Quick takes
FF charged in ladder truck crash: A firefighter who was driving the Provincetown truck when it wrecked during a test drive is facing speeding charges. Town officials say an unauthorized passenger was on the rig when it overturned. Read the latest.
Simple fire detection system again proves its worth: Like many departments in these tough economic times, the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department has had to do more with less. One place where they aren’t scrimping is in providing each fire station with multiple detection systems that can, under certain conditions, alert crews to a fire in their first due area faster than 911. Read the story of a successful use of this method on Monday afternoon.
Detection system mentioned above didn’t work as well up north: Boston firefighters ran an alarm call at 6:10 AM for a Back Bay furniture store. There was no Knox Box and an exterior check turned up nothing. They were back at 6:30 AM battling a three-alarm fire that did $1.6 million in damage. Read the details.
Author’s note about nature’s smoke alarm: In connection with the stories above from PGFD and Boston, twenty-years or so ago I was sitting in a car with our overnight photographer the late Sheldon Levy (also a volunteer firefighter) and a car full of mutual friends who were buffs. It was a weekend. We were parked at the southwest corner of 15th and L Streets, NW in DC around 3:00 AM. Sheldon kept saying he smelled a fire nearby. We looked around for a while and found nothing. No calls were ever dispatched. On Monday morning someone opening up the office building on the northeast corner of the same intersection discovered the source of smoke that alerted Sheldon’s nose. A fire had consumed much of a suite of offices on an upper floor and it had pretty much gone out by itself. Not the first or last time I missed a story that was right under my nose.
In two different states racial issues arise from firefighters’ words and actions about the President-elect: First, we heard about Ossining, NY where an assistant chief finds himself in hot water over an emailed, illustrated, knock-knock joke. It is not his first offense. Read more.
Second, we learn of a similar incident in Wisconsin involving a top state union official. Click here.
All is fair in love, war and FDs: Interesting set of circumstances from the Fairplay VFC in Washington County, MD. It involves an election, ousted members and lots of comments on the local paper’s website. Check it out.
Arrangements for FF Walter P. Harris, City of Detroit Fire Department: Click here for the details.
Specifics on Montgomery County, MD cuts: Waiting for County Council approval. Take a look at the details of what may go.
