Unwitnessed Arrest Delayed Treatment

BRUCE TURCOTTE, 58, FIREFIGHTER AND FORMER CHIEF of the Hopelawn, New Jersey, Volunteer Fire Department passed away Thursday on the scene of a fatal house fire in Woodbridge.  It was later determined that he had a heart attack while operating a pumper and died at the scene.

Star-Ledger file photo

The citizen who found him related her story to the Woodbridge Patch:

She parked her car a distance away, and saw firefighters scurrying to and fro, aiming fire hoses at the thick black clouds of smoke that obliterated the house from view.

That was when Sweeney passed one of the fire engines that, she thought, for a moment had a mannequin in the driver's seat. "That's strange. It's not real. The color is so odd," she thought for a moment.

"I almost wanted to touch him to see if he was real," she said, but in a second that thought fled as she worked her way to some of the firemen whose sole attention was on battling the blaze in front of them.

Sweeney pointed to the engine, hidden behind an ambulance whose EMS workers were treating some firefighters overcome by the smoke. "There's a man in there. He looks unconscious," she said.

The firemen looked at one another and in seconds, they had located Turcotte, dragged his body from the cab of the fire engine, and were furiously working to revive him.

Sweeney stepped back and watched in horror.

"They didn't know [that he was injured.] You couldn't see him from where they were fighting the fire. The ambulance blocked it. You had to be where I was," she said.

Star-Ledger

During the fire a body was discovered in the basement.  Neighbors identified him as the former resident who had been evicted in November by a foreclosure notice.  They believe he had been surreptitiously living in the house since then.

The Star-Ledger has more details HERE.
The Woodbridge Patch has MORE.

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Responding to Firehouse

A PAID-ON-CALL FIREFIGHTER IN UPAHL, Germany, died early Satuday morning from a vehicle collision while responding to his firehouse.  The alarm was dispatched at 2:30 am for a monitored alarm in a coffee roasting firm in an industrial park.

The firefighter who has not yet been publicly identified, was traveling in his personal car en route to the fire station when he met head-on with the fire engine that was responding to the alarm.

Feurwehr News

The crash killed the firefighter who was dead before he was extricated by another fire company.  Two firefighters in the firetruck were injured and had to be transported.

photo:  Ostsee-Zeitung / KES

There is no further information yet, but this report will be updated later when more is learned.

Update:  It has been disclosed that the victim was 27 yrs. old.

Feuerwehr News has the early REPORT.

Thanks to Christian Lewalter of FWNetz

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Vehicle Accident Inside Firehouse

Updated:  Photos from Wednesday funeral added.  Scroll down.

A PAID-ON-CALL FIREFIGHTER IN CUGLIERI, Italy, suffered fatal injuries in his firehouse Sunday.  Luca Pinna, 38, was getting ready to perform some routine maintenance on one of the station's three engines when the truck suddenly began rolling and crushed him against the wall.  Pinna was quickly freed by his colleaues and transported by helicopter to the hospital, but the injuries were too severe and he died soon after.

FF Pinna is transferred from an ambulance
to the waiting helicopter.  (La Nuova photo)

Pinna was married and the father of a 3-yr.-old child.  The investigation has begun seeking the reason for the truck's unplanned movement.

La Nuova has the STORY.

Update:  FF Pinna's funeral was held on Wednesday.  These photos are from L'Unione Sarda:

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Collapsed at the Pump Panel

DAVID CRENSHAW, A LONG-TIME VOLUNTEER firefighter and former fire chief died suddenly Monday morning at the scene of an auto wreck in Anderson County, South Carolina.

Crenshaw had driven a Pendleton Fire Department engine to the crash scene at 6:30 am Eastern and was found collapsed at the pump panel, apparently unwitnessed.  He was transported already in cardiac arrest and pronounced dead at the hospital.  The coroner stated that initial findings indicate a probable heart attack.

Mourning members immediately began gathering at the firehouse.  (WYFF-TV photo)

He had been a member of the PFD for 50+ years and served as their fire chief for 21 of them.  He was a retired deputy sheriff who also served one term as County Sheriff from 2004 to 2008.  He had just recently been elected to the Pendleton Town Council. 

WYFF-TV has the early REPORT.
The Anderson Independent Mail has MORE.

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During Training Exercise

A POMPANO BEACH, FLORIDA, FIREFIGHTER died Friday afternoon after falling from an aerial ladder during a training exercise.

Channel 10 News photo

William Elliott, 50, was at the top of the fully-extended ladder, about 90 ft. above the ground, when he inexplicably fell off and plunged to the ground dying instantly.  The fire company was holding an afternoon drill with the aerial and a second firefighter who was midway up the ladder witnessed Elliott's fall.  Firefighter Elliott had been on the job since 1989.

The Broward County Sheriff department is conducting the investigation of the accident.

WSVN-TV posted this video report from the scene:

The Sun Sentinel has the full story and more details HERE.

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Wildfire Runover

A CREW OF TEN WILDFIRE FF's WERE overun at a fire Thursday  that is believed to be purposely set.  Of the ten, six perished as they all huddled together after being surrounded.  The London Telegraph explains:

The 10 firefighters, private contractors for forestry company Mininco, were trapped by a blaze raging in a mountainside forest in the Araucania region. A helicopter succeeded in pulling the four injured to safety.

"The fire suddenly surrounded them because of the wind, they drew closer together, one against another, and saw the fire pass above them," local governor Miguel Mellado told Canal 13 television.

For more than a week firefighting teams have been tackling a series of blazes in Araucania and the neighbouring Biobio region, rural areas located some 500 to 700 kilometres (310-435 miles) south of the Chilean capital Santiago.

"We have reliable information that makes us presume there is criminal intent behind these fires," President Pinera said. "I believe that we ought to combat not only the fires, but also the criminals behind the fires." The president, who pledged his government would do everything possible to find those responsible, evoked anti-terror laws that could allow for tougher punishments.

Rescue crews remove two of the victims.  (Andrade / Reuters photo)

So far, nearly 50 fires have started in the woodlands along the Pacific coast, fueled by unusually dry conditions during a drought and whipped up by El Nino winds.

Firefighter Nation has MORE.

The Telegraph has also posted some raw video from the fire line:

BBC News image

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Small Farming Community

Updated:  Photo and additional information posted.

A POST-FIRE EXPLOSION RIPPED THROUGH an industrial building in Enderby, British Columbia, Thursday morning killing a volunteer firefighter and injuring another one.  The victim has been identified by the B.C. coroner as 29-year-old Daniel Botkin, one of 24 paid-on-call members of the Enderby and District Fire Department.  The Vancouver Sun reports:

At around 4 a.m. this morning, firefighters were called to Sperlich Log Construction — a log home building business on the north edge of the small community, situated about 30 kilometres north of Vernon.

Botkin was killed when an explosion ripped through a burning shed near where the original fire erupted in a building that was under construction, according to RCMP.

A recent photo of Daniel Botkin and his bride.

Up until the explosion, "everyone felt they had [the fire] pretty well under control,” said Vernon RCMP spokesman Gord Molendyk. He said police were on hand to deal with traffic in the area while firefighters fought the blaze, but “firefighters told [police] officers they could leave."

The blast blew the roof and walls off of the building.  CBC News photo.

The explosion occurred a little more than an hour after arrival and when the fire was knocked down.  The second victim was treated for his injuries on the scene and was not transported according to one report.  treated for non-life threatening injuries and transported to a local hospital in stable condition.

Investigation is just beginning into the cause of the initial fire and what brought on the subsequent explosion.

Update:  The Canadian Press is reporting:

Posts on social media websites say Mr. Botkin was married just two months ago and had recently been elected to the position of captain and training officer with the local volunteer fire department

"(He was) pretty well respected in the community," said Mr. Botkin's cousin, Glenn Botkin, who lives in Oliver, B.C. "He had just gotten a promotion in there. He was a very hard-working, clean-cut kid."

Dan Botkin was married in October, said his cousin.

 The Globe & Mail adds:

At the Enderby fire hall, a firefighter who identified himself as Shane was shaken by Mr. Botkin’s death. "He was a really good guy," the firefighter said in a phone interview.

Mr. Botkin had been volunteering with the Enderby Fire Department for around five years and had plans to go "up North" to pursue work as a firefighter, Shane said. While volunteering, Mr. Botkin had also worked at a number of local businesses in recent years, he added.

The Vancouver Sun has this REPORT.
Enderby and District Fire Department WEBPAGE.

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Truck Crash While Responding

A NIPISSING TOWNSHIP (Ontario) VFD FIREFIGHTER died Wednesday morning when the fire engine he was driving went off the road and rolled over, trapping him in the wreckage.

Firefighter Paul Nelson, 21, of Callander was the only passenger in the truck that was responding to a working house fire.  Ontario police say that the road conditions at the time were icy and covered with snow slush.

The North Bay Nugget reports:

Nipissing Township Mayor Pat Haufe said the 21-year-old joined the fire department little more than a year ago. He said Nelson was eager to get involved and was a member of the community's fire committee.

Haufe said the township's thoughts and prayers are with Nelson's family. He said the tragedy has had a devastating and shocking impact on the entire community, particularly Nelson's fellow firefighters.

Nelson, who was alone in the pumper truck, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, about 35 kilometres west of Powassan. A portion of the highway was closed for most of the day.

The investigation into the cause of him leaving the roadway is still ongoing.  The structure fire that had four FD's on the scene was a vacant house.

Hat tip:  Mark D.

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Released Wednesday Morning

THE NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION released their anticipated video to the public this morning.  It was produced in cooperation with the Chicago Fire Department and was embargoed for two weeks until all the personnel at the Chicago Fire Department and the families of their fallen members had the opportunity to view it first.  After watching it you will understand why.

It is being released with the hope that many of you will encourage your local politicians and civic leaders to also take the 38 minutes needed to view it.  It carries a lot of impact and is a remarkable report.

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Helicopter Rescue Goes Awry

AN AUSTRALIAN PARAMEDIC WAS KILLED ON CHRISTMAS EVE during a rescue attempt of two "canyoners" who were trapped at the foot of a cataract in New South Wales.  Michael "Mick" Wilson, 41, was lowered on a helicopter cable to the stricken hikers and had successfully lifted one of them into the helicopter.  He had been lowered back down for the second victim and had him attached to his person as the helicopter began winching them up.  For a reason not yet known, the pair were slammed against the canyon wall just as the ascension began.  The pilot immediately lowered them the few feet back to ground and cut the cable.  Wilson was fatally injured in the incident.

Several additional helicopter rescue teams were then dispatched to the scene and four more rescuers were ready to go down to retrieve the victims, but the weather was too treacherous to immediately bring them back up.  Paramedic Wilson and the surviving victim had to be left together on the ledge overnight until daylight and better weather conditions returned.  Wilson died during the time they were waiting.

At 7am Christmas morning the rescuers were able to bring the two victims back to the ground above.

Rescuers prepare the body of their colleague to be lifted up
to the helicopter.  (Ten News image)

Mr. Wilson was a member of the highly-skilled Special Casualty Access Team and had received many commendations for his heroic rescues.

The Daily Telegraph reported:

An experienced paramedic of more than 15 years, his death has rocked the NSW Ambulance Service and left his wife of 16 years Kellie and their children Eliza, 14, Grace 12, and Hugo, 5, facing a life without him.

"We are so proud to have loved him and to have been loved by him," Mrs Wilson said outside the home the family shared. There are many people out there that owe their lives to my beautiful husband.

"His death has left an immeasurable void. He would come home from work and tell me the stories of his day and as a family we would gather around and listen to the extraordinary things he had done.

"Michael was an amazing clinician and he saved countless, countless lives. They take their work very seriously and they work very hard to mitigate risk but I was also aware that Michael did what he did because he truly wanted to help others."

According to The Australian,

It is the first time in 30 years a NSW paramedic has been killed on duty. A team of investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been set up, but indications are the probe could take up to 12 months to complete.

The team will interview the helicopter crew, retrieve flight data, inspect the helicopter and gather operational and training records from the operator.  Police will also interview the two canyoners.

Ten News prepared this video report that includes footage of the final rescue:

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