Quick takes
Another house fire in Gary: Here is the description with the video – Crews were dispatched to a reported still alarm in the 4000 block of Connecticut, from the station the crew from Engine 5 advised heavy smoke visible in the air. On arrival a fully involved coach house/garage was found. Lines were pulled from Engines 5 and 4 to bring the fire under control. Great work from the guys on second turn I must add. Nobody was injured at the fire scene.
The new look (but that ugly picture is still the same): This is still a work in progress, but I hope you like how we’ve changed some things around here. The old format served us well with more than 2500 postings and getting close to 12,000 comments since May, 2007. There are a bunch of new features, including one of my favorites, the ability to see the latest videos from the STATter911.com YouTube account (scroll down on the right).
It isn’t just the makeover. As you see there are ads on the site now. Much like at the TV station I really have nothing to do with the advertising other than to hopefully attract enough eyeballs that someone is interested in buying the ad space. What we post here will be independent of the advertising. Dave is not endorsing any products or doing testimonials.
We are also now part of a network of blogs known as FireEMSBlogs.com. I am not sure I am going to be running any mutual aid to Firegeezer, but I think it is a good thing to have the ability to read a lot of different voices and points of view. Besides the network, you can still find the links we have always had to the large and small fire and EMS websites and blogs dotting the digital landscape (in two place – “Links” at top and “Blogroll” on the right column. We will also continue to tell you about and link to stories no matter what the source. Our goal is to be one-stop shopping to find the information you need about fire and EMS each day (I think it is time to stop, I am sounding like a salesman). As always, tell me what you think, good or bad and keep sending in those great stories and tips you find.
Baltimore City paramedic suspended: A medic gets 29 days without pay after declaring a gunshot wound victim dead who was alive. Click here for the story.
Another New Haven discrimination lawsuit: This time it is a black firefighter who is suing over how a 2003 promotion exam was scored. Click here.
Former firefighter says he was in danger because he was being supervised by drunks: In the Township of Towamencin, in Pennsylvania’s Montgomery County, officials are getting an earful from a former member of the Towamencin VFD who claims firefighters responded drunk. Here’s the story.
Colorado Springs expecting big cuts: As many as 35 positions could be lost. Click here to read the story.
Fort Myers Beach chief to stay on the job for now: Despite the union pushing for him to be put on administrative leave over a variety of allegations, the Fort Myers Beach Fire Commission says Chief Mike Becker gets to stay on the job. But an informal investigation has been started into claims that include an inappropriate relationship on the job and misuse of prescription drugs. If he is let go, Becker would be the fifth consecutive chief to get the axe in Fort Myers Beach. Read and watch the story. Here’s another article.
A fire company with some real history: 150 years ago tomorrow the swamp bell of the United Steam Fire Company in Frederick, Maryland was sounded. Normally used for meetings and to alert volunteers to fires, this time the bell was used to call together the Frederick militia for a trip to Harpers Ferry, West Viriginia. In the Frederick News-Post my friend Chip Jewell tells more about this connnection to John Brown’s infamous raid and an event to mark the anniversary. Click here.
Waterbury, CT house fire: This fire was on South Main on September 8 .
