Quick takes
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Helmet-cam in Birmingham: Reported to be a 2-alarm fire at an auto repair shop.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol says its investigation is complete and confirms trooper is on leave: The OHP now says it has closed the investigation into the confrontation between Trooper Daniel Martin and a Creek Nation ambulance crew. A day earlier a spokesman finally confirmed that Martin has been on administrative leave. OHP still refuses to release the dash-cam video from Trooper Martin’s vehicle. Click here for all of the latest developments.
Fox News’ Brian Wilson has done on-camera interviews with Paramedic Maurice White Jr. and Trooper Daniel Martin. Click here to watch the story.
An epidemic of gullibility: I just don’t get it. In at least eight cases now in four states, hotel clerks have been convinced by a person claiming to be from an alarm company to start breaking windows and doing other destructive things. Firegeezer Bill Schumm found the first of these stories at the end of May. We have the latest, including a pretty unbelievable police report that you should read. Click here.
Killer bees and electric fence make house fire battle interesting: 40,000 swarming Africanized bees got in the way of firefighters in St. Petersburg, Florida as they tried to battle a house fire. To add to the difficulties, a downed power line created an electrified fence. A retired firefighter who is also a beekeeper was brought on to handle one of the problems. Check it out.
Maine firefighter collapses and dies in the station: Firefighter/Paramedic Debra Cole from the South Portland Fire Department apparently suffered a stroke in the firehouse. Billy Goldfeder has the details at Firefighter Close Calls.
Virginia firefighter hurt during hose testing: This one involves a Richmond firefighter and the details are also from Firefighter Close Calls – Firefighters from Quint 12 were performing pressure tests on their equipment when a hose failed. Somehow the hose swung back and struck the veteran firefighter, knocking him about 20-feet back. One report is that is at VCU Hospital unconscious and unresponsive, and his family is being notified. Additional unconfirmed info is that he has a skull fracture from eyebrow to base of skull, facial fractures, brain bleed, broke collarbone, and is currently in an induced coma.
Fire & police chiefs protesting proposed cuts in San Francisco: Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White says, under the proposal by the Board of Supervisors, San Francisco would lose 172 firefighters and have to close 12 of 42 stations. Read the story.
Fire chief battles fire in his own home: Fort Lawn, SC Chief Allen Culp was visiting his mother when the call came out for his own residence. Details from FirefightingNews.com are here.
