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Fire / EMS – Related Reality TV Show In The Works

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PRESS RELEASE:  From R&M Video Productions (Hazy Management and Information Group for release on April 1, 2012):

The current rage on a number of the lesser known TV channels these days is "make over" or "business rescue" shows, where an expert is brought in to fix a formerly successful business that an inattentive or uncaring manager/owner has driven into the ground. We've seen the success stories of numerous bars, pubs, restaurants and hair salons but now stand by for " Fire Station Salvation", a new show coming to The Weather Channel in the fall.

Fire Station Salvation will focus on efforts to save fire stations and even whole fire departments around the world that have run into significant issues that have impeded performance of their jobs. Manpower issues, Hitler-like leaders, ancient apparatus, morale killing over-the-top regulations, demanding and unreasonable union officers and ill informed elected leaders all play a part in this insightful and exciting new series.

A board of expert, nationally known retired Fire Chiefs have been quietly assembled to act as Fire Station Salvation's Chief Engineers, with one of the former Fire Chiefs to be appointed as "Acting Chief" in the target fire station for a complete fiscal quarter, with full authority to make changes within the problem department, within existing budgetary guidelines. The Acting Fire Chief will have 90 days to show that their changes and ideas have turned the department around or led it to ruin. Each show will also feature a discussion panel of the department's existing officers who will express their opinions on the changes as they happen. Mixed in with all of this will be the unscripted and often chaotic emergency calls where life and limb are constantly at risk! Each episode will feature 3 different fire stations in rotation through the course of the 60 minute show but the show will re-visit fire stations at different times to update viewers on the Acting Fire Chief’s progress during his/her 90 days of change.

This Firehouse Needs Salvation!

The Fire Chiefs who have agreed to sit on our Board of Engineers will compete against each other for points that will determine who the winner is at the end of the season. The winner will get a much deserved vacation while the losers will have the option to return next season to compete again in a new, problem fire station.

While many of these "reality" shows use scripted conflict to generate fireworks between the cast members, Fire Station Salvation will rely on the personality conflicts between these tight-knit Fire and Rescue co-workers who seem to be constantly at odds with each other, their supervisors and the people they are supposed to protect.

Still unclear on the concept? Think of it as "Cops" meets "Rescue Me" with a little "Super Nanny" and "Wife Swap" thrown in!

Fire Station Salvation, a Rowan & Martin Production.

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Posted by on April 1, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, fun

High Angle Rescue in Scotland

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Parade Day Casualty

THE ANNUAL HAGGIS DAY PARADE was held in Nuttstatterkirk, Scotland, Saturday.  It's an event that brings in large crowds from around the region with much innovative attention given to getting choice viewing positions along the parade route.

But following the parade, as the visitors started drifting away one lady was left stranded on her perch where she had climbed to watch the event.  Calinda Stockingham, 36, had secured herself to her looking post but was unable to free herself to get down and join her friends at the Mr. Hyde pub for afternoon haggis.

The Cheswick Fire Brigade's special high-angle rescue unit was special-called to the scene where they found Miss Stockingham still stuck on her perch on a lamp post. Crew Commander Hamish Lochadue told the press, "When we arrived the gurl was still on her mobile talking to the 999 operator who was trying to keep her calm. But we dinna' waste no time, bringing out the 8-ft attic ladder and sending Tech. Brigan Dagourse oop wit' the seat-belt cutter and he had the lass free in less than 15 minutes. All's well that ended well with Stockinham safe and nae injuries to any of the fire laddies." added Lochadue.

Special Rescue Unit #1

Parade watcher Angus MacPladd told the Glasgow Shebeen, "Aye, the bonnie lass hae' goon the same thing every year… wi sae results.  They'll be back again!"

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Posted by on April 1, 2012 • Filed under: rescue, Rescues

Ocean Rescue Underway for Injured Sailboat Racers

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Storm Wave Batters Boat

A 68-ft. RACING YACHT WITH A CREW OF 18 IS CRIPPLED 400 miles off the California coast after a storm sent a destructive wave onto the craft.  The crash swept away the steering wheel, mounts, and some of the communications equipment.  It also left four crew members injured and in need of hospitalization.

The Geraldton Western Australia is one of ten boats that are competing in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race which is held every two years.  After a delay due to the bad weather, the U. S. Coast Guard is now under way with a rescue mission.  The cutter Bertholf has been diverted to the rescue and is steaming toward the limping boat.  The crew is using a secondary steering system to direct them to San Francisco, a 3-4 day journey in the circumstances.

The Geraldton Western Australia before Saturday.  (PA)

The UK Telegraph reports:

Race organisers Clipper Ventures said the injured crew include Jane Hitchens, a 50-year-old doctor from Kent, who has four suspected broken ribs, and Mark Burkes, 37, from Worcestershire, who has suffered a back injury.

The others were named as Nik Brbora, a 28-year-old software engineer living in London, who has possible pelvic sprain, and 62-year-old Max Wilson, from Queensland, Australia, who has two suspected cracked or broken ribs.

The rest of the 18-strong crew are said to be uninjured but shaken by the incident and those who are medically-trained have treated the four injured crew members.

US coast guard spokesman Levi Read said: "The coast guard rescue co-ordination centre diverted the coast guard cutter Bertholf, and that cutter is making its way towards the vessel.

"The coast guard also launched a long-range helicopter to rendezvous with the Bertholf. Once it's in range the helicopter will be able to take off from the ship and fly to the vessel. They will then lower an emergency medical technician from the helicopter on to the boat. He will assess the injuries, treat them and if necessary evacuate the injured people and take them aboard the helicopter to the nearest medical resource."

The yacht was on the latest leg of the round-the-world race, sailing from Qingdao, China to San Francisco. The next leg should take race participants to New York, via the Panama Canal, the Coast Guard told the press.

Sail World has more details HERE.
Clipper Round-the-World WEBSITE.

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Posted by on April 1, 2012 • Filed under: rescue, Rescues • Tagged: , , ,

Five numbers with no Powerball = mad money. Mike plans a hot rod four door Mustang.

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161 ticket holders won $250,000 each

Nine people who bought tickets in Virginia and Maryland were a PowerBall short of the jackpot, but got enough of a prize to have serious fun.

I am planning to be one of the first owners of a four-door Mustang GT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c) Theophilus Chin / Chris Doane Automotive photo

Then have Kenny Brown Performance install a Class III package.

No buyer's remorse this time!

I was seriously considering buying a Kenny Brown Panther, a supercharged supercar that looked like an unmarked Crown Vic police cruiser. Inspired by the 1998 Car and Driver "Lounge Lizard" project car. (article HERE)

In a 2003 follow-up article by Larry Niven, Kenny Brown Marauder S: Ford lobs one into the aftermarket, and Kenny Brown hits it outta the park, we get a feel for the impact of the Lounge Lizard project car:

It's fitting that Brown is the orchestrator of this Marauder transformation. He was the original sculptor of the Lounge Lizard C/D project car (November 1998), a supercharged, blacked-out version of the Crown Victoria (Ford's version of the Mercury Grand Marquis) that we believe was the forerunner to the Marauder.

Since we published the Lounge Lizard story, Brown has built 35 similar cars …

For the Lizard and its SOHC 16-valve V-8 engine, Brown used a Roots-type supercharger that is sold by Ford—through Ford Racing—and sits in the vee of the engine.

Spent the Monday of 2003 FDIC week at the Indianapolis shop trying out their "work car."

It was almost a religious experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Went back that summer to check out a customer car that was similar to what I wanted. 

Met with an Indianapolis Ford dealer to order the proper base vehicle, a 2004 LX in Dark Toreador Red Clearcoat Metallic with a Medium Parchment interior.

Got cold feet – over $50,000 for a car.

Ten years and a lottery ticket later …

The four-door Mustang GT with a Kenny Brown Class III package is the closest I can get to recreating that experience.

thanks to Nick Kurczewicki at Road & Track online for the scoop on the new Mustang:

2014 Ford Mustang Sedan – First Look. New 4-door Mustang sedan may also be available as a Boss 302.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update – the four door Mustang may carry the "Falcon" name plate

Posted by on April 1, 2012 • Filed under: cars, Technology & Communications • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Moving to the New Station

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Firegeezer notes:  As you know, we have loyal readers all around the world including our cousins in public safety, police officers.  One of those is Police Prefect Captain Choong Li-Kari in Whung Lo Province of China.  He sent us this friendly email and I am more than happy to pass it along for your enlightenment.

The Whung Lo police recently moved from an old and cramped building into a new station and their moving day was documented on a video that Captain Li-Kari has shared with us.  Since we also have the occasional relocation activity, this video may prove helpful in your plans if the need ever arises.  So learn and enjoy.

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Most Honorable Firegeezerman,

I wish you this information of our recent day of moving. Our station of police is very old building and needs new one.

I am happy to explain to you that our new lovely police station is ready for us and yesterday was memorable moving day.

Our esteemed chief of police sent order at 08.00 to take everything from desks and prepare be to move everything to new station at 09.00.

Proud we are to say that all was ready at 08.49 and at precisely 09.00 we move with official video camera taking picture. I like to share this great job with you.  It begin with motorcycle escort and champion S.W.A.T. team buses.

 

 

 

Most sincerely and affectionately,
Prefect Captain Choong Li-Kari

Congratulations to you, Captain.
Thanks to Mark D. for the video prep.

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Posted by on April 1, 2012 • Filed under: culture, current events, News, Videos • Tagged:

Albuqueque Firefighters Miss Mega-Millions by a Digit, Settle for 10 Grand.

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"Who Said Make it a Five?"

FIVE ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, FIREFIGHTERS from Station 8 had a heart-stopping moment Friday night when their jointly-held Mega-Millions lottery ticket missed the big payoff by one digit.  If they had selected a "4" instead of the "5" on their choice, they would have been home with the grand prize.

Their shift leader, Capt. Jed Hyland says that their decision to buy a ticket was made just ten minutes before the cutoff time for sales.

Their "firefighter close call" wasn't a complete miss, though.  They will be picking up a $10,000 check to split and will be donating part of their winnings to a welfare fund they have set up for an AFD firefighter who is battling a voracious brain tumor that needs immediate surgery.

KOB-TV has this nice video report on their 15 minutes of fame:

 

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Posted by on April 1, 2012 • Filed under: current events, News, Videos • Tagged: ,

Six Teens Die in Nightclub Fire in Serbia

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Panic Rush to the Exit

A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE STAGE AREA of a nightclub in the northern Sebian city of Novi Sad early Sunday morning.

Tanjug photo

The fire that started around 2 am local time in the Contrast Disco triggered a panic among the 350 young people in attendence who charged to the main entrance.

Six teens, three boys and three girls ages 17 and 18, were trapped in the bathroom area and perished.  A police spokesman said that they probably died from suffocation.  Serbian Police Director Milorad Veljović came to the scene on Sunday morning and said that the preliminary investigation showed that the fire was caused by faulty wiring. 

Police forensics team removes one of the victims
from the Contrast Disco.  (Reuters)

Already 50 people have been detained, including the nightclub's owner, and are being questioned.

BEC-TV has posted an early video report:

 

So far, no further confirmed information has been released.

Dnevnik

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Posted by on April 1, 2012 • Filed under: fire, Fires, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

Morning Lineup – April 1

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Sunday Morning – Checking the Scores

Since we're heading into the last week of the National Hockey League season, this is a good time to take a look at the standings and see how the competition for the playoff seedings are looking.  Just about all of the teams have either 3 or 4 games left to play (a couple have just 2), but who gets to advance to the playoffs and who will be hitting the golf course instead is far from fixed yet.  This year like every other will see a dramatic scramble right up to the last games of the season before we know who's in and who's out for sure.

The Western Conference has six teams vying for the last 2 of the 8 playoff slots, including the #3 seed that will go to the winner of the Pacific division.  In the Eastern Conference it's not much better with four teams scrambling for the last 2 slots plus Florida's tenuous lead over the Southeastern division which brings an automatic top-3 seeding.  Mathematically Florida which is #3 today could be out of the playoffs completely by the end of the week.  They are being chased down by Washington who are making a desperation bid for the division title as well as barely hanging on to the final seed at #8.  Also it is notable that NOBODY in the East has clinched first-place in their respective divisions yet.

X = clinched playoff spot
Y = clinched division title

Buffalo lost last night to put themselves in a shaky position, but New Jersey's big win over Carolina clinched their entry into the playoffs.  The NY Rangers appear to have a commanding lead for the #1 spot with a 5-point lead over division rival Pittsburgh and just 8 points left in play.  The teams to watch in the East then are Florida, Washington, Ottawa and Buffalo.  The big matchup comes Thursday night when Washington and Florida play each other in Washington.

Over in the West there is even more uncertainty except for the Chicago fans who saw their team clinch a spot last night.  Before last night Dallas was in 8th place and San Jose was #9, but they played each other in a showdown last night with the Sharks shutting out Dallas 3-0.  So we have a new order, but it's far from set.  You can see on the chart that there are five teams within three points of each other for the last two slots – including Los Angeles up in the automatic seed for leading their division.  But they are effectively tied with Phoenix and San Jose for that 3rd seeding.  Calgary still has a numerical opportunity to get in, but they are on a skid having won only 2 of their last 10 games.  That's got to be a crusher for their fans.

The real pressure will be on San Jose and Los Angeles who will be playing each other TWICE more this week, on Thursday and on the final day of the season, Saturday.  That Saturday game is scheduled to be nationally televised in Canada, so stock up on your Molson's and plan on staying up late for the 7:30 pm Pacific game.

Now let's check our own schedule with this morning's equipment check.  I definitely need to get some more coffee started.  See you back in the day room in a little while.

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Posted by on April 1, 2012 • Filed under: morning lineup • Tagged: