Tuesday, March 11, 2014  ARIZONA FIREFIGHTER DIES DURING TRAINING-MEDICAL

MICHIGAN FIREFIGHTER DIES FOLLOWING TRAINING-MEDICAL


ARIZONA: An Arizona firefighter died during a training exercise on Saturday. 61-year-old Bobby Mollere (with 12 years of service) worked with the Hellsgate Fire Department in Star Valley, Arizona, near the city of Payson.  Mollere was taking part in a wildland fire training exercise in Payson on Saturday morning when he reportedly collapsed.  His fellow first responders were not able to resuscitate him. FF Mollere lived in the Phoenix area with his wife, but that he would drive up to Star Valley several days a week to work with the department. 


MICHIGAN: While participating in pumper training at the fire department on 3/5,  Ironwood Township Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Jamie Peite, 43m began to not feel well but thoug... [ more ]

Tuesday, March 11, 2014  A city firefighter escaped with only minor injuries Tuesday morning after falling through a floor while battling a suspicious blaze on the city’s east side.

Arson investigators are following leads that an elderly woman's family member may have been responsible for the suspicious fires that completely destroyed the home where the firefighter was hurt Tuesday morning on the 11000 block of Maiden near Gunson because she refused to let the relative move in, Detroit Fire Department officials said.

The blaze started outside the 11000 block of Maiden, perhaps by a small fire bomb, Arson Capt. Patrick McNulty said. Firefighters doused that fire but had to return shortly after for one that left the house completely engulfed in flames.

Firefighter Scott Kasinec went in the front door to battle the blaze and fell through the floor that collapsed because of weak floor joints. Kasinec suffered some minor burns but didn't want to go to the hospital... [ more ]

Tuesday, March 11, 2014  Chief Billy Goldfeder, Chief Brian Kazmierzak, Chief Forest Reeder and Chief Pat Kenny from the Firefighter Close Calls staff are attending the National Fallen Firefighters Tampa2 Conference this week in Tampa, FL.


In 2004, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation held the first Firefighter Life Safety Summit in Tampa, FL. This event fostered the development of the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives, a collaborative effort by the entire U.S. fire service to eliminate all preventable line-of-duty deaths and injuries. Another summit will take place on March 10-12, 2014 in Florida for TAMPA2 - the ten year anniversary of the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives. TAMPA2 will focus on the company officer. Our goal is ensure that these leaders have the vision and tools they will need to carry the message of safety into the future.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014  One person died and a firefighter was injured in a Sunday morning house fire in Carroll County that was complicated by a lack of water for crews to use.

Related

• Police seek info after device ignites...
• Timothy Virts waives extradition from...
• more ]

Monday, March 10, 2014 

Four Miami Fire Rescue firefighters were injured Sunday at a house fire that happened at 1734 Northwest 44th St.

When MFR arrived to the home, there was heavy smoke consuming the front of the house and flames engulfing the rear.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire after about 30 minutes of battling the blaze. They then found several kerosene lanterns, candles and gasoline containers upon searching the house.

The 63-year-old man who lives in the home told officials he left his home for about 20 minutes before a friend got ahold of him to inform him of the fire.

Officials reported the man said he had no power for the last two weeks so he was using the lanterns and candles for light.

Four firefighters sustained second-degree burns to the wrist, neck and ears while battling the fire. Officials said those firefighters were transported to the hospital for treatment.

The house was... [ more ]

Sunday, March 9, 2014  Thanks to Dave Statter (www.Statter911.com) for this story.

While looking at this video from THEMAJESTIRIUM1 of a fire in the Bronx, posted two days ago, a bit of a close call caught my eye at 5:15 in the clip. The tip of an aerial ladder being moved hit a firefighter standing on a ground ladder in the head.

The firefighter kept his footing and apparently just shook it off. In fact, the way he handed it someone might want to make sure the aerial ladder wasn’t damaged.

Sunday, March 9, 2014  A Brooklyn firefighter says he was seriously hurt after he slid down a fire pole that was too slick, smashing into the floor and fracturing a vertebra in his lower spine, according to a lawsuit.

Lt. Christopher Cooke, 50, of Engine Co. 254, was on the second floor of the firehouse one day last March when a report of a blaze came in.

He leaped into action and onto the pole — and found himself unable to control his descent, he claims in a Brooklyn Supreme Court lawsuit.

The Avenue U firehouse was being cleaned when someone splashed the fire pole with water, said Cooke’s lawyer, Vito Cannavo.

Cooke is seeking unspecified damages.




http://nypost.com/2014/03/09/firefighter-hurt-by-slick-slide-down-fire-pole-lawsuit/

Saturday, March 8, 2014  By Robert Lopez, News & Record, Greensboro, N.C.

RANDLEMAN, NC — A Randleman Fire Department truck was damaged this morning when a tree fell on top of it.

The truck was responding to a report of a tree falling on a vehicle shortly after 3 a.m. today on Worthville Road.

Emergency personnel were cutting the tree from the vehicle when another tree fell on the truck.

Two firefighters were inside were trapped for about 45 minutes when the incident occurred.

“It did have power lines involved, and we didn’t want those two to get off for safety reasons,” Fire Marshal Michael Smith said. “So they were stuck there for about 45 minutes.”

Randleman Public Works came out and assisted in cutting the tree from the truck.

The two firefighters were uninjured.

Worthville Road has been cleared.

Smith said the truck still runs and that firefighters were able to drive i... [ more ]

Saturday, March 8, 2014  The former president of one of the borough's three volunteer fire companies said he was voted out of his post earlier this month by the membership after he pulled the plug on unlicensed firehouse beer sales.

Jason Zangara, 27, an active volunteer firefighter with Manville Fire Company No. 1, told NJ.com that he had just begun serving his second term as elected company president in January when his decision to ban the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in the firehouse was met with objection by the membership.

Zangara said there was a long-term practice of selling beer at the firehouse out of a soda vending machine, but the firehouse had no liquor license. When members objected to his ban, he said, he opened up the machine and took the beer out. But members responded by bringing in a beer dispenser and giving out free beer instead, he said.

At the start of his second term, Zangara issued a letter to the membership stating tha... [ more ]

Saturday, March 8, 2014  We've been very critical of dispatch systems that spend way too much time asking non-critical questions-prior to alerting fire and EMS companies. To us, it's simple-get the basic questions and then get the tones out. Avg time? 30-60 seconds max from the time 9-1-1 is answered until the appropriate companies are alerted to the run....with the basic info.

Asking questions such as "what in the kitchen is on fire" or "what is the model of the car that is on fire" or "oh you see smoke, but not fire, tell me about the smoke" are a proven and documented waste of time in saving lives and property.


The bottom line-when people call 9-1-1 for an emergency-they wanted the help there 5 minutes ago...and while we cannot turn back the hands of time-we can make sure the leadership of dispatch centers understand how critical it is to get fire/ems companies alerted absolutely as soon as possible. Once companies are alerted, there is then ti... [ more ]

Saturday, March 8, 2014  A very popular Firefighter was very seriously injured in a fall while operating at a fire on Thursday evening. He fell off an icy roof, was treated and transported and now, after undergoing surgery yesterday, Westport (MA) FF Steve Lopes is listed in serious condition at Rhode Island Hospital as of this morning.


Steve became an internet hit a few years ago with his "Portuguese Fireman" routine:

STEVE'S WEBSITE:

http://www.portuguesefireman.com/

Some of Steve's videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7PgIEuLXFM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kRA0oOtYdQ&list=UU-hY0OMMMPliomx8upnka8Q


The two and a half story dwelling caught fire ... [ more ]

Saturday, March 8, 2014  This close call comes to us from some close friends out of Northern Indiana.  Recently their department was hosting a class with a nationally known fire service speaker, and while companies were in class they were dispatched to Station #4 for a fire alarm.  Upon arrival units found the kitchen area full of smoke and a TERRIBLE smell.  It seems that their once famous TV rib chef left some eggs boiling, unfortunately for so long all the water boiled away and caused what you see in the attached photo.


Reports are that this once famous chef is now grounded to just cearal at the firehouse.  But members don't be afraid - his friend Dan is going to come out the firehouse and save the day by picking up cooking duties!

Saturday, March 8, 2014  Emergency crews were on the scene of an accident involving a fire truck in Iredell County Friday afternoon.

Officials told Channel 9 that a fire engine from Sheffield-Calahaln Volunteer Fire Department in Davie County was involved in a crash on Turkey Hill Lane near Powell Bridge Road just after 1 p.m.

First responders said at least one person was hurt but there was no word on the severity of the injuries.

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/1-hurt-after-fire-truck-crashes-iredell-co/nd7p5/

Saturday, March 8, 2014  A 71-year-old woman and three firefighters Friday were recovering at a Riverside County hospital after they were attacked by thousands of killer bees.

The incident happened around 4:40 p.m. Thursday in a gated community on Lucerne Drive in Palm Desert, CalFire said.

The woman suffered 1,000 stings and looked like she was wearing a “suit of bees” when firefighters found her, Battalion Chief Mark Williams said.

“When you get on scene and see an adult, fully encapsulated with bees, it’s a very rare case,” said Williams.

She was quickly put into an ambulance and taken to a local hospital with major injuries. The woman went into shock, but is expected to recover.

Five firefighters suffered stings to their faces and necks during the rescue. Two were treated on scene, while three others were transported to Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage with minor injuries, according to CalFire.

The bees... [ more ]

Saturday, March 8, 2014  A local firefighter is in critical condition and a second escaped injury after the pair fell from a roof after responding to a chimney fire at a home on American Legion Highway Thursday night.

Firefighter Steven Lopes, 47, a seven-year veteran of the Westport Fire Department, slipped on ice and fell approximately 30 feet to the ground. He was treated at the scene by Westport firefighters and transported to Rhode Island Hospital with multiple traumatic injuries, according to Westport Fire Department.Lopes is known as The Portuguese Fireman, who, according to his website, describes himself as a "New England Firefighter who dabbles in comedy." "Always considered the "class clown" Steve grew up in a 2nd Generation Portuguese household and neighborhood in Rhode Island. Steve pokes fun at his Portuguese heritage and more," Lopes is described on the website.The second firefighter, Robert Manchester, 41, also fell when he attempted to stop Lopes from falling. Manche... [ more ]