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Baltimore County second-alarm: Video from Michael “FirePix1075” Schwartzberg. Here’s his account – Baltimore County, MD firefighters battled a 2-alarm fire Thursday night July 16th at an occupied building on the grounds of The Childrens Home, a residential care facility in Catonsville for troubled youths. Units were dispatched around 9 p.m. and firefighters from nearby Station 4 arrived to find smoke showing from the 3-story brick structure. Crews making an interior fire attack reported fire between the 3rd floor ceiling and the roof area and confirmed all occupants had safely evacuated. As conditions deteriorated firefighters were ordered to evacuate the building and defensive operations were initiated. Fire broke through the roof, with flames shooting 15-20 feet into the air as BCoFD Trucks 13 (Westview career) and 5 (Halethorpe career) set up ladder pipe operations. Several handlines were also used outside the building to control the fire.
UPDATE – We have winners: The lucky ten who won our contest for the 3-day convention package at Firehouse Expo have all been notified. Thanks to all who entered. We had a very good response. Sorry I don’t have passes for all of you. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Truly brilliant people – must see video: A Detroit TV station has the surveillance camera video that captures the early stages of the tanker fire on I-75. What is fascinating to watch is how many people decide to still drive on that overpass even though it is engulfed in thick black smoke and flames are underneath it and creeping up the sides. Check out the story.
Close call for ambulance crew in MD: In Prince George’s County, the crew from Ambulance 848 pulled up to the Gates of Cipriano apartments on Greenbelt Road for an assault call. As the crew approached they heard gunfire and saw people running. PGFD Chief Spokesman Mark Brady says the crew retreated to safety until this scene played out. Three people were wounded, including an off-duty police officer and a 12-year-old girl who was hit by a stray bullet that went through an apartment wall. Click here to read and watch the story.
NIOSH report on firefighters thrown from new aerial platform in Texas: The NIOSH report is out on the tragedy in Kilgore, Texas in January where firefighters Kyle Perkins and Cory Galloway fell to their deaths. Billy Goldfeder has a summary here. Click here for the full report.
Firefighter Zygimantas Zalys: The City of Manassas (VA) firefighter lost his battle with cancer yesterday. More here.
Goodbye, world. Hello, Columbus: Two stories from Columbus, Ohio for you. One is the union’s efforts to get the public to vote for an income tax increase that could save firefighters’ job. The other is a firefighter who was fired after killing his own dogs. Click here for the latest.
Scrapped vehicles burn: A large fire in this pile of burning junked autos, about 200 by 200 yards wide and 30 feet tall, in Shelby, Ohio. Click here for the details and video.
The battle over Gordon Heights: Newsday has an update on a story we have mentioned before. This is a bit of a taxpayer revolt where citizens who live in the most taxed fire district on Long Island want to dissolve the district. Activists say officials are dragging their heels. Here is an excerpt:
The town (Brookhaven) would have to consider new options for fire service in the Gordon Heights area if the district, the first all-black force in Suffolk County, is disbanded. That could mean consolidating with a neighboring district.
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House and barn in Grafton, MA: This is from Friday afternoon. Click here for the details.
