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Gasoline Tanker Burns in South Carolina

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Driver Escapes Spectacular Blaze

A GASOLINE TANKER LITERALLY CRASHED AND BURNED in Anderson County, South Carolina, Tuesday morning.

Independent-Mail / Kelly

The truck was carrying 9,000 gals. of product when it drifted off the road around 10:20 am.  WYFF-TV tells what happened:

Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Bill Rhyne said the 2009 Kenworth tractor-trailer tanker driven by 46-year-old Jose Emilio Calderon of Easley. Calderon was wearing a seat belt, was injured and was taken to AnMed for treatment, Rhyne said.

Rhyne said the tanker truck was headed south on Shady Grove Road when for unknown reasons it ran off the left side of the road and then off the right side of the road, hitting a fence and a power pole.

The cab of the truck remained upright, while the tank turned on its side. Power lines came down on top of the tanker, igniting the fuel that was on board.

The driver was able to crawl out of the cab before it began burning and two neighbors ran over and dragged him to safety.

WSPA-TV provided some good raw video of the fire:

 

After the fire department had a foam supply on hand and set up, they had the fire knocked down in about 15 minutes.  About 4,000 gals. of gasoline was saved and it was later transferred to another truck.

Read more at WFYY-TV website HERE.
The Anderson Independent Mail has MORE.

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Posted by on February 8, 2012 • Filed under: fire, Fires, Haz-mat, HazMat, Videos • Tagged: ,

Fire Chief Wants to Replace Fire Engines With Pickup Trucks

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Save Money and Fight Fires (or something like that)

THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, HAS DIRECTED the Fire Chief Laura Knapp to cut spending 10% over the next three years.  So she has come up with a plan that the City Council loves to hear.  So much so that yesterday morning (Tuesday) they unanimously approved the plan and gave her the go-ahead to start implementing it.

The city has 11 fire stations and Knapp plans to replace the fire engines in three of them with "Quick Response Vehicles" (QRV's), described by the fire department as "basically a Dodge chassis with a box on the back" for a 300-gallon water tank and compressed-air foam system.

This GRFD drawing looks an awful lot like THIS ONE:

SGVN photo

The selling points for this conversion are first of all, replacement costs of $873,000 for all three units compared to a comparable price for one real fire engine. 

Secondly, the QRV's will only carry two firefighters instead of the three or four currently riding on the real fire engines.  This will allow the department to operate with 12 fewer firefighters, music to a councilman's ears.  Twelve is the magic number because the SAFER grant that the FD received to fund 12 positions runs out in three years and apparently the city does not have plans to retain those slots.

Chief Knapp projects a total savings of $21 million over the next 15 years once the plan goes into effect.

The Grand Rapids Press tells us:

Knapp hopes they will help the fire department maintain existing service levels in the face of coming staffing cuts.

About 89 percent of current fire-service calls are handled by a single unit, Knapp said. The "quick-response" units could handle those calls, she said.

"We need to better align our resources with these single-unit calls to ensure our performance is maintained (as we reduce firefighters to cut costs)," Knapp said. "Right now we don’t have a lot of flexibility in our deployment. The (‘quick-response vehicle’) is the answer for our current rigid operational system."

The firefighters themselves aren't convinced yet that fewer fire engines and fewer FF's will translate into "maintaining existing service levels."  William Smith, president of the Local tells the GR Press,  "If they’re rolled out, we’ll do what we’re told to do. There’s a question of how effective they’ll be."

WZZM-TV filed this brief video report:

 

Full report in the Grand Rapids Press HERE.
Local President Smith speaks more about their skepticism HERE.

Firegeezer notes:  These things became popular back in the great recession of the late 1970's.  Back then they were called "mini-pumpers" and were introduced with the same promises we're hearing from Grand Rapids.  Several dozens of fire departments jumped into the concept, but within three years they were all back to Plan A.  Why do people think it will magically start working now?  Or is this just a gimmick to get the budgeteers to turn their focus onto another agency?

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Posted by on February 8, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, apparatus, Fire Rescue Topics, Funding & Staffing, labor, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

Challenging Containment in Ancient Town Center in Germany – 3 Rescues Included

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Old Buildings Wall-to-Wall

A DIFFICULT FIRE IN HECHINGEN, GERMANY, Monday evening destroyed a centuries-old home in the town center and heavily damaged four others before the firefighters could put a stop on it.  The ancient town is noted for its extremely narrow streets and alleys that are the only access to many of the buildings.

The fire alarm was sent at 4:45 pm and the Hechingen Feuerwehr found smoke showing from the top floor and three people trapped and waiting at windows for rescue.  While more engines and three additional aerials were being dispatched to the town, Hechingen's tower-ladder removed the two men at one of the windows and a 78-yr.-old woman who was at another 3rd-floor window.

The firefighters went to the upper floor to attack the fire, but the false ceilings began falling on them and the entire  circuit of live electric wiring dropped down on them causeing one to receive a heavy shock.  As the fire began running the attic and spreading to the neighboring structures, the fire commander ordered the fire building to be evacuated.  Extreme sub-freezing temperatures were also causing hose stream runoff to immediately freeze over.

This on-the-scene video report from TV24 includes some good fire footage:

 

With the arrival of help from other fire brigades, a perimeter was set up to contain  the fire which was then breaking through the roofs.  When it was put out several hours later, five buildings had been destroyed or heavily damaged.

Spray and runoff were immediately freezing over  (SWP)

The fire brigade remained on the scene through the night taking care of hot spots and daybreak saw the arrival of a crane to tear down the remains of the fire building and begin debris removal.  Investigators hope to be able to begin looking for the cause sometime today (Tuesday).

SWP

Full news reports are included in Schwarzwaelder HERE and SWP  HERE.

Thanks to Christian Lewalter of Feuerwehr Blog.

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Posted by on February 7, 2012 • Filed under: fire, Fires, rescue, Rescues, Videos

FF’s On Elevator Rescue Get Stuck On Elevator

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"When one thing goes wrong …."

A CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, MAN GOT STUCK IN AN ELEVATOR Sunday night.  When the firefighter who was able to reach him got the victim onto another car, it became stuck and both of them were trapped and in need of freeing.

The Chicago Tribune encapsulates what happened:

Firefighters were called to the Park Monroe Condominiums, 65 E. Monroe St. about 9:15 p.m. to rescue a man who was trapped in a stalled elevator between the 21st and 22nd floor of the 49-story building, said Chief Kevin McGregor, a fire department spokesman.

WGN-TV

A firefighter went up in another elevator in an adjoining shaft, exited through the ceiling hatch to get to the other elevator's hatch to transfer the trapped man and bring him down.

But after the transfer was made, the second elevator stalled and wouldn't come down, McGregor said.

Firefighters considered breaking through a brick wall to get into the elevator through the shaft and using ropes to bring the trapped men out, but didn't have to after an Otis Elevator Co. engineer was able to reset the elevator switch from the roof, put it in "inspection mode" and operate it manually, McGregor said.

It turned out that an electrical problem was causing the system to malfunction.

WLS-TV posted this brief video report where you get to see the building and some flashing lights:

 

Firegeezer adds his 2¢ worth:  If you are wondering why they didn't just open the car doors and exit onto the nearest floor the way you're trained to, it appears to have been an express elevator serving the upper floors of the 49-story building.  Therefore it was probably an enclosed shaft on the lower half prohibiting an access through the door.

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Posted by on February 6, 2012 • Filed under: rescue, Rescues, Videos • Tagged:

Vacant Warehouse Fire in Vallejo Draws Crowd

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Four-Alarm Blaze Successfully Contained

A LARGE 4-STORY WAREHOUSE IN THE vacated former Mare Island Naval Station in Vallejo, California, burned down Sunday and the smoke plume drew spectators from around the entire San Pablo Bay area.

Vallejo Times-Herald

The supposedly-empty warehouse was already scheduled for demolition later this year, so after determining there was no life hazard, the FD operated a containment operation to protect the several other similar structures close to it.  The 70-yr.-old building is wood-frame construction and was well-involved and fast-moving when the FD arrived.

Times-Herald

Water supply on the unused tract is scant, so limited streams were available while the structure was allowed to burn out. 

NBC News

The fire began around 10 am and was pretty well knocked down by 12:30 pm, but the fire chief says that they expect it to smoulder for about two days.

San Francisco Channel 5 News filed this video report from the fire scene:

 

NBC News reported:

Smoke was visible to firefighters before they even reached the scene, and upon arrival they found the building was already 20 to 25 percent involved in flames, (Vallejo Fire Chief Paige)Meyer said.

The warehouse, owned by the City of Vallejo, is vacant and slated for demolition, but Meyer said there was a "possibility of homeless and squatters" inside.

Once firefighters determined the building was empty, however, they stepped back to a defensive position and focused on preventing the massive, fast-moving fire from spreading to neighboring buildings or vegetation.

Meyer described a hectic scene, with heavy smoke, strong winds and embers. "We had four by eight sheets of plywood flying through the air, so you can imagine the spectacular nature of the fire," Meyer said.

NBC also posted a good video report:

 

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

 

The Vallejo Times-Herald has additional video and the STORY.
The San Francisco Chronicle has MORE.

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Posted by on February 6, 2012 • Filed under: fire, Fires, Videos • Tagged: ,

Ambulance Rollover in Massachusetts

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Patient On Board

A COUNTY AMBULANCE SERVICE unit was on a non-emergency patient transport Friday afternoon in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, when it collided with a car and was knocked onto its side.

Berkshire Eagle

The Berkshire Eagle reports:

Pittsfield Police Officer Marc Maddalena said a green 2002 Volvo station wagon traveling west on Lakeway Drive drove through a stop sign and broadsided a County Ambulance unit headed south on Valentine at about 1:45 p.m.

Police said the driver of the Volvo, Elizabeth Cosci, 49, of Pittsfield, is facing a civil citation for failing to stop. Cosci wasn't injured.

Berkshire Eagle

The three occupants of the ambulance, two medics and a patient, were all taken to Berkshire Medical Center, where they were treated and released, police said.

The Berkshire Eagle also posted this raw video taken at the scene:

 

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Posted by on February 5, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, EMS Topics, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged: , ,

Dollar Store Update

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A Review of Recent Incidents Involving Dollar Stores

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GASTONIA, NORTH CAROLINA, POLICE SAY that a local teenager used a lighter to set a fire in a Dollar Tree store on January 2, shortly after 5 pm.  By 10 pm Todd Alexander Bryson, 16, was jailed under a $25,000 secured bond facing an arson-related charge.

The Gaston Gazette reported:

The two-alarm fire was reported about 5:24 p.m. Monday. It occurred in the aisle where potato chips and other snacks are displayed, according to Gaston County Assistant Fire Marshal Billy Glover. Police were able to arrest Bryson before he left (the shopping center). They said he probably set fire to just one item.

"There’s no indication of any reason he’d want to start the fire," said Sgt. Jimmy Arndt with Gastonia Police Department. Bryson was standing in the parking lot with his mother and some acquaintances when taken into custody, Arndt said.

Glover said combined damage will likely exceed $500,000 and could hit $1 million.

The building's sprinkler system helped contain the blaze, but there was still significant damage to both the structure and the merchandise, mainly from smoke and water damage.  Bryson was charged with felony arson and is subject to additional charges.

The store reopened on January 19 while Bryson was still in jail.

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WISH-TV IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA reported that two employees suffered smoke inhalation in a fire set by a customer trying to steal items from a Wayne Township Family Dollar store on January 9.

Firefighters were called to the store near Lynhurst Drive and Rockville Road just after 11:30 a.m. The first units arrived to find a small fire had already been extinguished by employees. They say it appears a would-be shoplifter set the fire as a distraction.

The suspect fled from the store but was identified on a surveillance tape.

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IN NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI, A FIRE BROKE OUT in a Dollar General store around 2 pm on January 10.

Natchez Democrat

The Natchez Democrat reported:

"The manager said everybody was in the front of the store, and when he turned around he could see smoke coming from the back of the building," Natchez Fire Chief Oliver Stewart said.

Most of the fire damage was limited to the rear of the building, but Oliver said the exact point of origin for the fire had not been determined Tuesday afternoon. "They have an office in the rear, and it looks like it started in that office," Stewart said. "We are looking there."

The fire burned out the storeroom and caused some structural damage in that area.  The firewalls between the stores in the shopping center prevented the fire from spreading into the adjoining businesses.

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MONDAY JANUARY 16, A CAR inexplicably drove through the main entrance of a Van Nuys, California, 99¢ store.  Although the car plowed right into the main egress at 1 pm, there were no injuries.  Damages amounted to at least $5,000.99.

KCBS-TV ran this video report:

 

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A JONESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, TEEN WAS ARRESTED after setting a fire in a Dollar General store on January 14.  The blaze kept the firefighters on the scene for 12 hours as the building was gutted.  There was some extension into other stores in the shopping center, but none of them had major damage with most being able to reopen within 2-3 days.

A 16-yr.-old boy has been charged with the arson, but neither his identity or motive were disclosed by the police.

WGHP-TV has the details in this video report:

  

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This is a continuing series of fire / rescue incidents involving "dollar stores." Read previous Dollar Store Updates HERE.

Posted by on February 3, 2012 • Filed under: arson, crime, Dollar stores, Videos

Ambulance Official Charged in Land-Flip Deal

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Outside Bidders Excluded

A MISSOURI AMBULANCE DISTRICT OFFICIAL has been arrested and charged with misdemeanor insider information for a land-flip that he profited from in March 2011.  The president of Northland Regional Ambulance District in Platte County, Kevin Rawlings, 40, is accused of buying land and reselling it to his own ambulance authority knowing that they were planning on building a new station in the area.

Kevin Rawlings

The Kansas City Star reports:

According to court records, Rawlings purchased 34 acres in April 2010 for $130,000. He resold 1.5 acres to the ambulance district in March 2011 for $175,000.  Prosecutor Eric Zahnd said Thursday that Rawlings allegedly made $144,000 from the transaction.

Land that sold for $58,000 per acre  (NBC News)

There was no record that the agency had the land appraised at that time, court records stated. However, an appraisal in November 2011 put its worth at $30,600.

Rawlings was elected board president in 2006. He knew as early as 2008 that the district wanted to build a new station near Route U at the Camden Point exit.

According to the ambulance board minutes, Rawlings instructed the District's executive director to look for sites in the area where he had purchased the property.  When the Board "called" for bids, Rawlings was the only bidder.

The dubious activity first came to the taxpayers' attention back in March 2011 when NBC News filed this video report that detailed the entire transaction:

 

The Kansas City Star has more details HERE.
The St. Joseph News-Press has MORE.
Northland Regional Ambulance District WEBSITE.

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Posted by on February 3, 2012 • Filed under: crime, EMS Topics, News, Videos • Tagged: ,

Updated: Factory Burning in Pennsylvania

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Fire is Out

Updated, Noon:  Fire is out, but plant shut down temporarily.  Scroll down for update.

A WELL-KNOWN LOCAL CANDY MANUFACTURING company in Washington County, Pennsylvania, is burning this morning just south of Pittsburgh.  The Sarris Candy plant in Canonsburg caught fire in the ice cream portion of the factory around 7 am.  The first-arriving units found smoke coming from all the top-floor windows and roof vents in that wing and called a 2nd alarm.

WTAE-TV

KDKA-TV posted this early video taken from their helicopter:

 

The firefighters were able to contain the fire to that one section by surrounding it with hose streams and had it under control around an hour later.

There are apartments on the 2nd-floor above the ice cream parlor and all residents are believed to have escaped safely.

WTAE-TV

Sarris Candy is a favorite destination for western Pennsylvanians who visit the ice cream parlor and the candy store.  Sarris Candies are widely used for fundraising sales by schools and scout troops.

Update,  Noon Eastern:
WTAE-TV in an update tells,

Sarris said a significant amount of Easter candy was lost, but the building was not completely destroyed. He said they're trying to reopen the building's ice cream shop as soon as possible, and chocolate production should resume within a few days.

(Canonsburg Fire Chief Tom) Lawrence said there was minimal structure damage — most of it in the packaging area, where many boxes for the various chocolates were kept. He thinks the fire may have started in the furnace area, but the cause is still under investigation by a state police fire marshal.

The fire was contained mostly in the roof and the attic, concentrated at the ice cream end of the building.  No injuries were reported, either civilian or firefighter.  The state police fire investigator is on the scene.

WTAE-TV has additional video and more early details on the fire HERE.

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Posted by on February 3, 2012 • Filed under: fire, Fires, Videos • Tagged: , , , ,

74+ Dead in Self-Inflicted Mass Casualty Incident

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Untold Hundreds Injured

AT LEAST 74 PEOPLE WERE KILLED and hundreds more injured when a riot broke out at a soccer game in Port Said, Egypt, Wednesday night  The home team, el Masry from Port Said had just won its match against el Ahley, a superior and favored team from Cairo, 3-1, when hundreds of "fans" poured out of the stands onto the soccer pitch and began brawling.

Xinhua

The players from the two teams ran to the safety of the locker rooms with the assistance of stadium security people, but two players were still injured before they could get off the field.

el-Ahly players run for their lives to the locker rooms  (Xinhua)

This video posted by Youm7 News opens with the el Ahley players being chased off the field:

 

Xinhua News reports:

Due to insufficient security, most of the fans entered the stadium with sticks in their hands and supporters of the two rival teams started fighting each other.

The riot was caused by some insulting posters carried by the Ahly fans, Nile TV reported. One of the posters read "Port Said is like rubbish and it has no men."

Chief of Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Hussein Tantawi, ordered two military helicopters to transfer the players, fans and the injured to the capital Cairo.

Egyptian Prosecutor General Abdel Maguid Mahmoud ordered an investigation into the riot. The parliament will hold an emergency session Thursday over the incident.

The rioting spilled out of the stadium into the surround streets forcing shops to close and bar their doors.

In Cairo, another match was being held between Zamalik and Ismaily.  During their half-time break, news of the riot in Port Said was delivered to the stadium officials and it was decided to cancel the second half of the match in case the rioters were planning on spreading the protest to the other stadium.  When it was announced to the fans in attendance that the rest of the match was cancelled, they began to riot, setting fires throughout the stadium.

The chief of the military police vowed to track down those responsible and arrest them.

The Sydney Morning Herald has an extended report HERE.

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Posted by on February 1, 2012 • Filed under: culture, current events, Mass Casualty Incident, News, Videos

Acetylene Ka-Boom Injures Junkyard Worker, Starts Fire

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It Just Rolled Out of a Junked Car

AN AUTOMOBILE JUNK YARD NEAR HONOLULU, Hawai'i, was the scene of an explosion and fire Tuesday afternoon.

KHON-TV

When an operator of the yard excavator rolled over a car to be picked up, an acetylene cylinder rolled out breaking the valve.  As the leak began, a spark ignited the gas and it exploded.  The excavator operater was burned and had to be transported to the hospital in serious condition.

The explosion started a fire in the junkyard that involved a pile of tires and sent a column of thick smoke up that could be seen for miles away.  The Honolulu Fire Department responded and had the fire out in about an hour.  Damage is estimated at $300,000.

KHON-TV Ch. 2 has more in their story HERE.  They also filed this video report:

 

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

500 first responder runs a day

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GPS smartphone app + ambucycles = immediate response

Among the high-minded discusion and topless protest at the World Economic Forum in Davos was a presentation by Eli Beer, Chief Coordinator of United Hatzalah (Rescue).

Creating a Network of Heros describes the process of empowering 1,700 volunteers in Israel to immediately respond to a life-threatening medical emergency.

United Hatzalah's ambucycles are a solution when ambulances that needs to arrive quickly to save lives are unable to travel through congested traffic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The volunteers have an ambucycle with AED and first aid kit. They have a GPS application in their smart phone that displays the location of the emergency

From their website:

United Hatzalah of Israel is an independent non-profit fully volunteer Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Organization that assists in responding to medical emergencies throughout Israel.

The primary role of United Hatzalah volunteers – trained and certified as EMTs, Paramedics and MD’s – is to provide an immediate response within 2-4 minutes from the onset of an incident: establishing a life-saving bridge of medical care; transmitting vital information to control centers and once the local ambulance service arrives, working alongside its crew to enable a swift transfer to hospital. United Hatzalah's education department is an innovative leader in the fields of public health, safety and accident prevention training.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on February 1, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, EMS Dispatch, EMS Topics, News, Technology & Communications, Urban Commander, Videos • Tagged: , , , ,

Arizona Ka-Boom Destroys Two Homes

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Police Quickly Class it Suspicious

A DEVASTATING EXPLOSION LEVELED A CHANDLER, Arizona, house late Sunday night and caused enough damage to the home next door that it was destroyed also.

KTVK / AzAce

The withering blast that was felt up to two miles away immediately pulverized the house that had nobody in it at the time.  The resident who was not at home was located later this morning and he confirmed that there should be nobody in the house or its debris.

The police soon declared that the incident was "suspicious" based on some early evidence that they had, coupled with the fact that the home did not have any sort of gas service to it.

KTVK / Roscoe

AZCentral News filed this video report from the scene:

 

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KTVK

Phoenix Channel 3 has filed this updated report just before 1 pm Eastern:

 

A full investigation is underway including agents from ATF.  Already the investigators are telling the press that the explosion was intentional and not an accident.

KTVK-TV has more details, videos and a photo gallery HERE.

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Posted by on January 30, 2012 • Filed under: explosion, fire, Fires, Videos • Tagged: , ,

One month in Bladensburg

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When does William study?

William Patelis, a University of Maryland student and a live-firefighter at the Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Department, posted a picture from the station's status board on FaceBook last night:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the help of Chief Randy Kuenzli, got the rest of the details of the first 28 days of 2012:

  • 235 ambulance runs
  • 154 Engine runs
  • 71 Truck Runs
  • 8 structure fires

Bladensburg 8 is one of the all-volunteer staffed fire stations in Prince George's County, Maryland, providing engine, truck and ambulance service since November 2004.

Bladensburg was an early provider of community ambulance service. "Rescue Squad 1" has been part of the department since 1927.

 

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on January 29, 2012 • Filed under: EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighting Operations, Urban Commander, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Elderly Woman Dies in Fire Engine Collision

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Drove Into Fire Engine's Path

AN 80-YR.-OLD WOMAN WAS KILLED SATURDAY when her car was struck broadside by Denver, Colorado, Engine 22 as it was responding to a house fire.

KMGH-TV image

Witnesses all told police that same story, that the firetruck had the green light at the intersection and was traveling at a reduced speed when the woman drove through her red light and directly into the engine's path.  The engine's driver had no chance to avoid the collision and struck the car right at the driver's door.

KDVR-TV image

The fire engine pushed the car about 30 yards along the street and clipped two other cars along the way.  The firefighters immediately went to the aid of the woman who had to be extricated before they could begin CPR on her.  Unfortunately she arrived at the hospital DOA and was pronounced there.  None of the passengers in the other two cars were injured.

9News posted this video report from the scene:

 

KMGH-TV has the details HERE.

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Posted by on January 29, 2012 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, rescue, Rescues, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus, Videos • Tagged: , ,

Distraught Man Crashes Truck Into Loading Bay, Starts Fires in Warehouse in Illinois

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Building's Sprinklers Saved the Business

A TROUBLED TRUCK DRIVER CRASHED HIS RIG through a bay door at his company's headquarters in Edwardsville, Illinois, early Saturday morning where he then started several fires while brandishing a handgun.  During his exploit he held several dozens of police officers and SWAT team at bay for about ten hours before he turned the gun on himself and commited suicide.

The business is the Schneider National Operating/Training Center, the training facility for the large, national trucking company.

Google Satellite View of the Schneider National Trucking facility

The Alton Telegraph reports:

At about 2:08 a.m. Saturday, (Roger) Adams, 51, drove his rig onto the parking lot of Schneider-National and crashed into a loading dock area. The initial crash set off fire alarms at the business, which sparked a massive response by dozens of fire and police personnel across Madison County.

The truck's cab suffered fire damage, as did the exterior of the loading dock. Police said Adams set the cab on fire with an accelerant, which set off a fire alarm and activated the garage area's sprinkler system.

Adams set three fires in an office area of the business, police said. The sprinkler system extinguished the fires, police said.

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According to an Edwardsville Police Department press release, at 11:50 a.m. officers used tear gas to get Adams to surrender, and a short time after the gas was released Adams shot himself in the head with a small-caliber handgun after telling police of his intent to shoot himself.

After hearing the gunshot, the ILEAS task force secured the scene and paramedics tended to Adams.

KMOV-TV filed this good video report from the scene:

 

During the extended seige, police visited Adams' house where they found grafitti painted on his door and wall, along with a small fire in the back yard that had burned out.

A large fire-rescue task force was assemble near the site along with a haz-mat team and were held on standby for the 10 hours duration.  A special negotiator was brought in to talk with Adams, but the driver decided to shoot himself in the head with his small-calibre pistol.  The paramedics worked on him and kept him alive until they could get Adams on a helicopter when he was flown to a St. Louis hospital where, at last report, he is on a life-support system.

The Alton Telegraph has a good, detailed description of the entire incident HERE.

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Posted by on January 29, 2012 • Filed under: fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Fires, Videos • Tagged: , ,

Promotional Opportunities

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Child Porn Claims Another One

A HOUSTON, TEXAS, FIRE CAPTAIN HAS RESIGNED following his arrest and incarceration for possessing child pornography and "inappropriate online contact" with an underage girl.

Saul A. Fiszer

Saul Fiszer, 49, was arrested earlier this week and placed on leave.  He has been with the HFD for 18 years but volunteered to resign on Friday.  He has been in jail since Tuesday on $20,000 bond that apparently nobody is willing to post for him.

The Houston Chronicle reports:

On Jan. 10, Fiszer's wife found a frequently called number on his cellphone, according to court records. Posing as him, she began texting the number.

Fiszer's wife "found that the person texting her from the cellphone was a 14-year-old female who resided in Casper, Wyo., and referred to Fiszer as 'Daddy,' " the records state.

Confronted by his wife, Fiszer "admitted to her that he had been chatting online and trading pictures" with the teen, according to records.

Fiszer told police that he tried to kill himself by running a hose into his vehicle from its exhaust, but the suicide attempt failed when he ran out of gas.

Houston police confiscated Fiszer's laptop and media storage devices that held pornographic images and a video of children, investigators said. Officials said they found at least 450 images of child pornography.

KTRK-TV adds:

Fiszer's wife told investigators that she contacted the girl's parents as well as police in Wyoming to report the incident. Police there confiscated the girl's cell phone.

According to court documents, Fiszer's wife confronted him about the girl and she said he admitted to her that he had been chatting online and exchanging lewd pictures with the girl. The wife also told authorities that she had previously destroyed Fiszer's old laptop after she discovered he had been chatting with other women on the internet.

KTRK also filed this video report:

 

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Posted by on January 28, 2012 • Filed under: crime, current events, labor, News, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

Downtown Fire in France

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Challenging Fire Due to Building Conditions

A major fire broke out in the main shopping center in downtown Annecy, France, on Tuesday afternoon around 3:30 pm.

Le Dauphine

The fire began in a 2nd-floor apartment in a 3-story plus attic building and spread through the entire building for total destruction and into the building next door for additional damage.  Despite the high density of construction and occupancies, the fire department was able to keep the fire from spreading to any other buildings.

FALCO

There were no injuries, but 11 apartments were destroyed along with the shops on the ground floor.

Fifty firefighters were working the fire and had it contained by 7 pm. Extinguishment was slow because of the condition of the floors and roof that were threatening to collapse. It is expected that the remains of the building will have to be completely torn down and all rebuilt.

An amateur video was posted:

 

The fire was listed as accidental.

Le Dauphine has the STORY.

Posted by on January 27, 2012 • Filed under: fire, Fires, Videos

The non-driving 1%

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One of 25 Pagani Zonda F supercars

Hong Kong crash:

YouTube Preview Image

Matt Hardigree is hot on the story for Jalopnik. Perhaps a second crash of the same supercar. 

Which of the 1% cannot drive?

 

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Click on next paragraph to get the juicy details. The third Zonda crash in Hong Kong since the vehicle hit the streets in 2005.

Did A Dolce & Gabbana Exec Crash This $1.3 Million Zonda F?

Hong Kong has fire-based EMS that is very conservative.  Notice the (lack) of extensive patient assessment. 

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on January 27, 2012 • Filed under: cars, Fire Rescue Topics, Urban Commander, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances, Videos • Tagged: , , , ,

Update – Mysterious Misconduct Lands Firefighter in Jail

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Updated:  Charges Laid Out in Open Hearing Friday Morning.  Scroll Down.

A HALIFAX, MASSACHUSETTS, FIREFIGHTER was arrested Thursday afternoon on undisclosed charges and later released on bond.  Matthew Paris was picked up around 4 pm on a warrant and will face an arraignment this morning (Friday).

Halifax Fire Station

Hallifax Fire Chief William Carrico confirmed that one of his FF's has been arrested and said that he will issue a press release later this morning.  News reports are saying that Paris was charged with misconduct on the job, but nothing specific is known yet.  (Scroll down for update that outlines the charges.)

WCVB-TV Ch. 5 posted this video report last night:

 

FF Paris was hired on a part-time basis in 1998 and since 2000 has been a full-time firefighter with the department.  Halifax has six officers, six full-time fireghters and 16 paid-on-call FF's.

The Enterprise has MORE.
Halifax Fire Department WEBSITE.

Update, 1:30 pm Eastern:

Facing a judge in an open hearing Friday morning, Paris heard the charges laid against him for lewd acts committed on a minor.  Specifically, he was charged with two counts of open and gross lewdness, one count of accosting or annoying a person of the opposite sex, and one count of distribution of obscene material to a minor after he allegedly exposed himself and talked about sex to a 14-year-old.

Paris in his court appearance
on Friday.  (NECN image)

Prosecutors said the girl and her parents reported to police four separate incidents with Paris that happened between last summer and last week. The girl said the last incident happened last Friday.

He is being held on $10,000 bail.

NECN filed this video report from the courtroom:

 

The Wicked Local has more details HERE.

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Posted by on January 27, 2012 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, labor, News, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

Time For A New Training Chief in Jackson?

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A New Legal Advisor Would Help, Too

THE JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, FIRE DEPARTMENT has got itself in a pickle after 26 recruits in a class of 28 flunked the State Certification Exam.  It was learned that the final exam was administered in November, but after the massive fail rate the fire department has been trying to get the Minimum Standards Board to permit the city to re-test the recruits themselves.  The recruit schools run for 12 weeks in Jackson's own academy which has recently started another school of 12 recruits. 

WLBT image

The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports:

Jackson Fire Chief Raymond McNulty would respond to questions from The Clarion-Ledger only in an email through city spokesman Chris Mims. Some of McNulty's responses were not clear or did not appear to directly answer the questions.

The Minimum Standards Board established a committee to inquire into the situation regarding Jackson recruits when the board discussed the matter in November.

The situation with the recruits apparently arises from a discrepancy between what JFD taught and what actually is on the minimum standards test, though the Minimum Standard Board approved Jackson's curriculum.

WLBT-TV posted this video report on the situation:

 

In the meantime, the 26 FF's that failed have been getting paid while they await the settlement of the problem.  The fire chief says that state law requires them to be certified before they can be allowed to perform as firefighters, so they remain in limbo.

Not true, says Joel Jones, attorney for the Mississippi Fire Personnel Minimum Standards and Certification Board.

"Jackson apparently has an internal policy that they don't actually use guys as firemen until they've passed the course. That's a Jackson policy," Jones said. "State law says after they hire someone they have to be certified in a year. There's no restriction in the state law as to how they use that person, they just can't pay them after a year unless they're certified."

The Clarion-Ledger says that this isn't the first time that Jackson has had learning problems:

An internal affairs report dated Sept. 20, 2005, obtained by The Clarion-Ledger, states that "approximately 80 percent of 2005 recruit class felt that the class was poorly organized and did not receive the quality of training expected."

The report further states: "The class stated that they were given a book for Jackson Fire Department Training Class and later it was determined that this was the wrong book. Instructor (Keith) Simpson told them that they will continue to train from the book. The recruit class felt that improper material affected their academic performance on the Minimum Standard Test."

The report concludes that "The overhaul of (the training) division may be the key to better this department in the future."

Apparently they didn't get a new key.

Read the full article in the Clarion-Ledger HERE.
Jackson Fire Department WEBSITE.

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Amazon's Gold Box Deal of the Day:

Pioneer VSX-521-K5.1 Home Theater Receiver

The receiver will accept and play
wireless input from Blu-Tooth devices

Today – $137.99 (27% off)

CLICK HERE to read all the details and order yours.

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Posted by on January 26, 2012 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, Training, training-fire-rescue-topics, Videos • Tagged: , ,

Deputy VFD Chief Ambushed, Shot in Pennsylvania

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Ex-Wife's Boyfriend Arrested

A VOLUNTEER FIRE OFFICER, GLEN RUSSELL, 43, of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, was getting out of his car Tuesday mid-day when he was suddenly ambushed by a masked man carrying a shotgun who fired on Russell.  Despite being hit several times, Russell managed to run into a nearby bank lobby seeking help.  The bank employees locked the door and called for police.

Glen Russell

The Reading Eagle continues:

(Russell), a Berks County real estate agent was ambushed and shot by his ex-wife’s lover as he arrived for a counseling appointment with his former wife at a Spring Township office complex, according to court documents available today.

Glen Russell, 43, of Pottstown was shot multiple times with a shotgun by Christopher Yingling, 41, of Birdsboro about 11 a.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of Spring Commons Professional Office Village, 2917 Windmill Road, police said.

Russell told police that Yingling had shot him, and Yingling was arrested about two hours later at his workplace in Cumru Township with the help of Cumru police, investigators said.

Christopher Yingling  (Angstadt / Reading Eagle)

WFMZ-TV filed this video report Tuesday evening:

 

The police have not found a motive yet from Yingling who is being held on $150,000 bond charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault.

Glen Russell is a long-time member and a Deputy Chief of the Limerick Fire Company in Montgomery County.  He remains in critical but stable condition in the hospital today.

The Reading Eagle has the details of the story along with an eyewitness' account of the shooting HERE.

Limerick Fire Company WEBSITE.

Hat tip:  Radical Ron

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Save on Select Sony Cameras from Amazon
Starting at $89.00

CLICK HERE to view the choices and to order yours.

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Posted by on January 25, 2012 • Filed under: crime, current events, News, Videos • Tagged: , ,

Chicago Fire Claims 2 Children Behind Locked Door

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Self-Closing Door Prevents Rescue

A CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, WOMAN WAS PUT THROUGH an ordeal early Tuesday morning when she was prevented from saving her two children from a fire because of a locked door.

The fire started around 3:15 am Central this morning (Tuesday) and the mother of three was awakened somehow, alerted to the fire.  She grabbed her 6-year-old son who was closest and took him out the front door of their apartment.  But the self-closing and locking door slammed shut behind her, preventing her from returning to the apartment to snatch the other two youngsters ages 3 and 1 yrs.

WMAQ-TV photo

A police officer who was first on the scene and a passing tow-truck driver tried to break in the door and when they were finally successful, the fire and heat in the apartment prevented their entry.

WLS-TV Ch. 7 filed this early video report:

 

The two victims were in the same bedroom and apparently died from the smoke as there was not burning in the bedroom.  Their mother is in the hospital in serious condition from smoke inhalation, but the 6-yr.-old boy was uninjured.  The apartment had smoke detectors and it is believed that they were working, but not confirmed.

WBBM-TV has a recently updated report with more information and additional video HERE.

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Posted by on January 24, 2012 • Filed under: fire, Fires, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

Red-Light Runner Burns Down Detroit House

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Passerby Hero Saves One Passenger

AN AUTOMOBILE CARRYING THREE PEOPLE ran a red light at speed Sunday afternoon around 3 pm, clipped another car and then careened out of control into a house.  As the car crashed through a front bedroom, it tore off a gas meter which led to an immediate ignition and the fire moved into the house within seconds.

All the residents were fortunate to be at the rear of the building during the crash, but less fortunate because they lost everything they owned as the interior of the house was gutted.

WXYZ-TV has this video report that includes some fire footage:

 

Other people already out in the neighborhood rushed to the car to help the occupants.  They were able to cut the seat belt and pull the front-seat passenger to safety, but were unable to free the driver and had to go through the ordeal of watching him burn to death.  The third passenger bolted and ran away.

WJBK-TV has a good interview with the man who saved the passenger's life:

 

Car Hits House in Detroit, Causes Fire: MyFoxDETROIT.com

WDIV-TV has more details and additional video HERE.

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Posted by on January 23, 2012 • Filed under: fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Fires, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

Morning Lineup – January 23

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Monday Morning – Drive Carefully

Here we go into another new week of the new year.  And we have lots of newsy things to pass along to you, so let's get started.

ChicagoAreaFire is continuing to broaden their scope and coverage by adding a new occasional feature.  They're going to be including some vintage photos of large Chicago fires from out of the past.  Those things are always fun to look at, and Saturday's installment is no exception.  There's something about ice-covered fire engines that fascinates observers.  CLICK HERE to see this posting from Bill Friedrich.  Be sure to read the Comments as their knowledgeable readers fill in the blanks on the details and wherefors of these fires.

I hope you have ChicagoAreaFire on your Favorites list because webmaster Larry "Smoke Showing" Shapiro does a great job of maintaining it.  Most of the members are quality fire photographers or historians and as they compile what is soon to be a catalogue of every firehouse and apparatus in the greater Chicago area, they keep us up to date on current events and major fires.  When you go to the Home Page, click on News to enter the blog where the daily postings are placed.

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Periodically we get stories about some nutty and/or embarrassing actions performed by local polititicians, mayors, fire chiefs, etc.  But the Lancaster, Massachusetts, Town Manager Orlando Pacheco is currently leading the parade of administrators who have embarrassed their residents and taxpayers. 

CBS News image

Just last week the information was released on his escapade last August where he re-wrote the definition of "Really, really drunk" after being picked up by the Westborough Police when they found him passed out on the hood of his car in a gas station parking lot.  He was on his way home after visiting a Worcester strip club and couldn't go any further.

"When I arrived on scene he was unconscious on the hood of his car, his pants were around his ankles," said Westborough Police officer Steve Reale. He had also vomited on himself.  The good folks in Lancaster are kind of wondering why he's still got a job, as you will see in this video report from CBS News:

 

At least everybody here made it to work this mornng, so let's get started with the equipment check.  I need to get some good, strong coffee started before we meet back in the digital day room in a little while.

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Posted by on January 23, 2012 • Filed under: morning lineup, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , ,