Quick Takes
Two alarms in Providence: This is from Sunday’s fire on Goddard Street in Providence. One firefighter was injured when debris fell from the roof breaking his ankle. According to projo.com, “Another firefighter working from the turn-table controlling the ladder on Ladder 2 sprained his wrist after a railing he was leaning against snapped — sending him falling 10 feet.”
Buffalo report: In case you haven’t read the 28-page internal report obtained by the news media looking into the deaths of Lt. Charles McCarthy Jr. and Firefighter Jonathan Croom here it is. Here is what The Buffalo News wrote–
“What is clear is Firefighter Croom quickly ascertained the general area that Lt. McCarthy had been calling from and then selflessly attempted a rescue operation,” according to preliminary results from the Fire Department’s recently completed internal investigation of the blaze that killed Croom and McCarthy.
At the same time the dispute continues over the city’s reimbursement of the union for funeral expenses. IAFF Local 282 says it will go to arbitration rather than accept a partial check. Buffalo officials still say they will not pay for the thousands of dollars in liquor purchased for three receptions. There is even a dispute over how much was spent on booze. The original news report pegged it around $11,000. The Buffalo News now has the city saying $9630 and the union saying $7600. Here is more.
Roof of New Jersey firehouse New Year’s celebration leads to an arrest: A rookie volunteer has been charged after illegal fireworks set off from the roof of the Wallington VFD’s Park Row firehouse crashed through the window of an infant’s room at a nearby home. Here’s the story.
Better job for chief officer accused of cheating: We ran this allegation of cheating back when it first made the news in March 2008. Rudy Johnson a command officer with the Orlando Fire Department claimed he was a “scapegoat” after being demoted one rank following allegations he listened in on radio transmissions that were part of a test he would soon be taking. Now, there are complaints that Chief Johnson is being promoted to command a shift of firefighters. Here is the latest.
Three from FDNY expected to turn themselves in today: Police are expecting to make arrests in the bar brawl at the Salty Dog that was captured by a surveillance camera. A spilled drink is believed to have sparked the fight between firefighters from Brooklyn’s Engine 310/Ladder 174 and a group of cousins. Read more. Watch the story.
My GPS told me to do it: A woman in England said she was just following her navigation system when she got in too deep. Click here for the story and pictures as the woman almost drowned by crossing a flooded ford.
An analysis of the UK arrests: Firegeezer asks some interesting questions following three fire officers turning themselves in to police in the investigation of a fire that killed four firefighters in Warwickshire in November 2007. The arrested men were kept overnight. Here is the latest from the BBC.
Firefighter fired up over layoffs is fired: A firefighter in Lehigh Acres, Florida has been let go after being accused of falsifying records for a paramedic class. Sarah Fritz had previously been suspended after asking laid off firefighters to donate their sick leave to her. Read details.
