Quick takes
Picture of the day: Ouch. This fire engine was on the way back to Nevada after just being refurbished in Modesto, CA. The engine belongs to the Nevada Consolidated Fire District. Five people were hurt, including the driver of the engine, but there were no life-threatening injuries. Here’s how recordnet.com, which had the picture above, describes the wreck in Ripon, CA: A witness told investigators the car, traveling east on Louise Avenue, stopped at a stop sign at the intersection with South Jack Tone Road, then pulled forward into the path of the engine. Investigators said the fire engine was headed north on South Jack Tone Road and turned on its side after trying to avoid the car. A witness said the back wheels of the engine clipped the car. Read the entire story.
DC works to fire 4 FFS: The investigations have been completed and “termination trial boards” are the next step for two ambulance crews accused of avoiding emergency calls. Click here for the latest.
Also, FireGeezer Bill Schumm is pretty fired up over this one. Check out his Morning Lineup here.
6-alarms in Brooklyn leaves 23 FFs hurt: An apartment fire Friday night left the firefighters injured. Click here.
Chief and assistant accused of false alarms are also dispatchers: Erie County 911 has suspended two of its employees and hints at more action after they were accused with five others of pulling alarm boxes in front of three fire stations. All seven are volunteers. Click here for our coverage and here for the latest article on GoErie.com.
Fireworks and it isn’t even the 4th of July: Our video of the day turns out to be an old one from Bel Air, MD. It has been used by many for training. Click here to see it.
MD county cuts take-home cars: The fire department in Howard County, MD is among agencies having to cut back in the number of take-home cars it allows. Read the story.
A disaster drill for Jimi Hendrix fans, but no guitars will be harmed: Big doings in Baltimore today. From the Baltimore Sun – The emergency exercise, called Operation Purple Haze, begins at 7 a.m. today and is scheduled to conclude at 3 p.m.It is sponsored by the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, the Baltimore Fire Department and the Ravens and is designed as a mock disaster at Camden Yards or the football stadium. Sterling Clifford, a city police and mayoral spokesman, said people in the area will notice many fire engines and police cars, though he said loud sirens would be kept to a minimum. “There will be at least one simulated explosion,” Clifford said.
And they spelled his name right: Billy Goldfeder on The Secret List uncovered an article we missed from mid-July that profiles our friend Ron Siarnicki. It’s kind of a local boy makes good article on the executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Click here to read it.
After 44 years of faithful service it’s off to eBay: That appears to be the fate of Oneida, New York’s Engine 3. It was bought in 1964 to replace a pumper that was hit by a train the year before, killing two firefighters. It ran on just about every fire until earlier this year. Read the story.
