LODD

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Fairfax, VA

Horace "Chris" C. Pendergrass of the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department in Fairfax, VA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2011-10-22

Initial Summary:  
Firefighter Pendergrass was discovered deceased in bed by fellow firefighters at shift change, having passed away during the night in his sleep from a cause still to be determined. Incident Location: Station #41, 9610 Hampton Road, Fairfax Station, VA 22039-2813

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Atlanta, GA

Harold Gregory Gibson of the Fulton County Fire Rescue in Atlanta, GA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 1993-06-19

Initial Summary:  
Firefighter Gibson contracted Hepatitis C after coming in contact with blood while treating a patient injured in a traffic accident in 1993. Due to medical complications related to Hepatitis, Firefighter Gibson left the fire department in 1998 and passed away in July, 2011.

Future of auto extrication?

Would, could, should this type of machine be used for auto extrication,

building collapse? Could be the future of rescue tools?

Raytheon-Sarcos Prototype Power Loader

from MAKE Magazine by Sean Michael Ragan

It rolls on tracks instead of walking, but this ditch-witch style tracked chassis retrofit with a pair of giant waldos is pretty much the power loader from Aliens. This video showing it in action is a great news segment from Ed Yeates of Utah’s KSL-TV, right up to the point where they start talking about the system as an “equalizer” opening up jobs to women “that might’ve otherwise been closed just based on strength issues.”

Last time I checked, guys, there aren’t a lot of men running around out there who can wave 200-lb steel I-beams around with one arm, either. Still, in all, an extremely cool toy developed by Raytheon-Sarcos (Wikipedia), the same folks who produced the XOS-series powered exoskeletons we’ve featured here before. [via Gizmodo]

LODD

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Cape May, NJ

Andrew "Andy" K. Boyt of the Cape May Fire Department in Cape May, NJ has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2011-10-03

Initial Summary:  
A few hours after working a twenty-four hour shift, Lieutenant Boyt's personal vehicle was observed parked on the side of a local road. Boyt was inside of the vehicle, slumped over the steering wheel. Police, EMS and medics responded, found Boyt unresponsive and started CPR. He was immediately transported to Cape Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. Lieutenant Boyt had responded to fire calls within 24 hours prior to his passing. The cause of his death is still under investigation.

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Hagatna, GU

Vince Cruz of the Guahan (Guam) Fire Department in Hagatna, GU has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2011-09-28

Initial Summary:  
Firefighter Cruz passed away while onduty from a cause still to be determined. Cruz, posthumously promoted to Fire Lieutenant, was reported by authorities to have responded to a number of emergency calls the fire department answered the previous night.