Quick Takes
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfBBfn_pHBg[/youtube]
$350,000 dollar car burns in Brooklyn: It’s not often you get that kind of loss on a car fire. Here’s the video and some rather profane commentary as a Lamborghini Murcielago burned on Saturday. Read details.
Appeals court sides with Prince George’s County on furloughs: A reversal of fortune for firefighters and police in Prince George’s County, Maryland. A federal appeals court sided with the county overturning a lower court ruling that furloughs that began in 2008 were illegal. Read more.
Town hall comes down on fire station, literally: In Edgerton, Ohio a storm last night lifted the town hall roof and brought it down onto the fire station roof slightly injuring a firefighter. Read the story.
Another fire station damaged by storms: Fire Station 2 in Oak Brook, Illinois also suffered roof damage from a storm last night. Here’s more.
Details from a mayday: On Friday a firefighter hitting hotspots at a York Township, Michigan house fire suddenly ended up in the basement. Read details of the efforts to rescue Firefighter Joe Yurkunas.
Sprinkler law in Baltimore City to be signed today: Chief Jim Clack sent out this message this morning-
At a press conference this morning at 9 AM, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will sign a new fire sprinkler law for our city. The law requires fire sprinklers in all new one and two family residential structures built here in Baltimore after July 1, 2010. On that date, we believe Baltimore becomes the largest city in the United States to require residential sprinkler systems in newly constructed one and two family homes. Experience from around the country where residential sprinklers are required tells us that this important public safety legislation will save many lives in the years ahead.
Much of the credit for the new law goes to our Fire Marshal, Raymond O’Brocki and our Maryland State Fire Marshal, Mr. William Barnard. Both are true professionals. I know it takes a lot of courage to stand up to the lobbyists for the construction industry, but our elected officials decided this life safety effort was critical to achieving our goal of Zero Fire Deaths. I am extremely proud to serve with each and every one of them.
Judge okays 9-11 settlement: From the New York Times–
A federal judge formally approved a settlement on Wednesday between the city and workers who say their health was damaged during rescue and cleanup operations at ground zero, allowing the agreement to move forward to a vote by more than 10,000 plaintiffs.
At least 95 percent of the workers — including firefighters and police officers, building janitors and volunteers — must approve the settlement by Sept. 30 for it to take effect. Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein of the United States District Court in Manhattan described the deal as “fair, adequate and reasonable” and urged the workers to accept it.
New fire commissioner in Chicago: A 33-year-veteran and third-generation firefighter is the new man in charge. Read more about Robert Hoff.
Firefighter fights back after being sued by chief and deputy chief: An update on a Halifax, Nova Scotia story where the brass is suing over what was said about them on the Internet by a firefighter. The firefighter says he is a whistleblower about safety issues. Read the details.
