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Another Ambulance Head-On

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As Usual, Acohol is a Factor

AN INDIANAPOLIS EMS UNIT was involved in a heavy crash Monday evening despite the driver's attempt to avoid the collision.  The ambulance was on a non-emergency transport with a patient at 6 pm when a car that witnesses say was driving erratically down the road crashed head-on with the ambulance.  The force of the crash knocked the car onto its roof.  WTHR-TV tells us:

Police say the preliminary investigation shows the ambulance was traveling west on 21st Street, while the other vehicle, a full-size passenger car, was driving erratically in the eastbound lanes. The ambulance driver attempted to avoid the oncoming vehicle, but the car drove into the ambulance's path and struck it head-on, causing the car to flip over.

The driver of the car was taken to Wishard Hospital in serious condition. One of the workers in the ambulance was reportedly slightly injured.

WRTV photo

The Indianapolis Star has the story and additional photos HERE.

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Posted by on December 6, 2011 • Filed under: ambulances, EMS Topics, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances • Tagged: , ,

From the Evening News Ticker

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Tuesday Evening News Ticker

The AFP has a heart-gripping story about a brave Japanese firefighter who made no hesitation to sacrifice his life in order to save hundreds of his villagers.

Koshita, 57, one of 28 members of the Second Otsuchi Fire Unit, rushed to his seaside station in the afternoon of March 11 after he felt the first massive jolt of the earthquake.  There, he found an electrical blackout had put the station's siren system out of action.

Koshita grabbed an old-fashioned bell, only kept in storage as a back-up for the siren, held it tight and climbed to the roof, where he started ringing it vigorously. 

The sound echoed for several minutes across the village until the giant waves came crashing over the horizon, sweeping away the station, its watch tower, and Koshita himself.

This is a must-read story.  CLICK HERE .

Our friend Mark Donovan sent us this well-written article from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette that gives a good description of the service provided by the Providence Fire Canteen Unit.

T & G photo

If your department has a canteen, this is a good example of positive PR that you can use for some tips.  A great way to explain your duty and perhaps generate some donations.  CLICK HERE.

In a turnabout from that tragic fiasco in Houston last month, the staff at a daycare center in Indianapolis was a) there, and b) knew just what to do when fire broke out with 24 toddlers under their care.  Firefighter Nation has the story, video and links.  CLICK HERE.

A lightning strike caused a 2-alarm fire in a Nashville, Tennessee, apartment building Monday afternoon.  The fire started in the attic area and the firefighters were hindered because there are two roofs over the building. 

WSMV-TV

Two firefighters were injured and taken to the hospital but are expected to be released by tomorrow.  WSMV-TV has the story, photo gallery, and a video report.  CLICK HERE.

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Posted by on April 5, 2011 • Filed under: News • Tagged: , , , , ,

Boy Scout Camp Building Burns in Indiana

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A 2-STORY BUILDING IN A BOY SCOUT CAMP near Indianapolis, Indiana, burned down Wednesday morning.  Camp Belzer is one of several Boy Scout camps in central Indiana, but is used year-around for leadership training and other various activities.  The 15,00o sq. ft. building contained a cafeteria and various class and activity rooms. 

WTHR-TV

The Indianapolis Star reports:

A passerby noticed flames and knocked on the door of the on-campus ranger, who lives in a house on the grounds, to alert him.  The blaze was reported about 6 a.m. and brought under control about 7:30 a.m.

There are(no) hydrants in the area and water tankers were summoned from several area fire departments. Up to 60 firefighters responded, some spraying water on trees to keep the flames from spreading.

The 7-yr.-old building was completely gutted.  Units are still on the scene and it is too early for investigators to begin seeking the cause of the $1.7 millon blaze.

WTHR-TV Ch. 13 has this video report from the scene with some good helicopter views:

 

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Posted by on November 24, 2010 • Filed under: fire, Fires, Videos • Tagged: , ,

Indy Firetrucks Collide

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AN PAIR OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, FIRETRUCKS COLLIDED Saturday night while responding to the same call.

WISH-TV image

A pumper and a ladder truck came together at an intersection from different directions while responding to a fire alarm at a high-rise apartment.  The caller reported seeing fire from another building and people evacuating the building.   It turned out to be a false call.

The collision knocked the truck into an oncoming lane where it struck a parked vehicle.  While the damage to the firetrucks’ bodyworks appeared to be extensive, there were no personal injuries in the collision.

WISH-TV Ch. 8 provided this video report:

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Posted by on August 16, 2010 • Filed under: apparatus, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

$1Million Blaze Burns Booze in Beech Grove

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THE INDIANAPOLIS SUBURB OF BEECH GROVE, Indiana, had a double-header early Sunday morning that brought several companies from the IFD in to help out.  The first fire was a house fire of the routine variety and they were in the mop-up stage when an alarm came in for the Payless Liquors storage warehouse.

WTHR-TV

The first units were met with a large fire in progress and the need for additional help.  WISH-TV Ch. 8 had video crews on the scenes of both fires and filed this report:

The warehouse fire was notable for the high, blue flames generated as the alcohol burned off.  That fire was brought under control in just over an hour and the loss is estimated at $1.5 million.

Posted by on July 12, 2010 • Filed under: fire, Fires, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

Truck Fire Ties Up Indy Traffic Thursday

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A TRACTOR-TRAILER HAULING 1,800 CASES OF BEER wrecked and burned Thursday morning on I-70 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

WTHR-TV

The truck was traveling westbound around 2 am and entering a construction zone that has temporary lane shifts erected.  The driver admitted that he mis-judged the lane changes and he struck one of the jersey walls, ripping open a full saddle tank of fuel and starting a fire.  The truck began burning immediately while he was still moving and he had to bring it to a stop and bail out, jumping through the flames into the center lane that was fortunately vacant as auto traffic backed off from the blazing truck.

Wayne Township firefighters responded along with a haz-mat team and extinguished the fire, but the entire rig was ablaze when they arrived and all was lost.  The westbound lanes of the freeway remained closed this morning while the beer was transferred to another truck and the burned out hulk was righted and towed away.

WTHR-TV Ch. 13 has this video report from the scene:

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Posted by on June 10, 2010 • Filed under: beer, fire, Fires, Videos • Tagged: , , , ,

Police Officer Charged With Multiple Arsons

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THE MARION COUNTY, INDIANA, PROSECUTOR FILED 6 felony charges against a now-former Indianapolis police officer suspected of being involved in more than a dozen, perhaps as many as twenty arsons.

Jesse Russell

Jesse Russell, 31, first became a suspect in several fires after it was noticed that he was the first person to discover several fires in and near his patrol area.  Investigators then attached a hidden GPS transmitter to his patrol car and were able to physically place him at the scene of more fires.  At least three of the charges are for apartment fires that carry penalties of up to 20 yrs. in prison on each charge.

This video report from WISH-TV presents more details:

The three-year officer resigned from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department after his arrest last week.  Russell will appear in Superior Court today for an initial hearing.

The Indianapolis Star has MORE.

Posted by on June 3, 2010 • Filed under: arson, Fire Rescue Topics, investigations, Videos • Tagged: , ,

Lane-Changer Triggers Fiery Multi-Vehicle Wreck

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A 76-YR.-OLD MAN DRIVING ON I-465 in Indianapolis, Indiana, started to exit the freeway Tuesday afternoon, then changed his mind and attempted to pull back into the traffic lane.  He then struck an SUV causing it to spin around and collide with a tractor-trailer carrying a large water tank containing salt-water fish.

The truck crashed into the jersey barrier splitting open the fuel tank and starting a diesel fire before the vehicles even came to a stop.

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WRTV

The fire was so destructive to the asphalt pavement that the highway had to be shut down for several hours while an emergency re-paving job was done to the lanes.  Police believe that alcohol was a factor in the cause of the wreck.

WISH-TV Ch. 8 has this video report including an interview with the obviously disgusted truck driver:

WRTV has a photo gallery HERE.

Posted by on March 10, 2010 • Filed under: fire, Fires, Videos • Tagged: