Quick takes
Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPBq0t5DH1I&hl=en&fs=1&]
A vacant house in Gary: It might be more newsworthy if there wasn’t a vacant house fire in Gary, Indiana. This one was at 5624 East 10th Avenue.
Family says Phoenix captain’s prognosis is good: Captain Crystal Rezzonico is still reported in critical condition following surgery for a head injury after being ejected from Engine 910 on Monday night. It turns it was an 11-vehicle collision. Click here to read and watch the latest story. Previous coverage is here.
Hydrant that was one of the best is now among the worst: H03553 was at the top of the heap. It used to wear blue strips of plastic indicating it flowed in excess of 1500 gpm of water, the highest rating for DC fire hydrants. It took a major fire to knock H03553 down a few pegs. Actually all the way to the bottom. Read and watch the story.
Interesting year for PGFD FF/Medic: Rachel Edney jumped into the frigid waters of the South River in February to save a man. In May she was one of a number of firefighters injured during a powerful natural gas explosion at a shopping center. Now she is the recipient of Liberty Mutual’s Firemark Award. This comes for her life saving river rescue while off-duty. Click here for the details from the PGFD PIO blog.
Change of heart over LODD benefits: In Sullivan County, firefighters rallied in support of Claudia Davidson who had been dealing with opposition by county officials to the widow’s state workers’ comp claim. Shortly after we first told you about it yesterday the county had a change of its position and Davidson will now get the benefits due her following the death of her husband George two hours after training. Read the story.
Young boy saves sister: A six-year-old boy saved his two-year-old sister from a house fire that was deliberately set on Long Island. Three people were found shot inside the same house. Here’s the story.
Torah, Torah, Torah: Because of a dispute over an unsanctioned emergency squad tensions had been a little high between the Hillcrest Fire Company and some members of the Jewish community. That didn’t stop the Hillcrest firefighters from saving three holy texts known as Torahs during a fire at a Jewish center in New City (about three miles from New Square where the dispute had flared). The firefighters are being highly praised for their efforts. Read the story from Rockland County, NY.
Closing the barn door after the horse?: Is this oversight by Baltimore’s City Council or an oversight? Either way the unions representing firefighters seem happy that a council member now wants to have hearings over BFD’s rotating closures. You may recall that Mayor Sheila Dixon slashed Chief Jim Clack’s budget and the same time increased police department spending. The hearing would put the fire chief in the position of defending the plan before the council. Here is the latest.
Changing of the guard in Los Angeles: A look at the departures of the fire and police chiefs. Click here for the story.
Big Dipper crash: I recall riding the Big Dipper at Baltimore’s Gwynn Oak Amusement Park. The one at Blackpool in the UK is still operating. The 1923 wooden roller coaster had two of its cars collide sending 21 people to the hospital. Here’s the story. A bad week for roller coasters, both old and new.
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to figure out this one. Or does it?: In fact it was the crystal ball that caused a former TV producer’s flat to catch fire. Click here for the story from the UK.
