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 ]

Saturday, March 8, 2014  A veteran Captain in the Anchorage (Alaska) Fire Department died in the Line of Duty at 1146 hours  Friday. 51-year-old AFD Captain Jeff Bayless collapsed during active fire training, as part of an air management training exercise. Crews on scene began treating him immediately before taking him to Alaska Regional Hospital where he passed away. We'll post more as it becomes available. Our condolences to all affected.

Friday, March 7, 2014  A Bryan Firefighter critically injured in the Knights of Columbus Hall Fire is back on the job a little more than a year after the department's deadliest day.

News 3 spoke with Mitch Moran about his recovery.

Mitch Moran is happy to be on duty with his fellow firefighters and says it's what he always wanted after nearly losing his life.

He told us it's great being back.

It's a tough job being a Bryan Firefighter and Mitch Moran has been through some trying times.

"I've got a bit of extra padding in the back right here for my lower back where it was damaged," said Mitch Moran as he showed us his fire gear.

In February 2013 Moran and fellow firefighter Ricky Mantey spent 15 weeks at a burn unit in Galveston following a deadly fire at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bryan.
<... [ more ]

Thursday, March 6, 2014  Words cannot describe the pain some Sullivan firefighters are feeling right now.

"It's pretty tough we'll be doing some debriefing later, we just gotta get through what we gotta do," Rob Robertson, Sullivan Fire Chief said shortly after his team battled its second fatal fire in less than a week. 

Five days.

Two fatal fires.

One small department, in a close-knit community handling at all.

"I knew the gentlemen from the high-rise just from going on runs before and his family. The father of the child I've met a few times," Charles Reed, a Sullivan firefighter said. 

Reed worked both the fires.

He had connections to both the victims.

Making an already tragic situation even more difficult for him to handle.

"It's hard having a connection there, knowing that they know you and you know them. It adds a little more emotion to it," Reed said. 

James Ramer is a recovery specialist at the Hami... [ more ]

Thursday, March 6, 2014  Last year I was approached to write a book of advice to future and current firefighters, fire officers etc. I figured that the best way I could offer advice is to reach out to some good folks in our business...and "pass on" all of our advice....especially theirs. The contributions were put together in a brand new 400+ page book published by Pennwell entitled "PASS IT ON...What We Know...What We Want You To Know" and that is why I am writing you.


Each one of us, the nearly one hundred contributors (see attachment), have donated time and thoughts in this major fundraiser with all royalties to be donated jointly to both the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Chief Ray Downey Scholarship Fund.  Both organizations have fully and officially supported-and contributed, to this book.


The book is jam pa... [ more ]

Thursday, March 6, 2014  A Ferndale firefighter was injured while working on a house fire that caused an estimated $30,000 in damage Wednesday afternoon, according to Ferndale fire officials.



Fire crews were called about 1:30 p.m. to the burning two-story structure at 518 E. Troy Street south of Nine Mile Road between Woodward Avenue and Hilton after neighbors noticed flames and called the fire department, said Fire Marshal Brian Batten. No one was home at the time, he said.



Investigators said the cause of the fire is not yet known. It began on the second floor, which is now “gutted.”



“The first floor (has) lots of water damage,” Batten said. “We don’t the cause yet.”



Fire Chief Kevin Sullivan said one firefighter was hurt during the initial attack as he worked in extreme conditions on the stairwell to the upstairs. The firefighter, who possibly has an injured hernia, was taken ... [ more ]

Thursday, March 6, 2014  uthorities are searching for four members of a family who have not been accounted for after a four-alarm blaze ripped through several homes on a residential street in Jersey City early Thursday, injuring one firefighter and displacing dozens of people, officials said.

The blaze broke out at a rowhouse on Grant Avenue at about 1 a.m., firefighters said, and quickly spread. Flames and heavy smoke could be seen jutting out of windows of four homes. 

more ]