Quick Takes: September 19, 2011.
Milwaukee firefighters get two late last night: Video above is from a house fire on Milwaukee's north side around 11:00 PM Sunday where a man was found on the roof and a woman was discovered who wasn't breathing. News reports indicate she was revived in the medic unit. Read more. Firegeezer is also on this one.
'Gunman' bursts into station as part of rookie prank: A pretty elaborate production, complete with simulated shots fired and video credits, was posted to YouTube last night from a Georgia fire station. Check it out quickly before it melts.
If you won't listen to me, listen to them – Firehouse lawyers discuss cameras & first responders: These firehouse lawyers actually have law degrees. We are talking about Chip Comstock, John K. Murphy, Brad Pinsky, and Curt Varone. On their Fire Service Court radio show they discuss the recent camera incidents including the one in Suffolk County, New York where a first responder gets into a tug of war over a camera with a WNBC-TV photographer. For some of you who don't believe what I have written on this topic, here are the experts who bridge the world of firefighting and law. Well worth your time. As Curt Varone points out, when public safety workers interfere with picture taking by the public it is often the firefighters, EMS crews and cops who are breaking the law. This Internet radio show has the potential to save you and your department a lot of problems. Click here.
More hints how to keep your department out of trouble: In St. Charles, Missouri I will be at the Gateway Midwest Firefighter & Leadership Training event October 21-23 with Don't Be a STATter911 Headline: Reputation Management for the Digital Age. What other website gives you hints on how not be featured in its content? But there is a lot more to this gathering than what I have to offer. Check it out. I am told you can also still put STATTER in the promo code for a discount.
And speaking of Missouri: Glenn Usdin's FireTruckBlog.com paid a visit nearby to St. Louis for Firefighter Weekend and the Great Fire Engine Rally and has two videos. Check them out.
Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation's scholarship application announcement: Mike Hildebrand tells us it's that time of year for a great opportunity and a way to remember Deputy Chief James Yvorra. Here are the details –
The Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation is accepting applications for the 2011 scholarship awards competition. The application deadline is October 11, 2011.
Since 1989 YLD has awarded more than $110,500 in scholarships to emergency responders throughout the United States. Any active duty career or volunteer member of the Fire, Rescue, Hazardous Materials, and Emergency Medical Services may apply. In 2010, YLD issued three awards of $2,500.
To request or complete an application on line visit our web site at www.yld.org.
Iowa firefighter killed at crash scene: Not a lot of details yet on this story from Shelby, Iowa. Firefighter Michael Collins, 41, of Minden, was killed directing traffic around a crash scene on I-80. Click here.
Two days of air show disasters: In case you missed it we have the raw video of the air crashes in Nevada and West Virginia, along with the emergency radio traffic from the MCI at the Reno disaster. Click here for Reno and here for Martinsburg.
Tea Party spot getting some attention: New Haven Fire Fighter Local 825 is getting noticed in the media for its TV commercials that STATter911 Communications helped produce on the pension issue. Read more.
Fire videos: Early video from a two-alarm duplex fire in Whitehall, Pennsylvania; Pre-arrival Detroit video from commercial fire; House fire in Havertown, Pennsylvania
Runaway fire chief caught: Firegeezer has been following the story of an Oklahoma fire chief who split with the money. Also, the chief is not a virgin when it comes to being arrested. Check it out.
Five fires in four hours: It has been a while since we checked in with Michigan's Flint Fire Department, but they still fight lots of fire there. They had five fires in vacants in four hours over the weekend. Here's the story.
And finally … what are you a man or a mouse? A firefighter or first responder?: With the simple statement on his Facebook status, "Only you can prevent 'first responder'" has Ray McCormack started a movement? Admittedly, I have been part of the problem in the past (I made fun of it in the early days of the blog, resisted it for a while and then, like the wimp I am, just went with the flow). But no longer. What do you think?
House fire in Joliet, Illinois: No details on this one other than it was posted to YouTube yesterday.
