Quick Takes: December 13, 2010
Three-alarm house fire in Uxbridge, Massachusetts: A three-alarm fire in a duplex on Hazel Street Saturday night left four firefighters and two civilians injured. As you can see in the video above, shot by Matt Gregoire for ProvidenceFireVideos.com, firefighters had issues with power lines and natural gas.
Manassas, Virginia fire chief quits over frustration with combined system: Chief Mike Wood says for 25 months he was has worked to successfully combine the Manassas Fire and Rescue Department, the Greater Manassas Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company. On Friday, Chief Wood sent in his letter of resignation, effective January, and makes it clear there is a “philosophical divide concerning fire and rescue services which continues to undermine improvements in configuration, accountability, revenue, and safety. Until this division is remedied or proactively managed, I fear that the combined fire and rescue system will continue to possess significant operational deficiencies and administrative inefficiencies that, in my professional view, pose detriment to our public and first responder safety.” InsideNOVA.com’s Aileen Streng has the story.
Guest columnist on the trooper versus photographer video: Dave Levy is a lawyer and former firefighter who spent many an overnight shift with his father Sheldon in DC and New York shooting news. In addition, he is a friend of mine. Despite all of these strikes against him, Dave is still able to function well enough to write an interesting column giving us his insight into the confrontation eight days ago between a Connecticut State trooper and a news photographer. Click here to read it. Maybe you have an opposing view? STATter911.com is interested in running that, too. Just contact me at STATter911@gmail.com.
Three-alarms in Baltimore: Capping off a busy week is a fire in a self-storage company on Ridgely Street yesterday morning. Stanley Jaworski has his pictures of Baltimore apparatus in action at the fire posted on FireTruckBlog.com. If you haven’t been paying attention, FireTruckBlog.com is a site by Glenn Usdin of Command Fire Apparatus. We’ve been working with Glenn to help kick off the new venture. Also, check out his look at adapting small, old firehouses to new, large rigs and a bunch of other apparatus news here.
One house fire and 129 dogs: All but four of those dogs lived following the fire early yesterday morning in Huntingtown, Maryland. We have a WUSA9.com video and some pictures and videos from the Huntingtown VFD. Check it out.
Firefighters and medics question role award-winning state park ranger played in saving shocked teen: It isn’t often you see this type of story. Last week a state park ranger in Aptos, California received a Medal of Valor Gold Award from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for rescuing a teenager who came in contact with a power line on a state beach. Now, firefighters and medics who were also on the scene are speaking up saying it didn’t go down the way the ranger said it did. You will want to read this one.
Cops claim chief had meltdown: In Clark County, Indiana a fire chief on the scene of a fatal ambulance accident is accused of using foul language on the radio. An investigation is underway into how the chief interacted with law enforcement and others following last week’s crash. Here’s more.
Steroid probe implicates cops and firefighters: The Star-Ledger in New Jersey has been following the trail of a dead doctor from Hudson County. His practice of liberally prescribing anabolic steroids and HGH was apparently too much for more than 200 firefighters and cops to pass up. Click here for Part 1 of this three part series.
What do Santa and bio-diesel have in common?: The answer is a fire in Adams County, Pennsylvania where once again Firegeezer has beaten me to pictures by Steve Roth. The fire was Saturday and you will have to read Bill’s column and see Steve’s pictures to learn why Santa was there.
Unlike Adams County, Santa can’t ride here: An interesting controversy from Pompano Beach, Florida where firefighters just said no to Santa during the annual holiday parade. Read why.
More weekend fire videos: Flashover that hurt three Kansas City, Missouri firefighters caught on video; Three alarms with exposure problems in Woonsocket, Rhode Island; House fire in South Bethany, Delaware damages two others.
Union citing safety in staffing issue: In High Point, North Carolina there is a battle going on over staffing. Click here to watch the story.
Two dead, others rescued, fire trucks delayed in snow covered Minneapolis: From KARE-TV – “Two people are dead and three others were hospitalized after fire crews struggled to respond to a Minneapolis house fire in blizzard-like conditions early Sunday. Just after 1:30 a.m., firefighters responded to 3616 Elliot Ave South on a report of a house fire. The first fire truck to respond was delayed after getting stuck in the snow on the same block, according to Fire Chief Alex Jackson. When crews arrived on scene, several people were found on the roof and porch on the second floor. Crews began an interior attack on the fire but were evacuated after conditions became too dangerous to continue. No firefighters were injured.” Click here to watch video from the fire.
People say the darnedest things: Art Linkletter may be gone but we now have Rhett Fleitz. Check out the soundtrack to the video he posted of a fire in Beloit, Wisconsin. Also on FireCritic.com, pictures, video and details from a fire in a vacant clubhouse in Boca Raton, Florida.
Commercial-residential fire in Oskaloosa, Iowa: Shot yesterday at a firm known as Precise Imaging and adjoining apartments.
