Quick News

PGFD volunteer chief tells community he "can't guarantee service": You can't blame this on Ripp's retirement. This is a complaint from Forestville VFD Chief Bobby Wilhite that the county only gave him 16-hours notice before pulling the career firefighters out of Station 823 for day work today. You can read Chief Wilhite's thoughts in our comments section below the story we wrote Wednesday about the rotating removal of career personnel. Click here and scroll down.

Timeout documented: The report is out into how the two-day April stand down in Minneola, Florida was handled. It was ordered by the city manager after a lieutenant and a medic had some run ins during a couple of EMS calls. Read the report.

Answering the critics: Spring Hill, TN Chief Jim Swindle explains a little bit more about his residential sprinkler position after being criticized for telling local politicians he didn't want them because it would conflict with the state code. Click here.

Schaitberger says cities and towns are playing Russian roulette: An article in US Today by Kevin Johnson looks at the impact of firefighter cuts across the country through the eyes of IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. Read details.

Charleston coverage: Some links to find articles on yesterday's second anniversary of the Sofa Super Store fire in Charleston, SC that took the lives of nine firefighters. Click here, here, here and here.

New Florida chief from DC: Kenneth Ellerbe, who was acting chief in DC for a few moments years back when no one would take it after the resignation of Tom Tippett, has been named chief of the Sarasota County Fire Department. Ellerbe begins the job on July 20. You can read a bit more here and here.

Fire captain convicted of rape: In Calvert County, MD DC Fire & EMS Department Captain Tony Sneed has been convicted of raping a 23-year-old woman who was his stepdaughter's friend. Click here for the story.

Woman calls 911 755 times in two-and-a-half-years: But she doesn't just rely on something as impersonal as the telephone. Linda Dunnivan also flags down police officers. Click here for the story from Albemarle County, VA.

He's almost as bad a photographer as he is a reporter: You can see my lens work in the little video I created from the 2009 Maryland State Firemen's Association Convention in Ocean City. Click here.

Crash in Baltimore: Four firefighters were hurt after Engine 46 crashed into two rowhouses in the 4000 block of Bareva Road Thursday afternoon. The driver was the most seriously injured, but a spokesman says those injuries are not life threatening. Engine 46 was responding to a report of a house fire on Lynchester Road. The image above is from WMAR-TV. More in The Baltimore Sun.