WEST VIRGINIA FIRE CHIEF LODD-MEDICAL EMERGENCY AT THE FIRE STATION
It is with deep regret that we advise you that Roger Bell, Fire Chief of the Coal City (W. VA) VFD died in the Line of Duty on Tuesday, Nov. 23. Chief Bell collapsed at the fire station at around 2:45 p.m. of an apparent heart attack. Members attempted CPR and he was taken to Raleigh General Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Chief Bell temporarily resigned along with the rest of the Coal City FD in May. They cited low membership and internal operational influences for the closure. State Fire Marshall Sterling Lewis intervened to help iron out those issues and placed Bell back in charge of the department less than a week later. Our sincere condolences to all affected.
As we now approach December 2009, we remember that 11 YEARS AGO (December of 1999), there were also 2 very significant multi-LODD fires that we must remember.
The first is the Worcester Cold Storage fire that occurred on December 3, 1999. The second, discussed below, is the loss of 3 Firefighters in Keokuk, Iowa.
===WORCESTER (MA) WAREHOUSE FIRE TAKES THE LIVES OF SIX FIREFIGHTERS
We all remember wonderful but also (and sadly), tragic events that have occurred in our lives as well. As a kid, I remember when President Kennedy was assassinated (Nov 22, 1963), as well as Dr. Martin Luther King’s murder (April 4, 1968). When the Challenger shuttle blew up (January 28, 1986) and the "23rd Street Fire" in NYC (October 17, 1966) – we remember what we were doing when events like that happened-they get, as some say, "etched" in our mind.
On December 3rd of 1999, I was attending a community Christmas celebration in our town when beepers started to beep providing initial details about missing Firefighters in Worcester (MA)-and then more details-and then even more info and the final incredible details came out.
The Worcester Fire Department responded at 1813 hours that night to Box Alarm 1438 for a fire at 266 Franklin Street.(NOTE: 266 Franklin Street is now the the address and location of WFD’s E-6, E-12, L-1, R-1 and Scuba-1 quarters)
2 members of rescue 1, Firefighter Paul Brotherton and Firefighter Jerry Lucey, entered the building searching for occupants. Fire conditions worsened in the building at a rapid and unexpected rate. FF’s Brotherton and Lucey, on the fifth floor, became disoriented in the smoke-filled building. Lost, and running low on air, they called for help. Several crews began searching for the lost Firefighters. Two crews reaching the fifth floor also found themselves disoriented in the smoke and trapped by the maze of interior walls: Lieutenant Tom Spencer and Firefighter Tim Jackson from Ladder 2, and Firefighter Jay Lyons and Firefighter Joe McGuirk from Engine 3 were now trapped. Though many more highly heroic Worcester Firefighters attempted to locate their missing brothers, their efforts proved futile.
Be sure to read the link below, entitled "A Chiefs Perspective" about WFD District (Ret) Chief Mike McNamee, who made the beyond difficult decision to end search operations for the missing members-and saved more lives by doing so.
The Line of Duty Deaths of Worcester Firefighters Paul A. Brotherton, Timothy P. Jackson, Jeremiah M. Lucey, James F. “Jay” Lyons III, Joseph T. McGuirk, and Lt. Thomas E. Spencer devastated Worcester, the Fire service, the nation and the world. Their Line of Duty deaths marked the worst loss of Firefighters’ lives in more than 20 years in a building fire in America, and the third worst fire in Massachusetts’ history. R.I.P.
WORCESTER REPORTS & LINKS:
HERE is the USFA report as well as the "must read" Esquire Magazine/Sean Flynn article:
http://www.esquire.com/features/perfect-fire-0700?click=main_sr (Esquire Magazine)
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr-134.pdf (USFA Report on the fire)
Excellent Collection of Stories, Photos, Audio: http://www.telegram.com/static/fire/
A Chiefs Perspective: http://www.telegram.com/article/20091129/NEWS/911290432/1052
X Marks The Spot: http://www.telegram.com/article/20091130/NEWS/911300384/0/news06
Photos: http://www.pbase.com/tomcarmody/wor
Photos: http://www.capecodfd.com/PAGES%20Special/Worc1.htm
WFD Sites: http://www.iaff1009.org/index.cfm http://www.ci.worcester.ma.us/fire
At 0824 Hours on Wednesday, December 22, 1999, a fire was reported in a multifamily dwelling in Keokuk, Iowa. Several neighbors phoned the Keokuk 911 center to report smoke coming from a residence, and that a woman was outside screaming that there were children trapped inside.
Assistant Fire Chief Dave McNally, 48, Firefighter Jason Bitting, 29, and Firefighter Nate Tuck, 39 were killed while attempting the rescue of 3 trapped kids in that fire-who also perished. The 3 Firefighters left 8 kids of their own behind. The Firefighters died when a flashover occurred while the 3 were doing their search. The fire started in the kitchen of an old wooden two-story b/f home that had been converted into apartments. Staffing is a major issue in Keokuk, and that morning, 4 of the 5 total (+ the Chief) on duty firefighters arrived on scene with heavy smoke showing, and upon hearing the mother screaming that her children were trapped inside, they immediately and understandably went in after them.When "Mom" screams that her kids are inside-we go in.
The 3 were inside, (the Asst Chief and 2 FF/pump operators) a Lt. was on the hydrant-couldn’t see the building and one Firefighter was on side "A"… starting to pack up, to back the interior members up. The Chief made the terribly difficult decision to leave the scene for 3 minutes to personally transport a non-breathing rescued child–there were no other resources available… none. The hospital was a minute away. When he returned, the flashover had already occurred with only the Lt. and the one Firefighter left outside. A/C Dave McNally, FF Jason Bitting, and FF Nate Tuck perished in that duplex. R.I.P.
There are several excellent reports out on the fire:
HERE is the NIOSH report: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200004.html
HERE is the NFPA report: http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/Keokuk.PDF
KFD Link: http://www.cityofkeokuk.org/kfd.html
One of the best quotes I have ever heard came from KFD’s Chief Mark Wessell. Mark is a good friend who has shown true leadership in taking the KFD forward-I don’t know anyone who doesn’t agree with that. Since that fire, Mark and I have become pretty close and I am continually in awe over how he has made it clear that his FD will (and has) change. Mark makes it clear that as horrible as this was-he will do whatever he has to, to make sure it never happens again. To all of us, he made a statement that sums it up… "Always remember that we as firefighters are there to help people with a problem, while also doing ALL that we can to never become PART of that problem"
The above information-and plenty from many other resources and websites as well-provides each of us with an opportunity to share:
-so younger Firefighters understand our history.
-so we all are reminded of the losses.
-so we learn from the lessons learned.
-and so we can honor the WFD and KFD members who gave their lives in the Line of Duty.
The men were responding to a car crash on Hwy. 401 around 9:15 a.m. Saturday when their vehicle lost control and collided with a tree. One of the men suffered a broken arm and the other suffered lacerations.
A winter storm slicked roads and there was a flurry of calls to crashes and the police are blaming road conditions. The truck, a three-quarter ton specially outfitted pickup, was totaled. The truck slid off the road and the driver’s side door was wedged against the tree. Winter roads? Slow down.
The Senate voted 46-4 on the bill, sending it to Gov. Pat Quinn. A spokeswoman would not say whether Quinn would sign it. Police and fire officials hired after Jan. 1 would have to work to age 55, instead of 50, to earn full benefits. MORE HERE: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9JS1H200.htm
BillyG
The Secret List 12-3-10 / 0747 Hours
