Thursday, February 2, 2012 

Hey,
A Prince George’s County Firefighter is hospitalized in "good" condition after sustaining an electrical shock inside his Fire/EMS Station.  On Wednesday evening, February 1, the career firefighter was unplugging a shoreline from a fire engine at the Beltsville Fire/EMS Station 831 when the incident occurred.
A shoreline is a heavy-duty electrical cord that carries an electrical charge from a fixed outlet in the station to a piece of Fire/EMS equipment.  The shoreline power charge, 120 volts, is used when a unit is turned off and a continuous electric charge is needed to maintain the heavy-duty battery system and for electrical components on-board the fire/EMS apparatuses that require a “trickle” charge while the unit is not operating.
The firefighter and other crew members were preparing to leave the station for training when he was in the process of disconnecting the shoreline from the fire engine.  It appears the wires pulled away from the protective housing where the shoreline is connected to the piece of apparatus.  The exposed wires came in contact with the firefighters arm causing an electrical shock that was powerful enough that he was thrown to the engine room floor.
Advanced Life Support paramedics from the nearby Calverton Fire/EMS Station #841 responded and together with personnel from Beltsville Fire/EMS Station #831 transported the injured firefighter to the Burn Unit at Washington Hospital Center where he currently remains.
The injured firefighter experienced an inability to move his right hand with an accompanying loss of sensation and disorientation.  The firefighter remains hospitalized at least through tonight as he still has not regained feeling in his hand and arm.  His condition will be re-assessed in the morning.
Battalion Chief Joe Cardello stated, “Captain Kilpatrick (Injured firefighters supervisor) and I, along with the leadership of the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department and the Beltsville Volunteer Fire Department, have, and will remain in constant contact with the injured firefighter to ensure that he has what he needs and that he remains in good spirits.”
Prince George’s County Fire Chief Marc Bashoor remains in contact with the hospital and command staff personnel on the condition of the firefighter.  He plans on visiting the firefighter later today.  He stated, ”Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured firefighter and his family.  This incident demonstrates the hazards of our job as firefighters extends well beyond the fire ground.”
The injured firefighter is currently in Room 28, Wing 3E, in the Burn Unit at Medstar. Thanks to Prince George's County Fire/EMS Chief Spokesperson Mark Brady for these details.
Take Care-BE CAREFUL.
BillyG
The Secret List 2-2-12 / 1205 Hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
 



 

Wednesday, February 1, 2012   ST CHARLES (MO) FIREFIGHTER DIES ON DUTYThe Secret List www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
It is with deep regret that the City of St. Charles Fire Department announces the death of Firefighter/Engineer/Paramedic Douglas “Doug” Haase, Sr. Firefighter/Engineer/Paramedic Doug Haase, 60, died today, February 1, 2012-he was found while on duty. FF/Eng/PM Haase served his 27 year career with the City of St. Charles Fire Department.  He also served as the Fire Chief of Lincoln County Fire Protection District from 1982 to 1984. Additionally Paramedic Haase served the Lincoln County Ambulance District from 1980 to 1995.  He proudly served all of these communities with dedication and for that we are grateful.
Funeral details are pending and will be posted at: www.mofirefuneral.org. Our sincere condolences to all affected. RIP.
 
 
OHIO FIREFIGHTER SUICIDE
(In the past 72 hours, 2 Firefighters have taken their own lives-this is a very real issue in our business...much more to follow on this diversely difficult subject which has become much too common.)
 
We regret to advise you that Fire Lt. Kevin W. West, 41, of St. Clairsville, Ohio, died Sunday, January 29, 2012, in his home.
Kevin was a Lieutenant Firefighter and Paramedic for Cumberland Trail Fire District in St. Clairsville, firefighter and paramedic for the Glen Dale Volunteer Fire Department, a flight medic for Stat MedEvac of Pittsburgh, a Methodist by faith and a member of the Cumberland Trail Career Firefighters Local Union #3667.
He was preceded in death by two nieces, Madison and Morgan Schnarr.
Surviving in addition to his parents of Glen Dale are his wife, Mary Reynolds West; three sons, Colton, Hayden and Jordon West at home; and m,any more family members and friends.
Friends will be received today at Toothman Funeral Home in St. Clairsville from 1-4 and 6-9 p.m., where services will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. with Rev. William Webster officiating. Burial follows in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Wheeling.
Fire department service, bell ceremony, and last alarm will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home. Our condolences to all affected-RIP Kevin.
 
PLEASE CHECK OUT THESE SUICIDE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS LINKS AND PASS'em ON.

HERE: http://www.firefighterclosecalls.com/personal-survival.php  (FFCC Personal Survival Section)
HERE: http://blog.iaff.org/post/2010/11/05/No-Fire-Fighter-Stands-Alone.aspx (IAFF-No Firefighter Stands Alone)
HERE: http://www.ffbha.org/ (Fire Fighter Behavioral Health Alliance)
HERE: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/firefighter-ptsd-suicide/story?id=14466320(ABC News Article on Firefighter Suicide)
HERE: http://firechief.com/health-safety/ar/firefighting_not_without_warning/ (Fire Chief Magazine Article)
HERE: http://tinyurl.com/7bbz8ev (The Company Officers Role-article)
HERE: http://sweeney-alliance.org/grievingbehindthebadge/?tag=national-fallen-firefighters-foundation (Grieving Behind The Badge)
HERE: http://tinyurl.com/7kxzfv9 (Nat'l Fire Service Summit On FF Suicide-NFFF)
 

Take Care-BE CAREFUL.
BillyG
The Secret List
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
 
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Tuesday, January 31, 2012   FIRE CHIEF TAKES HIS OWN LIFE (Chief Kyle Ienn of Ralston NE-RIP)Ralston Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kyle Ienn, 40, took his own life in Omaha late last night/early this morning. Many of you may know Kyle with his well known work with the NFFF-he was also a long time subscriber and good friend to our crew here at The Secret List, FFCC, the IAFC and the NFFF. The Chief was instrumental in helping promote his department's honor guard, which for the last several years has participated in National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. He also served as a State Advocate for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation amongst other local, state and national involvement supporting Firefighters and their families. Chief Ienn managed a hardware store in Omaha, in addition being Ralston's Fire Chief. He and wife, Christine, lived in Papillion and he was the Father of 3 children. RIP.


===FIRE FIGHTER SUICIDE: A very real issue in our business....
 
PLEASE CHECK OUT THESE LINKS AND PASS'em ON.
HERE: http://www.firefighterclosecalls.com/personal-survival.php  (FFCC Personal Survival Section)
HERE: http://blog.iaff.org/post/2010/11/05/No-Fire-Fighter-Stands-Alone.aspx  (IAFF-No Firefighter Stands Alone)
HERE: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/firefighter-ptsd-suicide/story?id=14466320 (ABC News Article on Firefighter Suicide)
HERE: http://firechief.com/health-safety/ar/firefighting_not_without_warning/  (Fire Chief Magazine Article)
HERE: http://tinyurl.com/7bbz8ev  (The Company Officers Role-article)
HERE: http://sweeney-alliance.org/grievingbehindthebadge/?tag=national-fallen-firefighters-foundation  (Grieving Behind The Badge)
HERE: http://tinyurl.com/7kxzfv9  (Nat'l Fire Service Summit On FF Suicide-NFFF)






2 TENN FIREFIGHTERS CRITICAL BUT STABLE AFTER BEING STRUCK ON THE HIGHWAY (Update)
As posted previously, 2 Braden TN FF"s were struck on I-40 last night. A pickup truck pulling a trailer struck them as they were operating on the highway. One of the Firefighters was on the step at the rear of the 2000 International 4900 Crew Cab pumper truck loading equipment after putting out a grass fire and the other was only feet away helping out when the crash occurred shortly after 1700 last night.
Firefighter Josh Sair, a 7-year veteran suffered a crushed pelvis, fractures to his femur and is currently experiencing pulse issues in one foot.
Capt. Mack Green Jr., a 15-year veteran sustained four fractured ribs, multiple contusions and an anemic thorax.
Both were airlifted to Regional Medical Center in Memphis and have now been upgraded to stable condition. The Braden FD responds to a majority of its calls on I-40 and they are prepared for working in the dark. Their fire apparatus are lime green and their turnout gear is yellow and they wear reflective vests to calls. However, "We could have been wearing neon suits last night and it would have never made a difference," Chief Whitney said. ANOTHER reminder of how dangerous roadway operations are.
MORE FIREFIGHTER ROADWAY SURVIVAL TRAINING AND INFO HERE:www.ResponderSafety.com 
Take Care-BE CAREFUL.
BillyG
The Secret List 1-31-11 / 1845 Hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com


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Monday, January 30, 2012  PA FIRE CAPTAIN LODD-MEDICAL EMERGENCY
The Secret List
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
Within 24 hours of responding to an incident on 01/21/2012, Captain Walter Sumner of the Cranesville VFD suffered a heart attack. Captain Sumner then passed away on 01/24/2012 from complications related to that heart attack while his company was on a relocation/fill-in/transfer detail. Our condolences to all affected. RIP Take Care-Be Careful, BillyG The Secret List 1-30-12 / 0821 hours www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com



 

Sunday, January 29, 2012  Hey,
A Nevada Firefighter collapsed from a heart attack while operating at a dwelling fire in Virginia City, last evening. The home is referred to by some as the “Seven Gables House” and was built in 1876. The fire started in the attic around noon Saturday with fire through the roof and it eventually collapsed. The one Firefighter that collapsed and was taken to the hospital with a minor heart attack; he is expected to recover. 


FLORIDA FIREFIGHTER DOWN
After knockdown and extinguishment at a Brooksville dwelling fire, a Hernando County Fire Captain suffered a sudden medical emergency and was transported to Brooksville Regional Hospital after receiving treatment including CPR on the scene.  Although the situation happened after the bulk of the operation was over and happened outside the hot zone, another Fire Captain saw the situation and issued an immediate MAYDAY/Firefighter Down call that brought all personnel on scene to the aid of their Brother. The "down" Fire Captain was in stable condition and talking and being moved to ICMU as of around 1900 hours.
 
 
THE TRAINING LODD'S THAT CHANGED HOW MOST OF US NOW TRAIN IN LIVE-FIRE CONDITIONS
We said most - because some still don't get it.
We are playing catchup on this one due to travel, but it is well worth posting so we remember-and learn. On Jan. 26, 1982, a training "nightmare" occurred that started significant change in the way we training. A little after 10 a.m., four Boulder (CO) Firefighters, including William J. Duran & Scott L. Smith, entered an old chicken coop for what was supposed to be a "routine" training detail. 2 other crews already had completed the exercise safely.
Tires that had been set on fire to create smoke for the training exercise ignited highly flammable fiberboard ceiling tiles. Within seconds, the fire was raging out of control. Duran, a 30-year-old engineer and Dad of three, and Smith, a 21-year-old who had joined the department just three months earlier, burned to death. Two other firefighters -- Cyrus Pinkerton, who was supervising the training exercise, and Daniel Cutler -- managed to escape but suffered serious burns.

The investigation later found that several mistakes were made in planning the training exercise. Those included not removing the flammable tiles -- no one recognized them as a hazard even though they were banned in public buildings -- and not having a backup crew on scene that was prepared to fight the fire. A small line in the building was not adequate for the potential fire conditions. The fire left deep wounds in 2 families and the BFD , and it led to national changes in standards for training exercises. On Thursday, friends, family members and FF's gathered to remember the two men and the fire that claimed their lives on the 30th anniversary. The BFD flags will fly at half-staff. RIP.
And JUST in case it's needed, here are some articles & reference info on NFPA 1403, Live Fire Training:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/wp-solutions/2005-102/
(Preventing Deaths and Injuries to FF's during Live-Fire Training in Acquired Structures-NIOSH)
http://tinyurl.com/4ypy3tn (Fire Engineering)
http://tinyurl.com/434wfza (Firehouse)
http://www.firefighterclosecalls.com/news/fullstory/newsid/36756 (Case Study)
 
 
Final word.....BUILDING FIRE RESCUE IN PA
CONGRATS to 2 good friends of FFCC, Union Fire Company of Carlisle PA Captain Micah Dewhurst and FF Josh Martin. They rescued a man from a working apartment fire on Wednesday night. MORE HERE: http://tinyurl.com/6te7umw 
Good Stuff. (There were rumors the victim saw the faces of these 2 FF's, immediately became fully conscious and ran like heck out of the building from fright-but that's not at all true, these 2 FF's performed an outstanding rescue, never listen to firehouse rumors...)
Seriously-outstanding job and ONCE AGAIN: TRAINED Firefighters Made The Difference.
Take Care,
BillyG
The Secret List 1-29-12 / 1907 Hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com