Quick takes
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A blast from the past: Actually it was a blast, thanks to the use of accelerants in lighting some of these fires. This demonstration is at the South Park Fairgrounds in Allegheny County, PA.
On same day it opens new regional dispatch center boots fire call: The brand new Montgomery County (Ohio) Regional Dispatch Center began operation on Thursday morning and it made the news. Unfortunately the news wasn’t about the grand opening of the center. There was almost a 15-minute delay in dispatching firefighters to a house fire that generated 14 calls on Thursday afternoon. In one story the sheriff blames the problem on confusion by dispatchers and in another he says it was a computer problem. Click here to read one story and listen some to some of the calls. Click here to watch another version.
Two rescued in Southern Maryland fire: Pictures and an account of a fire on Wednesday evening where crews from the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department in St. Mary’s County pulled two people from a well involved mobile home. Click here for the details. More information from The Washington Post.
Fire chief who lost job over speaking out about budget, also loses in court: Charles Foley was the Randolph, Massachusetts fire chief who almost two years ago voiced his staffing frustrations at the scene of a fatal fire involving two boys. Foley was fired. Now his First Amendment lawsuit has been dismissed. Watch the story. Click here for a 2007 story.
Virginia fire chief’s home raided: In Bedford County, Virginia the home of Hardy VFD Chief Jeff Shiflett was searched by police on Thursday afternoon. Virginia State Police are looking into possible mismanagement of fire department money. Read more.
Long Island FF – arsonist suspected in previous arson: Newsday is reporting that Caleb Lacey, accused in killing four people by setting a fire, was suspected in a previous dumpster fire. That fire prompted Lacey’s suspension from his fire company. Click here.
A neighbor’s video leaves three Detroit firefighters with some explaining to do: If there is a reasonable explanation why firefighters from Engine 38 were seen taking a storm door from a vacant house and loading it into the hose bed of their rig, no one has presented it. One firefighter is suspended with pay and a police investigation is under way. Watch the video and read the story.
A commanding view: An interesting video, mostly showing the view of the incident commander at various fires. Click here for this compilation and others offered by a San Bernardino, California battalion chief.
Two unimportant, but interesting videos: One is a dog up a tree call. Click here.
The other is the bed of a dump truck in the raised position as it hits a highway overpass. Click here.
Fine over physical fitness: A Montana man who contracted firefighters and equipment for wildland firefighting has been found guilty in federal court and fined for claiming the crews were certified when they hadn’t taken survival and fitness testing. Read the story.
