Quick Takes: May 16, 2011.
First due video: This appears to be a fire in Jackson, Mississippi a month ago at an abandoned building that previously housed a cabinet shop. More about the fire.
TOP STORY Maryland firefighter charged with trying to set fire to home of seriously ill ATF agent: This is a bizarre and sad tale from Frederick. Independent Hose Company volunteer firefighter John Christopher Woods is now on suspension after his arrest last Thursday morning outside the home belonging to the female agent's parents. That's where the agent had been staying while recovering from an illness. Police say they caught Woods in the act and that he claims he did it because she wouldn't return his calls. Here's more.
In somewhat related news, the Frederick News Post reports on volunteer recruitment issues in Frederick County. Click here.
Virginia Firefighter charged with statutory rape: The Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Department says Chancellor VF&R Firefighter Justin Baber picked up the 13-year-old girl in a fire department vehicle. Here are the details.
TV station blew it on fire victim's complaints: Dave looks closely at TV news coverage from two cities in New York on recent fires where the citizens had complaints about the fire department. In one case the know-it-all ex-reporter who writes this blog thinks the TV station got it right, but not so in the other. Here's Dave's review.
Layoffs at Pierce: FireTruckBlog.com looks at cut backs from Pierce. Click here.
Bashoor's name goes to PG council: Apparently Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker likes what he sees in PGFD Acting Chief Marc Bashoor. Bashoor's name has been forwarded to the County Council to remove the "acting" from his title. Read more at the PGFD PIO blog.
Funny stuff: Author, columnist, firefighter, humorist and regular reader of STATter911.com (he eats a lot of fiber) Will Wyatt has apparently lost it. Will is writing about visits in the middle of the night from a historical figure. They chat about the state of the fire service. Check it out at FireRescue1.com.
The real house fires of Orange County: A stuntman working on a TV pilot a few doors away gets a woman out of a burning home in Sunset Beach, California. There is video of one of the burning beach houses collapsing. Read and watch the story.
Do as I say and not as I do: Criminal charges have been filed against a Montana chief (now former chief) who used on-duty firefighters for a repair job at his home and violating the very rules the chief set up. Now do as I say and check this one out at Firegeezer.com.
Fireground audio & raw video from Buffalo: Don Murtha III got to this fire on Miller Avenue early. Exposures were a problem. Here's the story.
Video from two basement fires in Massachusetts: One was an old apartment building in Pittsfield that ended up going through the roof. Click here for extensive video coverage. The other was at the North Falmouth Pharmacy. Watch the video.
'Hero' from double fatal fire now charged with arson: Earlier in the week the man was thought to be a hero for trying rescue two people from a fire in Indianapolis. Now he's under arrest. Read more.
NY Post says retired FDNY firefighter owns buildings with repeated violations: The Post says FDNY officials refer to these type of buildings as death traps. Read the story.
