Quick Takes
3-alarms in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: Another NewsWorking.org production. The fire was at 1992 Gatewood Lane just after 10:30 last night. Here’s some of the description with the clip- Engines 6, 9, 7, Ladder 2 & 205 respond with a possible elderly female inside. Engine 6 arrives and reports a working fire in a two-story E/O/R. 205 strikes a second alarm as fire rapidly extends vertically and into the common cockloft. Tower Ladder 2 immediately goes to the roof and opens up two vent holes. But the fire already extended 4 houses in from the end. 205 strikes the third alarm while interior crews make quick work in the exposures pulling down ceilings on the second floor and darkening down the fire in the common attic. Searches came up negative and the fire was put under control by 2350 hours.
Must see video of collapse during service station fire: Click here for early video of a Millburn, New Jersey Exxon that burned and collapsed yesterday morning.
UPDATE- Audio released by city in fatal Brooklyn fire: City officials respond to union claims and release audio from the 911 calls reporting Wednesday’s Crown Heights fire that left a father and two children dead. Click here to listen to the call and read the transcript. In response to the release, union officials says all of the audio was not released and believe the call takers are not capable of getting the necessary information. City Council now says it will look into the matter. Click here to read and watch the earlier story.
Plea deal for former Coatesville assistant chief accused of arson: It surprised the judge, but it appears neither side wanted to go to trial in the case of Robert Tracey. He’s the former assistant chief in arson plagued Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Tracey walked away with the 242 days he has already served after entering the guilty plea on two counts. Here’s the latest. Click here and scroll down for all of our previous coverage on Tracey, who had also been a firefighter in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Firefighter who shot at man for bad bicycle safety enters plea: Charles Diez is the now former Asheville, North Carolina firefighter who didn’t like how a child was being towed behind a bicycle. So Diez fired a gun at the child’s father’s head. It cracked the guy’s bike helmet and now has left Diez with a 120 day jail sentence. Click here.
Union claims another dispatching error caused delay in deadly fire: New York officials disagree and say that was not the case in Wednesday’s fire that killed a father and two children in Brooklyn. Read here and watch the story. City Council now says it will look into the matter.
It’s a skill that might have served him well as fire chief: Hartford’s fire chief retires to get degree in psychology. Read the story.
Union claims layoffs only saved $21,000: A dispute in Akron, Ohio, over how much money has been saved by the layoff of 38 firefighters.
