Morning Lineup – December 15

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Thursday Morning Tweets

Occasionally I like to report on the unusual Twitter Followers that I pick up along the way.  Many businesses and PR agencies have computer programs that pick up on select keywords in Tweets and then automatically sign up to "follow" that Tweeter from there on out forever.  Most recently, back in August I had some postings about an LODD in Asheville, North Carolina, and within days I was signed up for all kinds of great services based in Asheville including a custom closet designer and a luxury car and yacht detailer.  (Read my August 14 Lineup HERE.)

This came back to my attention yesterday when I wrote about the .xxx domain names coming out soon (HERE) and within hours a searchbot spotted the word "domain" and I was signed up for a service that re-sells domain names.  So let's see who's watching us now:

  • "See the Time, All the Time"  (I don't know what that's all about.  Clock salesman?)
  • Our creative focus is commercial embroidery with top-of-the-line CQC – Care, Quality, Creativity.
  • Let the human mind loose. It must be loose. It will be loose. Superstition and dogmatism cannot confine it.
  • Dr. ****** is one of the nation's leading authorities on the situational awareness and decision making processes used by first responders.  (Remember, only you can prevent first responder.)
  • I love cheese, and have a twitter, too.
  • (my company) speaks with industry leaders from around the world to bring you ideas that you can use to help solve problems in your community.
  • I love the RedSox and heavy petting.
  • It's all about the Shock Value!
  • ****** is a private counseling facility providing quality mental health care to the busy executive and the entire family unit.
  • Since 1961. local produce market and garden center. A (local) icon! Love all things food and plants!
  • Awesome mum of 2 teenagers, likes Wine, great food, friends, music , human slave to 3cats , I overtweet often , share a lot of personal stuff & RT often

So you see…. Firegeezer is like the 6-month-old Time magazine in the doctor's waiting room.  We show up everywhere.

Now let's show up for equipment check, we're running late already and I need some more coffee.  See you back in the day room in a little while.

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

Six Dead in French Nursing Home Fire

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Accidentally Started With a Lighter

A TRAGIC FIRE IN A MARSEILLE, FRANCE, nursing home early Wednesday morning led to the deaths of six women and serious injuries to thirteen more elderly patients.  All the injuries were from smoke inhalation.

Le Provence

The fire started around 2:30 am when a man who suffers from dementia tried to open a plastic-wrapped box of candies.  He was unable to tear the plastic, so he took out a lighter and started to burn the wrapping off.  But it flared up, causing him to drop it on the bed and he ran out of the room.

The room involved was on the third floor of a 4-story building that was about 25 years old.  About 80 firefighters responded to the scene and found that many of the 180 patients were able to self-evacuate the building.  The six fatalities were all women who were confined to their beds and unable to help themselves.  Thirteen others were injured with three of them in critical condition.

Le Provence

Le Provence has the STORY.
Le Provence also has a 37-image photo gallery HERE .

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Posted by on December 15, 2011 • Filed under: fire, Fires • Tagged: ,

Tanker Fire Closes California Freeway

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Why Do So Many of Them Burn Underneath Bridges?

A TANDEM-TRAILER TANKER CAUGHT FIRE on a California freeway in Montebello shortly after noon Wednesday and came to a stop just under a highway overpass.  The incident began just after noon Pacific and the rear trailer's tank burned completely and apparently caused significant damage to the bridge over the fire.

KABC-TV

The driver and passenger were first to realize the problem and called in the alarm reporting as a possible brake fire.  They both safely made it out of the tractor cab.

While the fire was intense, it was relatively isolated and easily contained by the 200 firefighters dispatched to the blaze.  An even bigger problem was the runoff and state Dept. of Fish and Game as well as flood control crews were brought in to help contain the petroleum spill.

KABC-TV

No other vehicles were involved in the incident, but the freeway and the highway crossing it will be closed for an extended time until the bridge can be made safe.

NBC posted some raw video taken from their helicopter:

 

View more videos at: http://nbcsandiego.com.

The Los Angeles Times has the STORY.

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Posted by on December 14, 2011 • Filed under: fire, Fires, Haz-mat, HazMat, Videos

Firefighter Sentenced to Prison for Sex Crime

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He Was Old Enough to Know Better

A NOW-FORMER FIREFIGHTER WAS SENTENCED to four years in prison for having sex with a 13-yr.-old girl in a fire department vehicle.  Justin Neil Baber, 23, was convicted Monday in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, of carnal knowledge and electronic solicitation.  Following the plea-agreement verdict, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison with all but four years suspended.

The Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star reported:

Baber was on duty with the Chancellor Volunteer Fire Department on May 4 when the girl accidentally sent him a text message. The girl was trying to text one of her friends.

During the ensuing messaging, Baber convinced the girl to sneak out of her home late that night. The girl left through a basement door and met Baber at the intersection of Bridgewood Court and Peachtree Drive. Baber was driving a Ford Crown Victoria that belongs to the fire department, police said. He got into the back seat with the girl and they had sex, (prosecutor)Montague-Holland said.

The incident came to light May 13 after the girl told a counselor that she'd had sex with a 23-year-old man. The counselor notified the girl's stepmother, and the Sheriff's Office was called.

Sgt. Sam Cielakie and Detective Ed Lunsford traced the cellphone number to Baber and had the girl send him text messages while they looked on. The girl wrote about the incident in the fire department car earlier that month and asked Baber if he wanted to do it again. Baber replied that he was going to be at the firehouse all night, but said he would like to have sex with the girl–"just not in a car again."

Baber was dismissed from the VFD as soon as the allegations surfaced.  When he is released he will have to register as a sex offender.

Read the entire report in the Free Lance-Star HERE.

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Posted by on December 14, 2011 • Filed under: crime, News • Tagged: , , ,

Moline Lops 12 Firefighters

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Council Says Private EMS Will Be Better  (for who?…. ed.)

THE MOLINE, ILLINOIS, CITY COUNCIL met Tuesday night and, after several weeks of debate, voted to eliminate 12 firefighter/paramedic positions and turn the city's EMS responsibility over to a private ambulance company.

Moline firefighters and their families picketed in front of
city hall prior to last night's meeting.  (Quad City Times photo)

The council's consideration of the move initially led to the Fire Chief Ron Miller's abrupt resignation back on October 18.

The firefighters union rightly points out that not only is the city eliminating paramedics, but they are effectively reducing the on-duty roster of firefighters which translates into reduced ability to perform.  Brian Vyncke, president of Local 581, said that the battle to save the jobs is far from over, according to the Quad City Times. "There are still some negotiations we have to complete," Vyncke said after the meeting.

The QC Times also reports on the council's taking advice from a "consultant" who told them an all-too-familiar fable:

Aldermen heard from Alexander Weiss of Alexander Weiss Consulting of Evanston, Ill., who was commissioned in November to study fire department staffing levels before the council took its final vote on the budget.

Weiss told the council that according to his study, Moline could cut four firefighter/paramedics per shift and still maintain safety levels at fires. But, he said, the fire chief and fire marshal should show up at each fire.  However, Weiss added that days off and vacation time would have to be carefully monitored.

WQAD-TV Ch. 8 was at the meeting and filed this video report:

 

The new budget that goes into effect at the first of the year was passed on a 5-3 vote.

Moline Fire Department WEBPAGE.
Local 581 WEBSITE.

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Posted by on December 14, 2011 • Filed under: EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Funding & Staffing, labor, Videos • Tagged:

EMT Arrested for Stealing From Patients

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Caught By Undecover Sting

A FDNY EMT HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED with official misconduct, petit larceny, and possession of stolen property.  Donald Vasquez, 45, of Brooklyn was nabbed when he stole marked money from an undercover policeman in a sting-style operation.

Vasquez, who has been in the department since July 2004, came to the attention of internal affairs following a complaint against him by a purported victim.  The sting was then set up as reported by WABC-TV:

According to the criminal complaint, Vasquez responded to an emergency call in a Brooklyn apartment and was directed into a bedroom to retrieve identification for the patient who was actually an undercover investigator.

Video surveillance showed the defendant stealing money from a wallet in the bedroom and the surveillance video also showed Vasquez later took additional cash from an envelope in the apartment.

The money ($280) was recovered from Vasquez.

Vasquez has been suspended for 30 days and is facing disciplinary action as well as the criminal charges.

NY1 has a video report HERE.

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Posted by on December 14, 2011 • Filed under: crime, EMS Topics • Tagged: ,

Monarch F.P.D. Update

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Some Blame the Fire District Board

THREE WEEKS AGO ON NOVEMBER 23, Firegeezer carried the report on the wholesale firing by the Monarch Fire Protection District of their top four chief officers.  The St. Louis County, Missouri, agency decided to fire Assistant Chief Les Crews, Deputy Chief Cary Spiegel and battalion chiefs Fred Goodson and Mike Davis.  From our report on the 23rd:  The problem began back in 1996 when a series of alleged sexual discriminatory actions were allowed to take place within the department. The actions continued until 2006 when four women filed suits against the FPD asking for $16 million in damages. Two of the women had their cases dismissed and the remaining two received settlements of $200,000 each.

This past Thursday on December 8, former batt. chief Fred Goodson was found dead in a wooded area near his house, the result of a self-inflicted gunshot.  The Post-Dispatch Suburban Journal reports:

Goodson, who was in his early 60s, had been with the district since 1975.

Monarch board member Robin Harris, the only one of the three board members who opposed the firings on Nov. 22, said he was 'shocked and horrified to learn of this."

"I believe that this action was in response to the destruction of a career firefighter's life by an action on the board's part without due process," Harris said.

The Monarch Concerned Taxpayers, a district watchdog group, sent out a press release saying members "are extremely shocked and saddened to learn of the death."

Board members Kim Evans and Steve Swyers, who supported the firings, did not respond to a reporter's phone call for comment.

Former board member Rick Gans called Goodson "among the best scene commanders in all of west St. Louis County, known for his uncanny ability to direct emergency personnel, radio traffic and other officers with complete cool even under the toughest conditions."

Chief Goodson was 61 years old and joined the department in 1975.

This past Saturday night the F.P.D. Board had a scheduled meeting and the chamber was packed with angry citizens who vented their feelings about the board's supposed culpability in the events leading to the suicide.  Channel 2 has a video report on that meeting HERE.

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Posted by on December 14, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, current events, News • Tagged: ,

Morning Lineup – December 14

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Wednesday Morning in the Digital Realm

Leading off today's news is the story of the race to sign up and secure internet domains in the new .xxx category.  When ICANN, the agency that keeps track and disburses domain titles for the world-wide-web, decided to assign a specialty suffix for porno and other degrading websites, they set up a period of about a month where only certain types of established businesses and governmental agencies could register their names.  By doing this, they could block nefarious publishers from using popular and established names to draw curious browsers into their virus-laden websites.  Don't bother clicking on britneyspears.xxx, or newyorkyankees.xxx because they're not available now.  Among the major purchases of dormant domains are the major universities who would be prime targets for the porn industry.

THIS ARTICLE in the Palm Beach, Florida, Sun Sentinel reports:

The University of Florida took the opportunity several months ago to block a series of names to ensure they are not purchased and not used with inappropriate content with the .xxx suffix," Janine Sikes, a UF spokeswoman, said via email.

At $200 a pop, Sikes said, the Gainesville-based university has commandeered a list of names ending with .xxx, including University of Florida, Florida Gators, Gator Nation, Gator Vision and Gators.

Google is taking no chances and locked in YouTube.xxx and no telling how many dozens of other protective purchases.

Talk about legal extortion…. $200 per domain!  And some of these places are having to buy a dozen or more pre-emptive domains.  I just checked and I see that firegeezer.xxx is still available, so some enterprising speculator can jump in now before the word gets out.

We'd better save our daydreams until later because it's time to get this equipment checked out now.  I'm going to get some work-safe, family friendly coffee started up while you go that.  See you back in the day room later.

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

Mad Gunman Attacks Crowd in Belgium

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Five People Killed and 125 Wounded

Update, Wednesday AM:  Body found in shed behind shooter's home.  Scroll down.

A CRAZED MAN CLIMBED ATOP A BAKERY in downtown Liege, Belgium, midday Tuesday and began shooting into crowds of Christmas shoppers while also hurling grenades from the rooftop onto the helpless people.

The attack took place at the city's main square, the Place Saint-Lambert.  Police say the man's name is Nordine Amrani, 33, and that he acted alone in his assault.  The cold-blooded attack stopped when Amrani turned a gun on himself and shot himself in his head.  By then there were 6 people dead (including Amrani) and at least 125 injured, many seriously.  Among the dead were a 23-month-old baby and two teenage boys.

Amrani carried a rifle, a handgun, and three grenades up to the roof of the Hot Spot Bakery overlooking the plaza and opened fire on the unsuspecting crowd.  Police say that he began the attack by tossing the three grenades into clusters of people who were waiting for buses.  Then he opened fire with the rifle causing panic as people tried to run for safety.  He concluded the assault by killing himself just a few minutes later.

The suicide Amrani lays along his spent magazines and weapons.

Sky News prepared this video report that includes footage taken during the attack:

 

The Liege firefighters and ambulance workers were faced with an immediate challenge of facing a scene with more than 120 victims laying in the plaza with a variety of violent injuries by gunfire and shrapnell.

Amrani was already known to the police for being a career criminal and he had just been released from prison on parole after serving most of a 54-month term for drugs and weapons convictions.  Police do not yet know what the motive was or what precipitated the attacks.

Graphic prepared by BBC News

Detailed coverage at length on the event can be read at these recommended (English language) websites: 

BBC News
Los Angeles Times
The Globe and Mail

 

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 Update, Wednesday morning:

Police have found the body of a middle-aged woman in the shed behind Amrani's house where he had previously kept his "pot farm."  The woman had been shot once in the head and is tentatively identified as a cleaning lady who lives or works in the neighborhood.  They also found more weapons and a stockpile of ammunition in the same shed.

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Posted by on December 14, 2011 • Filed under: crime, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, rescue, Rescues, Videos • Tagged: , ,

Who Ya’ Gonna Call?

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"Is this April 1?"

 "When we got the call at our control center, our first question was, Is this April 1?" said Philipp Schafer, the Berkatal town fire chief. His fire brigade was called out Sunday night to a farm in the community of Frankershausen for a reported cow stuck on the roof of a barn. When they walked into the barn, they looked up and saw four cow legs sticking through the roof.

"We looked up there and could not at first imagine how this happened," Schafer continued. Later they figured out that the animal had broken out of another stable and trotted off, then came to a hill that is slightly higher than the barn. It was there that the beast jumped onto the roof and penetrated partly into the barn.

After first calling for a veterinarian, they brought out the fire department crane. But they were unable to free the cow. The vet then euthanized it and the firefighters cut away the roof beams allowing the dead animal to drop to the floor.

Chief Schafer tells that the "cow-on-the-roof" call is the number one topic of conversation throughout the entire region.

Translated from:  HR-Online.

Thanks to Christian Lewalter of FWNetz.

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Posted by on December 13, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, rescue • Tagged:

Washougal Standoff Update #2

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Third Body Recovered

INVESTIGATORS HAVE RECOVERED THE BODY of the third occupant of the house in Washougal, Washington, that was set afire last Wednesday, December 7.  The deranged homeowner had a cache of guns and ammunition and kept the police at bay while he burned down his house.  See the extensive Firegeezer video report HERE and the first update HERE.

Monday the Washougal Police Department announced that the body of Leona Stanbary's twin sister Mona Dougherty has now been recovered and identified.  The day after the fire they had found the charred bodies of Steven Stanbary and his wife Leona Bolton-Stanbary.

Mona Dougherty (left) and Leona Bolton-Stanbary  (KGW-TV)

The police also disclosed that both women most likely died of gunshot wounds before the fire began.  Steven Stanbary's cause of death has not yet been determined.

Steven Stanbary (undated mugshot)

Another new disclosure in this incident is that Steven was supposed to have turned himself in to the police the day after on Dec. 8, to answer some charges for sex crimes.  A spokesman said that it involved allegations of repeated incidents of abuse. They declined to say whether the case involved more than one victim or what the connection was to Stanbary.

The Columbian has this latest information along with more details of the unfolding events that day, including more about the police officer that was fired on by the shooter.  CLICK HERE for the entire article.

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Posted by on December 13, 2011 • Filed under: arson, current events, Fire Rescue Topics, News • Tagged: ,

Tonight’s Netcast

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Featuring the Firefighter Cancer Support Network

The December 13 Kitchen Table Chat is about cancer.

As you may or may not know, Dr. Burt Clark underwent prostate cancer surgery earlier this month. He and his wife, Carolyn will be discussing cancer and the fire service with the founder and president of the Firefighter Cancer Support Networks, Mr. Mike Dubron tonight at 9pm ET.

Burt, with the help and support of Carolyn, is recovering from a Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy surgery for prostate cancer that he had on Dec 1.

Mike Dubron, President / Founder of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network explains the organization. If cancer has visited your family, stop by Kitchen Table Chat and share your knowledge, experience, or support.

The Netcast live show is open to all listeners to call in and chat with the commentators and you can participate in the live forum feed that is part of every netcast.  Can't make it during the live presentation?  All shows are archived and can be heard at a time of your convenience.

CLICK HERE to log onto tonight's Kitchen Table Chat and join in.

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Posted by on December 13, 2011 • Filed under: education, entertainment • Tagged:

Morning Lineup – December 13

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Do You Feel Fit?

I came across this video that was taken in May 2009 over in London, England.  It's one of those charity events, in this case a firefighters' charity program, and shows a gaggle of off-duty lads pulling a pumper for four miles through city streets.  I never have understood how these sorts of events raise money for the cause, but I guess they do.  I also noticed that this must be a regular event in more than one place because they are using a large number of expensive-looking shoulder straps to harness themselves to the fire engine.  But pull they did!

 

But if there is only one puller, the course is shorter:

 

Bad back?  Bad knees?  Me, too.  But here's a fundraiser that we've ALL had plenty of practice for:

 

The National Car Wash Day is apparently an event that firehouses all over the UK participate in on a designated day each year to raise funds for the Firefighters Charity program.

If there is a way to raise funds by checking equipment, then we had better practice up for that event and try it out now.  I'm going to enter the coffee dash and get another pot started.  See you back in the digital day room.

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

CCTV Catches Tanker Ka-Boom

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Lightning Storm in Area

A TANDEM-TANKER WAS DROPPING GASOLINE at a Melbourne, Australia, convenience store Sunday night when it suddenly ka-boomed and started burning.  The truck's driver was in the cab and he immediately bailed out, dashed away from the flaming fuel and did the stop-drop-roll maneuver putting out his burning clothing.  The store's security cameras caught the unexplained ignition and the river of burning fuel that followed the event:

 

The fuel started running down the street toward a nearby hotel, setting two parked cars afire as it traveled.  About 100 firefighters from the Country Fire Authority responded and found what one described as "a wall of fire" in the area.  They successfully contained the fire and safely controlled the unburnt fuel that was running down the street.

CFA provided photo

The driver stood in the heavy rain cooling off his burns until the ambulance arrived and transported him. He is in critical but stable condition with burns to his legs, hands and arms.  Approximately 500 guests were evacuated from the hotel and adjoining night club as a precaution, but they were later allowed back inside after the emergency was mitigated.

Two parked cars were burned and a third was damaged
when the panicky driver crashed into a tree while trying
to drive away from the fire.  (CFA photo)

After the fire was out they found a large hole in the side of the lead trailer that caused the fuel to run out.  It is being considered that it may have been a lightning strike that caused it because there was an electrical storm in the area at the time, but it has not been determined if that is what happened.  The remaining gasoline was safely transferred from the damaged truck to a replacment trailer.

Herald Sun photo

 

The Knox Leader has the STORY.

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Fantastic Markdowns in Video Games at Amazon:

CLICK HERE to see the many games available and to order yours!

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Posted by on December 13, 2011 • Filed under: fire, Fires, Haz-mat, HazMat, Videos • Tagged: , ,

Texas Firehouse Burns Down

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Fire in the Firehouse

THE LINN-SAN MANUEL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT's firehouse burned down Saturday night while most of the members were at a neighboring station attending a Christmas party.

The Monitor / Hernandez

The Hidalgo County department located near McAllen on the southern border of the state, lost most of its equipment to the blaze that was discovered at 9:30 pm.  The McAllen Monitor reports:

Along with burning down the building, the blaze ruined a pumper truck, rescue gear and medical equipment. The department still has one tanker and two brush trucks, which were with the firefighters at a Christmas party in Edinburg, fire Chief Domingo Hinojosa Jr. said.

Their only pumper was lost in the blaze.  (The Monitor / Hernandez)

A 9-1-1 dispatcher called Hinojosa and the volunteers headed from the party to the fire immediately, he said. "We’re testing electrical systems; we’re testing fire debris; there’s a lot of things we need to take care of (before determining the cause)," he said.

The building, which used to be a gas station, was about 60 years old.

The Monitor / Hernandez

Several departments — including those of Pharr, Alamo, McAllen, Mission, Raymondville and Edinburg — came out to fight the blaze, Hinojosa said.

Several nearby departments are helping by lending gear and an engine.  The man who owns the property next door is letting the department use a vacant convenience store and storage shed to operate from during their rebuilding.

KGBT-TV Ch. 4 filed this video report:

 

The Hidalgo County fire marshal is investigating the cause.

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Posted by on December 12, 2011 • Filed under: fire, fire stations, Fires, Videos • Tagged: , ,