Hey…
Five days after the explosion in that malt silo in Rheindürkheim (Germany) that killed a Firefighter in the Line of Duty, his remains have finally been recovered as of late yesterday. Special forces of a demolition company drilled a hole in the wall of the silo and secured the damaged concrete ceiling from the danger of collapse. A team of high angle rescue firefighters from Mannheim Fire Brigade recovered his body which was lying under concrete debris. Other Firefighters remain in the hospital.
In the case of many Firefighter LODD’s here and abroad, the questions are being asked at various levels specifically in Germany if the LODD could have been avoided? The media is covering comments from the public as well as German Firefighting experts as far as why the firefighters entered the silo despite the high danger of explosion. There is a known history of the problems with fires in the malt silos, including the predictability of explosions. One theory is that vaporized water for the firefighting caused such a high pressure within the silo that the outer wall of the silo was blown up. The LODD is under investigation of the district prosecutor of Mainz.
THANKS FOR SENDING MORE THAN JUST A CAR AND A FIREFIGHTER.
The tones went off and like thousands of firefighters everyday, Capt. Kimonti Oglesby, Lt. Curtis Warfield Jr and Firefighter John Klavon went out the door…along with a couple of dozen others. After all, it was a fire call and one firefighter in a car might work if the report turned out to be nothing…but just in case, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue and it’s companies sends a tad more…just in case. Just in case there are baby triplets trapped in the house. Ya neva know.
After arrival and finding it was what the caller reported, taking immediate interior actions and searching with interior and exterior support, they found the little babies. Last night, the babies Aiden, Bryson and Coleson Petrucelli remain alive, hospitalized in critical condition. The firefighters who rescued them are fine. They did their job. They took a few dollars of tax money and transformed it into priceless service…how ’bout that?
While some calls we respond to are not critical, many are…but we don’t know that until we get there and determine it. That’s why must send a first alarm that heavily matches the worst predictable outcome of the reported problem…and turn’m around it if it isn’t needed when we get there. That’s what’s best for the public-and those expected to handle the emergency. The purest form of local Government. The difference between a cheap penny-pinched insurance policy and one that costs a few bucks up front, but one that protects you and yours when you have a problem.
While we received numerous e-mails agreeing on the stupidity of even the suggestion by that writer
( http://firefighterclosecalls.com/fullstory.php?75977 ) of sending a Firefighter in a car to determine if the FD is needed, we also received a very small handful of e-mails from Firefighters who felt that maybe checking out reported fires might be a good idea. We aren’t going to debate that other than to suggest that those who "aren’t sure" swing by Washington Hospital Center and check out the Petrucelli kids. The alive Petrucelli kids due to heroic Maryland Firefighters as a part of a well staffed and heavy 1st alarm. There were no smoke detectors in the house. But thanks to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and all due companies and officers who responded simultaneously to that call, the babies are alive. Volunteer or Career Firefighters who think less staffing, less companies and less response is a good idea to save the taxpayers some pennies need to reconsider being firefighters.
Here is an excellent account of the step by step actions taken from the moment the fire was reported:
Here is additional coverage from Dave Statter911 including the 9-1-1 call:
DETROIT LODD FOLLOWUP:
Here is an article about the recent LODD of Senior Firefighter Walter Harris. Be sure to take a few minutes to read this diverse piece: http://www.freep.com/article/20081204/COL10/812040426/?imw=Y
FIRE DEPARTMENT CUTS/POSSIBLE CUTS, IN THE NEWS:
FDNY CUTS:
ATLANTA CUTS: http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2008/12/04/atlanta_budget_fire.html
PHOENIX CUTS:
MICHIGAN FIRE CHIEF LAID OFF:
When fire rescue services are cut, the public needs to understand what those cuts will absolutely mean to them when they dial 9-1-1 without anyone pretending the cuts won’t be a big deal.
Take Care-BE CAREFUL.
BillyG
The Secret List 12-5-08 / 1003 hours
