SPECIAL: A VERY COOL VIDEO. Nearly a year ago, February 1, 2010, Mt. Horeb WI lost its long time and very unique Fire Chief who was also a good friend of ours, Chief Chuck Himsel. Chief Aaron Harris from the nearby Middleton FD, another close friend of Chucks, produced an incredible tribute video about the "very unique" Chuck and the equally "unique" FDMH, called "Never Alone" )
We want to share this very well done video with all Secret List Members, feel free to pass it on:
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THE SECRET LIST 1-27-11 / 0955 Hours
Hey,
Here is a new twist that certainly can be related to FF safety and survival. Hiring FF’s by the "luck of the draw". Due to the current job market, the Virginia Beach FD has been absolutely flooded with potential Firefighters. They have so many applicants that they need help from a computer to choose Firefighters by a lottery. Not everyone likes that idea.
"I want the guy who is top notch, top of the class, and has the most qualifications," said Newport News Firefighter Mike Peterson. Peterson saw an e-mail from the Virginia Beach FD about the upcoming Recruit Academy that confirms ‘random selection’ to reduce the high number of applicants to a more manageable number. "It’s purely luck of the lottery. Firefighter by lottery, and that’s wrong. It’s definitely wrong. It’s crazy to do something like that," said Peterson. Virginia Beach fire officials said it’s not crazy, because they have so many applicants they can’t possibly interview them all.
Here is MORE: http://tinyurl.com/4sr9por
CLOSE CALL FOR PA. CHIEF:
The chief of the Slippery Rock (PA) Township FD was able to escape after a roof of a burning home collapsed on him in Slippery Rock Township yesterday. "The roof collapsed on one of our firefighters. It’s just a horrible feeling when you hear ‘mayday,’" said Slippery Rock Township Fire Department Assistant Chief Mark Strobel. The chief of the department, Bill Lunn, said he used his hose to help himself out of the burning home. "I got trapped for a little bit," Lunn said. "All I did was got the hose, shooting it down the back of my neck and started wiggling around and got myself out." Chief Lunn said he doesn’t think he did anything special and is glad no one was hurt. "I’m not trying to sound like a macho man, but this stuff happens. Fortunately, no one got hurt. I just feel bad that I go that many people worked up over it, over something out of my control," Lunn said.
FIRE SPRINKLERS "DON’T" SAVE FIREFIGHTERS LIVES-(Pa Rep Dan Moul)
FIRE SPRINKLERS "DO" SAVE FIREFIGHTERS LIVES-(40 year veteran FF Ron Siarnicki)
THE NASTY BATTLE CONTINUES IN PA:
The battle continues in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Apparently the Homebuilders Association is not happy that the Sprinkler requirements for new homes passed in their state senate (ya think?!) so they are "courting" the state house of representatives to overturn the regulation.
WHAT DO SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS THINK OR KNOW?
ARE THEY THAT CLUELESS-OR ARE THEY THAT EASILY INFLUENCED?
HERE IS A LETTER FROM DAN MOUL, PA STATE REP:
E-mail: [email protected] (717) 334-3010 (Phone)
"As you know effective January 1, 2011, sprinkler systems are now required in all new residential home construction. Keep in mind that this is truly government intrusion into someone’s personal abode. There is no evidence that installing sprinklers in brand new homes will lower the number of firefighters who are injured each year. New homes generally are not the problem. Although occasionally one does go up in flames, but the integrated smoke alarm system throughout the home goes off long before any sprinkler system would. Couple this with the fact that with the new energy portfolio and the sprinkler system we have just increased the cost for every new home in PA to the tune of $12,000-$20,000. After spending 25 years in the construction industry I think I am qualified to say that we need to concentrate more on how to make homes affordable for new home buyers which will include our future generations. This includes your children and grandchildren as well. Every time we add something to the cost of building a home it just pushes the possibility of our children’s dream that much further away. Please don’t take this the wrong way, but it really should be the choice of the person who owns the home as to whether or not to install sprinklers. Thank You, Dan"
The PA Fire & Emergency Services Institute has a form letter set up that could be completed and submitted to local representatives. http://www.pfesi.org/
RELATED:
Here is an OpEd by Chief Ron Siarnicki, Exec Director of the NFFF:
http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110127/OPINION01/101270378
Take Care-BE CAREFUL.
BillyG
The Secret List 1-27-11 / 0955 Hours
