Sunday, November 29, 2009

Odd in the News

CHICAGO - Chicago woman accused of punching paramedic - A 40-year-old Chicago woman faces battery and drug possession charges after allegedly punching a paramedic and spitting on a nurse. Full Story Here


Fire Breaks Out Among Christmas Trees at Walmart
Police in Westbury, N.Y. say a fire has broken out among Christmas trees for sale outside a Wal-Mart on New York's Long Island during a busy holiday shopping weekend.
Nassau County Police say in a statement that the blaze was reported around 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Westbury store. There are no immediate reports of injuries.
Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. spokesman Dan Fogelman says the busy store was evacuated because of the fire in the store's garden shop.
Fogelman says it is unclear how many people were in the store at the time or how much damage was caused. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The store remains closed and will reopen on Sunday.

Children Playing + Charger = FIRE  from Small Bits & Pieces by The Man

Fire that struck two Brockton triple-deckers and left 33 residents homeless was started by children jumping on a bed. Brockton Fire Lieutenant Edward Williams said Friday that the Thursday night fire was ignited when the children bounced up and down on two mattresses that were against a wall where a cell phone charger was plugged. He said the back-and-forth motion of the mattresses abraded a transformer for a cell phone charger which caused sparks or a short circuit. Williams said the fire flared up just after 8 p.m. Thursday, causing $150,000 in damages to one building and $50,000 to a nearby apartment building. Two firefighters suffered puncture wounds and cuts, but neither was hospitalized. No other injuries were reported.

Pet pig farting prompts gas leak fears from Funny & More by The Man

A pig with flatulence triggered a minor emergency near Bendigo this week when smells wafting from the 120kg porker sparked fears of a potentially dangerous gas leak.
Two Country Fire Authority tankers and 15 firefighters turned out in darkness to search the source of the leak at a property at Axedale, east of Bendigo. But the likely culprit was soon sniffed out, the pet sow startled from slumber in the dead of night.
"She got very excited when two trucks and 15 firefighters turned up and she squealed and farted and squealed and farted," said fire chief Peter Harkins.
"I haven't heard too many pigs fart but I would describe it as very full-on."
Mr. Harkins said the family had done the right thing by calling 000 to report a suspected gas leak: "It's all bottled gas up here and a leaking cylinder could pose a major fire risk.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Another House explosion Video

Here is another house explosion video posted on You Tube on the 27th -  I have seen my share of these types of incidents both natural gas and propane. Sometime they catch fire and some time they don’t. This time the structure caught. Bushnell is south west of Peoria Illinois. You will have to watch the video on You Tube the embed video below has been disabled.

Here is the write up on You Tube: The home at 519 Washington St. was leveled by a gas explosion around 2:30 p.m. The blast was heard little over seven miles away and also caught one other house on fire, leaving a large crater in the roof. It was not known if those occupants were home when the fire started.
No injuries were reported, but an ambulance was called for a firefighter reportedly having chest pains.
The occupant of the house Bradl Thompson, was outside with his dogs at the time. His wife was believed to be at work at the time.
Houses on the gas line and sewer system were also evacuated as well as those at least one block away on either side according to Bushnell Police Chief Merv Hilliard. At about 6:30 p.m. police said residents were being allowed back into their homes.
Firefighters from Macomb, Emmet-Chalmers, Good Hope and Adair fire departments were called in to help the Bushnell-Prairie City Fire Department battle the two fires.  You Tube

More on the story and pictures at - House explodes in Bushnell - Galesburg, IL - The Register-Mail Firefighters from Macomb, Emmet-Chalmers, Good Hope and Adair fire departments were called in to help the Bushnell-Prairie City Fire Department battle the two fires. and www.galesburg.com/homepage/x215410257/House-explodes-in-Bushnell
Map picture

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Holiday exhibit opening at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum

Members and Friends of the Aurora Regional Fire Museum,

Want something to do this weekend - other than shop? Looking for a way to get into the holiday spirit? How about if admission is FREE?

On Saturday, November 28th, join us for the holiday exhibit opening at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

It's the Gingerbread FIRE house Contest, Exhibition, and Fundraiser.  More than a dozen lavishly crafted Gingerbread FIRE houses have entered the contest. Come help our panel of judges select the winner for the peoples choice award. You too could be a winner by purchasing a raffle ticket now through December 18th for the opportunity to take home one of the prize winning Gingerbread FIRE houses.

Santa, the Fire Chief, will pose for photos near the North FIRE Pole; Cinder's the Firehouse Mouse and all his friends including Sparks and Ashes, will be there too, decorating the old Central Fire Station.  So join us on Friday afternoon at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum and spend some time with us and our holiday friends who will help get you in the spirit of the season.

See holiday flyer HERE.  Invite your friends and neighbors.  Visit our website for holiday hours, directions, and to learn more about our exhibits and programs.

www.AuroraRegionalFireMuseum.org  

clip_image001

Devil deer? Couple of tuff Kids here!

Not fires, but interesting news!

A couple of boys in the Pittsburgh area were involved in a friendly game of backyard football when the pigskin got away from them. It rolled down near a wooded area, and when one lad went to retrieve it, a deer attacked him. Yahoo Sports Reports

The kid only suffered a little bruising, and, as the video notes, he's fine now. In fact, I'd argue that he's even better than he was before, because now he knows he's got a friend that has his back.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Terrorism in the Heartland

Having taught classes on terrorism awareness, and following this topic since before 9-11 when I took the NFA course on Emergency Response to Terrorism. Here is an interesting tidbit on the matter right in the heartland of the country. Just goes to show that you never know where or when???  Say what you want about your rights, but the FBI is actually doing something. It’s good to know that they are investigating this type of activity in the US. We don’t need to be the training ground for this.

Cityscape of Minneapolis November 23
Eight defendants charged with multiple terrorism-related offenses.

Indictments in Minneapolis Somali terrorist ring case HotAir.com 

Eight indicted in Somali terror case | StarTribune.com Eight indicted in Somali terror case. Probe gives ... Terrorism charges filed Monday in Minneapolis against eight men painted the most ... decided to announce the additional indictments
Feds unseal new terror charges in long-running probe of men who left ...

Eight indicted in Somali terror case ... trips, and of engaging in terrorist acts in civil war-torn Somalia. Indictments ... plans for some men between Minneapolis and Somalia ...

The Somali-Minneapolis Terrorist Axis : NPR   recruited in Minneapolis and then traveled to Somalia to join a terrorist ... support to a terrorist organization. These are the first indictments to be unsealed in a broader case ...

LODD – Rockford Illinois


from USFA Firefighter Fatalities Terrance Freeman Freeman of the Rockford Fire Department in Rockford, IL has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-11-22

Rockford Fire Department
204 S First ST
USNG: 16T CM 2769 8154
Rockford , Illinois  61104-2033
Chief: Derek Bergsten

Firefighter dies of apparent off-duty heart attack - Rockford, IL ...

Nov 24, 2009 ... Strey said news of the veteran firefighter's death came like a surprise punch to .... Rockford Register Star | 99 E. State St. Rockford, IL ...

Visitation will be held on Sunday, Nov. 28 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 4 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home at 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, Ill.

2009 Wisconsin Act 28 - Discourages Cuts to Fire Departments

Could be good or bad , depending on the conditions within some communities. But should be a benefit for most. this could spread? You never know, other states could look at this and see if it works or not??? It does not reflect any expenditures that were derived from grants.

A new state law that is giving special protection to emergency services such as fire and police. Under the new law, dubbed "maintenance of effort for emergency services," municipalities and counties risk reductions in shared revenue from the state if they cut spending for emergency services below 2009 levels. But some city administrators are unhappy, saying the law prevents them from tackling wasteful spending at some fire departments.

What is maintenance of effort for emergency services?

2009 Wisconsin Act 28 requires counties and municipalities, beginning in 2010, to maintain their 2009 level of spending on emergency services. If a county or municipality fails to comply, DOR may reduce that county’s or municipality’s payment of shared revenues by an amount determined by DOR. (See Sections 79.07, 79.035 and 79.043, Wis. Stats.)

http://www.revenue.wi.gov/faqs/slf/act28faq.html

79.07
79.07 Expenditures for emergency services.


79.07(1)
(1) Except as provided in sub. (3), beginning in 2010, the amount that each county and municipality spends each year for emergency services, as defined by the department of revenue to include only emergency services funded from payments received under ss. 79.035 and 79.043, shall be no less than the amount that the county or municipality spent in 2009 for emergency services, not including one-time expenses and capital expenditures. Each county and municipality shall report the amount it spent for emergency services in 2009, and the amount of its one-time expenses and capital expenditures, to the department of revenue at the time and in the manner prescribed by the department.


79.07(2)
(2) The department of revenue may adjust any amount reported under sub. (1) to more accurately reflect the amount that the county or municipality submitting the report spent for emergency services and to ensure that excluding one-time expenses and capital expenditures as provided in sub. (1) does not compromise the level of service for providing emergency services.


79.07(3)
(3) A county or municipality may decrease the amount it spends for emergency services below its 2009 amount, with the department of revenue's approval, if the decrease in expenditures is a result of operating more efficiently, as determined by the department. For purposes of this section, any decrease approved under this subsection shall permanently decrease the base amount of expenses for emergency services provided in the county or municipality requesting the decrease by the amount of the decrease.


79.07(4)
(4) If a county or municipality fails to comply with this section, the department of revenue may reduce the county's or municipality's payment under ss. 79.035 and 79.043, in an amount determined by the department.

West Virginia

Always interesting when this happens, you can usually tell if it was natural gas or propane when you pull up. It was always kind or surreal to see one of these.

Greenbrier County home explodes - six injured

At least two ejected from house by blast; cause under investigation

Yesterday in West Virginia an early morning explosion leveled a home, injuring six people. It was reported that all the victims were inside the house when the home exploded, as reported by Capt. Shawn Wolford of the Rainelle Volunteer Fire Department. McRoss is an unincorporated community between Charmco and Rainelle in western Greenbrier County.

The whole story can be seen here along with pictures - Greenbrier home explodes; six injured - Beckley Register-Herald

 

  • Cause sought for W.Va. house blast that injured 6 - News ...

    Rainelle Volunteer Fire Department Capt. Shawn Wolford says the explosion's force threw two victims clear of the structure. Greenbrier County Sheriff James J. Childers says one ...

  • Cause sought for W.Va. house blast that injured 6 - WVVA TV Bluefield ...

    Rainelle Volunteer Fire Department Capt. Shawn Wolford says the explosion's force threw two victims clear of the structure. Greenbrier County Sheriff James J. Childers says one ...

  • Federal OSHA issues compliance directive to address flu prevention for health care workers

    OSHA issued a compliance directive
    <http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/Directive_pdf/CPL_02_02-075.pdf>

    OSHA issued a compliance directive Nov. 20 to ensure uniform procedures when conducting inspections to identify and minimize or eliminate high to very high risk occupational exposures to the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus. The directive closely follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, Including Protection of Healthcare Personnel.
    <http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidelines_infection_control.htm> "

    To learn more, read news release Compliance Directive.
    http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=16749

    Enforcement Procedures for High to Very High Occupational Exposure Risk to 2009 H1N1 Influenza. 20 Nov 2009
    http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/Directive_pdf/CPL_02_02-075.pdf
    Note: Link to compiled list of flu resources/guides:
    http://www.ynhhs.org/emergency/pdfs/Flu_References.pdf

    ABSTRACT

    Purpose: This Instruction establishes agency enforcement policies and provides instructions to ensure uniform procedures when conducting inspections to minimize high to very high occupational exposure risk to the virus identified as 2009 H1N1 influenza of workers whose occupational activities involve contact with patients or contaminated material in a healthcare or clinical laboratory setting.

    Scope: This Instruction applies OSHA-wide.

    References:

    A. OSHA Instruction CPL 02-00-148 Field Operations Manual (FOM), November 9, 2009.

    B. OSHA Notice 09-05 (CPL 02) Site-Specific Targeting 2009 (SST-09), July 20, 2009.

    C. OSHA Instruction CPL 02-00-120 (CPL 2-0.120) Inspection Procedures for the Respiratory Protection Standard, September 25, 1998.

    D. Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers, OSHA Publication 3328, 2007 (reprinted 2009).

    E. Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic, OSHA Publication 3327, 2007 (reprinted 2009).

    F. CDC Guidelines, Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, Including Protection of Healthcare Personnel (October 14, 2009).

    Abstract - 1

    G. National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Implementation Plan, Homeland Security Council, May 2006

    Cancellations: None.

    State Impact: Notice of Intent and Equivalency is required. See Section VI.

    Action Offices: OSHA National, Regional and Area Offices, State Plan and State Consultation Offices.

    Originating Office: Office of Health Enforcement.

    Contact:

    Directorate of Enforcement Programs

    Office of Health Enforcement

    200 Constitution Avenue, NW

    Washington, DC 20210

    202-693-2190

    Monday, November 23, 2009

    News from NFPA - NFPA 1600 and 14 NFPA first responder codes and standards receive DHS designation as “Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology”

    NFPA 1600, Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs and 14 other NFPA codes and standards have been designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as “Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology” (QATT) under the Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002 (SAFETY Act). This is the first block of standards to receive this designation by DHS. Under the provisions of the SAFETY Act, these standards were also certified as “Approved Product(s) for Homeland Security”.

    In September of 2008, NFPA was the first standards development organization to receive this designation for its codes and standards development process.

    According to DHS, the SAFETY Act encourages the development and deployment of new and innovative anti-terrorism products and services by providing liability protections. Designation as a QATT and certification as an approved product for homeland security under the SAFETY Act provides legal protections for the NFPA codes and standards development process and now these 15 individual codes and standards as applied to anti-terrorism.

    The 15 standards are listed below. They address emergency preparedness, first responder competencies and professional qualifications, personal protective equipment and specialized tools. NFPA 1600 is also one of three standards that DHS has announced it intends to adopt for application to the PS-Prep Program, a voluntary private sector preparedness program designed to improve the ability of private sector entities to withstand and recover from disasters including terrorism.

    NFPA 472 Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents

    NFPA 473 Standard for Competencies for EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents

    NFPA 1006 Standard for Technical Rescuer Professional Qualifications

    NFPA 1600 Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs

    NFPA 1851 Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting

    NFPA 1852 Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

    NFPA 1936 Standard on Powered Rescue Tools

    NFPA 1951 Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents

    NFPA 1971 Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting

    NFPA 1981 Standard on Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Emergency Services

    NFPA 1982 Standard on Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS)

    NFPA 1991 Standard on Vapor-Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials Emergencies

    NFPA 1992 Standard on Liquid Splash-Protective Ensembles and Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergencies

    NFPA 1994 Standard on Protective Ensembles for First Responders to CBRN Terrorism Incidents

    NFPA 1999 Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations

    “NFPA is pleased to have these standards recognized as anti-terrorism technologies which are important in protecting first responders to terrorist events and also in improving the ability of our infrastructure to mitigate and recover from such events while protecting people and property”, said James M. Shannon, NFPA president.

    Federal protections under the DHS designation and certification are retroactive and recognize NFPA’s technologies “earliest date of sale” as September 11, 2001.

    All NFPA safety codes and standards are developed through a process accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The more than 250 technical committees responsible for developing and updating all 300 codes and standards include approximately 4,000 volunteers, representing enforcing authorities, installers and maintainers, labor, research and testing laboratories, insurers, special experts, consumers and other users.

    NFPA has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. Visit NFPA’s Web site at www.nfpa.org

    Do you remember this???

    You most likely have gotten emails that list some things that will tell you how old you are. I made up a list of things that are no longer used or are not the way things are done anymore, how many can you remember. Want to add some, leave a COMMENT!

    Do you remember?

    1. Riding the tailboard, running to catch the tailboard
    2. Combination nozzles and smooth bores being the old nozzles
    3. Three quarter boots, long Rubber coats
    4. Bakelite helmets, steel SCBA bottles
    5. Fire whistles
    6. Red ball gloves
    7. Coat snaps
    8. Open cabs
    9. Dispatched with the location given just the owners name and you knew where it was
    10. Sticking the nozzle in the window to hit the fire
    11. Hanging hose in the tower
    12. 6 volt electrical system on the engine
    13. Front mounted pumps (some are still made)
    14. Adding antifreeze to those pumps in the winter
    15. The original red books from IFSTA
    16. Rope hose tools
    17. Wooden pike pole and axe handles
    18. Box of cigars kept in the engine for those all night fires
    19. Jet axe
    20. Canvas port-a-tanks
    21. Gasoline powered apparatus
    22. Manual transmission, with synchromesh transmissions, two speed differentials
    23. Red and Green lights on the station
    24. Waiting for the air to build up so the brakes would release
    25. Metal hand lanterns

    If you remembered 0-5 = you’re still young
    If you remembered 6-10 = you are getting older
    If you remembered 11-15 = don’t tell your age,
    If you remembered 16-25 = you’re older than dirt!
    I might be older than dirt but those memories are some of the best parts of being on a fire department.
    Don't forget to pass this along!! Especially to all you’re really OLD friends...

    Sunday, November 22, 2009

    Window washer survived after falling eight stories from a building in Seattle, Washington

    Why is wearing your PPE important???  Watch the security video from YouTube, it’s a little grainy but just goes to show why you use fall protection, hard to believe he did not have more injuries other than a little finger?

  • News results for Window Washer Falls 8 Stories

    Window-washer tumbles 8 stories to street, breaks one finger ‎ - Bloomington Pantagraph

  • Window Washer Survives 8-Story Fall From Seattle Building - News ...

    Nov 20, 2009 ... SEATTLE -- A lucky window washer survives an eight-story fall from a building in downtown Seattle. Friday, November 20, 2009.
    www.kirotv.com/news/21666063/detail.html - Cached -

  • Man survives 8-story fall in downtown Seattle | KOMO News ...

    Nov 19, 2009 ... A window washer plunged eight stories down the side of a building ... Others saw the man fall as they looked out of their windows from ...

  • Who will get the contract? Free?

    Hospitals offer Rockford free EMS training - Rockford Register Star

    ROCKFORD IL — The aggressive battle waged among the city’s hospitals for the for the right to train Rockford paramedics could have a victor at Monday’s City Council meeting. For the past seven years, Swedish American Health System has served as the city’s resource hospital. For just $15,000 a year, the hospital trained about a dozen new Rockford paramedics and provided the required continuing education courses for the rest of the department. When city officials declined to give the contract to OSF, the hospital joined forces with Rockford Health System to offer — free of charge to the city — medical training to the Rockford Fire Department. Full Story Here at Rockford Register Star

    Saturday, November 21, 2009

    NOW DECLARED AN LODD from 1997

    1997 EMS RUN EXPOSED FIREFIGHTER TO DISEASE-LOST HIS LIFE LAST WEEKEND-NOW DECLARED AN LODD

    from www.firefighterclosecalls.com news 

    1997 EMS RUN EXPOSED FIREFIGHTER TO DISEASE-LOST HIS LIFE LAST WEEKEND-NOW DECLARED AN LODD

    Saturday, November 21, 2009  As a St. Paul firefighter, Ramon "Ray" Hain came in contact with a patient's body fluids in 1997. According to an article in the Pioneer Press, Doctors think he contracted a rare disease that weakened his heart. Hain, of Roseville, got a heart transplant in 1998 but had to retire in 2000 from t...  [  more  ]  

    Thursday, November 19, 2009

    Crane smashed through a house - oops

    Crane Smashes House | PressDemocrat.com | The Press Democrat | Santa ...

    Nobody was injured when a crane smashed through a house in northwest Santa Rosa Monday afternoon in a failed attempt to remove an oak tree.

    Nobody was injured when a crane smashed through a house in northwest Santa Rosa Monday afternoon in a failed attempt to remove an oak tree

    Tuesday, November 17, 2009

    Here's a link - If you haven’t seen it, of cant’ find it from your cable provider

    There is a Fox reality channel show on called the The Academy that goes behind the scenes of the 18 week fire academy of the Orange County Fire Authority. You can watch the episodes via the web HERE. looks like a military boot camp for the fire service.

    http://www.foxreality.com/theacademy/#/index

    image

    Saturday, November 14, 2009

    Yet another battle over the Unions over volunteer firefighters

    Duluth Firefighters Union boots 3 firefighters for volunteering

    http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/151974/
    FOX 21 News: Union boots firefighters
    A 23-year veteran of the Duluth Fire Department built a home in Hermantown last year decided he should serve on his new community’s volunteer fire department.
    “I thought it would be nice to help them, and they’re short of firefighters up here,” he said.
    Noldin volunteered for Hermantown along with two fellow Duluth firefighters. But when the Duluth Fire Union found out, the three were asked to resign their union memberships early this year. The member said he took that route rather than stop volunteering for Hermantown. Under state law, the three are still technically union members and have to pay dues, but they don’t have a voting stake in union activities.
     FULL STORY HERE
    Comment
    Another typical Union wanting the money from the dues and not providing any service, and giving them the boot as well? Seems you could not even mow you elderly neighbors, lawn,  they might get hurt? Can they paint their house and use a ladder off duty? Might get hurt there as well? If the neighbors house catches fire and a union members goes and makes a rescue or puts the fire out, isn’t that volunteering?  and then in violation of the union rules. Would they then be kicked out of the union then as well?
    Guess that Duluth will not be eligible for the valuable SAFER awards.

    Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) http://www.firegrantsupport.com/docs/2009SAFERguidance.pdf
    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) should also be reviewed on the grant program’s website   http://www.firegrantsupport.com/.

    Appendix 2  Grantee Responsibilities
    http://www.firegrantsupport.com/docs/2009SAFERguidance.pdf
    Page 32  (9) Not withstanding any provision of other laws, firefighters hired under these grants shall not be discriminated against for, or be prohibited from, engaging in volunteer activities in another jurisdiction during off-duty hours.

    Friday, November 13, 2009

    What’s Next?

     

    It’s amazing what new technology is out there and how long it takes for it to find it’s way onto the Fire and EMS world. Found this interesting Tech article about a new sensor that would attach to a  smart phone. Is a pocket patient scanner next, or picket sized Hazmat detector. Is an iPhone Intrinsically safe?

    NASA Ames News or more info at inhabitat. If you don't have any bomb sniffing dogs around to look for trance quantities of explosive gas, why not use your iPhone instead? That's exactly what Jing Li and a team of researchers from NASA have done with their cell phone chemical sensor. By connecting and interfacing a thumbnail sized sensor to a popular smart phone, they were able to create a device that can sense airborne ammonia, chlorine gas and methane, and report its findings over the cellular network or Wi-Fi. Admittedly, it took a bit more than just a bit of software to add an electronic nose to the iPhone, but it's still pretty neat use of a consumer device.

    iphone_scent_detector.jpg

    iphone_scent_detector_sensor.jpg

    Thursday, November 12, 2009

    Timely training material and it’s FREE – New or for review

    *** FREE TRAINING MATERIAL ***

    Active Shooter and 4th/5th Generation Warfare PPT, video materials and references for law enforcement:
    http://www.officer.com/posa/index.jsp?siteSection=30
    AND
    Preparation for and Response to Mass Shooting Events for

    Fire & EMS
    http://www.ffsupport.org/training.html

    Mass shooting events are becoming more common, and the response to them involves every public safety agency for miles around. This program details the actions that fire and EMS agencies can take to prepare themselves for this all-too-likely event, and the actions they can take when the event occurs.

    It covers:

    · Multi-agency planning and preparation

    · Creating a prevention environment

    · Command, command post and crowd control issues for this kind of event

    · An overview of the tactics that agencies should be familiar with

    This program is available in two formats. The 40+ PowerPoint slide presentation covers the material thoroughly, while the 45-minute video program is a verbal presentation of the PowerPoint material.
    http://www.ffsupport.org/training.html

    Wednesday, November 11, 2009

    House lawmakers seek to remove FEMA from Homeland Security

    By Katherine McIntire Peters kpeters@govexec.com November 6, 2009 Full Story HERE

    On Thursday the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved legislation that would remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency from the Homeland Security Department and return it to independent, Cabinet-level status.

    The 2009 FEMA Independence Act (H.R. 1174) was first introduced in February by Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., and has 29 co-sponsors. The idea of returning FEMA to the independent status it held in the 1990s, before the formation of Homeland Security in 2003, gained traction after the government's bungled response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

    Full story at http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=43991&dcn=e_hsw

    S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald

    Today beside being Veterans Days is also the date after the loss of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald. The ship went down on November 10/11, 1975  it was the subject of Gordon Lightfoot’s 1976 song ”The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

    S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald Online November is referred to as "The Month of Storms" on the Great Lakes. The storm that hit when the Fitzgerald went down was one of the biggest, and the worst that Captain McSorley said he had ever seen. In the Fitzgerald's storm, winds as fast as 45 knots were reported, with waves as high as thirty feet.

     Edmund Fitzgerald on Line fitz

    Sinking of the Fitzgerald The sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald - November 10, 1975  SS Edmund Fitzgerald - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia SS Edmund Fitzgerald (nicknamed "Mighty Fitz," "The Fitz," or "The Big Fitz") was an American Great Lakes freighter launched on June 8, 1958. Until 1971 she was the largest ship on ...
    Gordon Lightfoot - The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald All about Canadian Singer and Songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, including Picture Gallery, Discussion Forum, Lyrics for all Songs

    House lawmakers seek to remove FEMA from Homeland Security

    By Katherine McIntire Peters kpeters@govexec.com November 6, 2009 Full Story HERE

    On Thursday the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved legislation that would remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency from the Homeland Security Department and return it to independent, Cabinet-level status.

    The 2009 FEMA Independence Act (H.R. 1174) was first introduced in February by Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., and has 29 co-sponsors. The idea of returning FEMA to the independent status it held in the 1990s, before the formation of Homeland Security in 2003, gained traction after the government's bungled response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

    Full story at http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=43991&dcn=e_hsw

    Veterans Day

    Veterans Day - November 11 - Office of Public and Intergovernmental ... Wide-angle view of national Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery's Memorial Amphitheater

    Veterans Day history, ceremonies, resources ... National Veterans Day Ceremony. The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery.

  • Holiday snapshot: Veterans Day
  • Nov. 11, the date American's observe as Veterans Day, commemorates a milestone event in history. It was at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, in 1918, that an armistice effectively ended World War I. The following year,…
  • In Defense of Armistice Day
  • We call it Veterans Day now, but it used to be called Armistice Day, and I can’t help wondering whether we’ve lost something by converting a holiday originally meant to celebrate the veterans of World War I into an omnibus holiday, to honor…
  • Tuesday, November 10, 2009

    Issue in the News about facial hair and first responders

    Don't’ they think there would be a problem if they had to wear a CBRM mask for a response???
    LAWSUIT: Frum Medics Prevented From Responding to 911 Calls

    November 10, 2009 Full article HERE

    sol.jpgBALTIMORE, MD - Three Orthodox medics assert in discrimination charges filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, that the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company (PVFC) has illegally barred them from riding on calls, in violation of their religious rights and in retaliation for their involvement in an Orthodox emergency response organization. The medics - Dr. Matthias Goldstein, Brennan Gross, and Avrohom Green - were told last winter that because of their refusal to shave their beards on religious grounds, they could not ride with the company as medics. This, the PVFC claimed, was because the beards might prevent them from wearing specialized safety masks that it hopes to purchase at some future date.

     

    Last year, in a similar case in the District of Columbia involving bearded Muslim firefighters, the federal appellate court for the District of Columbia ruled that the no beard rule was improper, and that the department should accommodate the firefighters’ sincerely held religious beliefs. Judge: Facial hair OK for now - Washington Times
     

    Monday, November 9, 2009

    DHS in trials of next generation multiband radio

    Published 3 November 2009 Homeland Security

    Emergency communication interoperability is getting closer as the day of the single-band radio is coming to an end; DHS’ S&T is testing a multiband radio for emergency services

    Tom Chirhart knows a lot about radios, but over the last year, he has received a real life lesson in supply and demand. When he put out an APB on behalf of the DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) looking for volunteers to test a new radio that allows first responders to talk to one another across different frequency bands, the line of interested agencies was long and eager. The challenge of aligning communications among different first responders — such as fire fighters, police officers, and emergency medical teams — has grown apace with the size and sophistication of response teams and plans. As the construction of public safety systems consumed all the available channels in a single radio band, the government logically opened up other bands. Radio equipment lagged behind, however, continuing to operate on just one spectrum band. This limitation did indeed create communications hurdles during the most serious emergencies — natural disasters and terrorist attacks.

    “The issue of being able to talk to each other has been such a prominent one for so long, responder agencies were jumping at the opportunity to test the new radios we were evaluating,” said Chirhart, who manages S&T’s three-and-a-half-year-old multi-band radio (MBR) research project. Starting this month, fourteen agencies across the United States will have the opportunity to try out this leading edge technology with fellow first responders through 30-day pilot projects.

    Many first responders today are stuck working in a similar prehistoric era, lugging around multiple radios on their belts, just so that they can listen and talk to other first responders at different agencies. “The value in a multi-band radio is that you don’t have to carry three or four different radios — or buy three or four radios at a cost of $4,000 each,” said Roberts, whose fire department is one of the fourteen that will participate in the pilot projects.

    Right now, the new multi-band radio to be piloted this fall rings in at about the same cost ($4,000-$6,000), size (10 inches tall), and weight (less than two pounds) of top-of-the-line single-band radios. It works on the five frequency bands currently used by state and local first responders, and, if necessary, can work on four other bands used exclusively by the federal government, the Department of Defense, National Guard, and the Coast Guard. It even provides weather reports from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The battery is expected to last in excess of 10 hours in order to meet the realities of longer shifts. It works even after being sprayed with a fire hose.

    “If the multi-band radio can be credited with ensuring that just one first responder goes home to his or her family at the end of their shift, then the whole effort has paid for itself,” Chirhart added.

    S&T hopes that the introduction of these radios will spur manufacturers to develop their own professional quality versions — much like what happened with smartphones — along with accessories like alternative batteries or GPS chips that departments can purchase separately.

    A final version of the radios could be ready for the mass market by the middle of 2010. By that time, supply should meet demand, as many companies are now jumping on the virtual bandwagon to develop these new radios. S&T launched the MBR project with the goal of stimulating the marketplace so that multiple vendors would see the value in developing this technology to provide greater options that meet public safety requirements.

    If the technology is as successful as S&T thinks that it could be, interoperability challenges, like cell phones that only make phone calls, may become forgotten relics of the past.

    The fourteen organizations participating in the pilot are: · 2010 Olympic Security Committee (Blaine, Wash., and Vancouver, B.C. Canada)  · Amtrak (Northeast Corridor) · Boise Fire Department (Boise, Idaho) · Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group (Ottawa, ON Canada) · Customs and Border Patrol (Detroit, Mich.) · Federal Emergency Management Agency (Multiple Locations) · Hawaii State Civil Defense (Honolulu, Hawaii) · Interagency Communication Interoperability System (Los Angeles County, Calif.) · Michigan Emergency Medical Services (Lower Peninsula Areas) · Murray State University (Southwest Kentucky) · Phoenix Police Department and Arizona Department of Emergency Management (Greater Phoenix and Yuma County) · Texas National Guard (Austin, Texas) · U.S. Marshals Service (Northeast Region) · Washington Metro Area Transit Authority Transit Police (Washington, D.C.)

    Read the additional pages of this Homeland Security News Wire report here http://homelandsecuritynewswire.com/dhs-trials-next-generation-multiband-radio?page=0,0

    Friday, November 6, 2009

    Fake skylight uses solar panels to light LEDs

    Just another example of being careful on the scene. With photovoltatic systems in homes, watch for power where you least expect it.

    from MAKE Magazine by Matt Mets

    led_skylight.jpg

    Wish you had a skylight, but don't have the ability to cut a hole in your roof? MAKE subscriber Chris did to, and wrote in to share his solution to the problem: a pv+led-based 'fake' skylight. The concept is pretty simple, but with a nice result. He had some unused capacity on his PV (photovoltatic) solar panel, and basically hooked up a bunch of high power LEDs directly to it. To achieve the 'skylight' look, he built a custom metal box with a glass diffuser screen, and mounted the diodes inside of it. He has a nice write-up on his site, along with a calculator to determine how the LEDs should be connected. Excellent work!

    Two Recent LODD

    Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Kernersville, NC

    from USFA Firefighter Fatalities

    Chad Eric Greene of the Union Cross Fire and Rescue of Forsyth County, Inc. in Kernersville, NC has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-11-04 Deputy Chief Greene completed his shift at approximately 0830hrs immediately after responding to a motor vehicle accident. After completing his shift, he left the station, dropped his son off at pre-school, and went home. When Deputy Chief Greene's wife returned home, she found him unresponsive and subsequently called 911 and began CPR. Deputy Chief Greene was transported to the NC Baptist Hospital where he was pronounced dead at approximately 1230hrs. The cause of death is pending further investigation.

    From Firehouse.com

    Pa. Firefighter Dies Following Call
    Amity Fire Company Firefighter Robert Stone collapsed and died the morning after responding to a call, according to the department's web site.
    Stone, 47, began complaining of chest pains on Nov. 3 after returning to the station and was transported to Reading Hospital. Read More...

    New NIOSH Report Released

    A Volunteer Mutual Aid Fire Fighter Dies in a Floor Collapse in a Residential Basement Fire – Illinois.

    Efforts to ventilate the structure, and subsequent ventilation efforts that were not coordinated with interior operations.

    On July 22, 2008, a 24 year-old male fire fighter responding from a volunteer mutual aid department was fatally injured during a floor collapse in a residential basement fire. Fire fighters were on scene approximately 30 minutes and had made several attempts to locate the fire by entering the basement via stairs at the B/C corner of the structure. While a crew was in the basement, a 4-member mutual aid interior crew entered the first floor of the structure to open windows to horizontally ventilate the structure without damaging the windows. The ventilation crew crawled across the first floor to egress; several members of the ventilation crew verbally reported to each other that the floor was spongy about halfway to the door. The floor collapsed just as the last crew member (the victim) approached the door, sending fire and heavy smoke throughout the house. The attack crew in the basement and crews just outside the door were blown down by the force of the fire and smoke. Due to heavy smoke, the victim could not be located. Fire fighters used several hoselines to put water on the area; a crew made entry into the basement by placing a ground ladder in the collapsed floor at the B-side french doors and found the victim. After moving a large sofa to gain access to the victim, the crew was able to remove the victim from the structure. The victim was nonresponsive to CPR and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

    NIOSH investigators concluded that, to minimize the risk of similar occurrences, fire departments should: Complete Report Here

    http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200826.html

    Wednesday, November 4, 2009

    Couple of recent Apparatus incidents Reported from Firefighter Close Calls

    Good reminders that his can and may happen to you, be carful out there! It happens all too often, thinks still collide with big red trucks.

    RESPONDING APPARATUS STRUCK IN DELAWARE---CIVILIAN CELL PHONING DRIVER AT FAULT Firefighter Close Calls Wednesday, November 4, 2009 - Two people were injured today in a collision between a car and a Christiana Fire Company ladder truck on U.S. 40 in Bear. The civilian driver drove around cars yielding for the ladder, and struck it. All members belted in. The civilian driver was reported to be on their cell phone at the time of the crash.

    CIVILIAN BLOWS RED LIGHT AND STRIKES FIRE APPARATUS IN INDIANA - FIREFIGHTERS DOING OK

    from www.firefighterclosecalls.com news

    CIVILIAN BLOWS RED LIGHT AND STRIKES FIRE APPARATUS IN INDIANA - FIREFIGHTERS DOING OK

    Tuesday, November 3, 2009 - In Kokomo (IN) on Saturday there was an apparatus crash that injured four and heavily damaged their apparatus. Kokomo police have exonerated the three firefighters involved in the crash but state the Firefighters were not belted in.

    CAR T-BONES FIRE APPARATUS IN DENVER-FF\'s FINE

    from www.firefighterclosecalls.com news CAR T-BONES FIRE APPARATUS IN DENVER-FF's FINE Sunday, November 1, 2009 - Denver police are investigating a collision between a fire truck and a car that happened just before 11 a.m. Sunday. The fire truck was returning from a call and was not running lights or sirens. The car t-boned the truck, but it's not known who caused the accident...  [  more here  ]  

    Tuesday, November 3, 2009

    Gingerbread FIREhouse Contest

    Aurora Regional Fire Museum,

    Grab your sugar, grab your spice - and run, run, fast as you can!
    The Aurora Regional Fire Museum (Aurora, IL) will host a Gingerbread FIREhouse Contest, exhibition, and charity raffle for the holidays.  All entries must depict a firefighting themed architectural structure, real or imaginary — IE: a firehouse, burning building, etc. Participants are invited to compete in one of three categories:
    • Individuals: entries made by teen-aged children (13+) and/or adults acting alone.
    • Families and Groups: a single entry that has been created by two or more individuals. (IE: a gingerbread FIREhouse made by children with adult supervision, or a FIREhouse constructed by an organization, club, or groups of adults)
    • Professionals: an entry produced by a baker, designer, architect, or any individual or group with professional baking experience.
    Gingerbread FIREhouse Contest registration forms are due on or before Friday, November. 7th, and, all gingerbread FIREhouses are to be delivered to the museum on or before Tuesday, November. 24, 2009. 

    The exhibit opens, and the entries will be judged on Saturday, November 28th.  

    Cash and prizes will be awarded for both Peoples Choice and Judges Choice in each category.
    You can read more about the contest, and register, online at: http://www.AuroraRegionalFireMuseum.org/gingerbread

    Monday, November 2, 2009

    USS New York

    The USS New York, a new battleship built with steel from the World Trade Center, sailed into New York harbor today on its maiden voyage and delivered a 21-gun salute near Ground Zero. Times on Line 

    Remember 343 FDNY

    A warship built with steel salvaged from the World Trade Center has arrived in New York City. Newssniffer 

    Its crew stood at attention and a 21-gun salute greeted the ship. Firefighters, bagpipers, and those who lost loved ones on 9/11 lined the shore to watch the emotional arrival. The docking holds special meaning for many families of those who died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. CNN

    Does is again - Uncle Jay Explains November 2, 2009

    You can stare at goats, or at a dead singer's movie, or at a health care bill that's ready for its close-up. The news is pretty much constant paranormal activity, but Uncle Jay explains it all!