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Actor/stuntman describes fiery stunt that went wrong at home being used for training by the fire department: Josh Frazier is back making movies after a lengthy recovery from burns during his last movie. It happened in May in Frazier’s home town of Lebanon, Oregon. The timing of an explosion was off by a few seconds setting Frazier on fire. Frazier had written the script for the film. Click the video above to see the stunt that went wrong (here’s another version of the story). The incident occurred as firefighters were setting up for a day of training at the abandoned house. Oregon OSHA is investigating. Here is an article shortly after the incident occurred.

More on the flooded Cobb County Engine 6: There was little information when we first showed you the pictures late Monday of Cobb County, Georgia’s Engine 6 under water near a burning home (we even had to do a little detective work just to figure out which rig it was). Now there is a just a little more information and another image from WGCL-TV–

The firefighters were called Monday to a burning home on Fire Oaks Court. The firefighters were trying to put out the blaze when, officials said, flood waters quickly rose, forcing firefighters to seek higher ground and flooding the truck. None of the firefighters were hurt.

Budget cuts, layoffs, furloughs – the Baltimore story: Get caught up on the latest from Baltimore City where the union president says morale has never been lower. Chief Jim Clack, who met behind closed doors with firefighters Tuesday night, isn’t disagreeing. Here is an excerpt from WJZ-TV’s story-

“I don’t have any magic wand and so what I’m coming here tonight to do is answer any questions and be transparent,” he said. Tuesday, Clack laid off four fire department employees, including an assistant chief.

Besides attending the meeting, Chief Clack posted a message about yesterday’s layoffs on an Internet forum run by IAFF Local 734. He wrote in part-

I had the unpleasant task of laying off several members today. Assistant Chief Joe Pryor, Ms. Karen Scroggins, Captain Denis Storck and Ms. Michelle Lacey will be laid off effective October 20. All of them were providing important work toward the goals of our business plan. The selection of positions to be eliminated was very difficult for me as I don’t think we have enough people to get all the work done today, much less with these losses. Additionally, positions recently vacated by other folks who left us will be abolished including two Command Level I positions (Battalion Commanders) a fire inspector position and the department’s solicitor position.

Watch the story from WJZ-TV. Watch the story from WMAR-TV. Baltimore Sun story.

In Boston the union’s choice wins and the mayor is alarmed: Lots of interesting doings on election day in Boston. The man endorsed by firefighters, Michael Flaherty, won the right to face incumbent Mayor Thomas Menino on November 3. But earlier in the day there was the test of the fire alarm system at Mayor Menino’s campaign headquarters. That raised a few eyebrows. Click here for the story and here for the response from IAFF Local 718.

Passions high over minimum staffing in Rockford, Illinois: If the city lays off eight firefighters as planned, it could cost them more money than would be saved. That’s because the collective bargaining agreement with the firefighters’ union requires a minimum staffing of 64 at all times. To meet that requirement the city would have to pay firefighters overtime to fill the positions that were axed. Despite pressure to give in from city officials, the union president says a line has been drawn. It’s an interesting story. Click here.

Houston firefighter who complained about graffiti is transferred: Jane Draycott is scheduled to come back to work today at the Houston Fire Department after complaining about racially and sexually charged graffiti at an airport fire station. She says she wanted to go back to Station 54. Instead, the department has temporarily moved her to Station 99, also at Bush Intercontinental. Draycott and her attorney aren’t happy. Read the latest. Watch the latest.

Your latest installment from Jericho: When we last left Jericho, Arkansas, Mayor Helen Adams had just fired the wounded assistant fire chief and the firefighters said if Don Payne goes, so do we. Firegeezer followed up with the interview that intrepid WPTY-TV reporter Allison Sossaman snagged with the elusive mayor on Monday. Mayor Adams said not to worry about the fire department because she has everything under control. The reporter, not satisfied with that answer, spent Tuesday with the chief of the neighboring department in Marion, who basically says I hope you are not relying on us. Click here to read and watch the latest. (Editors note – Firegeezer trumped his own story by posting the mayoral interview of the year. This one is from Wellford, South Carolina. That’s where the mayor has banned police foot chases because too many cops are getting hurt running after the bad guys. With that criteria I wonder if Wellford’s mayor even lets the fire department leave the firehouse?)

More from ambulance passing controversy: Yesterday, we brought you the statement from the Quakertown Fire Company over the incident where its Rescue 91 passed an ambulance as both units responded to the same call. The local paper in Hunterdon County, New Jersey has a li
ttle bit more on the story.

Controversy as fire chief loses paramedic license for a year but keeps job after fondling issue: Eunice, New Mexico Chief Ron Grogan had his paramedic license suspended by the state for a year following allegations of fondling a woman in the back of an ambulance (it is actually a little more complicated than that … read and watch the background). Now, the city manager is defending the decision on what to do with Grogan and says it has nothing to do with the chief being related by marriage to the mayor. Read and watch the story.

Six feet under update: Bay County, Florida officials found no wrong doing by firefighters in that strange story we ran about the homeowner claiming the fire crew buried a stereo speaker rather than the family dog after a house fire. Read the latest.

San Diego County disputes that its a cheapskate on fire protection: A study comparing San Diego County to Orange County and Los Angeles County shows it is spending considerably less per person on fire protection and that the gap is growing. County officials complain the study is comparing apples to oranges. Here’s the story. Read the report.

A body without a head: That’s how some firefighters describe the loss of an assistant chief’s position on C shift at the Duncan Fire Department in Oklahoma. Here is an excerpt from the article by Kevin Kerr of the Duncan Banner–

There are three other guys with the same rank without that position, so when we have to report to an incident, there’s no one person to tell us what to do,” (union president Wayne)Doucet said.

There are three 24-hour shifts that work at the Duncan Fire Department, and before the position was vacant, one assistant fire chief would be assigned to each shift. With the position vacant, there is no ranking firefighter to designate how calls are handled, let alone if they even answer the call at all for the “C” shift.

ATF to lead Little Nashville Opry probe: ATF is getting involved in a big way in trying to find a cause of the fire that destroyed an Indiana country music venue on Saturday night. Click here for the story and here for our previous coverage.