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Morning Lineup – May 21

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Tuesday Morning – Horrible, Simply Horrible

This young week has been a terrible one so far for the emergency crews in the Southwest.  On Saturday a young, just-married, firefighter in Phoenix lost his life in a freak accident on the fireground, just a few hours after a city police officer was also killed in the line of duty.

Then comes yesterday's tragic death of a Dallas firefighter, and experienced man with more than 20 years on the job, who was caught in the collapse of a burning apartment building.  Still more tragedy landed on the region when that monster tornado swept through Oklahoma yesterday afternoon.

AP / Ogrocki

That one was just indescribable in its size and fury with a funnel cloud that was at least a mile in diameter when it touched down.  We can see the pictures, but there is no way we can get a sense of the terror that those people felt as it roared through their communities.  No way.  Just as amazing is the relatively low death count (so far) for such a destructive force, but everybody is giving credit to and praising the modern, early warning system that is set up in Oklahoma now.  Computer models coupled with advance radar technology are projecting highly accurate predictions of when,, where, and what size the twisters will be and where they are most likely to be traveling through.  God bless their souls.

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We have another kind of technology update for you this morning.  There has been an apparent breakthrough on the cellphone recharging stage.  I'm referring to the built-in battery packs installed in the phones.  An 18-yr.-old high school senior from Saratoga, California (San Jose area), has won a major prize for inventing a device that will recharge your cellphone in 20 to 30 seconds.  PC Magazine tells us:

California native Eesha Khare won a $50,000 scholarship for inventing a supercapacitor that can charge a cell phone in about 20 seconds.

The Harvard-bound teenager last week received one of two Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards for her work with energy-efficient storage devices. Khare developed a small device that fits inside cell phone batteries, allowing them to charge in 20 to 30 seconds. It also has the potential to work on car batteries.

Her invention, which weighs in just over an inch long, according to CNN, pushed Khare to the top of the class, helping her beat about 1,600 young scientists who competed in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

KPIX

She's already reportedly being courted by Google and other Silicon Valley giants to come to work for them, but she plans to pursue her college degree at Harvard University first.  When asked what led her into researching this line of power storage, she simply said "My cellphone battery was constantly going dead."

As simple as that.

Now let's keep it simple here and get this equipment checked out.  I'll get the techno-simple Bunn-O-Matic going before we meet back in the day room shortly.

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Posted by on May 21, 2013 • Filed under: current events, Fire Rescue Topics, Major Incidents, morning lineup, technology

Morning Lineup – May 20

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Monday Morning – Never Had One of These

You can file this one under the "Just when you think you've seen it all" file.  Of course, you all know that nobody's come close to seeing it all, but this one is more like a never-even-heard-of call.  It's now known as The Shiny Dog Bowl Fire.

KPIX-TV

KPIX-TV  in San Francisco reported this story from nearby Santa Rosa:

 

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Somehow I missed the memo about a new type of home smoke detector that is powered by a permanent battery.  Have you heard about this?  I learned about it from a press release that was sent out by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation late last week and I copy it here:

Your relationship with your smoke alarm is changing and there’s important information everyone needs to know. Maryland is the most recent state to require that battery-only operated smoke alarms be equipped with sealed-in, 10-year lithium batteries. The new law takes effect on July 1, 2013.

Maryland’s new law is part of a nation-wide trend to ensure new and replacement smoke alarms have this new technology. It is anticipated that smoke alarms with long-life batteries will have a significant impact on reducing the number of residential fire fatalities, which stands at approximately 2,600 people annually.

Currently, two-thirds of all home fire deaths occur in residences with no smoke alarm or no working smoke alarm, primarily due to dead or missing batteries, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Smoke alarms with sealed-in 10-year batteries are tamperproof and eliminate the need to replace the battery – something many homeowners fail to do.

The Kidde 0910 Model

Recognizing the difference it can make, one Maryland fire department is providing the new smoke alarms to its entire community. Capitol Heights Fire Station 805 of the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department is using a federal grant to install 10-year smoke alarms to all residents within their primary response area. Firefighters from the station will begin visiting homes within the area on May 20, 2013 to install the alarms.

"This unique effort by the firefighters in Capitol Heights will help keep the community and our firefighters safe," said Chief Ron Siarnicki, executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. "Through the Foundation’s Be A Hero, Save A Hero℠ program we work with fire departments and our partners to educate the public about fire prevention and fire safety. Fewer firefighters need to be in harm’s way when residents have already evacuated a burning home."

The NFFF and Kidde have partnered through the Be A Hero, Save A Hero℠ program to provide 10-year smoke alarms to other communities and to educate consumers about the alarms. To learn more and to take the Be A Hero, Save A Hero℠ pledge, go to www.alarmpledge.com. Similarly, The United States Fire Administration encourages the public to become more active in fire prevention and safety through its "Fire is Everyone's Fight™" program.

Kidde Fire Safety (Kidde) is the leading manufacturer of residential fire safety products, including the 10-year sealed lithium battery operated smoke alarm. "Alarms with sealed-in long-life batteries are always on, ready to provide warning in the event of a fire," said Neal Zipser, community affairs manager of Kidde. "On average, you only have three minutes to escape a fire, so these alarms offer families the chance to escape quickly and safely. By being able to escape, the risks firefighters face will also be reduced as they will work on controlling the fire rather than extracting residents."

I'm wondering how long it will take the Darwin Award Candidates to figure out how to get inside the thing before they find out that this new battery won't power their X-Box.  I do know that I need to get to the DIY store and check into these things.  I like the idea… ten years.  That's longer than the current normal lifespan for a home detector anyway.

Depending on where you buy them, the price ranges between $18 and $20.  That's a bargain when you factor in the replacement costs of new batteries every year.  In fact, that makes them almost free.  I like free!

We'd better get started on the equipment check now before our own current starts to trickle down.  I'll recharge the Bunn-O-Matic before we get back to the day room in a little while.

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Posted by on May 20, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup, Videos

Morning Lineup – May 19

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Sunday Morning – Where Can I Rent One of These?

Besides all of them starting with the letter "P", what do these words have in common?

  • Party
  • Picnic
  • Pub
  • Pedaling

That last one narrows down choices considerably.  But I just recently learned about a new plaything that is sprouting up on some city streets around the country called a quadracycle.  It is a vehicle that is powered by a squad of humans sitting around the sides working sets of bicycle pedals in unison to propel themselves forward through traffic.

The concept has been around for a long time, but never really become widely used except in some SE Asian countries where biking is the only affordable means of transportation.  But it has recently been taken a step further and just might create its own niche in today's goodtimes culture.  And that brings in the "pub" portion of the equation.

In close to two dozen cities now there are rental outfits where you can rent an outsized version that is designed to accomodate a party where you can go wherever and consume your food and beverage of choice.

Capitol Pedaler

One of these is Capitol Pedaler in Madison, Wisconsin, where you can rent a 14-seater in which everyone sits around a bar and chats while they pedal to the picnic grounds (or tailgate party lot).  In an interview with USA Today, the owners of the Madison business explained how their fuzzy fit into vehicle definitions is playing out:

"(Madison officials) didn't know what we were," said Linda Besser, one of two retired police officers who started the Capitol Pedaler in 2011. Today Besser said her bike is currently licensed as a taxicab and is permitted as a pedicab (a bicycle rickshaw), even though she said her bike is technically neither.

The bikes vary a bit in design but generally look a little like an old-fashioned trolley or train car. There's no engine, just the legs of the passengers, who sit around a bar, facing each other. As many as 16 people can fit on the bikes and groups rent them for bachelor parties, birthdays and corporate events.

In cities around the country, the bikes slowly prowl entertainment districts, making pit stops at bars and in some cases, allowing clients to imbibe. Pedal pub operators say laws and regulations vary by state.

USA Today

"It's a patchwork," said Eric Olson, managing Partner with PedalPub, a company that is a distributor of the bikes and has done tours in Minneapolis for about four years. Alcohol on the bikes there is allowed.

Read the entire article HERE.

Generally speaking, as long as the "operator," the person steering and braking the vehicle, is licensed and sober, then there is no problem with the partying.  It's the places with open container laws, etc., that confine the usage while on the streets.  Anyway, it all looks like a hoot to me.  Let's get one!  Would it need its own daily check sheet?

Speaking of those, we'd better get started on equipment check.  We'll plan our next picnic when we get back in the day room.  I'll make sure the coffee's ready.

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Posted by on May 19, 2013 • Filed under: culture, fun, morning lineup • Tagged:

Morning Lineup – May 18

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Saturday Morning - Who's Watching Out For You?

It's good to have a friend on the city council who also knows what he's talking about.  Apparently that's the case in Syracuse, New York, where the Common Council was considering "saving money" by cutting back on fire department services, closing a station, and laying off firefighters from an already-understaffed department.

Taking the stage during the Council's May 8 public meeting was Councilor-at-Large who also was formerly a Syracuse Fire Department Deputy Chief before he retired 9 years ago.  During the evening's considerations he addressed the council with some prepared remarks that were later published in the local newspaper.  I present here a few of them (somewhat taken out of context) where you can get the gist of what he said:

Lance Denno
(Post-Standard photo)

As a former chief officer of the department, I am familiar with the operational issues, and as a sitting councilor I am equally familiar with our financial situation. As the only elected official in Syracuse with this combination of experience and expertise, I offer these comments to promote the public dialogue.

(part of the budget proposed by the mayor is to close one more fire station and eliminate FD response to medical calls…..ed.)

The plan to combine the two busiest engine companies in the city, by closing the companies on East Fayette Street and on West Street, and opening one on State Street, will save the city operational costs by having fewer firefighters on duty and capital costs by closing a building in need of repair.

The plan will also result in a substantial reduction in fire department responses, according to the chief. Five thousand calls to 911 that are currently responded to will not receive a fire department response under this plan.

This will result in significant delays in response to those calls, as there are not enough ambulance crews available to provide the level of service now provided by the fire department. At times, ambulance crews will have to respond from outside Syracuse.

In some cases this delayed response will not impair public safety, but in others it will. When people call 911 it is often very difficult for the call takers to know exactly what the emergency is and exactly what level of response is necessary. They may know that the patient fell, but not that he had a stroke.

Not only do I believe that public safety will be impaired by these cuts, I also believe that firefighter safety will be impaired. When my partner and I were buried under a mountain of bricks in a 1995 building collapse, our rescue was accomplished quickly because 12 firefighters were already on the scene and available for the mayday response. Additional companies that were called from other parts of the city would arrive in a matter of minutes, but were not immediately available. Since that accident, the fire department's on-duty strength has already been cut from 79 to 69. Under the proposed plan, it would be further cut to 65. Where are my rescuers now?

After laying out the potential risks to the city, Councilor Denno went on to list several viable alternatives that would provide the funding needed to maintain the current level of service without raising taxes (which is too many politicians' knee-jerk reaction).  He concluded his remarks saying:

Cutting the fire service will reduce public safety and critically impair firefighter safety. It is not a necessity, it is a choice; a dangerous choice. I hope that Mayor Miner will reconsider her decision and work with the council to craft a safer alternative for our community and our firefighters.

Later in the meeting the Common Council voted unanimously to restore the funding for the fire department.

Read the entire article HERE.
Syracuse Fire Department WEBSITE.
  Thanks to Mark D.

Now we'll restore the program to check out our equipment every day and get started with that.  I'll see that the Bunn-O-Matic is full of fresh java when we meet back in the day room.

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Posted by on May 18, 2013 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, morning lineup • Tagged: , ,

Morning Lineup – May 17

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Friday Morning – Who's Following Us Now?

It's been a while since we've reviewed our more curious Twitter followers, so let's do that this morning.  As you might expect, we have a lot of Twitterers who sign up to follow our Tweets and hardly a day goes by that one or two more don't get on board.

Almost all of them are folks who are associated with the fire or ems business in some way or another, sometimes they are active firefighters and sometimes it's a business that sells thngs to fire or ems agencies.  But every now and then we get someone who is so far away from the topic that it's comical.

You see, there are these "social media experts" who advise businesses (for a fee, of course) on how best to utilize sites like Twitter to enhance their sales and they have these little programs that seize on key words.   Then they automatically generate a Twitter-follow action and the expert can point out all the "valuable" connections he has gathered for the business.  Our favorite was a Chamber of Commerce in a smaller city that automatically signed us up with everybody including a custom closet designer and a luxury car and yacht detailer.  We still haven't heard from the Tweetster who claims to "love the RedSox and heavy petting."  You can read a couple of our previous postings on this HERE and HERE.

Anyway, let's add some more to the lists:

  • True Happiness Designs is handmade silver jewelry created by (*******)
  • Knowledge Always Reigns Supreme–Listen, Learn, Live
  • News and updates from the Claim Adjustment Specialists Subrogation Department
  • Family owned and operated for over 40 years! Highest QUALITY sales & service for high pressure air systems.
  • I'm an eclectic individual.
  • Ford First is an online owners club for all classic & modern Ford Car and Truck owners. Registry, Forums, Library, Event Calendar and more!
  • hi my name is (xxxx) i have a girlfriend 3 3 3 and i haveing a babys 3 3 3
  • Real People, Reel time dating. Talk live face to face over your mobile network or via wifi. It's the fastest newest way to meet that special somebody.
  • A very unique style of photo letter art that is catered to each person's preference. Check us out to create your own unique word.
  • Our core mission: To Build the Toughest Patrol Bikes on Earth! Each frame hand built in the USA, check us out.
  • Not so gracefully stumbling through the world since 1980.

Let's all go stumbling through the apparatus bay now and get this equipment checked out now.  I'm going to concentrate on getting more hand-made coffee ready for our next meeting back in the day room.  See you there (and on Twitter).

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Posted by on May 17, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup, Twitter • Tagged: ,

Morning Lineup – May 16

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Thursday Morning – Nice Paycheck You've Got There, Teach.

To paraphrase a popular proclamation that is usually associated with bacon or beer:  Ahh, smartphones!  Is there anything they can't do?

What brought this up was a brief article in the New York Times that begins:

By sticking a little $8 lens to an iPhone with a piece of double-sided tape, a Canadian doctor has produced a microscope that works reasonably well at diagnosing intestinal worms in children.

The invention, described recently in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, was tested in Tanzania on 200 stool samples from children who had a mix of hookworms, roundworms and giant roundworms.

I'm still drinking and enjoying my morning coffee, so I won't take time here to point out what all this doctor was doing with his stool samples.  But if you're curious about how he did it, just click on the link and check it out.  Pretty innovative.

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Over the past 30 years or so, it has been an annual sport for many newspapers to publish the names and salaries of the local governments' highest-paid employees.  In my area the police and fire officers – Lt. and higher – dominated the listing.  Overwhelmed would be a better word and it was funny in a way.  Also an unusual way to see your name in the paper.

Lately there have been several national publications that have been posting the outrageously high salaries and bonuses that university presidents are hauling in.  I think that theme was triggered by the recent concerns over escalating college tuitions coupled with the high unemployment rates of college graduates.

That leads to the question of just who, exactly, is the highest-paid public employee in your state?  Can you guess?  Hint:  In most cases it ain't the president of Podunk U.

An inquisitive blogger who publishes an off-beat site called Deadspin has made the effort to find out and has posted it all on his website in the form of a map where you can quickly locate your home state and learn the answer.

Reuben Fischer-Baum informs us,

Based on data drawn from media reports and state salary databases, the ranks of the highest-paid active public employees include 27 football coaches, 13 basketball coaches, one hockey coach, and 10 dorks who aren't even in charge of a team.

Good job, Reuben!  This is a great public service you've done.  CLICK HERE to view the entire map and read the full article.

After you've done a quick check for your hometown hero we'll get started on our equipment check for the day.  I'll get another pot running through the Bunn-O-Matic and see back in the day room.  You too, coach.

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CLICK HERE to learn more and to order yours today.

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Posted by on May 16, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup

Morning Lineup – May 15

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Wednesday Morning – What Was That Score Again?

Yesterday I was so concentrated on getting you the latest chemical scam alert that I neglected to post my planned NHL Playoffs Round 1 update.  Over the weekend and through Monday night all of the first-round series' were completed including three 7-game sets.  Those three were all remarkable and I want to note them.  Detroit eliminated Anaheim is what could be called a mild upset.  The Capitals – Rangers series had gone six games (2 of them overtime) of close contests and their final game was expected to be every bit as exciting.  But the Caps went completely stale and watched the Rangers clean up with a 5-0 win.

The real excitement was provided by the Boston – Toronto game where the Maple Leafs cruised out to a 4-1 lead with what looked like an upset working.  Instead the Bruins worked their way back to tie the game by scoring 3 goals in the 3rd period and then one more in overtime to win it all 5-4.  Two of their goals came in the final 1:22 of the period after they pulled the goalie for a sixth attacker.  Patrice Bergeron scored both the tying and the game-winning goals.  Some great drama here:

 

That set up the Conference Semi-Final matchups:

  • San Jose vs Los Angeles
  • Detroit vs Chicago
  • Ottawa vs Pittsburgh
  • NY Rangers vs Boston

They are all good pairings and you can pick any for some good action.  That said, last night the Penguins set the bar by pasting Ottawa Senators 4-1.  In the only other game played, LA blanked the Sharks 2-0.

Only one game tonight, the Red Wings visit Chicago at 7 pm Central.  Tomorrow we'll get to see the Rangers at Boston at 7:30 Eastern. Both should be good contests and they're on NBC Sports Network.

Next up here is the opening period of today where we get this equipment checked out.  I'll make sure the concession stand has a couple of fresh pots on the Bunn-O-Matic.

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Posted by on May 15, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup

Morning Lineup – May 14

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Tuesday Morning – New Chem Scam Alert!!

Do you remember the Water Wetter scam that was being played on some fire departments last year?  It was in April of 2012 when we started getting reports of a sleazeball outfit in New York (and Canada) that was delivering bogus "cleaning supplies" to fire departments and then billing them for it, often followed by belligerent threats.

Our first report came from a fire chief on the west coast who wanted to alert everyone to the practice, which we did.  Immediately we began hearing back from other FD's where the "Century Mfg. Co." had been trying their scam.

If you need a refresher on the con game, CLICK HERE to read one of our articles where we talk about it and have links to our earlier postings about the bunco.

I'm bringing this up this morning because one of the FD's that was instrumental in getting Century shut down in their state, North Little Rock has been approached again.  Either the guy has resurfaced with his mailing list, or he sold it to a fellow traveler who wants to try his luck (the most likely event).  Read this new alert from our friends:

I received a call today with phone #(870)5874127 on my caller id. A man name "Andre" said he was with Pine Valley and wanted our chief’s name. It was an in-state phone number and I thought it was another fire department calling. I gave the man "Chief Robert Mauldin". He then asked to talk to "Chief". When I asked him what his call was in reference to, he began to get belligerent and talk over me. I asked him again for the company name. It is Pine Valley Eco. I asked him if this was in reference to sales of a product. He again became very belligerent and said he will just call Robert on his own. Then he said that I needed to get used to him calling here….we are going to become good friends. I again asked what products he was selling. He said Robert called him 2 weeks ago and he was calling him back. When I continued to asked questions so that I could transfer him to the appropriate person…he hung up.

I called (870)587-4127 back to ask that they remove our phone number from their call list but the number is "not in service".
Pine Valley Eco Products is a chemical company out of Hollywood, Florida. The phone number on the website is (866)370-3134. However, the inbound call made to me was an Arkansas phone number.

I searched through their website too, and nowhere at all does Pine Valley Eco post any physical or geographical location of their office, warehouse, plant, etc.  The 866 phone exchange is a toll-free number that is unlisted, so there is no immediate way to find out where the phone line is actually located.  But there are ways to follow up on that and I'll be checking around some more.  There are a couple of big, red flags right there.  Just how likely is it that America’s Leading Industrial Chemical Supplies Store… keeps its store location hidden?

The Better Business Bureau lists their address as:  PO Box 841109, Pembroke Pines, FL 33084.  Your guess is as good as mine on how they managed to cram all those chemical supplies in that postoffice box.  The corporation has been registered in Florida since 2006 and has only one principal officer listed, Michael A. Sheehan, President.

They might be legit, we don't know yet.  In fact, we don't really know if this recent phone call originated with anybody who is truly connected with Pine Valley Eco.  It might have been an imposter.  But something sure smells.  Stay alert and be sure to let me know if you have/had any experience with them.

Well, here we go again.  Let's get together once more and start spreading the word.  The last time they were concentrating on mid-sized FD's that were just big enough to have separate billing and accounting departments that are separated from the day-to-day admins. and thus likely to blindly approve invoices that are not outrageously high.

Be sure to read those links that I gave you so that you're familiar with their M.O., then we'll get familiar with our daily check sheet and get the equipment ready for today.  I'll see you back in the day room after the fresh pot is ready.  And thanks, Capt. Tucker.

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Posted by on May 14, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup

Morning Lineup – May 13

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Monday Morning – "Thanks, Mom!"

Today is the day after Mothers' Day and it is a landmark date for a not-so-joyful reason.  I don't know exactly how to best phrase this, but I'll give it a try.  AshleyMadison.com, the world's leading "cheat on your spouse" dating website, (The most famous name in infidelity and married dating. Our Married Dating Services for Married individuals Work. Have an Affair today on Ashley Madison. Thousands of cheating wives and cheating husbands signup everyday looking for an affair. Married Dating has never been easier.), issued a press release last week saying that they typically see the highest spike in female signups on the day after Mother's Day. In 2012, they experienced a whopping 439% increase in signups on that day as compared to a typical Monday.

Make of that whatever you will, I'm no psychologist.  But I'll bet that a lot of that has to do with Hubby failing to meet the bare minimum of gratitude for Mommy's role in the family unit.  At least, get her a card!

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On the more literate side of the news ticker this morning, there were rumblings last week that Microsoft will be purchasing the Nook digital e-reader business from Barnes & Noble booksellers.

Slashgear

Nook has had a withering year trying to compete with Amazon's Kindle and Apple's iPod for downloading ebook sales.  Just how bad is apparent when you consider that while the ebook business is taking off like a rocket, Nook lost money last year and is still bleeding.

Microsoft already owns 17.6% of Nook after buying their way into the digital book market and it is being speculated that they want it all so that they can better compete with Kindle, iPod, Sony and Kobo.  And B&N would like to shuck the e-reader and concentrate on their bricks-and-mortar bookstore business.

I think we'd better get started on the equipment check now.  It's Monday and that means the long form.  It also means an extra pot on the Bunn-O-Matic, so I'll make sure there's plenty there for us.  See you back in the day room later.

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Posted by on May 13, 2013 • Filed under: Kindle, morning lineup • Tagged: ,

Morning Lineup – May 12

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Sunday Morning – Happy Mother's Day!

We're going to start this new week off with some News You Can Use by posting this handy map showing you how much tax each state imposes on your beer purchases.  This figure is uniformly stated as the per gallon rate for retail purchases of beer sold in 12-oz. containers.

Surprisingly Tennessee, normally considered a low-tax state, has the highest (way highest) rate of $1.17 per gallon.  On the other end of the scale is Wyoming with a compassionate 2¢ per gallon.

The map also includes each state's relative ranking and illustrates another mild surprise.  Pennsylvania is not usually admired for its taxing policies, but if you rely on the barley brew for nourishment, Pennsylvanians are way down the list of beer tax pain at #46.  That explains why those Marylanders (#12) stock up in Breezewood while they're hitting the Keystone state to buy their fireworks.

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Only one playoff game in the NHL yesterday.  Pittsburgh had to really work to pull off an overtime win against the spunky Islanders.  The Pens take their first-round series 4 games to 2 and will now be facing off against the Ottawa Senators in the 2nd round.

Ottawa just came off a mighty upset over Montreal, but can they do it again over Pittsburgh?  Get some good odds before you bet on it.

Three games scheduled for today, all of them on national tv networks.  Detroit vs. Anaheim are playing Game 7.  Washington vs. Rangers and Toronto vs. Boston round it out.

 

Before we give Mom a call, let's get this equipment checked out.  I think I'll make an extra pot of coffee this morning.  It feels like one of those days.  See you back in the day room.

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Posted by on May 12, 2013 • Filed under: beer, morning lineup, Videos

Morning Lineup – May 11

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Saturday Morning – Who's Winning?

The first round of the National Hockey League playoffs is past the half-way mark now, and in some cases starting to finish up.  I have been understandably busy the last couple of weeks and haven't been keeping up with the progress of the competition, but now is a good time to see where things stand.  Every game played in this first round is televised in both U. S. and Canada, so let's see how this weekend's schedule is shaping up.

Mlive.com

First a look at the Western Conference:

1.  To nobody's surprise, the Chicago Blackhawks put away the Minnesota Wild in five games, 4-1.

2.  The Detroit vs. Anaheim series is turning out to be one of the more exciting to watch.  Last night Detroit, facing elimination, beat the Ducks in overtime to tie up their series 3-3.  Can't ask for better competition than that.

3.  The Vancouver Canucks started the regular season off with lots of promise and wins, but they faded in the second half and continued into the playoffs where the San Jose Sharks swept their series 4-0.

4.  The Los Angeles vs. St. Louis series started off with the Kings not looking so good, but they rebounded and won their series over the Blues 4-2.

 

Over in the Eastern Conference there has been plenty of excitement for everyone:

1.  The Montreal Canadiens led their division through the entire season and won the Eastern Conf. championship.  But all that winning must have tired them out.  Their opponents Ottawa Senators barely made it into the playoffs on the final game of the season and then surprised everybody but themselves by beating the Habs 4 games to 1. 

Every year there is always a surprising upset in the first round, and this was the one for 2013.  There is one more possible upset in the making, but don't bet on it. I'm talking about…..

2.  Pittsburgh vs. NY Islanders.  The best team in the league at the finish of the regular season, the Penguins are being seriously challenged by the Isles who keep clawing back into contention.  They had their series tied 2-2 until Thursday when Pittsburgh took over and beat them by 4 goals. 

The Pens now lead 3 games to 2.  The next one is tonight and will be the first choice for televiewing.  Could be exciting.  Just how long has it been since the Islanders were serious competitors in the playoffs?

3.  The Washington Capitals vs. NY Rangers series has been closely played in every game with a couple of them going into overtime.  In the five games played so far, the home team has won every one of them.  They played in DC last night, so the Caps took it – in overtime.  They now lead the series 3-2 and go to New York for game 6 on Sunday.  Another recommended tv choice.

4.  The Boston vs. Toronto series isn't any snoozer, either.  The seemingly superior Bruins were expected to handle the Maple Leafs without too much trouble, but nobody told the Leafs.  Facing elimination last night, Toronto edged the B's 2-1…. in Boston.  Boston still leads the series 3-2, but they travel back to Toronto for game six Sunday evening.  That stadium ought to be rocking.

The entire first round of the playoffs will be completed by Monday night, so on Tuesday we'll take a look at who survived for the next level.

Right now we'll call a timeout and go back to the bench and get started on this morning's equipment check.  I need some more coffee pronto, so I'll head over to the Bunn corner and get more of that stuff started.  See you back in the day room.

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Posted by on May 11, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup, Videos • Tagged:

Morning Lineup – May 10

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Friday Morning – Guess Who Wants To Be Mayor?

Think back a couple of years to June 2011.  Do you remember this guy?

You can bet that the folks in Holyoke, Massachusetts, do.  This photo was taken when he was the interim fire chief of the HFD and hit the pages of Firegeezer when he jumped a switch and strangely called in a false alarm just to watch the trucks roll.  Starting to sound familiar?

Firegeezer first posted the story in a Promotional Opportunities HERE when we told in part:

THE HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, INTERIM FIRE CHIEF was placed on paid administrative leave Wednesday afternoon on a moment's notice.  Deputy Chief William Moran has been serving as interim fire chief since September when the former interim chief retired suddenly.  The permanent post has been vacant since January 2010.  The city has been conducting a search for a permanent chief and was expected to appoint one in August.  Chief Moran was thought to be one of the 16 finalists to be considered for the position.

In follow-up posts HERE and HERE we explained that Moran was sitting in a restaurant when two firefighters from a nearby station walked by on their way to pick up the lunch order.  Telling his lunch companions, one of whom was also a Holyoke firefighter, to watch the firefighters run back to the station, he called dispatch and told them to send that engine company to an investigation at a nearby shopping center.  Investigation calls are routinely responded with lights and siren at that FD.

Instead, the engine came by the location and paused to pick up the FF's before continuing on the call.  But the stunt backfired on him and it came to the attention of everybody in the city because while the engine was responding, three cars pulled to the right and stopped to let it pass by.  Unfortunately the woman driving car #4 wasn't paying attention and crashed into the line of cars causing damages to all four vehicles and sending one of the drivers to the hospital.

Read the links I just gave you for all the details which lead up to Moran's choosing to stop pursing the chief's job and he retired instead following criminal charges placed against him.

Fast-forward now to the other day, Wednesday May 8, when MassLive.com reported:

William P. Moran, the former provisional fire chief forced to retire early after a criminal case in which he sent a fire truck to a fake call, is running for mayor.

"I have taken out (nomination) papers to run for mayor. At this time, I don't have any more comment," Moran said Wednesday.

City Clerk Suzanne Mead confirmed Moran took out nomination papers to run for mayor. To place their names on the ballot, candidates for mayor must file nomination papers with signatures of at least 250 registered voters.

The crowded race for mayor includes incumbent Mayor Alex B. Morse seeking a second term, newcomer Jim Santiago, who has worked in real estate and image processing and is a U.S. Air Force veteran, former mayor Daniel J. Szostkiewicz and Daniel C. Boyle, who writes for the Holyoke Sun and was co-owner of the former Diamond Fiber Products Co., in Palmer.

The top two vote-getters in a preliminary election Sept. 17 will compete on Election Day Nov. 5.

Well, rotsa ruck with that, Bill.  Perhaps the good folk of Holyoke will find you a better choice than what they have now.  We'll see come September.

Meanwhile we'd better get going with the morning equipment check now.  I'm heading for the Bunn-O-Matic to get some fresh java going. See you back in the day room.

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Posted by on May 10, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup • Tagged: ,

Morning Lineup – May 9

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Thursday Morning – Vacuum Options Are Shrinking

I want to lead off today's Lineup by sending special Thanks to the Hyattsville (MD) Volunteer Fire Department for their assistance yesterday by providing a place for our post-burial luncheon.  Their office administrator Anna V. was just marvelous in getting everything ordered and set up for us, seeing that everyone was comfortable.  She is a treasure.  Thanks again, Anna and Dave.

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I see in the headlines this morning that the Oreck home vacuum cleaner company has filed for a Chap. 11 bankruptcy and are looking for a buyer.  You may remember those tv ads where the founder and owner David Oreck would use one of his vacuums to pick up a bowling ball, exhibiting the strength of the suction.

Well now it seems that the bottom dropped out of the business for reasons that I cannot speculate on and sales have plummeted over the past year.  A recent article in USA Today said in part:

Oreck was founded in in 1963 by David Oreck, who started by selling vacuum cleaners by mail. He started the company by buying an abandoned design for an upright vacuum cleaner from Whirlpool.

The Tennessean / Kingsley

Oreck laid off an undisclosed number of employees at the end of January, as well as in October 2012. At the time, Cahill said the layoffs weren't a cost-cutting maneuver, and were instead a result of a shift away from the company's traditional emphasis on direct sales.

Oreck has about 70 employees in the corporate office in Nashville, and it employs 250 workers at its plant in Cookeville. The company also has about 325 employees at its 96 company-owned retail stores.

I have an Electrolux tank model that I bought about 35 years ago and it is still, in my opinion, the best on the market.  But I wanted an upright cleaner for the quick swipes and convenience, so I purchased an Oreck about 9 years ago.  It does have that great suction and it does a great job on bare floors.  But on rugs and carpeting it's crap.  The beater just doesn't do a decent job of beating and it leaves behind all the little stuff embedded in the carpet fibers.  I don't know if that's the reason why their sales collapsed, but I sure wasn't able to recommend it to anyone.

Ah, but the world of retail keeps on spinning.  And the world of rapid response times is still turning, too.  So let's get going on the equipment check while I get more coffee going in the old, reliable Bunn-O-Matic.  (I was tickled but not surprised to see an older, well-used but still operating Bunn in the Hyattsville VFD day room.)

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Posted by on May 9, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup • Tagged: , ,

Morning Lineup – May 8

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Wednesday May 8, 2013

Firegeezer will be dark today.  This morning we will be attending the
funeral and burial services of Lynn Dyer Schumm, late wife of Bill Schumm.

May she rest in peace in God's hands.

Posted by on May 7, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup

Morning Lineup – May 7

3 comments

Tuesday Morning – Say Sayanora to the Optical Disc Drive

Yes, you read me corrctly there.  Then next major shift in home and personal computing is the soon-to-be-gone optical disc drive.  It was, what?, fifteen years ago when the floppy disc drives suddenly disappeared from the PC towers without a word of warning.

But now we are learning ahead of time (barely) that the same thing is happening to the CD disc drive beginning with the laptops.  "Laptop" is the key word here because there is a serious competition starting up to make and sell the smallest, lightest laptops on the market.  Apple has already begun and Microsoft announced a few months ago that they would be doing the same.

By removing the optical disc drive, they are cutting out a lot of weight, space needs, and battery consumption.  Especially the space.  You will soon be seeing some mighty thin laptops on the shelves at Best Buy.  So how do you store your files and bring them up when you want to use that certain image in your email?  We already gave you that answer a few weeks ago:  Flash Drives.  As we told you earlier, a 16 Gig. flash drive that sells for about $10 on sale will hold the equivalent of 24 CD-ROM's.

And for your more permanent storage and parking space for little-used files, get yourself an external hard drive.  500 Gigs for about $60.  They are much more secure and safer than a big file box of CD's.

There you go, a seat on the cutting edge of personal computing progress.  Now let's get on the cutting edge of equipment checking while I fire up the still-reliable Bunn-O-Matic.  See you back in the day room in a few minutes.

Tomorrow we will be dormant on the website for the funeral and burial services for my late wife, Lynn D. Schumm.  Thanks to all of you who have sent your condolences and prayers.  Her family appreciates all of them.

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Posted by on May 7, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup, technology

Morning Lineup – May 6

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Monday Morning

I have an item to update this morning before we get started with the daily chores.

I am sure you will recall the horrible mid-rise factory building collapse in Bangladesh last week (Firegeezer report HERE).  Now that the demolition and removal of the rubble and the remainder of the building is proceding rapidly, more and more bodies of the victims are being discovered buried in the mess.  As of this morning the death toll from the accident has passed 650 fatalities and the count is still rising by the hour.  That is an astounding number of victims and families whose lives have been twisted.  In a recent update CNN reported:

Rescue workers managed to save more than 2,400 people from the mountain of debris during days of dangerous, painstaking work in high temperatures. But they gave up hope of finding any more survivors a week ago and are now using heavy machinery to pick apart the ruins and uncover the bodies buried inside.

FirstPost

The number of people confirmed dead has now reached 657, said Col. Sheikh Zaman, a military official overseeing the recovery operation in Savar.

Amid the stench of death that permeates the surrounding streets, a large number of people continue to wait near the site of the collapse for news of missing relatives. Their gathering point is a school playing field where bodies retrieved from the ruins are taken for initial identification attempts.

The task of identifying is made all the more difficult by the decomposed state of many of the bodies. If authorities cannot identify them through ID they might be carrying or other means, the bodies are taken to a morgue in Dhaka.

Zaman said authorities still don't know exactly how many bodies remain encased in the wreckage because the factory owners still haven't provided a full account of how many people were inside when the building gave way.

India Today

Many people have hopes that this tragedy might spur the governments in that region to finally crack down on the illicit and illegal practices that the building owners and the piece-work plant operators carry on as a matter of routine.  But I don't have any expectations of improvements along those lines.  Their entire economic culture is embedded with disdain for regulations, insistence on bribes and similar payoffs, and a disregard for the lives and safety of their employees.

An article in The Guardian enlightens us:

The textile industry is worth £13 billion a year to the Bangladeshi economy and companies there are desperate to persuade Western brands to stay, despite concerns over safety in factories where hundreds of people have died in fires and collapses in recent years.

The Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association has promised action to prevent a repeat of the Rana Plaza disaster and urged brands not to cancel orders.

But Bangladesh's Finance Minister, AMA Muhith, did little to boost confidence in change when he dismissed the collapse during a visit to Delhi, saying: "The present difficulties … well, I don't think it is really serious – it's an accident. And the steps that we have taken in order to make sure that it doesn't happen, they are quite elaborate and I believe that it will be appreciated by all."

There will be a lot of lip service for agreements to straighten up their acts, but that will be just a sop to the international firms who contract with them to make their products.  And some token arrests will be made so that it looks like they're cracking down.  But I'm too much of a realist to see that it's nothing more than a show in an attempt to keep those dollars and euros flowing into their treasuries.

I'm going to get more water flowing into the Bunn-O-Matic now while you get started with the equipment check.  See you back in the day room.

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Posted by on May 6, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup • Tagged:

Morning Lineup – May 5

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Sunday Morning

We have just posted an update to yesterday's report on the Belgian train chemical fire in Ghent Saturday morning.  I have no doubt that many of you noticed while reading the article that the local fire brigade and other authorities didn't mind using the town's sewer lines to carry runoff from the fire.  As soon as I read that, I thought:  A lot of our readers are going to spot this one!

They were monitoring the air quality and everything was A-OK there, but they neglected to sniff the sewers and suddenly a batch of civilian casualties started showing up at hospitals including one fatality.  If you haven't already, CLICK HERE to read the update to Fireball's report on the incident.

Greg (Son of Geezer) and I battled the traffic up to Bladensburg, Maryland, yesterday and finalized all of the funeral and burial arrangements for my wife Lynn.  It is a difficult time, but everyone is doing fine.  Lynn had two children from a previous marriage and they are naturally suffering the most.  The schedule follows:

Wednesday May 8.
Fort Lincoln Funeral Home
2401 Bladensburg Rd.
Brentwood, Maryland,  20722

Visitation – 10 am
Funeral Service – 11 am
Burial following immediately.

And once again I thank all of you who have expressed your condolances and best wishes for her family.

The Bunn-O-Matic is on 24-hr. duty this weekend, so please help yourself to a cuppa.

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Posted by on May 5, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup

Morning Lineup – May 4

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Saturday Morning

Again, many thanks to all of you who have been sending your condolences and prayers for Lynn.  I am trying to acknowledge each of them and am still working my way down the list.  All of her family members are grateful for your considerations and wishes.

Today Son of Geezer (Greg) and I will be away from the first-due area to finalize the funeral plans and burial that will take place Wednesday.  The two Mikes are doing a great job keeping the website active while I'm taking care of business and I really appreciate their help.  Please keep checking back to see what they're coming up with next and I'll see you when I get back.  I have left a couple of fresh pots on the Bunn-O-Matic for you, so please help yourself.

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Posted by on May 4, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup

Morning Lineup – May 3

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Friday Morning

I want to thank all of the many, many folks who have sent their condolences and prayers for Lynn.  They have been arriving via email, Post Comments, Facebook Likes and Messages, etc.  They are all greatly appreciated.

Here are the funeral arrangements:

Funeral and burial will be held at:

Fort Lincoln Funeral Home and Cemetery
3401 Bladensburg Rd.
Brentwood, MD. 20722

Wednesday May 8
Visitation – 10 am
Funeral Service – 11 am
Burial immediately following the service.

I also want to thank the 2 Mikes for working to keep the pages filled while I'm tending to these matters.  They are a great help.

I see the Bunn-O-Matic is running again, so coffee will be ready by the time you get the equipment checked out.  And thanks again.

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Posted by on May 3, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup

Morning Lineup – May 2

18 comments

Thursday Morning

It grieves me to inform you this morning that my wife of 42 years, Lynn Dyer Schumm passed away last evening.  She had been very ill for a long time and it was not a complete surprise, but understandably upsetting just the same.

She died peacefully and comfortably in her sleep with her family around her.  She is survived by her son, her daughter and a granddaughter.  Her younger son preceded her in death and she joins him now.

I will post details on the funeral arrangements tomorrow.

My colleagues will be posting some articles on the website to keep it freshened for you over the next few days.

Thank you.  Bill Schumm

Posted by on May 2, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup

Morning Lineup – May 1

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Wednesday Morning – May Day, May Day

For our friends over in Europe this is a paid holiday that is celebrated similarly to our Labor Day.  And, much like it is here, they are still wondering where the Spring weather is because the cold is lingering over there as well.  Whatever happened to the global warming, eh?

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Most of us do not normally tuck one or two $100 bills into our wallets or purses before we set out in the morning (although I have known a couple of people who did).  So this next item won't have any immediate effect on us, but we still need to know.  The Federal Reserve Board announced recently that the newly-designed $100 bill will finally be issued on October 8.  It was supposed to have been put into circulation 3 or 4 years ago, but the new security features that are incorporated into it required some major changes to the printing presses at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

That has been done and now they are printing away with this unusual looking  scrip.  The "Bennys" will retain Ben Franklin for their portrait but had to be drastically re-designed because of the counterfeiting problem.  The 100's are the main choice for the international counterfeiters, for obvious reasons, and hopefully this new style will foil most of them.

The prominent feature is that blue stripe in the middle that runs from top to bottom.  Tilt the note back and forth while focusing on the blue ribbon and you will see the bells change to 100's as they move. When you tilt the note back and forth, the bells and 100s move side to side. If you tilt it side to side, they move up and down. The ribbon is woven into the paper, not printed on it.  Also, the faint shadow of the Liberty Bell that is inside the orange inkwell has some action of its own.

This indescribably dull video narrated by an indescribably dull bureaucrat shows the blue ribbon in action:

 

How did you like that action flick?  Well, it IS government work, you know.

We have to start our own government work now and get this equipment checked out.  I'll tend to our privately-made Bunn-O-Matic and get more coffee going.  See you back in the day room.

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Posted by on May 1, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup • Tagged:

Morning Lineup – April 30

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Tuesday Morning – Got a Screwdriver On Ya'?

Firefighters and EMT's love little gadgets and pocket-size tools, especially if they are unique and/or handy to use.  While surfing the net recently, I came across just such a device and I'm seriously thinking about sending away for one. 

It's called a PocketMonkey and it incorporates 12 different utlility functions that take care of a lot of our sudden needs.  You know, things like a screw driver – both flat and Phillips – small wrench for nut tightening, and what pocket tool would ever be complete without a bottle opener?  "Here, Sam…."  Adding to the convenience is the fact that it is small enough and flat enough to fit in your wallet where it will truly be "handy."

The fellow who developed the PocketMonkey made this informative video that shows the gadget in action:

 

Since he made this video he has been able to get financial backing and has brought it to market.  Through the modern miracle of the Internet, you don't have to go looking around for the first store in your area that might or might not be carrying it yet.  You can go directly to their website and order one today.  They cost $12 which isn't bad considering they're made of a high-quality stainless steel that won't bend easily and will hold up to the torque moves required to turn screw heads or bolts.  CLICK HERE to see his photo gallery of the many functions of this clever device and then click on his Buy One Now button to order yours.  Personally, I really like the Cellphone Kickstand feature.  Not that I'd ever use it, but I just like it.

Next we have to utilize our equipment check feature and go down that list of useful gadgets that we drive around with for the rest of today.  So while you get started with that, I'll replenish the coffee pot and then we'll gather back in the day room.

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Posted by on April 30, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup • Tagged:

Morning Lineup – April 29

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Monday Morning – Rough Start This Week

Here we go into another week and almost into another month, but in a lot of places, including mine, we haven't quite gotten into another season yet.  The chilly air and cold nights just don't want to make way for Mr. Spring and I see that in some places it is still snowing and sub-freezing temperatures at night.  That just won't do.

We've got a couple of odds 'n' ends for Lineup today and then we'll get started with the bigger stuff. 

The Charleston (South Carolina) Fire Department, Montgomery County (Md.) Fire Rescue Service and WCIV-TV have made arrangements for live streaming of today’s funeral in Charleston for Chief Carr. It begins at 2:00 PM EDT. Here is the link for WCIV-TV’s live video player – http://www.abcnews4.com/category/193350/wciv-live-stream.

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Also we have a minor update to yesterday's apartment ka-boom and collapse in Riems, France (HERE).  The final victim count is 3 dead and 14 injured.

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Over in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the sudden collapse of the 8-story garment factory that was fully occupied on Wednesday (HERE) has more news associated with it.  Earlier today (Monday) the city authorities officially stopped efforts at finding any more survivors, saying that it is unlikely to be any.

While they still do not know exactly how many people were in the building at the time, they have found 380 dead and have accounted for about 2,500 survivors.  The five factories that were housed in the large building employed 3,122 people, but they don't know how many of them were actually in the building at the time of the collapse. 

AP

The most recent update from the Associated Press tells:

Volunteers, army personnel and firefighters have worked around the clock since Wednesday, mostly using hands and light equipment to pull out survivors. Around midnight Sunday, authorities deployed hydraulic cranes and heavy cutting machines to break up the massive slabs of concrete into manageable segments that could be lifted away.

"There is little hope of finding anyone alive. Our men went inside and saw some dead bodies in the ground floor. But no one was seen alive," said Brig. Gen. Ali Ahmed Khan, the chief of the fire brigade at the scene.

The building owner, Mohammed Sohel Rana, was arrested Sunday in the western border town of Benapole while he was trying to flee to India. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had ordered the arrest of building owner Rana, who was expected to be charged with negligence on Monday. He had permission to build a five-story building but added three more illegally.

As many as 900 people remain missing in the ruins of the building in Dhaka.

The last-known trapped survivor remaining in the building died yesterday when a small fire broke out while the rescuers were working their way to the woman who had been talking to them.  "We were talking to her, giving her oxygen while we cut through the concrete," Shams Uddin, a firefighter, said in a telephone interview. "But after hanging on for four days, she died in the fire. Three of my men were also injured and are now in hospital."

That had to be a tough one.

On that somber note, let's get started with our equipment check for today.  It's the expanded Monday checksheet today, don't forget.  I'll fire up the Bunn-O-Matic so we'll have some fresh coffee when we gather back in the day room.  See you there.

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Posted by on April 29, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup • Tagged: , ,

Morning Lineup – April 28

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Sunday Morning – Who's Playing Who?

The final day of the National Hockey League's shortened season was played out yesterday with 26 of the 30 teams competing.  I need to note that technically the season isn't quite finished because Boston's home game against Ottawa last week had to be postponed until today because of the terrorist incident in the city.  And the outcome of today's game will have a bearing on the final standings that I will talk about in a minute.

But as I had predicted a couple of weeks ago, the final standings weren't settled until after the last game has been played.  Over in the Western Conference there were 7 teams battling for the last 4 playoff slots of the 8 available.  And going into last night's contests there still 4 teams rasslin' for the 6, 7, and 8 slots.  When the dust settled, San Jose had grabbed the number 6 seed, Detroit clinched the 7th slot, and Minnesota barely made it in with a win that gave them a tie-breaker edge over Columbus who had made a good run for the playoffs by winning 8 of their last 10 games.  But it was just a tad short.  Personally, I feel sorry for the Blue Jackets players.  They had a good season considering what they had to work with.  Here's how the West finished up:

Over in the Eastern Conference Winnipeg, who had led the Southeastern Division through most of the season became a victim of the numbers in the last 4 games and ended up in 9th place out of the playoffs.  And while the "who" is settled on the top-8, we won't know for sure all of the "who vs. who's" until this afternoon's game in Boston.  Take a look at the Eastern standings and you will see how it has shaken out:

Montreal has led the Northeast Division for most of the season, but a win by Boston tonight will give them the title and move the B's up to the second seed while the Habs slip down to 4th but still with home-ice adavantage in the first round.  However if Ottawa wins, then they will finish in 7th and bounce the Islanders down to 8th.  The other six teams are firm since the Rangers won last night.  But the #3 Capitals vs. #6 Rangers is the only matchup in the East that is confirmed.  A lot is depending on tonight's outcome.  The NHL has posted all the possible scenario's:

If Boston wins in regulation:

Series 'A' – #1 Pittsburgh vs. #8 Ottawa
Series 'B' – #2 Boston vs. #7 NY Islanders
Series 'C' – #3 Washington vs. #6 NY Rangers
Series 'D' – #4 Montreal vs. #5 Toronto

If Boston wins in overtime or shootout:

Series 'A' – #1 Pittsburgh vs. #8 NY Islanders
Series 'B' – #2 Boston vs. #7 Ottawa
Series 'C' – #3 Washington vs. #6 NY Rangers
Series 'D' – #4 Montreal vs. #5 Toronto

If Ottawa wins in any fashion:

Series 'A' – #1 Pittsburgh vs. #8 NY Islanders
Series 'B' – #2 Montreal vs. #7 Ottawa
Series 'C' – #3 Washington vs. #6 NY Rangers
Series 'D' – #4 Boston vs. #5 Toronto

Ok, you got that?  What a finish… the season's over and there is still some matchups yet to be sorted out.  Let's hope that NBCSports and CBC or Canada's sports network decide to show the game tonight.  It will be an intense game, for sure.

And we have to get this equipment checked out for sure, so let's get started while cook gets the Sunday breakfast going.  I'm headed to the Bunn-O-Matic to make sure it's got some fresh java waiting for us when we meet back in the day room shortly.  See you there.

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Posted by on April 28, 2013 • Filed under: morning lineup • Tagged: ,

Morning Lineup – April 27

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Saturday Morning – "How many snakes in there?!"

Do you get the creepie-crawlies when a snake suddenly comes slithering across your path?  Most people do, it's a natural human emotion for some reason and the first instinct for many people is to flee before your brain tells you to settle down and don't sweat it.  I will admit that I'm one of those who prefers to be in a different time zone when I come across a loose snake.  But my first instinct is to grab something very sturdy and try to kill the danged thing.  "Get outta' here!!"  I've never had one in my house though, so I don't know how I would react to that, but the Tasmanian Devil comes to mind.

Fortunately for my sanity and my reputation, I have never been on one of those fire calls where the homeowner greets you at the door with a "Be careful, there is a 12-ft. python loose in the family room."  For me that would definitely be an outside attack unless I had one of those fearless reptile handlers on my shift.  He would immediately receive a battlefield promotion.

But what would you do if you were one of these brave, daring firefighters in Brighton, Colorado, who rolled up on a house fire last week and the front-step greeting included the info that there were about 8,000 snakes in the basement?  Yes, that is the correct number of zeroes….. eight thousand.  It turns out that the homeowners are professional snake breeders who supply retail stores while operating three such businesses for themselves.

Denver Westword

In their report on the fire, tv channel CBS 4 posted:

The reptiles included several different types of snakes, pythons, tortoises, lizards and others. Some were not housed in cages and that created a unique challenge for firefighters working to rescue the animals.

"But they were also aggressive so that was another issue that we had to be concerned about. Apparently some of the breeds are more aggressive than others so we were very cautious in trying to deal with them," said Brighton Fire Department Chief Mark Bordane. "Thankfully most of them were caged. We only had a few loose snakes that we had to deal with but they were also aggressive."

Interestingly, the centerpoint of their business is Ball Pythons and Boa Constrictors.  A local news website Denver Westword goes into more detail about this family and their unique occupation HERE.

CBS 4 also filed this video report from the fireground:

 

Firefighters will naturally notice that this McMansion is apparently (obviously?) built with that terrible lightweight construction, or what we here at Firegeezer call "wood chips and glue lumber."  I say obviously because, just take a look, the fire started in the garage and this is what the first-in companies were faced with.

CBS 4

Compounding the high-risk factor is that this fairly-new subdivision does not have any hydrants.  I wonder how much it cost the developers to get the permits for this neighborhood of firetraps?

And I'm wondering if anybody else even new about the snake farm operating in a residential area?  Most places do not permit commercial activities in an area zoned for housing.  If this operation was bootlegged in, then it is highly unlikely that the FD could have even been aware of this challenge.

That's a lot of food-for-thought when we get back to the day room where we can talk this over.  Lots of what-if's and what-would-you-do's in this one.  So lets get the equipment checked out and more coffee started so that we can tackle this training scenario.  See you back in the day room.

Brighton Fire Protection District WEBSITE.

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Posted by on April 27, 2013 • Filed under: Building construction, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighting Operations, morning lineup, Videos • Tagged: ,