Goodwin gone; More from Boston; Historic theater burns; Lots of NJ fires; Mystery blaze; Vehicles gone wild
(This entry is updated throughout the day, so please scroll down. Last updated at 9:47 a.m.)
Baltimore Sun photo
City says Chief Goodwin’s resignation has nothing to do with department’s recent troubles
The news broke Tuesday afternoon. But there was little surprise that William Goodwin would not be staying on as the head of the Baltimore City Fire Department. Considering the harsh comments Mayor Sheila Dixon made over the summer (click here to see that I called this one way too early), it is amazing that Chief Goodwin lasted this long.
Here are excerpts from the Baltimore Sun’s story:
Baltimore Fire Chief William J. Goodwin Jr., hailed for his early leadership but increasingly under pressure after a fatal training accident this year, has resigned, Mayor Sheila Dixon announced Tuesday.
Goodwin — a third-generation firefighter who has served as chief since 2002 — formally resigned Tuesday afternoon, ending months of speculation over whether he would lose his job in the wake of the Feb. 9 death of Cadet Racheal M. Wilson.
“On behalf of the citizens, I want to thank [Goodwin] for his years of sacrifice and commitment over an extraordinarily long and successful career,” Dixon said in a statement.
“The last year has been difficult for the department, and Chief Goodwin has provided the steady and consistent hand that was needed.”
Goodwin will continue to lead the department through the end of December, though Dixon said she would immediately begin a national search to fill the position.
Dixon aides characterized Goodwin’s departure as a retirement and said the mayor did not ask him to leave.
“There is a god,” Capt. Stephan G. Fugate, president of the fire officers’ union, said after learning of Goodwin’s resignation. “The Racheal Wilson death was just the final straw where there was no turning back.”
A Dixon spokesman denied any connection between Wilson’s death and Goodwin’s resignation.
Goodwin — whose resignation came a week after voters elected Dixon to a new term with an overwhelming majority in the general election — declined to answer questions.
Historic theater burns in IL
In Paxton, IL, the Majestic Theater is no more. Photographer Travis Tate’s photos posted on the News-Gazette.com tell the story. His first picture, apparently before firefighters got there, is at the top. Obviously, the bottom picture is one of the later photos, and there are many more in-between that you can see, here. Details on the Tuesday morning fire can be found here.
Truck fire
Above, good, raw video of a truck burning in Wales, Wisconsin. Lots of pops, explosions and a wheel being blown off the truck. More details, here.
Let’s pretend
A man accused of impersonating a firefighter during one of the California fires is ordered to stand trial.
Columbus firefighter ordered to stay out of park
The Ohio firefighter’s future is uncertain after his conviction for exposing himself.
NJ 3rd-alarm
The fire above was in Montclair on November 1st. Click the image to see the video. More parts of the video can be found here.
Another NJ 3rd-alarm from November 1st
This one was in North Bergen. Click the image above to see the video. Details are here.
More NJ action
No details other than the fire above was in East Rutherford.
Proposed lighter ban
The Rogers, Arkansas fire chief wants to ban novelty lighters. Read details, here.
Around the web
FireGeezer has FossilMedic Mike Ward’s look at pandemic staffing. Interesting thought about two-hatters.
WithTheCommand looks at the bars in Massachusetts facing a sprinkler deadline.
SConFire.com has the update on the burned firefighter from Orangeburg.
Firefighter Spot has some great pictures from Brooklyn.
VAFireNews.com has Virginia covered.
Firefighter Nation has lots of videos and chat.
Mystery fire
A failure as a reporter, I don’t know who, what, where or why on the fire above. I do know there is some electrical arcing in the midd
le of it. See part 2, here.
A breakthrough
The video above is from Cincinnati. A bit of a parking mishap. But the driver walked away.
And finally, to top that, a garbage truck goes swimming
Not a lot of explanations for the above mishap in Texas.
