Friday, February 10, 2012  SMOKE KILLS EVEN ON THE ROOF!

Also where is the roof ladder?

Friday, February 10, 2012 

What if your community decided to break off from a long standing relationship with its volunteer fire department and created its own unit? Would you feel safe with volunteers who have no real experience?

That's what happened in the town of Richmond, Minn. outside of St. Cloud, about five miles from Cold Spring.

It could easily happen in your city.

Ron Terhaar started building his retirement workshop a decade ago in the back of his Richmond home. In recent years, he’s spent every day gardening, welding and fixing up cars..

”That's where I lived,” he said. “That's my…they say home away from home.”

Today it's all gone. But should at least some of it been saved?

”I worked so hard to get to that point and all of a sudden within minutes it's gone,” Terhaar said. “You come on site and don't what you are doing. That's really not good.”

That’s the opinion Terhaar has when it comes t... [ more ]

Thursday, February 9, 2012  Two firefighters and one woman were hospitalized Thursday afternoon after a fire broke out on East Main Street.

Lt. Peter Morotto and firefighter Pat Burlinson, of Ladder 10, were listed in stable condition at Bridgeport Hospital. The female resident, whose name and condition were not immediately known, suffered "minor smoke inhalation," according to Assistant Fire Chief Ismael Pomales.

The fire broke erupted about 3 p.m. on the first floor of 1643 East Main St., a 2.5-story wood-frame house that housed one woman in the first floor but no one upstairs. The woman, who fire officials and neighbors said is in her early to mid 30s, was found in the backyard, wrapped in a blanket without shoes, Pomales said. She was in shock but conscious.

Morotto and Burlinson had just broken through the front door of the first floor and entered the house to search for people inside. Steps into the hallway, the fire in the neighboring living room "flashed over," which means that ... [ more ]

Thursday, February 9, 2012  One firefighter was transported to a hospital Thursday with second-degree burns to the neck and upper chest area suffered while fighting a fire in Mastic Beach, officials said.

Suffolk County fire and police officials said it was not immediately clear what department the firefighter served with, but one fire official characterized the injuries as not severe.

Three departments -- Mastic, Mastic Beach and Brookhaven -- responded to the scene on King Road after a 911 call at 11:33 a.m. Arson Squad investigators also were called to the scene, but it was not immediately clear if that was routine procedure.

Thursday, February 9, 2012  A firefighter was injured in a fire this morning that caused an estimated $60,000 in damage to a two-story house at 535 Houston St. in Batavia.

The occupants were able to escape and were ouside the home when Batavia firefighters arrived at 8:10 a.m., according to a release from the department. But a firefighter sustained a back injury during the initial fire attack, and was taken to Delnor Hospital for care.

The fire started inside a dryer, and then spread to the laundry room and other rooms on the first floor, the release stated. When firefighters arrived, they found part of the first floor on fire. The laundry room, bedroom and living room all had extensive fire and smoke damage,.

The fire was brought under control at 8:30 a.m. Damage was estimated at $40,000 to the building, and another $20,000 to the contents.

Thursday, February 9, 2012  In the city of San Jose, "budget" is the word on the street and is echoing through City Hall.

Salaries have been slashed, services cut and employees have been shown the door over the past year.

It's all in a valiant effort to dodge a potential financial crisis.

But is it an exaggeration?

The NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit obtained internal emails, memos and documents which reveal city leaders have not been straightforward when it comes to projected retirement pension costs for San Jose.

Our investigation found the math behind the headlines isn’t adding up.

In the 10th largest city in the country, it’s not surprising that retirement costs are predicted to increase in the next few years.

Mayor Chuck Reed has made sure the public is aware of the urgency in taking action to prevent these future financial burdens.

In his February state of the city address, he says, reforms are needed to " avert f... [ more ]

Thursday, February 9, 2012  Two youngsters fell into the waiting arms of neighbors from a second-story window of a burning duplex in St. Paul before dawn Thursday.

The blaze in the 1000 block of Marion Street is believed to be an act of arson, said St. Paul Fire Marshal Steve Zaccard. The fire was set in the back and blocked the only stairs from the upper level.

Injuries were limited to the children's 27-year-old mother, who hurt her ankle coming down a ladder, and a firefighter who was slightly hurt in a fall from the roof, Zaccard said.

"When someone intentionally sets fire to an occupied residence like this, blocking their escape, they're trying to kill someone," Zaccard said. "Arson is not just a crime against property, it's most certainly a crime against innocent people, too."

Neighbors, awakened by the crackle of the fire, put mattresses on the ground and caught 7-year-old Alexana and 4-year-old Thomas from the second-story window, the fire marshal said. Firefighters place... [ more ]

Wednesday, February 8, 2012  An Alexandria (VA) FD Paramedic operating at a car fire this evening, fell from I-395 in Shirlington into Four Mile Run Creek, according to an Alexandria Fire Department spokesperson. Fire companies from both Arlington and Alexandria were initially sent to the scene of the car fire, which was on I-395 Northbound. The fire was out, but the Paramedic from Alexandria reportedly fell between an open area on I-395 NB into the Four Mile Run Creek below. Last reports were that the Paramedic sustained critical injuries and is now being treated at Washington DC MedStar. Keep him and the AFD in your prayers-updates to follow.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012  All,
An Alexandria (VA) FD Paramedic operating at a car fire this evening, fell from I-395 in Shirlington into Four Mile Run Creek, according to an Alexandria Fire Department spokesperson. Fire companies from both Arlington and Alexandria were initially sent to the scene of the car fire, which was on I-395 Northbound. The fire was out, but the Paramedic from Alexandria reportedly fell between an open area on I-395 NB into the Four Mile Run Creek below. Last reports were that the Paramedic sustained critical injuries and is now being treated at Washington DC MedStar. Keep him and the AFD in your prayers-updates to follow.
 
 
EMS CRASH IN SOUTH CAROLINA
This evening around 1800 hours, an ambulance crashed in Kinston, SC. There was entrapment as the unit reportedly rolled over. 2 EMS helicopters were requested in addition to area fire department (Sandy Bottom and Sotuhwoods) rescue companies and additional EMS units. More to follow.
... [ more ]

Wednesday, February 8, 2012   A one-car accident early Tuesday morning sent two people to the hospital and knocked out power in West Barnstable after a utility pole struck in the crash collapsed mid-rescue, endangering everyone on scene.Around 12:15 a.m., the West Barnstable Fire Department and Barnstable Police Department responded to a vehicle rollover along Route 132, near Cape Cod Community College.

The vehicle, reported to be a 1982 Cadillac, was traveling north when it jumped a curb and rolled over into a tree and a utility pole, Sgt. David Myett said.

Rescue workers found a woman out of the car and the driver, Ethan Adams, 22, of West Barnstable, pinned under it.

The woman was transported to Cape Cod Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Rescuers had to use a hydraulic tool to extricate Adams.

Midway through the extrication, the utility pole collapsed, possibly because of tension from the power lines, and a live wire fell on t... [ more ]

Wednesday, February 8, 2012  Four firefighters suffered minor injuries tonight while battling a fire inside a two-story home in Rosebank that area residents said has been abandoned for over two decades.

The injured firefighters were taken to Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, according to officials on the scene.

The injured came from Engine 152, Ladder 77, Ladder 81 and Engine 153.

The blaze started at 6:20 p.m. on the second floor of 42 Hylan Blvd., according to Deputy Chief William Tanzosh.

"The fire started on the second floor area and went straight up into the attic," he said. The blaze caused extensive damage to the entire second floor and the attic areas. It was under control at 7:20 p.m.

The house at 44 Hylan Blvd., had some exposure to the roof, but firefighters were able to get in under control before it spread, Tanzosh said.

Cathy Muldoon, who lives at 40 Hylan Blvd., said she was home at the time of the incide... [ more ]

Wednesday, February 8, 2012  Philly had a High Rise Box in E-11's local @ 521 S 2nd ST. L-27 was involved in an MVC with a CIV @ Tasker & Moyamensing Sts. A Medic was requested (ALS) for the driver of the CIV vehicle. He was transported to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital as a Trauma Alert. FM-21 BC-1 and BC-401 were investigating. NFI on Members.

BC-401 was on location right behind the accident as they were 2nd due BC on the E-11 Box. It's a 3 digit BC as the 4th Battalion was restored (covered by a Captian) since BC-4 was in service on a greater alarm fire in North Philly.

The high rise was a discharged fire extinguisher on the second floor. No fire.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012  While San Jose residents and leaders alike are fretting over recent police and fire staffing cuts to fill budget holes, a new IBM analysis requested by Mayor Chuck Reed suggests the city's public safety departments are overstaffed and inefficient. (LINK BELOW)

Reed has scheduled a discussion of the report Wednesday at the City Council agenda-setting committee he leads. He wants the committee to have the city manager and auditor look it over and use the analysis to develop budget recommendations for the council.

"The IBM analysis will be of great interest and value as we attempt to restore some of the services that have been cut over the last decade," Reed said. "In my review of the report, it is clear that, as we restore services, we should not assume that we will rebuild our organization exactly as it was before the cuts."

But officers and firefighters blasted the report's suggestions, which come as Reed and other city leaders are preparing fo... [ more ]