Saturday, January 21, 2012  Columbus firefighters face enough dangers without needlessly risking their safety. So they’re talking to Columbus development officials about creating a system to mark city-owned vacant homes to alert firefighters about hazards when responding to a fire or other emergency. “Our biggest concerns are the homes owned by the city and set to be demolished, the most-dangerous homes,” said Battalion Chief Mike Fowler, spokesman for the Columbus Fire Division. “ We do not want our guys to risk their lives and get hurt in a home that is going to be torn down."

No specifics have been worked out, but it could be something like a placard with an X through a box to mark that a house isn’t safe to enter or a slash through a box to warn that there are hazards but that firefighters could enter, said Jack Reall, president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 67 in Columbus. For example, thieves might have cut holes in the floor to get to ductwork they could sell as scrap metal. Firefighters still would work to determine whether someone was in the house, Reall said. “We’re going to do what we need to do to make sure there’s nobody in there.” Columbus has about 900 parcels in its land bank, many of them vacant lots. The city said 16 percent, or 144 homes, await demolition. Dana Rose, the city’s code-enforcement administrator, said he wants to set up a meeting with fire officials to discuss implementing a system. Fowler said the addresses of dangerous and vacant city-owned houses could be entered into the Fire Division’s dispatching system so that firefighters on runs could determine whether homes are slated for demolition.

There has been no one incident in Columbus that prompted this, Reall said. But the idea has been discussed nationally after six firefighters in Worcester, Mass., died while searching an abandoned warehouse for two homeless people in 1999, he said. And as the city continues to acquire more vacant homes — Columbus has more than 6,000 vacant and abandoned homes in total — firefighters need to know about the potential dangers, Reall said. “I don’t think I’ve been on a fire in the last couple of months that you didn’t have a hole in the floor somewhere.”



 

Saturday, January 7, 2012  by Kevin Johnson on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 2:12pm
As I get older, I find that I appreciate certain things more and more. I view the world differently; situations, issues and relationships. Things that would have never caused me to pause when I was younger, now often times profoundly affect me as a person. I seem to appreciate the past more. Mementos left by a loved one who has passed away, old family photos and memories, listening to an “old-timer” tell stories of the way things were. All good stuff. I also find that I have an ever-growing respect for tradition, and good, honorable people and institutions... like our volunteer fire service.
When I was a kid, the fire whistle would blow and I would run to the window or curb to watch the trucks go flying past. The flashing lights, screaming sirens and blaring horns all fascinated me. At the age of 18, I joined my local volunteer rescue squad as a driver. I eventually went on to become an EMT and then a paramedic, launching a career in public safety. Some years later, I moved from the ambulance to a dispatch job with County 911. But it wasn’t until I joined my local fire department, as an EMS first responder, that I began to understand and appreciate the brotherhood that exists in the fire service.
Today, when I see a fire truck go screaming by, I don’t notice the lights and sirens as much. I tend to look through the steel and chrome and into the passenger compartment. Into the tradition, history and brotherhood that occupies the seats inside. The guys and gals that answer the calls just as, in many cases, the generations of family members before them did. Each truck that screams by is filled with family members... some blood family, but all fire family. It really truly is a family. This was reinforced for me recently, when a longtime member and pillar of my local fire department suddenly and unexpectedly passed away.
On New Year’s Day, 2012, I was at work at the 911 Center. It was about 10:30 am, a routine day so far. A 911 line rang and I answered it, “911, what’s the address of the emergency”. I immediately recognized the name and address on my computer screen. It was the name and address of a much beloved member of the A. B. Shaw Fire Company. The female on the other end of the phone was obviously very shaken... it was clear to me right from the start that this was going to be a “real” emergency. I said “okay, tell me exactly what happened”, to which she replied “we need an ambulance... he’s not breathing”. I remember thinking to myself for a split second, “my God, I hope this isn’t him”. I called up the cardiac arrest protocol on the computer and began giving instructions for CPR. I instructed the caller to get the phone as close as she could to the patient. As she did this, I asked her the patient’s name. She confirmed my suspicion. The bigger than life member of my local fire department now lay pulseless, waiting for his brothers from the firehouse to come render aid. The Assistant Chief was on the scene in literally just a minute or two. Through the telephone, I could hear him enter the room. I told the caller to go ahead and speak with the responders and I disconnected the call. As I hung up, I remember wondering what the Assistant Chief must be seeing; his friend of many years and fellow firefighter lying in front of him. It was only a couple minutes before the phone rang again. This time, it was the Assistant Chief calling from the house with an update. This time, it was the Assistant Chief whose voice was shaking as he said “He’s gone Kevin... there’s nothing we can do... make the notifications”.
As you’d expect, friends and loved ones soon began arriving at the home to offer condolences and care for the family. At the same time, members of the fire department began arriving at the firehouse... some returning from the call, others just hearing the news and coming to be with their brothers. Divisions and fractures, which exist in every family, were now invisible. The sense of brotherhood, which is always there but at times stressed or not as evident, now enveloped the firehouse. Firefighters consoled each other by talking, telling stories of the lost member, and by participating in a group stress-debriefing meeting later in the evening.
A couple of hours later, I spoke with one of the members to get a sense of how everyone was doing. He indicated that emotions were running high, but that everyone was keeping busy planning the fire department’s “farewell” to the member. He asked if I could reach out to the Ancram Fire Chief... as he thought Ancram had black fabric bunting that A. B. Shaw might be able to borrow to drape on the front of their firehouse. I reached the Ancram chief at, of all places, his own firehouse. He, and his brother firefighters, were there enjoying a football game and some snacks. When I explained what had happened and made the request for the loan of the black bunting, the Ancram Chief replied without any hesitation at all “of course, anything they need... if they need us to bring it to them we will”. As I hung up the phone, it struck me that this bond, this brotherhood that exists in each fire department goes beyond the walls of each respective station. The brotherhood is universal. If you’re a firefighter, you’re a brother... regardless of what department you belong to. The firefighters in Ancram were willing to drop what they were doing, put their party on hold, to aid their brothers at A. B. Shaw. In the days to come, the Ghent Fire Company provided standby coverage to Claverack, as the A. B. Shaw members went in body to the funeral home to pay last respects. The Mellenville and Greenport fire departments covered the Claverack fire district the next day as firefighters brought their deceased brother to his final resting place. Other agencies reached out and offered anything that was needed.
I’ve always had a great deal of respect for firefighters and the job they do. But as I get older, I find an ever-growing respect for the brotherhood and solidarity that exists among them. It’s not cliché, it’s real. It’s honorable, it’s tradition and it’s eternal.
-KJ
 

Sunday, November 6, 2011  ...

 

Thursday, September 1, 2011  Thanks to Senior Fire Alarm Operator Steve Redick for sending us these photos of a great job blocking by the Chicago Fire Dept.

 

Wednesday, August 10, 2011  Over the past month with the excessive heat that had spread over our area the Tabernacle Rescue Squad was requested to respond with our rehab unit to several different incidents. The first of the incidents occurred July 19th for a vehicle fire on Route 70 in Southampton twp. Crews were fighting a fire in a truck containing several chemicals in 100+ degree heat. The second incident occurred later that same night for a house fire on Fox Hill Drive in Southampton Township. This brought several of the people who were involved in the car fire back through rehab once again. The next incident occurred August 1st on Route 70 in Southampton for a fatal vehicle accident that had a prolonged investigation. The finial incident was later that night for a Building fire on Juilestown road in Pemberton township. I think this is a great testament to the fact that rehab is an important consideration no matter what the type of incident. In all of these incidents medical monitoring was performed along with hydration and various methods of cooling. Just thought you would like to see we at Tabernacle Rescue Squad and our surrounding communities understand the importance of rehab. There are more photos available at www.tabernaclerescue.com

 

Monday, August 1, 2011  The Grand Rapids Fire Department's latest acquisition will keep you and other motorists, along with emergency crews, safe on the highway. But don't expect it to deliver a load of top soil to your house. That's not the mission of an old city dump truck-turned-life protector. Designated as Utility 2 over the department radio, the former city water department truck now sports a fresh coat of red paint, flashing emergency lights, a siren and pulls a large shock absorber on wheels. Fire officials hope it's the answer to a chronic problem. Every time there's an accident on the S-curve, the fire department sends two pieces of apparatus: one handles the crash scene, the other protects those crews handling that scene by blocking the lane ahead of the crash. But motorists keep hitting the blocking fire truck, and it's costing the city a lot of money. So fire officials, MDOT and the Kent County Road Commission put their heads together and came up with Utility 2. "This is basically a dump truck that the water department turned in, was going to be sold at auction but we scarfed it up," GRFD Deputy Chief of Operations Gerard Salatka told 24 Hour News 8. The new rig will take the place of more expensive ones. In November, a semi-truck jack-knifed into the side of the GRFD's Ladder 3 while the crew blocked traffic during an accident on US-131. The same company's rig, a loaner from the City of Walker, was rear-ended in February 2010, and in October 2010, a third truck was hit. "Those three accidents cost us over $150,000 in damages," Salatka said. Insurance covered the repair cost, but the trucks had to be taken out of service, and the spare pool was running thin. Utility 2 should relieve the problem. It has the typical fire truck lights, siren and reflective chevron strips on the back, plus a lighted road arrow sign typically seen on road commission trucks. "And then we put on the crash attenuator in the event that they did not see all the warning lights and the flashing arrows and hit us, that they would suffer less severe injuries, if any," he said. Describing the shock absorber, he added, "This unit is designed to absorb that impact . It's filled with aluminum honeycomb, so that all starts collapsing, the armature starts collapsing and it absorbs the impact." Along with providing improved safety for motorists and firefighters at accident scenes, taxpayers are getting a break. Everything, from the truck to the emergency lights, siren and fire radio came from the spare parts pile. The Kent Road Commission is providing the traffic arrow. The items that did cost money were covered by a private, $15,000 insurance industry grant. "Cost-effective wise, this is the way we believe to go to be prudent with the taxpayers money," he said. "The whole unit itself cost the taxpayers zero dollars."  

Monday, March 7, 2011  On Sunday evening around 2135 Hrs Fairfa Countyx,VA FF's responded to Dwelling Fire. Early on a FF got lost in the basement and declared a Mayday. This MayDay had a positive outcome and there is some good audio that can be used for training to go along with this MayDay courtesy of AlertPage.

 

Friday, February 18, 2011  Great Example of DOING IT RIGHT! GOOD JOB GUYS!

 

Wednesday, January 5, 2011  This story comes to us from our partners at www.mattmilesfirephotography.com

The following story was submitted a week ago by Lieutenant Flinn from Hampden Township, PA for the monthly “Do you know your first due” posting. This exact house is the below incident for a Vacant House Fire in Hampden Township, PA and we all know that just because it’s vacant doesn’t mean people aren’t inside. First arriving crews would have known immediately that there was a bedroom in what appeared to be the garage! GREAT JOB LT FLINN!!!

GET OUT IN THE "FIRST DUE" AND LOOK AROUND!!!


First arriving officer completed a 360 of the structure and found that he had fire out the Charlie side. First engine stretched the initial line to the front of the building. After entering they realized their access was blocked. Same crew took the line to the Charlie side of the structure. The initial line was a 200’ 1 ¾. The crew realized the line was too short and pulled a high rise pack to extend the line. Engine crews began to knock the bulk of the fire as other crews arrived performing ventilation, search etc. After searching the fire floor I made my way to Division 1 where the crews initially tried to gain access. This turned out to be used as a basement. I searched the floor and found two bedrooms both were unoccupied. While searching the second bedroom I realized I was in what should have been a garage. As you can see by the pictures the garage door is where the second bedroom was. Behind the garage door was a wall. It was studded and covered in drywall. There is an air conditioner in the window but was partially covered by a bush. Take time, this goes to show that even in wealthy communities people are over crowded and turn normally unoccupied unlivable spaces into just the opposite.
Story and Photos by LT Flinn

Photos of the house fire by Staff Correspondent Tim Knepp

 

Sunday, December 19, 2010  Captain John Prentiss of the Bangor Fire Department (Bangor,ME) was responding on an EMS call and became unresponsive in the officers seat of Engine 6. The crew recognized there was a problem and pulled over. They began life saving measures and determined that the Captain was in cardiac arrest. ACLS was performed and he was revived and transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center where he was admitted to the CSU and is under close observation. Engine 6 and Rescue 6 were responding together which allowed the quick response and care. Great job done by Firefighter/EMT Bruce Johnson (E6), Firefighter/Paramedic Nate Snyder (E6), Firefighter/Paramedic Joe Wellman (R6); and Firefighter/Paramedic Melinda Caldwell.

LESSONS LEARNED: Capt. Prentiss is a very healthy and active guy. It reminds us all to have regular check ups and stay on top of our health.

 

Tuesday, September 28, 2010  Attached is a photo that was taken during a fire in a tobacco dyer in our first due area. Crews arrived to find smoke showing from the dryer and the ventilation system. A water supply was established and all crews were in place prior to opening the dryer. The ISO ensured all firefighters were briefed on what could happen when the door was opened and all units were on air with all PPE in place. The door was opened and the fire was extinguished shortly after the door was opened. The operation resulted in no firefighters injured and everyone went home in the same condition they arrived.

Mason County Fire District 4 was assisted by Mason County Fire District 5 in this picture. Mason County is located in western Washington at the South end of the Puget Sound.
 

 

Thursday, August 19, 2010  The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), the longest-tenured fire sprinkler advocacy organization in the U.S., announces the City of Portland, Me., has approved building code changes that will require all new one- and two-family homes and townhouses built in the city to be equipped with life-saving fire sprinkler systems. These new codes will take effect on September 15, 2010.

Portland’s Code Review Board voted on August 16, 2010, by an 8-0 margin, to adopt the 2009 editions of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes 1 and 101 which include the requirement for life- and property-saving fire sprinklers in all new homes and townhomes. Support for the fire sprinkler requirement in the state of Maine continues to grow as Portland is the third, and largest, city in the state to adopt the requirement, following Westbrook and Rockland.

“Portland’s decision to adopt the updated building codes is a great victory for the residents and fire service professionals in the city as this life-safety measure will provide significant protection from the dangers of residential fires,” said NFSA President John Viniello. “The increased support of the fire sprinkler requirement throughout the state of Maine is an indication of its previous success and evidence of its benefits for the community.”

Portland’s building code changes have come during a growing fire problem in the U.S. About 85 percent of all fires occur in the home and many are fueled by new “lightweight” construction and more flammable home contents. Smoke detectors are not enough in residential fire protection, as the time to escape a house fire has dwindled from 17 minutes 20 years ago to three minutes today. This poses a severe risk to firefighters as they now have less time to do their job and save residents’ lives and property.

“As the fire problem continues to grow in the U.S., it is becoming increasingly important for state and local boards to adopt the fire sprinkler requirement,” said Tim Travers, NFSA New England Regional Manager. “Portland’s recent decision is part of a growing trend to provide the safety umbrella of fire sprinklers as a standard rather than an option.”

About the National Fire Sprinkler Association
Established in 1905, the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) is the voice of the fire sprinkler industry. NFSA leads the drive to get life-saving fire sprinklers into all buildings; provides support and resources for its members – fire sprinkler contractors, manufacturers and suppliers; and educates authorities having jurisdiction of fire control matters. Headquartered in Patterson, N.Y., NFSA has regional operations offices throughout the country. www.nfsa.org.

 

Sunday, May 23, 2010  Vests definitely stand out and make a difference in roadway safety...

 

Saturday, February 6, 2010  These guys get it - vehicle fires are NOT routine - no matter what we think!

 

Thursday, January 7, 2010  This apparatus purchased by Cameco Corporation – Key Lake Uranium Mill.  It was specifically ordered with Hi-Vis chevrons on the rear for increased visibility and a hydraulic hose bed cover (which when open, also functions as an integrated fall protection system with built in lighting).  These additions not only enhance the safety of ERT members, but exceed our requirements under the OH&S Regulations.