Monday, May 20, 2013  A pickup driver was seriously injured Sunday morning when his truck slammed into a fire truck on the scene of a vehicle fire just off Interstate 30 near Beach Street, a fire official said.

No firefighters were injured in the wreck that occurred just after 5 a.m. in the westbound lanes of the interstate east of downtown Fort Worth.

One fire truck was on the scene extinguishing a fire on a vehicle attached to a tow truck, said Battalion Chief Richard Harrison.

“A second engine was on the scene in the right lane, blocking traffic for the first engine,” Harrison said. “That’s the procedure we... [ more ]

Monday, May 20, 2013  Bad news this morning from Texas as Dallas Fire-Rescue says a Firefighter is trapped inside a burning condominium complex. The fire-which is now at 5+ alarms-is at the Hearthwood Condominium complex at 12363 Abrams Road. Reports now are that the missing Firefighter used his radio to say he was trapped inside and did not know where he was. At this point the crews have not been able to reach the Firefighter by radio since that last message. Plano FD USAR has been requested to assist in the search.
The fire has taken over 2 dozen units so far. We will post updates as additional information becomes available.
LIVE VIDEO STREAMING FROM THE SCENE: http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Fire-Torches-Dallas-Condos-208104041.html
HERE is the live fire radio audio feed from AlertPage: more ]

Sunday, May 19, 2013  Horry County (SC) Deputy Sheriff Tim Causey has died (today) in the Line of Duty as the result of smoke inhalation he suffered on March 16th, 2013, after operating at that major fire in the Windsor Green area. The fire destroyed 26 different condominium buildings. Deputy Causey responded to assist with securing the scene the night of the fire and for several days following the fire. After becoming ill in the following days, he was diagnosed with smoke inhalation and acute respiratory failure. He was subsequently flown to the Medical University of South Carolina where he remained until passing away today, May 19th, 2013. Deputy Causey had served with the Horry County Sheriff's Office for 25 years. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. Our sincere condolences. RIP.

Sunday, May 19, 2013  There was a fatal fire apparatus crash in Pennsylvania this afternoon that resulted in a civilian being killed and several Firefighters being flown out.
At around 1130 this morning, a Coolbaugh Township (Monroie County, NE PA) Fire Department vehicle, "Traffic 25", was involved in an accident with a taxi in Coolbaugh Township. In toal there were 4 Firefighters injured and one civilian fatality. We'll have updates posted later.

Sunday, May 19, 2013  One person is dead and five firefighters injured after an early-morning blaze on Clairmonte Avenue in Syracuse.

Investigators tell NewsChannel 9 that four firefighters were burned and one firefighter's finger was injured during the blaze.  All of the firefighters were treated and released from Upstate Medical Center.

Investigators found the body of an unidentified victim inside the home at 354 Clairmonte Avenue around 4:00 a.m. Sunday morning.

Sunday, May 19, 2013  PHOENIX FIREFIGHTER KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY-Apparatus Incident (Video Below)

The Secret List www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

We regret to pass on to you that the Phoenix FD lost a Firefighter in the Line of Duty early this morning. Firefighter Bradley Harper, age 23, was caught between 2 fire department vehicles near the scene of an outside fire (large mulch fire) late yesterday. Other firefighters rescued him, treated him at the scene and transported him to the hospital where he tragically died about 0100 this morning. He reportedly had 2 years on the job and is married and is survived by his wife and parents.

HERE is some news and related video from the scene: http://www.azfamily.com/news/Firefighter--208038261.html

Our sincere condolences to the PFD and all affected. More details t... [ more ]

Sunday, May 19, 2013  We regret to pass on to you that the Phoenix FD lost a Firefighter in the Line of Duty early this morning. Firefighter Bradley Harper, age 23, was caught between 2 fire department vehicles near the scene of an outside fire (large mulch fire) late yesterday. Other firefighters rescued him, treated him at the scene and transported him to the hospital where he tragically died about 0100 this morning. 

Our sincere condolences to the PFD and all affected. More details to follow.

Saturday, May 18, 2013  paramedic from Hurley was seriously injured Saturday morning when the ambulance he was driving collided head-on with a pickup on state Route 32 near the Ulster-Rosendale town line, according to the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office.

A passenger in the ambulance and the two people in the pickup also were hurt, deputies said. They said there were no patients in the ambulance at the time and that the vehicle was not an emergency call.

The accident, at 6:55 a.m. on Route 32 near Platt Lane, involved a Mobile Life Support Services ambulance driven by paramedic William Spadafora, 43, of 191 Russell Road, Hurley, and a 2002 Dodge pickup driven by Marco Ochoa, 18, of 16 Oak St., Kingston, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The crash caused extensive front-end damage to both vehicles.

Spadafora was flown by helicopter to Albany Medical Center with multiple serious injuries, deputies said, and a passenger in the ambulance, Gigi Williams, also of 191 Russell ... [ more ]

Saturday, May 18, 2013  Thanks to the Atlanta FD for sharing this close call with FirefighterCloseCalls.com


Atlanta Fire Rescue: May 11, 2013 one of our aerial ladders struck a 114,000 volt power line while performing the daily apparatus check. This energized the apparatus and tripped an adjacent substation. The electrical current found a path to ground through the left rear outrigger. The fire station's electrical system was also affected by the current. The apparatus operator jumped from the apparatus (which you should not do). There were no juries and the apparatus is out of service pending an aerial service test and inspection.

1) Maintain a minimum of 10 feet from power lines up to 50,000 volts. For every 10,000 volts over that add 4 inches to the distance.

2)Do not jump from a vehicle that has contacted power lines, stay put.

3) treat all overhead lines as charged electrical power lines.

4) This was a veteran apparatus operator who is hig... [ more ]

Saturday, May 18, 2013  A Des Moines firefighter was hurt Thursday night fighting a fire in a duplex.


The fire happened at 1039 9th Street just about 7:29 p.m.


Des Moines Fire Department spokesman Capt. Steve Brown said the firefighter was treated and released from a hospital. He stepped into a hole in the floor, created by the fire and then fell through up to his waist.


He had a minor back injury, officials said.


Brown said the structural integrity of the building was OK, but with low visibility the firefighter couldn't see where the floor was burned away.


A resident of the house was also taken to the hospital for observation for smoke inhalation.


Damage to the home is estimated at more than $60,000.  The cause remains under investigation


Read more: more ]

Saturday, May 18, 2013  Columbus firefighters who were caught in the crossfire of a deadly shootout earlier this week are talking about the scene that unfolded before their eyes.  

The gun battle, which left a woman and a man wanted for questioning in connection with a homicide dead, occurred just outside of Fire Station 19 in Clintonville Wednesday morning.

Firefighters said they were sound asleep on the second story of the firehouse when they were awakened by the sound of gunshots.  

They said bullets were flying just outside of their doors. Several of the firefighters' personal vehicles were damaged by bullets.

One truck owned by a firefighter was struck with 19 bullets. Officials said the bullets could have otherwise hit nearby homes.

On Friday, firefighters told 10TV that the scene that unfolded was surreal.

"It's just hard to process, everything you're seeing, feeling, hearing. Fifteen seconds earlier, you were in a deep sleep, and you wak... [ more ]

Friday, May 17, 2013  Two firefighters were injured battling a 4-alarm blaze in Passaic.

One firefighter sustained burns to his upper body and another suffered hand and leg injuries as the rooming house on Lafayette Avenue burned Thursday.

It took about 3 1/2 hours to bring the blaze under control. Live electrical wires hampered efforts.

Fire Chief Patrick Trentacost tells The Record 34 people were evacuated from the three-story building and from adjacent buildings.

Trentacost says the fire began on the first floor and appears to be electrical in origin.

http://www.nj.com/passaic-county/index.ssf/2013/05/2_firefighters_hurt_in_passaic_blaze.html

Friday, May 17, 2013  20 firefighters have walked off the job leaving their gear behind following Tuesday night's brawl inside McIntosh Town Hall.

An ongoing dispute between Mayor Wilbert Dixon and Fire Chief Robert Davidson quickly escalated during the town's monthly council meeting. A fight broke out between the two, sending Davidson to the hospital.

"He's doing okay, but he's not doing okay emotionally. He's very down this is part of his family, this is a part of his life," said his daughter, Samantha.

After serving 13 years as fire chief, Davidson was let go following the fight. The mayor signed a warrant for his arrest this morning Davidson turned himself in to authorities. He bonded out just after 1 p.m. Thursday. His family insists he's the victim, not the suspect.

"I mean 13 years as a chief, not as a member but a chief, that's just what I don't understand. How can you get rid of somebody with that much dedication and that much service," s... [ more ]

Thursday, May 16, 2013  An SUV driven by a volunteer firefighter flipped over while he was on his way to an emergency call around 9 a.m. Thursday, police said.

Edward J. Collar IV, 19, was driving south on Farmington Avenue near Diamond Avenue, with the blue lights on top of his car illuminated, when another car pulled out in front of him, police said.

But a witness to the accident said that Collar had to stop quickly because a school bus was turning left onto Diamond Avenue.

“He flipped over less than 25 yards in front of me,” the witness told The Mercury.

The damp roadway conditions made breaking difficult and the SUV rolled over onto its top.

Upper Pottsgrove Police said he was not ejected from the car and he was able to climb out.


Farmington Avenue was closed for 45 minutes while police investigated the cras... [ more ]