ST. ANNA, WIS - One firefighter from the Saint Anna Fire Department is dead and six others are injured after an explosion at a factory.
Crews were called to the scene of a dumpster fire at Bremer Manufacturing in St. Anna after a patrol man noticed a fire around 7:20 Tuesday night.
Also on Firefighterclosecalls.com HERE
from USFA Firefighter Fatalities
Paul D. Holmes of the Douglas County Fire Department in Douglasville, GA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-12-26
Incident Description: Firefighter Holmes was responding to a vehicle fire with injuries when the fire department rescue in which he was riding reportedly was struck by a privately owned vehicle that they were attempting to pass; according to news accounts, the rescue vehicle rolled several times, ejecting Holmes. Firefighter Holmes was transported by medivac helicopter to a Level-I trauma center where he was reported to be in stable condition, however, his condition worsened and he subsequently passed away from his injuries. Investigation into the incident continues by the Georgia State Police. Incident Location: Annewakee Road
from USFA Firefighter Fatalities
Clair Melvin Pierce of the Wellsboro Fire Department in Wellsboro, PA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-12-26 00:00:00.0.
Initial Summary: Firefighter Pierce passed away at home after responding to a series of EMS and fire calls. The cause and nature of Firefighter Pierce's fatal injury are still to be reported.
Market Watch is reporting Aboard an Airbus 330 carrying 278 passengers, a suspected attacker identified as Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab set off an explosive mixture that was not powerful enough to force down the plane, Associated Press reported. Mutallab said he was acting on instructions from al-Qaida, which wanted him to destroy a plane in U.S. airspace, the AP reported. Also story atNew York Daily News
More UPDATE 12/27/2009
Link HERE - DETROIT - Passengers on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 knew something was very wrong when they saw flight attendants running for fire extinguishers. Then they smelled the smoke.
from USFA Firefighter Fatalities
Bobby Joe Mullins of the Dante Volunteer Fire Department in Dante, VA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-12-20
Initial Summary:
While working a vehicle fire, Assistant Chief Mullins became ill. He was treated and transported to the emergency room. Mullins was then transferred to a trauma center but passed away soon after arriving of sudden cardiac arrest.
A 9-minute video put out by the Denver-based Center for Empowered Living and Learning (CELL) is an excellent introduction to training staff about spotting the kinds of activities terrorists engage in when planning an attack. Called Recognizing 8 Signs of Terrorism, the video was produced with funding from DHS and is available at http://thecell.org/wp/8-signs-of-terrorism-video/ This video provides essential information on how to identify the warning signs and emphasizes the vital role of such assistance in state and local law enforcement’s counterterrorism efforts. With clear and succinct narration and dramatic enactment, the video describes the following eight signs:
• Surveillance: Types of activities terrorists engage in to determine security levels at a facility.
• Elicitation: Methods terrorists will use to acquire information about a facility.
• Tests of Security: Terrorist will stage tests, such as entering a restricted area, to determine how a facility responds.
• Funding: Awareness of unusual transactions such as large donations to fictitious charities.
• Acquiring supplies: In addition to weapons, transportation, and communication systems, terrorists may engage in less obvious activities, such as stealing uniforms.
• Impersonation: Impersonation of law enforcement personnel or facility staff should raise red flags.
• Rehearsal: Describes signs of terrorists conducting dry runs of attacks.
• Deployment: If none of the previous signs have been picked up, an ongoing terrorist attack can sometimes be spotted before the target is hit.
Managers should work closely with state and local law enforcement to be aware of any risks specific to their areas. But advice in the CELL video will hold true wherever you operate.
Posted to YouTube December 15, 2009 A more coordinated operation should have prevented this. This is a video of a structure fire in which a firefighter vented purportedly on their own which led to a room flashing with firefighters still inside the structure. Would make a good video of how not to do it for training. Pretty dramatic footage with example of what happen when the fire get a good foothold and then oxygen. I have no info on whether the FF inside were injured.
| While transport by helicopter has been around since Korea conflict. There is now question that it can save lives its there a point where the cost of paying for it getting too much for anyone to bear? |
The 49-year-old Lyons, N.Y., man broke seven ribs, leaving him barely able to breathe and with no detectable blood pressure, prompting paramedics to call for an air ambulance to whisk him 30 miles to the nearest hospital.
But when Taylor got the bill for that 15-minute flight, it took his breath away — again.
Full story HEREWASHINGTON – United States Fire Administrator Kelvin J. Cochran announced today the availability of the fifteenth edition of Fire in the United States. This edition of Fire in the United States covers the 5-year period from 2003 to 2007, with a primary focus on 2007. The purpose of the report is to aid the fire service, local leadership, and the general public with fire loss information which may be used to set priorities, establish and evaluate specific fire programs, and serve as a guide for fire data analyses at state and local levels of government.
“Since the inception of the United States Fire Administration in 1974, we have endeavored to provide the fire and emergency services the data it needs to combat the fire problem which still exists in the country. This fifteenth edition of the Fire in the United States will emphasize the areas which still need improvement so we may continue to reduce the nation’s fire losses, especially deaths and injuries.”U.S. Fire Administrator, Kelvin J. Cochran
The report focuses on the national fire problem and provides an overview of fires and losses in buildings, vehicles and other mobile properties, and other properties. The report also examines fire and fire loss trends, fire casualties by population characteristics, and fire cause profiles by property type. Detailed analyses of the residential and nonresidential building fire problems will be published as stand-alone reports.
Fire in the United States is a statistical overview of fires in the United States, focusing on the latest year in which data were available at the time of preparation. The primary source of data is the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), along with data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), State Fire Marshals’ offices, U.S. Census Bureau, and the Consumer Price Index.
Fire in the United States may be downloaded from the Statistics section of the USFA’s Web site. Printed copies are expected to be available at a later date.
Could this be the next thing? Will the fire service lower it’s self to paid advertising. This is a unique way to get additional funding for fire apparatus. I have seen this type before for putting businesses names on apparatus that had donated funds or equipment to the cost or equipping of fire apparatus. So it’s not just this instance, but this one made the news.
Stockton's firefighters now have a tool that will save lives in fires, building collapses, or any disaster -- and on the back of the truck is a Food 4 Less logo.
KCRA TV - Fire Truck Gets Grocery Store Logo Stockton's firefighters now have a tool that will save lives and on the back of the truck is a Food 4 Less...
NIOSH has released a safety advisory statement. NIOSH Publication No. 2010-102:
NIOSH recommends that all fire departments operating fire apparatus equipped with automatic slack adjusters (ASAs) immediately take the following actions to reduce the risk of fire fighters being injured in an apparatus crash due to brake failure:
Ensure that ASAs are not manually adjusted.
Establish procedures to ensure maintenance on fire apparatus is conducted as recommended in NFPA 1911 Standard for the Inspection, Maintenance, Testing, and Retirement of In-Service Automotive Fire Apparatus.
Ensure maintenance is only performed by qualified technicians who meet NFPA 1071 Standard for Emergency Vehicle Technician Professional Qualifications.
An automatic slack adjuster is a mechanical component of the air brake system that adjust brakes as necessary when the vehicle is in operation to compensate for wear in the brake shoes (drum brakes) or pads (disc brakes). When an ASA is found to be out of adjustment, it signifies the existence of a larger braking system problem that needs correction. Manual adjustment of ASAs should only be done by qualified technicians during installation or when absolutely necessary to move the apparatus to a repair facility (NTSB 2006, 2007; IAFC 2006).
from USFA Firefighter Fatalities
Tommy Lee Adams of the Shreveport Fire Department in Shreveport, LA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-02-21 Chief Adams fell from a fire department ladder truck following the Crew of Gemini Mardi Gras parade earlier this year. At the end of the parade route, the fire trucks pulled to the side of the road to secure any loose empty boxes that held beads or cups. While clearing debris and boxes from the ladder truck, Adams fell approximately 10 feet, landing head first on the concrete roadway. Chief Adams' heart stopped and CPR was performed. Chief Adams was transported to Willis Knighton Pierremont hospital where he regained a heart rate, and his condition was listed as critical. He suffered fractures to his cervical (neck) spine and was placed on a breathing machine. In early March, Chief Adams was transferred to a rehab facility in Atlanta, Georgia. Chief Adams had been in a relative state of a coma since sustaining debilitating injuries as a result of this accident and passed away on December 12. Incident location: Pending
NFPA Report Shows Dangerous Aging Trend in Firefighters Protecting Small Communities. For the first time since the National Fire Protection Association ...
www.nvfc.org/
from Firefighter Hourly web site. No link on the Federal LODD notice site yet
Jimmy Davis was serving the community when he left his house to respond to a fire call around 0655. He briefly returned home to get something before heading back to the call but collapsed. Family members found him next to his truck. He died in the line of duty.
White Oak operates in Onslow County, North Carolina. The department is located in the town of Maysville.
from USFA Firefighter Fatalities
Gary F. Neidig, Jr. of the Mount Carmel Volunteer Fire Department in Mount Carmel, PA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-12-04
Shortly after clearing the scene of a mutual aid call, a motor vehicle accident with confinement and injuries, Fire Police Officer Neidig fell ill from a cause still to be determined. Neidig was transported to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries. Incident Location: Coal Township on the Excelsior Highway near the Mount Carmel Township Border Line
from USFA Firefighter Fatalities
Walter Hessling of the Dix Hills Volunteer Fire Department in Dix Hills, NY has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-11-21
Incident Description: On November 21, 2009, Firefighter Hessling responded to motor vehicle accident call at 1033 hours and subsequently, after clearing the scene, suffered a stroke at 1554 hours. Firefighter Hessling passed away several days later due to complications from that medical emergency. Incident Location: Deer Park Ave and Macniece Pl (USNG: 18T XL 3987 1745).
We have been traveling and limited internet access, so that’s why you have not seen an post for the last week. I will make it up, I have gotten some emails that are well worth passing along. So here is this weeks Uncle jay Explains. this week he reports on Groups going gaga for Sarah! Globe goes green in Copenhagen! Gitmo goons go to Gotham! Tiger doesn't go anywhere. Uncle Jay explains it all!
And here is last weeks installment of Uncle Jay -
Those people sneaked into the White House and met President Obama, but now they have to return the 400 billion dollars he gave them. The system works! And Tiger Woods landed one in the water, which was unfortunately inside a fire hydrant. Uncle Jay explains it all!
Here is another house explosion video posted on You Tube on the 27th - I have seen my share of these types of incidents both natural gas and propane. Sometime they catch fire and some time they don’t. This time the structure caught. Bushnell is south west of Peoria Illinois. You will have to watch the video on You Tube the embed video below has been disabled.
Here is the write up on You Tube: The home at 519 Washington St. was leveled by a gas explosion around 2:30 p.m. The blast was heard little over seven miles away and also caught one other house on fire, leaving a large crater in the roof. It was not known if those occupants were home when the fire started.
No injuries were reported, but an ambulance was called for a firefighter reportedly having chest pains.
The occupant of the house Bradl Thompson, was outside with his dogs at the time. His wife was believed to be at work at the time.
Houses on the gas line and sewer system were also evacuated as well as those at least one block away on either side according to Bushnell Police Chief Merv Hilliard. At about 6:30 p.m. police said residents were being allowed back into their homes.
Firefighters from Macomb, Emmet-Chalmers, Good Hope and Adair fire departments were called in to help the Bushnell-Prairie City Fire Department battle the two fires. You Tube
| Could be good or bad , depending on the conditions within some communities. But should be a benefit for most. this could spread? You never know, other states could look at this and see if it works or not??? It does not reflect any expenditures that were derived from grants. |
A new state law that is giving special protection to emergency services such as fire and police. Under the new law, dubbed "maintenance of effort for emergency services," municipalities and counties risk reductions in shared revenue from the state if they cut spending for emergency services below 2009 levels. But some city administrators are unhappy, saying the law prevents them from tackling wasteful spending at some fire departments.
What is maintenance of effort for emergency services?
2009 Wisconsin Act 28 requires counties and municipalities, beginning in 2010, to maintain their 2009 level of spending on emergency services. If a county or municipality fails to comply, DOR may reduce that county’s or municipality’s payment of shared revenues by an amount determined by DOR. (See Sections 79.07, 79.035 and 79.043, Wis. Stats.)
http://www.revenue.wi.gov/faqs/slf/act28faq.html
79.07
79.07 Expenditures for emergency services.
79.07(1)
(1) Except as provided in sub. (3), beginning in 2010, the amount that each county and municipality spends each year for emergency services, as defined by the department of revenue to include only emergency services funded from payments received under ss. 79.035 and 79.043, shall be no less than the amount that the county or municipality spent in 2009 for emergency services, not including one-time expenses and capital expenditures. Each county and municipality shall report the amount it spent for emergency services in 2009, and the amount of its one-time expenses and capital expenditures, to the department of revenue at the time and in the manner prescribed by the department.
79.07(2)
(2) The department of revenue may adjust any amount reported under sub. (1) to more accurately reflect the amount that the county or municipality submitting the report spent for emergency services and to ensure that excluding one-time expenses and capital expenditures as provided in sub. (1) does not compromise the level of service for providing emergency services.
79.07(3)
(3) A county or municipality may decrease the amount it spends for emergency services below its 2009 amount, with the department of revenue's approval, if the decrease in expenditures is a result of operating more efficiently, as determined by the department. For purposes of this section, any decrease approved under this subsection shall permanently decrease the base amount of expenses for emergency services provided in the county or municipality requesting the decrease by the amount of the decrease.
79.07(4)
(4) If a county or municipality fails to comply with this section, the department of revenue may reduce the county's or municipality's payment under ss. 79.035 and 79.043, in an amount determined by the department.
NFPA 1600, Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs and 14 other NFPA codes and standards have been designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as “Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology” (QATT) under the Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002 (SAFETY Act). This is the first block of standards to receive this designation by DHS. Under the provisions of the SAFETY Act, these standards were also certified as “Approved Product(s) for Homeland Security”.
In September of 2008, NFPA was the first standards development organization to receive this designation for its codes and standards development process.
According to DHS, the SAFETY Act encourages the development and deployment of new and innovative anti-terrorism products and services by providing liability protections. Designation as a QATT and certification as an approved product for homeland security under the SAFETY Act provides legal protections for the NFPA codes and standards development process and now these 15 individual codes and standards as applied to anti-terrorism.
The 15 standards are listed below. They address emergency preparedness, first responder competencies and professional qualifications, personal protective equipment and specialized tools. NFPA 1600 is also one of three standards that DHS has announced it intends to adopt for application to the PS-Prep Program, a voluntary private sector preparedness program designed to improve the ability of private sector entities to withstand and recover from disasters including terrorism.
NFPA 472 Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents
NFPA 1006 Standard for Technical Rescuer Professional Qualifications
NFPA 1600 Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs
NFPA 1936 Standard on Powered Rescue Tools
NFPA 1951 Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents
NFPA 1971 Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting
NFPA 1981 Standard on Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Emergency Services
NFPA 1982 Standard on Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS)
NFPA 1991 Standard on Vapor-Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials Emergencies
NFPA 1992 Standard on Liquid Splash-Protective Ensembles and Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergencies
NFPA 1994 Standard on Protective Ensembles for First Responders to CBRN Terrorism Incidents
NFPA 1999 Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations
“NFPA is pleased to have these standards recognized as anti-terrorism technologies which are important in protecting first responders to terrorist events and also in improving the ability of our infrastructure to mitigate and recover from such events while protecting people and property”, said James M. Shannon, NFPA president.
Federal protections under the DHS designation and certification are retroactive and recognize NFPA’s technologies “earliest date of sale” as September 11, 2001.
All NFPA safety codes and standards are developed through a process accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The more than 250 technical committees responsible for developing and updating all 300 codes and standards include approximately 4,000 volunteers, representing enforcing authorities, installers and maintainers, labor, research and testing laboratories, insurers, special experts, consumers and other users.
NFPA has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. Visit NFPA’s Web site at www.nfpa.org
from www.firefighterclosecalls.com news
1997 EMS RUN EXPOSED FIREFIGHTER TO DISEASE-LOST HIS LIFE LAST WEEKEND-NOW DECLARED AN LODD
Saturday, November 21, 2009 As a St. Paul firefighter, Ramon "Ray" Hain came in contact with a patient's body fluids in 1997. According to an article in the Pioneer Press, Doctors think he contracted a rare disease that weakened his heart. Hain, of Roseville, got a heart transplant in 1998 but had to retire in 2000 from t... [ more ]
Nobody was injured when a crane smashed through a house in northwest Santa Rosa Monday afternoon in a failed attempt to remove an oak tree.
Nobody was injured when a crane smashed through a house in northwest Santa Rosa Monday afternoon in a failed attempt to remove an oak tree
To streamline access to technical document information
Details on more than 300 codes and standards available
November 16, 2009 – The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) introduced improved document information Web pages to make finding information on its more than 300 codes and standards easier. This project was developed based on feedback received from a survey of NFPA’s technical committee members, the volunteers responsible for developing and revising NFPA documents, and other participants in the process.
“The new ‘Doc Info’ pages provide one central location for all the information that pertains to each of our more than 300 NFPA technical documents,” said Chris Dubay, NFPA’s vice president of codes and standards and chief engineer. “This major advancement is part of a continuing effort to use technology to enhance our code development system as well as make it easier for people to find the information they’re seeking.”
In addition to new search capabilities, users will be able to navigate and find additional details by selecting one of three tabbed sections:
More improvements planned in the near future will include information on upcoming Technical Committee meetings as well as agendas and minutes.
See full list of NFPA documents. (Document information pages can be viewed by clicking on any document.)
NFPA has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. Visit NFPA’s Web site at www.nfpa.org.
There is a Fox reality channel show on called the The Academy that goes behind the scenes of the 18 week fire academy of the Orange County Fire Authority. You can watch the episodes via the web HERE. looks like a military boot camp for the fire service.
http://www.foxreality.com/theacademy/#/index
Unlike other suburban fire departments it looks like Tinley Park fire department has held off going completely full time, and saving the tax payers a bundle on the cost of protection. They are still having to go to some paid members to staff some of the stations. This recent article on the the department shows that it can be done. Tinley Park Article from Southtownstar.com Tinley Park Fire Department unique in Southland
Here are some excepts from the article: It's a revered town of some 60,000 people, but unlike towns with such large populations, Tinley Park doesn't have a full-time fire department.
The village relies on part-time firefighters - men and women who, for the most part, work other jobs. http://www.tinleyparkfire.org/
The Tinley Park Fire Department has a yearly budget of $3 million, according to village officials. If the village were to move to a full-time department, it would need a budget of about $8 million, Maher said.
| Another typical Union wanting the money from the dues and not providing any service, and giving them the boot as well? Seems you could not even mow you elderly neighbors, lawn, they might get hurt? Can they paint their house and use a ladder off duty? Might get hurt there as well? If the neighbors house catches fire and a union members goes and makes a rescue or puts the fire out, isn’t that volunteering? and then in violation of the union rules. Would they then be kicked out of the union then as well? |
| *** FREE TRAINING MATERIAL *** Active Shooter and 4th/5th Generation Warfare PPT, video materials and references for law enforcement: Fire & EMS Mass shooting events are becoming more common, and the response to them involves every public safety agency for miles around. This program details the actions that fire and EMS agencies can take to prepare themselves for this all-too-likely event, and the actions they can take when the event occurs. It covers: · Multi-agency planning and preparation · Creating a prevention environment · Command, command post and crowd control issues for this kind of event · An overview of the tactics that agencies should be familiar with This program is available in two formats. The 40+ PowerPoint slide presentation covers the material thoroughly, while the 45-minute video program is a verbal presentation of the PowerPoint material. |
On Thursday the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved legislation that would remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency from the Homeland Security Department and return it to independent, Cabinet-level status.
The 2009 FEMA Independence Act (H.R. 1174) was first introduced in February by Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., and has 29 co-sponsors. The idea of returning FEMA to the independent status it held in the 1990s, before the formation of Homeland Security in 2003, gained traction after the government's bungled response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Full story at http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=43991&dcn=e_hsw
Veterans Day - November 11 - Office of Public and Intergovernmental ... |
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| Don't’ they think there would be a problem if they had to wear a CBRM mask for a response??? |
November 10, 2009 Full article HERE
BALTIMORE, MD - Three Orthodox medics assert in discrimination charges filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, that the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company (PVFC) has illegally barred them from riding on calls, in violation of their religious rights and in retaliation for their involvement in an Orthodox emergency response organization. The medics - Dr. Matthias Goldstein, Brennan Gross, and Avrohom Green - were told last winter that because of their refusal to shave their beards on religious grounds, they could not ride with the company as medics. This, the PVFC claimed, was because the beards might prevent them from wearing specialized safety masks that it hopes to purchase at some future date.
| Last year, in a similar case in the District of Columbia involving bearded Muslim firefighters, the federal appellate court for the District of Columbia ruled that the no beard rule was improper, and that the department should accommodate the firefighters’ sincerely held religious beliefs. Judge: Facial hair OK for now - Washington Times |
Emergency communication interoperability is getting closer as the day of the single-band radio is coming to an end; DHS’ S&T is testing a multiband radio for emergency services
Tom Chirhart knows a lot about radios, but over the last year, he has received a real life lesson in supply and demand. When he put out an APB on behalf of the DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) looking for volunteers to test a new radio that allows first responders to talk to one another across different frequency bands, the line of interested agencies was long and eager. The challenge of aligning communications among different first responders — such as fire fighters, police officers, and emergency medical teams — has grown apace with the size and sophistication of response teams and plans. As the construction of public safety systems consumed all the available channels in a single radio band, the government logically opened up other bands. Radio equipment lagged behind, however, continuing to operate on just one spectrum band. This limitation did indeed create communications hurdles during the most serious emergencies — natural disasters and terrorist attacks.
“The issue of being able to talk to each other has been such a prominent one for so long, responder agencies were jumping at the opportunity to test the new radios we were evaluating,” said Chirhart, who manages S&T’s three-and-a-half-year-old multi-band radio (MBR) research project. Starting this month, fourteen agencies across the United States will have the opportunity to try out this leading edge technology with fellow first responders through 30-day pilot projects.
Many first responders today are stuck working in a similar prehistoric era, lugging around multiple radios on their belts, just so that they can listen and talk to other first responders at different agencies. “The value in a multi-band radio is that you don’t have to carry three or four different radios — or buy three or four radios at a cost of $4,000 each,” said Roberts, whose fire department is one of the fourteen that will participate in the pilot projects.
Right now, the new multi-band radio to be piloted this fall rings in at about the same cost ($4,000-$6,000), size (10 inches tall), and weight (less than two pounds) of top-of-the-line single-band radios. It works on the five frequency bands currently used by state and local first responders, and, if necessary, can work on four other bands used exclusively by the federal government, the Department of Defense, National Guard, and the Coast Guard. It even provides weather reports from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The battery is expected to last in excess of 10 hours in order to meet the realities of longer shifts. It works even after being sprayed with a fire hose.
“If the multi-band radio can be credited with ensuring that just one first responder goes home to his or her family at the end of their shift, then the whole effort has paid for itself,” Chirhart added.
S&T hopes that the introduction of these radios will spur manufacturers to develop their own professional quality versions — much like what happened with smartphones — along with accessories like alternative batteries or GPS chips that departments can purchase separately.
A final version of the radios could be ready for the mass market by the middle of 2010. By that time, supply should meet demand, as many companies are now jumping on the virtual bandwagon to develop these new radios. S&T launched the MBR project with the goal of stimulating the marketplace so that multiple vendors would see the value in developing this technology to provide greater options that meet public safety requirements.
If the technology is as successful as S&T thinks that it could be, interoperability challenges, like cell phones that only make phone calls, may become forgotten relics of the past.
The fourteen organizations participating in the pilot are: · 2010 Olympic Security Committee (Blaine, Wash., and Vancouver, B.C. Canada) · Amtrak (Northeast Corridor) · Boise Fire Department (Boise, Idaho) · Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group (Ottawa, ON Canada) · Customs and Border Patrol (Detroit, Mich.) · Federal Emergency Management Agency (Multiple Locations) · Hawaii State Civil Defense (Honolulu, Hawaii) · Interagency Communication Interoperability System (Los Angeles County, Calif.) · Michigan Emergency Medical Services (Lower Peninsula Areas) · Murray State University (Southwest Kentucky) · Phoenix Police Department and Arizona Department of Emergency Management (Greater Phoenix and Yuma County) · Texas National Guard (Austin, Texas) · U.S. Marshals Service (Northeast Region) · Washington Metro Area Transit Authority Transit Police (Washington, D.C.)
Read the additional pages of this Homeland Security News Wire report here http://homelandsecuritynewswire.com/dhs-trials-next-generation-multiband-radio?page=0,0
Aurora Regional Fire Museum,
Grab your sugar, grab your spice - and run, run, fast as you can!
The Aurora Regional Fire Museum (Aurora, IL) will host a Gingerbread FIREhouse Contest, exhibition, and charity raffle for the holidays. All entries must depict a firefighting themed architectural structure, real or imaginary — IE: a firehouse, burning building, etc. Participants are invited to compete in one of three categories:
• Individuals: entries made by teen-aged children (13+) and/or adults acting alone.
• Families and Groups: a single entry that has been created by two or more individuals. (IE: a gingerbread FIREhouse made by children with adult supervision, or a FIREhouse constructed by an organization, club, or groups of adults)
• Professionals: an entry produced by a baker, designer, architect, or any individual or group with professional baking experience.
Gingerbread FIREhouse Contest registration forms are due on or before Friday, November. 7th, and, all gingerbread FIREhouses are to be delivered to the museum on or before Tuesday, November. 24, 2009.
The exhibit opens, and the entries will be judged on Saturday, November 28th.
Cash and prizes will be awarded for both Peoples Choice and Judges Choice in each category.
You can read more about the contest, and register, online at: http://www.AuroraRegionalFireMuseum.org/gingerbread
from USFA Firefighter Fatalities
Chad Eric Greene of the Union Cross Fire and Rescue of Forsyth County, Inc. in Kernersville, NC has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-11-04 Deputy Chief Greene completed his shift at approximately 0830hrs immediately after responding to a motor vehicle accident. After completing his shift, he left the station, dropped his son off at pre-school, and went home. When Deputy Chief Greene's wife returned home, she found him unresponsive and subsequently called 911 and began CPR. Deputy Chief Greene was transported to the NC Baptist Hospital where he was pronounced dead at approximately 1230hrs. The cause of death is pending further investigation.
From Firehouse.comPa. Firefighter Dies Following Call
Amity Fire Company Firefighter Robert Stone collapsed and died the morning after responding to a call, according to the department's web site.
Stone, 47, began complaining of chest pains on Nov. 3 after returning to the station and was transported to Reading Hospital. Read More...
The USS New York, a new battleship built with steel from the World Trade Center, sailed into New York harbor today on its maiden voyage and delivered a 21-gun salute near Ground Zero. Times on Line
Remember 343 FDNY
A warship built with steel salvaged from the World Trade Center has arrived in New York City. Newssniffer
Its crew stood at attention and a 21-gun salute greeted the ship. Firefighters, bagpipers, and those who lost loved ones on 9/11 lined the shore to watch the emotional arrival. The docking holds special meaning for many families of those who died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. CNN
from USFA Firefighter Fatalities
Phil Whitney of the Springville Fire Department in Springville, UT has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-10-27
Initial Summary:
After having made an emergency run on his shift the night before, Chief Whitney called the fire department early in the morning of October 28, 2009, to say he was not feeling well. Chief Whitney was found dead in his Springville home later that morning. The cause of death is pending further examination.
October 28th, 2009 by Residential Fire Sprinklers .com
In today’s meeting of the International Code Council (ICC) in Baltimore, Maryland, proposals made to eliminate the requirement for residential fire sprinklers in the International Residential Code (IRC) were defeated. These requirements were included in the 2009 IRC, to become effective January 1, 2011. Proposals to modify the 2012 International Residential Code included RB 54, which would have removed the mandatory requirement and made it an optional provision, RB 56, which would delete sprinkler requirements for townhomes and one- and two-family occupancies and move P2904 back to the appendix, making the requirement optional; and RB 57, which would have completely removed the sprinkler requirements from these residential occupancies. Full story HERE at Residential Fire Sprinklers .com
NIOSH has issues a new publication concerning the Manual Adjustment of Automatic Slack Adjusters May Contribute to Unexpected Brake Failure on Automotive Fire Apparatus
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/SafetyAdvisory10202009.html
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that all fire departments operating fire apparatus equipped with automatic slack adjusters (ASAs) immediately take the following actions to reduce the risk of firefighters being injured in an apparatus crash due to brake failure:
The full text of the publication can be seen at NIOSH HERE 
PA LODD - Westover Borough from Firefighter Close Calls
Saturday, October 24, 2009 A Firefighter from Westover Borough (Clearfield County) Fire Station #45 has died in the Line of Duty while operating at a house fire in Westover Borough. Firefighters responded to a reported working fire early this morning and upon arrival, started their attack and related operations. Reports are that Command then decided to allow the fire to burn because it was a vacant abandoned structure.
From Firefighting News Firefighter Dies, Blaze Investigated Pennsylvania - A veteran volunteer firefighter died early Saturday at Miners Medical Center in Hastings after he collapsed while returning a fire hose to a truck in this southern Clearfield County borough. Firefighter Roy Everett Westover Jr. of Westover Area Fire Department, 41, who lived in Westover, was pronounced dead at 2:06 a.m. in the hospital emergency room,
The fall time change takes place on Sunday, November 1. Time to change your clock and your Battery. In your smoke detector that is. It’s also a good time to check it for spiders, dust and even see if it’s still working along with you carbon monoxide detector. Many fire department are taking part in the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery program. For the 22nd year, the International Association of Fire Chiefs IAFC, Energizer, and our network of 6,200 fire departments have partnered on the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery program to remind communities nationwide of the life-saving habit of changing the battery in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when they change their clocks back to Standard Time. The United States Fire Administration has a lot of information concerning smoke detectors and is a good source for materials. Also Consumer Product Safety Commission has some info you can use.
smoke Alarms
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UPDATE: 13 Hurt when FDNY Apparatus Collide in Brooklyn
Saturday, October 24, 2009. Two firetrucks racing to a call of gas leak collided in Brooklyn this morning, causing one to flip over and the other to crash into a front yard, sending 12 firefighters to the hospital – some with serious leg injuries, authorities said.
Full story at Firefighter Close Calls
EMS LODD (TN) AMBULANCE HITS TN DOT TRUCK
Two people have been killed after an ambulance slammed into the back of a TDOT vehicle on Interstate 65 near Wedgewood Avenue. Officials said the Rural/Metro ambulance was travelling in the northbound lanes when it hit the truck.
The two fatalities are the driver of the ... [ more ]
N.C. Responder Killed in Ambulance Crash A first responder from the Fort Bragg military base was killed this morning (Oct. 22) in an ambulance crash while responding to a call, according to WTVD-TV. According to the National EMS Memorial Service, the responder was Param... [ more ]
Oct 22, 2009 Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Clinton, MS
from USFA Firefighter Fatalities
John Thurman of the Clinton Fire Department in Clinton, MS has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-10-21 Also link at Firehouse News
Died hours after working out while on duty, according to The Clarion-Ledger.
Capt. John Thurman was found unconscious at approximately 5 p.m. by someone walking through a park that sits next to Fire Station 3. He was transported to Jackson Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The 21-year fire veteran's cause of death is still unknown, the newspaper report said. Read More....
Emmitsburg, MD. – The United States Fire Administration (USFA) today released the report Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2008. The report continues a series of annual studies by the USFA of on-duty firefighter fatalities. The USFA is the single public agency source of information for all on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States each year.
"The causes of death among firefighters are well known and the steps necessary to protect firefighters have been studied and reported in numerous forums,” United States Fire Administrator Kelvin J. Cochran said. “We must take the necessary steps to ensure, as much as possible, all firefighters return from every call, safely."
The unique and specific objective of Firefighter Fatalities in the United States is to identify all on-duty firefighter fatalities that occurred in the United States and its protectorates during the calendar year and to present in summary narrative form the circumstances surrounding each occurrence.
An overview of the 118 firefighters that died while on duty in 2008:
For 32 years, USFA has tracked the number of firefighter fatalities and conducted an annual analysis. Through the collection of information on the causes of firefighter deaths, the USFA is able to focus on specific problems and direct efforts toward finding solutions to reduce the number of firefighter fatalities in the future. This information is also used by many organizations to measure the effectiveness of their current efforts directed toward firefighter health and safety.
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which worked closely with USFA on this report, also maintains a list of firefighters who die in the line-of-duty and are honored during the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend held each October in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Visit www.FireHero.org for more information about the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and their assistance to the families of the firefighters lost in 2008 and beyond.
Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted on the USFA's Web site at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm.
Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2008 (PDF, 3.1 Mb) http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/ff_fat08.pdf
from USFA Firefighter Fatalities
Gary D. Street 60 of the East Lake Sinclair Volunteer Fire Department in Sparta, GA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-10-17
Gary D. Street, was moving a fire department vehicle at the scene of an incident, according to Chief J. J. McClure of the East Lake Sinclair Vol. Fire Department. Firehouse.com has more info here.
APPARATUS CRASH IN PENNSYLVANIA-FF INJURED From Firefighter Close Calls
Saturday, October 10, 2009 An in line of duty accident occurred in Pike Township (Clearfield County) while responding on a fire call around 0430 this morning, Saturday.
Engine 9-1 from Grampian Penn Bloom Fire Company lost control, went over an embankment, and struck a tree. The officer aboard the apparatus contacted the dispatch center by radio and requested Rescue and EMS to the scene with at least one injury. A Rescue and Ambulance from Curwensville Fire Company were already on the street for the original fire call, and were diverted to the crash. As of right now, only one Firefighter injury which was be transported BLS to Clearfield Hospital.
Firefighter injured, truck damaged in accident in CT
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 A firefighter avoided serious injury and the fire department's Rescue 3 truck has been taken out of service after fire officials said the truck suffered considerable damage when it was struck by a car in a three vehicle accident on Quinnipiac Road Tuesday afternoon. Full Story Here
Tanker Crashes & Catches Fire in Indiana - No Injuries!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 The Perry Township fire department is down a tanker after a crash this morning that left the truck engulfed in flames.
Perry Clear-Creek Fire Protection District and Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jeff Calabrese said two firefighters on their way back.
Ambulance Crash in NY Leaves 2 Trapped!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 Two emergency medical technicians had to be rescued Tuesday morning after their ambulance crashed - trapping them inside.
The accident happened shortly after 8 a.m. on State Route 37 in the town of Theresa.
Police said the driver of the Guilfoyl... [ more ]
Remember you can see all on Firefighter Close Calls, home of the secret list!
Nothing from USFA yet - LODD –Carl Nordwall IAFF Local 3406 – Norfolk AirportOctober 7, 2009 at 8:49 am by VAFireNews.com Webteam Carl Nordwall It is with deepest regret and sorrow to report the line-of-duty death of Captain Carl Nordwall of IAFF Local 3406 – Norfolk Airport, Norfolk, Virginia. Brother Nordwall, 56, passed away today, Tuesday, October 6, 2009 of cardiac arrest while on duty. |
| Virginia Fire Captain Suffers Fatal Heart Attack Firehouse.com News A Norfolk Airport fire captain died while on duty yesterday (Oct. 6), according an announcement by IAFF Local L3406. Captain Carl Nordwall, 56, suffered a heart attack while on the job and was later pronounced dead. A funeral will be held on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. at the Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home, 601 N. Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462. |
Really, still not wearing your seat belt when responding? Maybe today, tomorrow or next week, your are going to get caught. Read this from firefighterclosecalls Wednesday, October 7, 2009
As you will recall, a responding Phoenix (AZ) FD engine company (E910) was involved in a serious crash where, among others, Captain Crystal Rezzonico was very seriously injured after being ejected. The facts related to the August 10, 2009 crash are as follows: Read full article HERE
Old issue, still not resolved see old post at Everyonegoeshome and visit |
