Quick Takes: August 29, 2011.
House fire in Bozeman, Montana: Bozeman Daily Chronicle video of a house fire on Saturday evening in the 1100 block of Wilson Avenue.
UPDATE to story below: As of 11:00 this morning news reports indicate that 39-year-old Michael Kenwood of the Princeton (NJ) First Aid and Rescue Squad has died. More details here.
EARLIER – Wrong information supplied by governor that firefighter had died during Irene swift water operation: The latest official word is that a 39-year-old member of the Princeton (NJ) First Aid and Rescue Squad is in critical condition after being swept downstream following the checking of a partially submerged car. Yesterday, Governor Chris Christie reported that it was a firefighter lost in that operation and that the firefighter was dead. Here's our rundown of how this story developed Sunday morning.
You can still use the Statter name to save some money: Come see me in St. Charles, Missouri for the Gateway Midwest Firefighter Leadership & Training weekend October 21 to 23. I will be telling you how to keep your fire department's name out of the headlines on STATter911.com. But there's lots more to the event that you will want to check out. If you use the name STATTER in the promo code before September 15 you will receive 10 percent off of the reduced early bird price. Click here to register.
Old ones, big & small at FireTruckBlog.com: Glenn Usdin's blog has video of some interesting antiques. A 1923 Ahrens-Fox and a tiny fire truck from 1951.
Our shocking, exclusive investigative report about The Fire Critic: The insults have been coming our way for some time now. They didn't bother me. But when The Fire Critic took aim at the people who comment on this site, I knew I had to take action. Grabbing my reporter's hat, notebook and trench coat, which have been on display at the Newseum in Washington, DC since my retirement 14-months-ago, I took a trip to Roanoke, Virginia with my camera crew looking for some answers. And did I find them. Click here for this must see video.
News happens right under STATter's nose & he hasn't a clue: Despite showing off my investigative skills in the story above, it took a real journalist like Firegeezer Bill Schumm to alert me to news that happened nearby while I was in Atlanta for FRI. Here's how Bill Described it –
A PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY AROSE WEDNESDAY at the Fire Rescue International Fire Chiefs' Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Desi Deandre Wade, the U.S. Department of Defense Chief of Fire and Emergency Services in Afghanistan was nabbed by FBI agents in downtown Atlanta moments after he received a $95,000 cash bribe and stuffed it into his backpack.
Click here to read the entire story from Firegeezer.com.
Delayed response & water supply problems make for a bad combination: Seattle Fire Department Chief Gregory Dean talks about issues at a weekend house fire. We also have video showing firefighters dealing with the water problem. Click here.
You are doing it all wrong & the Swedish doctor has returned to tell you so: Four years ago on this blog we linked to the story of a visit by Dr. Stefan Svensson – a firefighter from Loberod, Sweden. Dr. Svensson then told us that the fire service in the United States has it all wrong when it comes to safety. He returned last week to FRI to see how we are doing. The doctor's assessment isn't any better and he vents a lot on ventilation. Check out the story.
My Knee Hurts Now is back up again: We have been getting lots of emails and comments about this. The popular 911 abuse music video that has been playing now you see it and now you don't on YouTube seems to have returned. I spotted it making the rounds on Facebook yesterday and is again showing on the original YouTube channel where I first spotted it. Catch it fast before it vanishes again.
Another unusual video posted on the same YouTube channel: On Friday we posted a firefighter's attempt to get drivers to do the right thing when emergency vehicles approach. It sure is different. Click here to watch.
Sign up for 9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs in the National Capital Region: Amy Tarte, Firefighter, Health & Safety Technician with the Stonewall Jackson Volunteer Fire Department in Manassas, Virginia, has been doing a great job getting publicity for the climb on September 11 in Manassas. But they are still looking for more participants. Click here for details and to sign up.
The other stair climb in the area is in Greenbelt, Maryland where Kellie Bornman and Gloria Lowe are running things. Here's that link.
There was great participation at the Atlanta FRI climb. Even had a lot of chiefs climbing the Westin Peachtree Plaza Tower. Thank you Atlanta Fire Rescue for all of the hospitality. Click here for a video.
There will be more than 30 9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs around the country on September 11. Click here to learn how to join in.
Another 9/11 event – Brotherhood Ride: The Brotherhood Ride is in Charleston, South Carolina today on its way from Naples, Florida to New York. Check it out.
Many thanks to the Johns Creek Fire Department: While in Atlanta I had to miss out on a steak dinner with A Shift at the Johns Creek Fire Department, Station #63. Willie Wines and that high school kid who is masquerading as a lieutenant (see above) made it and brought back a challenge coin for me. Read Willie's account.
Tell me what you think, because I sure don't know what to make of it:
Mike Legeros looks at STATter911.com: Mike has some observations on the fire videos we post and the comments that come with them. Check out his Legeros Fire Blog.
House fire in Madison, Florida: A fire on Summerset Way on Sunday afternoon. There are quite a number of comments on the website of the Madison Florida Voice about this fire. Click here.
