An East Texas volunteer Firefighter is critical after
being involved in a one-vehicle accident Friday night. 3 members of
the Jackson Heights Volunteer Fire department, were involved in a one
vehicle rollover Friday night as they were responding to the call of an
accident in the area. They were on their way to their firehouse in a
personal vehicle when the accident happened.
20-year-old Jalen Smith, 21-year-old Cornelius Redwine, and 18-year-old Gary
Robinson, all of Tyler, were in the vehicle when it rolled over multiple times
off of FM 2767 near County Road 387.
The preliminary investigation reveals that the driver had to take evasive
action and the car then rolled several times. All three men were taken to ETMC
Tyler Friday night. Cornelius Redwine and Gary Robinson were treated and
released Friday night, and Jalen Smith was last listed in critical condition.
We'll keep you updated-keep'm in your prayers.
DECEMBER
AND FIREFIGHTERS:
Each December, there are some very significant dates with
tragic results for the fire service, worthy of note and well worth
discussion with Firefighters-especially with the younger ones.
THE OUR
LADY OF ANGELS FIRE anniversary was yesterday. That school fire in
Chicago left 92 kids and 4 nuns dead-a day in 1958 where the heroics of
Chicago FF's were well documented.
2
YEARS AGO IN CHICAGO: December 22, Chicago Firefighters Corey Ankum
and Ed Stringer were killed in the Line of Duty in a collapse-----actually
on the 100th Anniversary of the Union Stock Yards fire that killed 21 Chicago
Firefighters.
BUFFALO,
NEW YORK: Every
Firefighter should well familiar with the multi LODD loss in Buffalo (NY) when
5 BFD Ladder 5 Firefighters (and 2 civilians) were killed in a propane
explosion on December 27, 1983. It was initially a response for
an "odor gas" investigation. HERE is Chief
Mike Lombardo's article: http://tinyurl.com/7bbgfbd
BRACKENRIDGE,
PA: December 20th in 1991, 4 Hilltop Hose Company Firefighters were
killed when they were trapped in a partial floor collapse in Brackenridge, PA.
Ever read that report? Here it is along with photos: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr-061.pdf
NINETEEN
NINETY NINE:
In
December of 1999, there were also 2 other very significant multiple Firefighter
Line of Duty Death fires that we must remember.
The first is the Worcester Cold Storage fire that occurred on December 3, 1999.
The second, discussed below, is the loss of 3 Firefighters in Keokuk, Iowa.
===WORCESTER (MA)
WAREHOUSE FIRE TAKES THE LIVES OF 6 FIREFIGHTERS (W6).
We all remember wonderful but also (and sadly), tragic events that have
occurred in our lives as well. On December 3rd of 1999, I was attending a
community Christmas celebration in our town when beepers started to beep
providing initial details about missing Firefighters in Worcester (MA)-and then
more details-and then even more info and the final incredible details came out.
The Worcester Fire Department responded at 1813 hours that night to Box Alarm
1438 for a fire at 266 Franklin Street.(NOTE: 266 Franklin Street is now the
the address and location of WFD's E-6, E-12, L-1, R-1 and Scuba-1 quarters)
2 members of Rescue 1, Firefighter Paul Brotherton and Firefighter Jerry Lucey,
entered the building searching for occupants. Fire conditions worsened in the
building at a rapid and unexpected rate. FF's Brotherton and Lucey, on the
fifth floor, became disoriented in the smoke-filled building. Lost, and running
low on air, they called for help. Several crews began searching for the lost Firefighters.
Two crews reaching the fifth floor also found themselves disoriented in the
smoke and trapped by the maze of interior walls: Lieutenant Tom Spencer and
Firefighter Tim Jackson from Ladder 2, and Firefighter Jay Lyons and
Firefighter Joe McGuirk from Engine 3 were now trapped. Though many
more highly heroic Worcester Firefighters attempted to locate their missing
brothers, their efforts proved futile.
Be sure to read the link below, entitled "A Chiefs
Perspective" about WFD District (Ret) Chief Mike McNamee, who made the
beyond difficult decision to end search operations for the missing members-and
saved more lives by doing so.
The Line of Duty Deaths of Worcester Firefighters Paul A. Brotherton, Timothy
P. Jackson, Jeremiah M. Lucey, James F. “Jay” Lyons III, Joseph T. McGuirk, and
Lt. Thomas E. Spencer devastated Worcester, the Fire service, the nation and
the world. Their Line of Duty deaths marked the worst loss of Firefighters’
lives in more than 20 years in a building fire in America, and the third worst
fire in Massachusetts’ history. R.I.P.
===KEOKUK,
IOWA-THE LOSS OF 3 FIREFIGHTERS-AND 3 CHILDREN IN A DUPLEX FIRE.
At 0824 Hours on Wednesday, December 22, 1999, a fire was reported in a
multifamily dwelling in Keokuk, Iowa. Several neighbors phoned the Keokuk 911
center to report smoke coming from a residence, and that a woman was outside
screaming that there were children trapped inside.
Assistant Fire Chief Dave McNally, 48, Firefighter Jason Bitting, 29, and
Firefighter Nate Tuck, 39 were killed while attempting the rescue of 3 trapped
kids in that fire-who also perished. The 3 Firefighters left 8 kids of their
own behind. The Firefighters died when a flashover occurred while the 3 were
doing their search. The fire started in the kitchen of an old wooden two-story b/f
home that had been converted into apartments. Staffing is a major issue in
Keokuk, and that morning, 4 of the 5 total (+ the Chief) on duty firefighters
arrived on scene with heavy smoke showing, and upon hearing the mother
screaming that her children were trapped inside, they immediately and
understandably went in after them.When "Mom" screams that her kids
are inside-we go in.
The 3 were inside, (the Asst Chief and 2 FF/pump operators) a Lt. was on the
hydrant-couldn't see the building and one Firefighter was on side
"A"... starting to pack up, to back the interior members up. The
Chief made the terribly difficult decision to leave the scene for 3 minutes to
personally transport a non-breathing rescued child--there were no other
resources available... none. The hospital was a minute away. When he returned,
the flashover had already occurred with only the Lt. and the one Firefighter
left outside. A/C Dave McNally, FF Jason Bitting, and FF Nate Tuck perished in
that duplex. R.I.P.
One of the best quotes I have ever heard came from KFD's Chief Mark Wessell.
Mark, who retired this year, is a good friend who has shown true leadership in
taking the KFD forward-I don't know anyone who doesn't agree with that. Since
that fire, Mark and I have become pretty close and I am continually in awe over
how he has made it clear that his FD will (and has) change. Mark makes it clear
that as horrible as this was-he did whatever he had to, to make sure it never
happens again. To all of us, he made a statement that sums it up... "Always
remember that we as firefighters are there to help people with a problem, while
also doing ALL that we can to never become PART of that problem"
The above information-and plenty from many other resources and websites as
well-provides each of us with an opportunity to share:
-so younger Firefighters understand our history.
-so we all are reminded of the losses.
-so we learn from the lessons learned.
-and so we can honor all of the above members who gave their lives in the Line
of Duty.
EMS
GETS THE BOOT
The Quicky's convenience store in Mid-City New Orleans
(LA) takes its parking lot rules seriously. Very seriously. Or very
stupidly. About 1600 hours Friday, New Orleans Paramedics rushed
inside the store for a man with a life-threatening medical issue. They worked
on the patient with chest pain, put him inside the vehicle, then started to
speed off. The paramedics “heard a loud noise,” and the vehicle came to a
screeching halt, and the medics stepped out and found a boot on their ambulance.
Convenience store employees allegedly put a restrictive parking boot on the
ambulance. And now it was stuck. The Paramedics were perplexed. Ya think.
