Quick takes
New – report of tentative agreement on pays cuts for Baltimore firefighters: WBAL Radio is reporting that there is a tentative agreement on a pay cut for city firefighters. It will come in the form of non-paid vacation days. At the same time the Board of Estimates has given Mayor Sheila Dixon approval to cut police and fire salaries if negotiations don’t work. Read the story here (also listen to interview with officers’ union president Steve Fugate) and here.
More on Elyria dive team: Yesterday we told you about the muzzling of the Elyria, Ohio lieutenant who tried to speak at a council meeting about problems with the dive team he leads. A city attorney cut short his testimony. There is much more detail about the issues in this latest article and interview with the union president.
More staffing issues: This time it is Columbia, South Carolina firefighters sounding the alarm about reduced staffing and closed fire companies. Click here.
Video on DC Metro crash: A slightly shorter version was previewed by Chief Dennis Rubin in Dallas at Fire Rescue International in August, but now the complete video has been officially released. Department officials say they were holding onto it until it could be shown to firefighters involved in the response to the deadly crash of two Metro trains in June. The firefighters saw it on Tuesday night. Both WTOP Radio’s Mark Segraves, who first learned of the video’s existence, and Firehouse.com’s Susan Nicol Kyle have stories. The video, which officials say cost $3000 to produce, is to be used for training and for showing to community groups.
Off-duty firefighter saves woman: It happened in Newark, New Jersey during a house fire yesterday afternoon. Read the story.
Did they every think it was possible somebody just doesn’t like them?: The 3-alarm fire on Tuesday night at Sara Lee’s coffee and tea plant in Moonachie, NJ is the fourth fire there in a year. No indication of arson. The previous three fires were blamed on the coffee roasting machines. Click here.
Boston fraud charges: Firegeezer has the latest on the Boston firefighter who retired on disability and was in a body building competition. Fraud charges have now been placed against Albert Arroyo and two others. Click here.
“First In” profile: The Los Angeles Times looks at Deputy Chief Marcel Melanson of the Compton Fire Department and his role in the BET reality series.
FIT-5 in the news: A paper in New Jersey profiles the grenade type extinghuisher and a recent success story.
Raw video from house fire: Check out the pictues from Haverstraw, NY.
Literally a royal pain in the ... : Oh, never mind. Just read the story.
