==SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER DIES LODD IN RESPONDING CRASH
A South Carolina Public Safety Officer (Firefighter/Police Officer) was killed in a crash New Year’s Day. Sgt. Gordon William Best, with the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department, was responding to a call in Barefoot Resort around 0400 when he lost control of his vehicle on the wet roadway. Best joined the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department in October 2013 and was promoted to sergeant in February 2019. All Public Safety Officers in North Myrtle Beach are cross trained. Our condolences to all those affected. Rest In Peace.
==DELAWARE/MARYLAND FIREFIGHTER MISSING
Family, friends, Firefighters, and now law enforcement, in Delaware and Maryland, are on the lookout for 46-year old Jobie Gause. Gause was last seen leaving his shift at Five Points Fire Company in Delaware at 1800 hours on Thursday, December 31, 2020.
Attempts to locate or communicate with Gause have been unsuccessful and there is a true concern for his safety and wellbeing.
He has not been seen or heard from since. Delaware State Police have now issued a Gold Alert for Gause who is from Glen Burnie, Maryland. He’s described as a black male, 5-feet, seven-inches tall, and weighs about 250 pounds. He was last seen at the Five Points firehouse wearing his work clothes, a navy blue shirt over blue pants. His car is a gray Toyota Camry with Maryland registration. Anyone with information on Gause’s whereabouts is urged to contact Delaware State or Maryland State Police.
==WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA CHIEF DIES FROM COVID
A Jackson County community is mourning the loss of its long-time fire chief. Darrell Woodard, 66, ran the Savannah Volunteer Fire Department for many years. He died on Tuesday, Dec. 29, after a battle with COVID-19.
==LOS ANGELES CAPTAIN DIES FROM COVID
A 57-year-old Los Angeles Fire Department Firefighter succumbed to COVID-19 complications on New Year’s Day, the second member of the agency to die of the disease. Capt. George Roque was a 22-year veteran of the Fire Department who was assigned to Fire Station 97 in Studio City. He leaves behind a wife and four children, according to LAFD.
==BALTIMORE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMBER DIES FROM COVID
A 911 specialist for the Baltimore City Fire Department has died from “COVID-19-related symptoms,” becoming the first employee of the fire department to die from complications with the virus. The 62-year-old employee, whom fire officials declined to identify citing her family’s wishes, worked for the fire department for 14 years.
==CT DEPUTY CHIEF & HIS WIFE-AN EMT-BOTH DIE FROM COVID
Don Kutz, the deputy chief of Montville Fire died on Dec. 22 after a hospital stay and because he was battling COVID-19 complications. Kutz’s wife, Christine Kutz, died on Dec. 1 for the same reason. She was an emergency medical services lieutenant at Montville Fire who served the community for more than three decades as an EMT. Chief Kutz has been with Montville Fire for 52 years as a very dedicated firefighter/EMT.
Our condolences to all those affected. Rest In Peace …and our best thoughts, prayers, good karma and wishes go to all those Firefighters and EMT’s who are fighting COVID related illness, some of whom are in critical condition.
MASSACHUSETTS HERO FIRE OFFICER RECALLS HER EFFORTS (RADIO TRAFFIC)
Lt. Danielle O’Hearn (and mother of 5) of the Somerville Fire Department remained humble while telling her story after being injured during a rescue. and mother of five told her story after being injured during a heroic rescue. “I just happened to be the person who went up the ladder first,” she said. She and fellow firefighters rescued elderly grandparents early Wednesday morning from a burning second-floor porch. “We removed the first victim. She went down the ladder. The fire conditions got worse,” said O’Hearn.
**HERE IS THE RADIO TRAFFIC OF THIS FIRE**
And it was a complicated rescue. Firefighters had to break spindles out of the porch to get to the couple. Then, the grandfather became stuck. “He was stuck on the ladder. He couldn’t get himself to remove himself to go down the ladder,” O’Hearn said. “The fire had engulfed the second-floor porch at that point, so the least of our concern was falling.” With the help of another firefighter, O’Hearn jumped with him.
“I wrapped my legs around his chest, I grabbed his shoulders, and we jumped off,” she said. “We hit the first-floor shed, then down onto the ground.” O’Hearn was treated at Massachusetts General Hospital for injuries to her head, ankle and hand. Another firefighter suffered burns.
HERE IS AN INTERVIEW WITH LT DANIELLE O’HEARN
OUTSTANDING.
Take Care. Be Careful. Pass It On.
BillyG
The Secret List 1/2/2021-1943 Hours