Uncle Jay Expalins August 31, 2009

Ted Kennedy may have been the Lion of the Senate, but it hasn't been Hakuna Matata there for a long time. Can't health care just be re-mastered, like Beatles songs? Uncle Jay explains it all, with almost no Michael Jackson!

On scene fire video, what mistakes do you see?

Indiana house fire: From Lake Station yesterday morning. Here's the write-up with this video- Crews were dispatched to a reported house fire at 3804 East 36th Ave just after 10am on 8-27-09, police had all residents evacuated before fire personnel arrived on scene. After a line was advanced in the front door it was determined that the easiest way to access the fire was through the roof. Two lines were used from the roof vantage point and the fire was brought under control with no injuries. Fire investigators have determined the fire started due to an electrical problem.

Basement fire, side C of structure. Dispatched as possibly occupied. No one was home at the time.

Information with this video shot last Wednesday in Saginaw, Michigan:

Don’t you Just Hate It When That Happens?

Bringing out the big guns for a mud rescue, Fire engine extrication.

This looks like Engine 2 from Newstead Fire Company of Erie County, New York after a barn fire. The tractor doesn't do the job so the excavator was brought in. This can and does happen. Nice and dry and firm at the start and as you dump water for rural water operation the ground get really go soft on the operator. If you were aware and had the time a materials not a bad idea to place cribbing or planks under the tires in situations like this, but hey conditions are not always ideal.

Sometimes Firefighting is Just a Game ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S PLAYED OUT ON A MONOPOLY BOARD…..

Yes, it’s coming soon:  MONOPOLY:  Firefighters Edition

It’s  played on a real MONOPOLY board, except the street names have changed, and of course the game pieces are FD-oriented.  Instead of going to Jail, you get sent to the Chief’s Office.  The Chance and Community Chest cards have been replaced with Backdraft and Flashover decks…..and you can really get burned there!

The rules are same as the traditional game that we all grew up with, but the winner gets promoted to Fire Chief.

The Fire Store is taking orders NOW for an early November delivery at the reasonable price of $39.99, saving you the effort of trying to put a shopping list together.

Check it out and pre-order your copies now by clicking HERE for ordering information at The Fire Store.

'Shake and bake' method of making meth could show up in W.Va.

Found this article to be interesting.  Looks like we have something
new to look out for.
Full article here, well worth the read: http://dailymail.com/News/statenews/200908110712

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A new and simpler method of manufacturing methamphetamine, called "Shake and Bake," is just beginning to show up in West Virginia, according to state police.

A speaker at a drug conference in Charleston Tuesday said the state can be prepared to see the trend sweep the state as it is expected to sweep the nation.

"It's taking over in Arkansas, and it will soon be widely spread nationwide," Chris Harrison told a gathering of more than 200 representatives of law enforcement, social work, prosecutors offices and others who deal with drug crimes.

Harrison, chief illicit laboratory chemist at the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, spoke at the 2009 West Virginia Drug Endangered Children Conference.

He said seizures of clandestine methamphetamine labs went down nationwide after Federal laws were passed to limit sales of pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in many cold medications and a necessary element to making meth.

Good PSA from The UK “Texting Can Be Deadly”

Good PSA video from the UK. Doubt that you will see this on American TV, but you never know, that why I am putting in this Blog so that it will get some play other than You Tube. The texting while driving controversy continues. My guess is that it will get banned in automobiles in all areas the US. Would speech recognition for testing on a mobile device be any better? The is a very graphic video and should be shared. Good on for driver education class. Now this is an effective Public Service Announcement. But will people actually get the message? Texting is deadly while driving. Parents, watch this first before your teen does. This NEEDS to be banned.

CNN Airs Graphic "Texting Can Be Deadly" Public Service Ad

I support her, almost

I like this, it’s what we all should be doing anyway. There are entirely too many close calls and collisions with fire apparatus. 

From firefightereclosecalss.com

Perhaps you are following the issue down in Austin (Texas) where the Fire Chief wants members to briefly stop and make sure intersections are clear before proceeding through red lights, stop signs, things like that.
Some Austin Firefighters are concerned about the new policy ordered by Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr. Under the policy, Firefighters must drive the speed limit and come to a complete stop at intersections before proceeding during an emergency. They don't have to wait for the light to turn green-just make sure it is clear.
However not everyone agrees.
"When we respond to an emergency we work as a team," said Steven Truesdell, President of the Austin Firefighters. "We have multiple sets of eyes surveying the traffic and the driver and officer work together to make sure they are proceeding through traffic safely." State law in Texas (like just about everywhere else) allows Firefighters responding to an emergency to drive over the speed limit and to go through red lights and stop signs.
You just can't hit anyone. And the only way to make sure that doesn't happen is to make sure it doesn't happen by briefly stopping-and then going thru when it is clear. That procedure works for thousands of FD's everyday across North America.
Some Austin Firefighters are concerned, saying the new policy is above and beyond the state law.
"We feel state law is appropriate. It requires us to use necessary caution and to be very careful," said Truesdell. But Kerr says the policy is designed to reduce the number of crashes where she is the ultimate person responsible-along with the officer-along with the driver.
So is the Chief looking out for her members?
Absolutely.
As she stated: "In today's world, there is so much going on in heavily-traveled streets. People are talking on their cell phones or texting or looking at their e-mails; we just want our Firefighters to have better control over hazardous situations"
So the order reduces Firefighter liability when driving apparatus.
So they don't hurt or kill someone who doesn't hear or see them coming.
So they don't potentially run into one of their own family as happened last year in Ohio when a Firefighter/Apparatus driver (who was doing nothing more than responding to help people with a vehicle fire)ran a controlled intersection without stopping, striking and killing 2 of her own relatives.
Literally a living nightmare for all affected. NO ONE wants to go thru that. EVER.
HERE it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga_vHeGYQ34
HERE are some other related examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPeyFND68Zs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9zAOEGAdfs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZQMeGW-hyY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6l-BkRhcfE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGuZQGgXFgY
Wanna reduce response times?
A few tips include making sure your dispatch center processes and tones out serious calls in about 30 seconds. And  make sure the members get out and are responding in less than a minute. And while we don't know if there are any underlying issues in this case (that has been known to happen at "some FD's) however, with about 30 or so of us killed in the Line of Duty each year, and many more seriously hurt in vehicular related crashes, it makes sense. 
Fire apparatus in any FD is ultimately the Chiefs responsibility and anyone driving the truck needs to drive them in the manner that the chief wants. That's called following policy, training, orders and direction.
Stuff like that. No one likes to do that all the time, but we have to pick our battles. This one isn't worth fighting because the Chief is right. And NO firefighter WANTS to have a crash. But we have them and speed and/or intersections are the heart of almost all.
Fire service history has absolutely proven that the Chief is right and is attempting to help her own members stay out of court, out of intense mental stress counseling and out of attending the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend for one of their own.
Whenever responding to a life threatening emergency, EVERY Firefighter-from Chief to probie WANTS to get there "5 minutes ago"-but we have to get there. Our goal is to help people with a problem without becoming part of the problem. If we crash responding-we help no one and create a brand new emergency with a host of new problems-some life altering to all affected.
Quite often, a Chief MUST be THE Chief and it will undoubtedly reduce the members of any Chiefs fan club. That's OK, we save on postage. When you are a Chief Officer, a Company Officer or someone that establishes/enforces policy, we think it is better if your Firefighters don't like you in circumstances like this, as opposed to having them "like" you-and them then losing their life in a situation that YOU KNOW can be prevented-by being THE CHIEF.
We have to pick our battles.

On arrival Video, Lots went wrong here.

I could almost taste the Sh*&^# tasting smoke from this one when I watched this video. There is not much back ground from this July 29th fire. This is reported to be a house that burned in Saginaw, Michigan. Here's the only description with the video. I think that there is a lot of “don’t do this” in this video. But it’s too short, would like to have scene what the outcome was. Did they ever find the fire, put a line on it. Did they ever put on their SCBA? 

Not quits sure if this is the news article about this fire???

Saginaw firefighters battle 10 p.m. Tuesday blaze The Saginaw News Wednesday July 29, 2009, 7:25 AM

Saginaw firefighters say a "robust" fire with "orange flames and dense black smoke" consumed an abandoned, unsecured home at 3422 Rust on the city's East Side about 10 p.m. Tuesday. The fire is "suspicious" and being investigated by the Fire Investigative Services Team, a division that investigates arson, Saginaw Fire Department Battalion Chief Edgar Johnson said. Johnson said firefighters were on scene for nearly an hour fighting flames predominantly in the front of the one-story home. Assessor's records show the home is owned by the Saginaw County Land Bank Authority.

Double-LODD in Buffalo

 

BUFFALO, NEW YORK, FIREFIGHTERS ARE ON THE SCENE of a 04:00 AM 3-alarm fire that has just suffered a partial collapse trapping two FF’s that were inside conducting a search.

TV station WGRZ is reporting that Buffalo Fire Commissioner Michael Lombardo confirms two firefighters did not make it out. He says they thought they heard someone pounding for help in the basement. When they went in for the rescue, the main floor collapsed under them.

A reporter on the scene is saying that the officers on the fire ground fear that the FF’s have perished.

Update, 8 am:
The fire is in a 2-story building that has a delicatessen on the ground floor with living units overhead.  The firefighters went missing shortly after the units began working the fire a little after 4 am.  Some of the local media are reporting that the firefighters have not yet been able to locate the missing two despite breaching the walls in an attempt to get into the basement area where they are believed to be buried under the collapsed floor.

Pair of Buffalo, New York Firefighters Missing in Building Fire
Fire officials say two Buffalo firefighters remain missing in the basement of building where the first floor collapsed during an early morning blaze.
Fire Commissioner Michael Lombardo says the firefighters were inside the convenience store on the burning building’s first floor when it collapsed Monday morning.
Read the Full Story, Watch Video Reports and Get the Latest Updates Throughout the Day Here.
• Read Full Story

WIVB-TV Channel 4 has two videos reports so far.
This first one has footage of the fire early on at its peak:

This second video has an interview with the Fire Commissioner who tells of the tragedy:

 

From Firegezzer.com this morning

Double-LODD in Buffalo

 

BUFFALO, NEW YORK, FIREFIGHTERS ARE ON THE SCENE of a 04:00 AM 3-alarm fire that has just suffered a partial collapse trapping two FF’s that were inside conducting a search.

TV station WGRZ is reporting that Buffalo Fire Commissioner Michael Lombardo confirms two firefighters did not make it out. He says they thought they heard someone pounding for help in the basement. When they went in for the rescue, the main floor collapsed under them.

A reporter on the scene is saying that the officers on the fire ground fear that the FF’s have perished.

Update, 8 am:
The fire is in a 2-story building that has a delicatessen on the ground floor with living units overhead.  The firefighters went missing shortly after the units began working the fire a little after 4 am.  Some of the local media are reporting that the firefighters have not yet been able to locate the missing two despite breaching the walls in an attempt to get into the basement area where they are believed to be buried under the collapsed floor.

WIVB-TV Channel 4 has two videos reports so far.
This first one has footage of the fire early on at its peak:

This second video has an interview with the Fire Commissioner who tells of the tragedy:

 

From Firegezzer.com this morning

Good First Arrival Video, What would you do different on this one ???

This video show on arrival, would make a good T&S class video. Watch the time ticker on how long it takes for the crew to get a line on the fire. Priorities could change if the time of day was different?, Looks as if everyone was out on arrival. Good old deep seated attic fire? Notice that they break the upper floor windows and no smoke shows?

On August 20, 2009, at 1:27pm, calls came pouring into the Harford County Fire Dispatch Center reporting a house on fire in the 600 block of Angel Drive, which is located in the Long Bar Harbor area of Abingdon, Harford County. The first arriving fire engine, which was from the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company, arrived at 1:36pm. They used their hose lines to begin extinguishing the fire. A hook and ladder truck from the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company, as well as other units from the Abingdon Volunteer Fire Company, Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company (Baltimore Co), and Aberdeen Proving Ground Fire Department also responded and assisted with extinguishment. There were no reported injuries and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

A fire Thursday in Harford County, Maryland. The picture below and account of the fire are from Andrew Doyle:

Oklahoma City Fire station burns

I first hear about this story the other day and did want to blog about it, but here I am doing it anyway. Not a good thing anytime that a fire station catches fire. What caught my eye was that not only was it a fire station, probably build in the late 60’s to early 70’s but that no sprinklers were evidently installed. In the story it’s reports that this station is being replaced anyway, I can only hope that the new one will have a sprinkler system and fire alarm installed. One other thing, and maybe part of the reason for it being closed, look where the oil well is in relation to station, Was that oil well there when they built this place? I guess it is Oklahoma and that’s normal ????

Watch story from KOCO-TV

More video from KOCO-TV

A look at the future for this firehouse

Click here for more helicopter video of the fire

Oklahoma City Fire Station 6 at 620 NE 8th Street caught fire Thursday afternoon and has put the station out of commission.

From the AP:

Oklahoma City firefighters have extinguished a blaze at an unlikely location - a fire station.
Officials say the blaze at a station near the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center began about 3:20 p.m. Thursday and primarily affected the building's living area and kitchen.
There were no reports of injuries.
Battalion Chief Brian Stanaland says officials think the fire started in the kitchen. Stanaland says the crew was out of the station when it caught fire.
An initial assessment indicated the building is uninhabitable and firefighters stationed there will be split up temporarily and moved to other stations.
The building is scheduled to be replaced when a new station in the Bricktown entertainment district is completed.

How Broadband Can Enhance Homeland Security Webinar- Aug 25 @ 9AM EDT

On Tuesday, August 25, 9:00 a.m. EDT, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will host a workshop available to the general public via an online webinar.  The goal of the workshop is to examine existing and potential uses of broadband technology by public safety entities and ways in which broadband technology can enhance homeland security.  The workshop will bring together representatives from the public safety community, government agencies, industry, and academia to discuss interoperability, redundancy, cyber security, 911, and pandemic response, among other issues.  The first panel will focus on use of broadband applications by first responders to communicate emergency information and to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.  This panel will also explore issues relating to interoperability, redundancy, and the cost of providing broadband access to public safety.  The second panel will focus on the impact of broadband technology on particular homeland security issues, such as cyber security, pandemics, bioterrorism, and critical infrastructure vulnerabilities.  The panel will also examine current and future public safety use of managed IP-networks.

To join the webinar, you will first need to register and also set up the required software on your computer prior to the event.  Visit the following website to register and for more details: http://www.broadband.gov/ws_pshs.html.

Responder Safety

The Emergency Responder Safety Institute has conducted a review of typical functions performed by emergency responders at roadway incidents. This effort was funded as part of a grant from the Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (EMW-2007-FP-01749). To assist in the development process, the ERSI established a panel of experts to conduct the initial analysis and review the materials as they were developed. This report discusses the process utilized, outlines the specific job performance requirements for critical positions assigned to emergency responders and provided guidance on the use of the requirements by potential users and training organizations.

Full Report

http://www.respondersafety.com/Download.aspx?downloadID=77a342f9-9dcd-4ee6-ba8c-acb9548c0d28

Firefighter Honored 23 years after

August 16, 2009 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- A Chicago firefighter who was killed battling a hotel fire in January of 1986 was honored Sunday.

Lt. Edmund Coglianese died Super Bowl Sunday 1986, the day the Chicago Bears won it all. However, Sunday, his widow accepted a sculpture and was thanked for the work she' has done for fallen firefighters.

The ceremony marked a moment the firefighter's widow, Eileen Coglianese, had decided would never come.

"It kind of blew me away. I was like, 'Oh my gosh,'" she told ABC7 Chicago.

Uncle Jay Explains August 17, 2009

Thank goodness our Death Panels will be all American, so there's no nasty Russian judge like at the Olympics. Hey, Paula Abdul's available! Plus, Dick Cheney tortures himself over what to reveal in his new book. Uncle Jay explains it all!

5 firefighters, 2 others hurt in crash

August 15, 2009

Five firefighters and two others were hurt when a fire engine collided with another vehicle in the South Shore neighborhood this afternoon, a Fire Department spokesman said.

The incident occurred at about 5 p.m. at the intersection of 67th Street and Jeffery Avenue, according to Chicago Fire Department Chief Joe Roccasalva. The firefighters were responding to an automatic alarm in the 8000 block of South Brandon Avenue when the crash happened, he said.

A car collided with the fire engine as it was eastbound on 67th Street, police said. The fire engine then struck a pole.

Five firefighters were treated and released from Trinity Hospital, Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Roccasalva said. One of them was taken from the crash scene in serious-to-critical condition, while the remaining four were taken in fair-to-serious condition.

Two people from the other vehicle were taken to Northwestern in critical condition, he said.

The driver of the vehicle, Michael Quinn, 30, of the 2100 block of East 72nd Street, was cited for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, no insurance and damage to city property, police said. He is still at Northwestern for observation.

A passenger in Quinn's vehicle, a 24-year-old woman, was listed in critical condition at the hospital, police said.

 

Getting Ready for Fallen Firefighters' Memorial

View Full List of Honored Fallen (PDF)

EMMITSBURG, Md. -- In about eight weeks, the family, friends and colleagues of America's fallen firefighters will be here to remember their loved ones.

The names of 104 firefighters who gave the ultimate sacrifice in 2008 as well as 19 from previous years will be added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.

Organizers have been working for months to make sure the annual memorial weekend -- Oct. 2 to 4 -- is a memorable one.

The firefighters to be honored include pilots, wildfire crews, volunteers and career personnel. Some were with large departments, some tiny.

On Wednesday, people in charge of the various aspects or events met to share details.

A number of changes this year will call for enhanced coordination, said Raleigh, N.C. Chief John McGrath, the incident commander.

Motorcyclists who ride to honor the fallen heroes will arrive about 4:15 p.m. instead of noon. Those involved in the annual Red Helmet Ride will place a wreath at the memorial.

Also, the candlelight vigil is once again moving outside. For the past several years, the Saturday evening event has been held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.

"Having it outside at the memorial again will be more memorable for the families," said Larry Curl, the event's producer.

Luminaries -- designed by children of fallen firefighters -- will be lit prior to the ceremony instead of during the service as in the past.

Curl stressed that it's critical for everyone to know their job for the event to come off without a hitch. "It's all about the families," he said. "We want this to be an honorable occasion."

A mandatory rehearsal has been set for Saturday afternoon. "Timing is everything," he said.

Volunteers who are coordinating bag pipes, escorts, honor guards, logistics, transportation, communications, children's activities and other aspects have submitted an operation plan that are included in a binder.

"We are handling this event as we would on the scene," McGrath said. "Each sector has a plan, and shared it."

The former operations chief in Philadelphia said firefighters are used to being flexible. "We're planning for a long-term operation, and people know things can change."

McGrath, who has headed the command post on campus for the past several years, said he is pleased to be part of the remembrance.

"Look at the quality of the people in this room," he said. "This is a work of passion for all of us ..."

---

PHOENIX (AZ) FIRE OFFICER CRITICAL-EJECTED IN RESPONDING APPARATUS CRASH

Firefighter Close Calls

 

Tuesday, August 11, 2009 

Last night (Monday evening), a Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department Fire Officer and others were injured as they were responding on a run, when there was a crash. The PFD Captain is in critical condition after she was reportedly ejected from that fire apparatus that was responding to the emergency call. Around 1800 hours, the engine was passing through an intersection when a sedan crashed into the side of the engine. Witnesses said the engine did have its lights and sirens activated and the civilian car blew through a red traffic signal.
8 vehicles were eventually involved and about a dozen people were hurt, including the Captain who was ejected and the apparatus driver.
The civilian driver of a passenger car didn't stop for the fire company that was on its way to the run with lights and sirens on. The engine and the car collided, sending the engine into several cars waiting at the light and witnesses said the woman who caused the accident was driving very fast and she ran a red light.
The Fire Captain suffered numerous injuries, including a head injury who is a 21-year veteran of the department who splits her time between recruiting new firefighters and commanding crews on the trucks. More details later.

Remember what the citizen see and perceives

This fire was from a month ago in the 800 block of East 22nd Street Baltimore . There is some interesting narration and a couple captions from the photographer. Remember the citizen have a preconceived perception and expectations of the things that the fire service does.

LANGUAGE ALERT: YOU ARE WARNED THAT THE WORDS SPOKEN ON THIS CLIP MAY NOT BE FOR CHILDREN AND THOSE WHO ARE EASILY OFFENDED.

Below is the account of the fire from the website of Engine 33 ,Truck 5, Medic 16, and EMS 3:
7/10/09 Box Alarm 33-10 800 E. 22nd St
E33, E6, E23, E51, E21, T5, T1, M16, BC2, BC6 (WF E31, T15, AF2, EMS3, SO2, M7)
At 1631 hrs units were dispatched to the above address for a dwelling fire. E33 and T5 went onscene with a 2 story eog row, with heavy fire showing from the second floor. BC2 arrived and immediately called for a working fire. Truck 5 threw ladders, ventilated and conducted a search, while Engine 33 knocked down a bulk of the fire on second floor. Good job by all companies preventing the fire from extending into exposures. Medic 16 transported one civilian patient suffering from smoke inhalation. After investigation and overhaul. All units returned to service in 2 hrs.

APPARATUS CRASH IN TEXAS-2 FFs ON BOARD REPORTED TO BE BELTED IN

 

Wednesday, August 5, 2009 

A Spring Volunteer Fire Department truck and van collided in far northwest Harris County this afternoon, sending three people to the hospital. The wreck occurred about 12:30 p.m. The van's driver was trapped inside his cab and workers are trying to get him out. 
[  more  ]  

Lightweight revisited

 

 

Engineered Structural Assemblies & Systems (ESS)
· The new Fire Service Challenge
· Do you know what they represent and how these components, assemblies and systems may affect or influence incident operations?
· Do some research and check these terms out for starters. We’ll talk more about these components and assemblies in the near future. So get busy on your down time today...

It's a Lot More than just talking about "Light Weight" Construction....

From Plywood-CDX….to…
Particle Board- PB
Orient Strand Board-OSB
Structural Composite Lumber- SCL
Laminate Strand Lumber- LSL
Laminate Veneer Lumber-LVL
Structural Insulated Panels-SIP
Parallel Strand Lumber-PSL
Machine Stress Rated Lumber- MSR
Medium Density Fiberboard-MDF and MDL (Lumber)
Finger Jointed Lumber-FJL
Adhesives…..
Take a look at an informative posting over at the Firegeezer, HERE. He has some great contributed information and manufacturer “insights” on the subject engineered wood I-joists and beams and firefighter safety. There are some interesting statistical extrapolations, correlations and conveniences’ that attempt to make the case. But then again, You be the judge. Take at look at the presentation developed by the American Forest and Paper Association, HERE and HERE.
We’ll have some more detailed follow-up on engineered systems information over at Taking it to the Streets. Remember, Building Knowledge = Firefighter Safety (Bk-F2S)

Don't forget to check out the free online training program on Structural Stability of Engineered Lumber in Fire Conditions at the UL University HERE

Other important Reference links:

NIOSH Publication No. 2009-114: Preventing Deaths and Injuries of Fire Fighters Working Above Fire-Damaged Floors HERE

NIOSH Publication No. 2005-132: Preventing Injuries and Deaths of Fire Fighters Due to Truss System Failures HERE

Volunteer Deputy Fire Chief Dies after Falling Through Floor Hole in Residential Structure during Fire Attack—Indiana, HERE

First-floor collapse during residential basement fire claims the life of two fire fighters (career and volunteer) and injures a career fire fighter captain - New York, Report HERE

Career Fire Fighter Dies After Falling Through the Floor Fighting a Structure Fire at a Local Residence - Ohio, HERE

Colerain Township, Ohio Double LODD Preliminary Report, HERE

Career engineer dies and fire fighter injured after falling through floor while conducting a primary search at a residential structure fire - Wisconsin, HERE

NFPA Report on Light Weight Construction, HERE

Fire Link has a cool collection of video

FireLink

Best Explosions Caught on Tape!
We have compiled this series of incredible and jaw-dropping explosions for your viewing entertainment. Now sit back and be prepared to have your mind blown!
Watch the Blasts | Vote For Your Favorite

Technical report released on the NIU campus shooting

http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr_167.pdf

Attached is a Press Release from the US Fire Administration announcing the release of their technical report on the NIU campus shooting.  The link at the top of this e-mail will open the technical report. The link below will download the full report also if the other will not work.

+ Full Report (PDF; 1.8 MB)

Here is another first on scene video with different circumstances

Ok, so the previous post on first arriving video has a full time fire department with probably a large training budget. Here is a video of a small Iowa volunteer fire department doing what they can with what they got. I am not knocking the small volunteers they do what they can if they can. The alternative is nothing, and the structure burns down. For what they had to work with this was most likely a good outcome here. Fire is a fire Sunday August 2, 2009 at Columbus and West Fourth Street in Pella, Iowa.

Click on for : Google Street View

 

There was a lot of feed back on statler911 blog on this video.STATler911.blog

Another good fist on the scene report from the IC

SBFD Company and Chief Officers arriving on scene and their Size-Up process. A good look Inside the Command Post here.Goof first on the scene video record the initial on scene report and size up. This video clip shows "Dynamic Risk Assessment" process that should be applied to all fires. The need to follow a systematic process to determine the mode and continually evaluate the fire conditions is absolutely needed in these types of situations.

This fire appears to have occurred last Sunday at 6:04 PM.

Read more about the fire from SBFD's public information blog.

You can see more of Chief Alder's videos here.

Uncle Jay Explains the News August 3, 2009

Happy Birthday Mr. President, even though you were really born on the International Space Station with the covert help of the people who shot JFK from the off-site branch of Area 51 beneath Loch Ness. Also, Cash for Clunkers becomes Crash for Flunkers. Uncle Jay explains!

Two LODD in the News

Michigan Lieutenant Killed in Fire Truck Fall

Firehouse.com News

A Lawrence Township, Mich. lieutenant died July 31 after falling from the back of a fire truck, according to WSBT-TV.

Lt. Harold Curtis, 36, was seriously injured in the incident while working with the safety crew at the Hartford Motor Speedway.

Curtis was transported to Watervliet Community Hospital and then transferred to Borgess, where he was pronounced dead.

Read More....

Arizona Fire Captain Dies at Station

Grado GARY GRADO
The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.

A Queen Creek fire captain died in his sleep at a station Saturday.

Capt. Eric Tinkham, 44, was last seen alive Friday night and when his crew members tried to wake him at 7 a.m. he was unresponsive, according to Marnie Schubert, Queen Creek town spokeswoman.

Tinkham was one of the original firefighters hired by the town when the department began operation on Jan. 1, 2008.

St Paul FD EMS Fatal "Back Over" Report: FD DRIVER DIDN'T FOLLOW "SPOTTER/BACKER" POLICY (Other Factors As Well Including Witnesses Hearing The Backup Alarm) Update

UPDATE: DIDN\'T FOLLOW \"SPOTTER/BACKER\" POLICY

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Reports released Monday say the St. Paul ambulance crew that ran over a 79-year-old woman on June 20 did not follow recommended department guidelines.
The reports indicated people on the scene all heard the sound of the ambulance alarm beeping as it slowly backed down an alley in the 1600 block of James Avenue before running over and killing Margaret Adele Kuehn.
Police say driver Thomas Tommio Murakami, 57, was going just one or two miles per hour and no one was behind the ambulance guiding down the narrow alley—a practice recommended in department policy.
After a check of the vehicle, the Minnesota State Patrol says there were no mechanical problems with the rig.
Once Kuehn was hit, the reports describe a heroic effort to try and safe her. Several firefighters actually lifted the back end of the ambulance off the ground to free Kuehn.
The report says Kuehn had recently started wearing hearing aids and investigators believe she was not wearing them when the accident happened.
The city isn't commenting about the reports because of a possible lawsuit.

RESPONDING FIRE APPARATUS CRASH IN WEST VIRGINIA - SOUTH CAROLINA FIRE APPARATUS ROLLOVER

 

Thursday, July 30, 2009

A fire truck carrying four Clendenin firefighters crashed on its way to a fire in Frame on Thursday night, but none were seriously injured.
Four people were inside the Clendenin Fire Department engine when it rolled over shortly before 2100. The truck was on its way to a fire at an abandoned structure on Big Fork Road in Frame.

The road was apparently weakened by heavy rains...they were actually stopped, and the road gave way...when the water [the truck was carrying] shifted, it sort of carried them over the hill.
All four firefighters were taken to CAMC General Hospital, but none of their injuries appear serious.
Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said the fire engine was heavily damaged. The county has sent its spare pumper truck to the Clendenin department.
"We're very fortunate, thank God, that none of them were very seriously injured or killed," Carper said. "This could have been a tragedy. It was a bad accident."

SOUTH CAROLINA FIRE APPARATUS ROLLOVER

 

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Blacksburg, South Carolina firefighters responded to one of their own when a piece fire apparatus flipped on a street in Blacksburg. Reportedly the drive lost control and the vehicle rolled over. The driver was injured and transported to the hospital. The South Carolina Highway Patrol will investigate the cause and any citation, if issued, would come from them.Blacksburg is located in Cherokee County. Our best wishes for a speedy recovery to the driver. Thanks to www.SCOnFire.com for the details and pic

Congress Eliminates CEDAP Funding

The Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program has been completely cut from the FY 2010 House of Representatives and Senate budgets and also from the President's budget request. Since the program's inception in FY 2005, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has award thousands of grants to smaller jurisdictions who are not eligible for funding through the Urban Areas Security Initiative grant program. The program received $8 million in FY 2009, $17.6 million in FY 2008 and $33.7 million in FY2007.

According to FEMA, "CEDAP seeks to enhance regional response capabilities, mutual aid, and interoperable communications by providing technology and equipment, along with the training required to operate that equipment, to law enforcement and emergency responder agencies in smaller jurisdictions and certain metropolitan areas."

In the past, CEDAP grants have been used to purchase communications equipment, chemical detection sensors, thermal imaging tools and personal protective equipment.

The IACP is strongly opposed to eliminating the CEDAP program and will work with Congress and the Administration to fully restore it.

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