A Different Kind of Brush Truck

 

AN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, LADDER TRUCK WAS ON THE STREETS Monday during a violent storm spate when they came across a large tree that had fallen across the roadway.  While they were out cutting the downed tree to clear the path, a gust of wind came along and toppled still another one that fell across the ladder...READ STORY and SEE MORE PICTURES

GM Recalls 1.5 Million Vehicles For Car Fire Dangers

Monday, 13 April 2009 

Related Article:

WASHINGTON – General Motors Corp. is recalling 1.5 million vehicles because of potential engine fires.

GM says there have been no reports of any fires or injuries.

Some of the recalled vehicles are no longer in production. The recall includes the 1998-1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue, the 1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix, 1997-2003 Buick Regal, and the 1998-2003 Chevrolet Lumina, Monte Carlo and Impala.

It involves vehicles with a 3.8-liter V6 engine. The government says drops of oil could fall into the exhaust system and cause a fire in the engine.

GM spokesman Kerry Christopher says it was a precautionary measure for consumers

NJ Easter Garage Fire With Propane Tank Explosion

Monday, 13 April 2009

Hellskitchen2134 on YOUTUBE puts up a great video that reminds us of the dangers of garage fires and fires in general. Keep in mind in garage fires there may be flammable liquids, gases, or materials stored inside.

Text from hellskitchen:
At about 1320 on Sunday April 12 2009 the Bergenfield Fire Department was dispatched to 73 River Edge Road for a garage fire. Upon the arrivial of DC1, fire was showing from the garage area of the house. As first arriving companies entered the block, a propane tank exploded sending a chunk of the tank skipping across the street and hitting a house. Members made a quick stop of the fire preventing it from spreading to the attached house. A New Milford FAST Team along with engines from Hackensack and Teaneck responded to the scene while an engine from Dumont and an Englewood ladder covered the town. Companies were off the scene by 1530. Video by Alex Kneisler

Three Firefighters Injured After Floor Collapse

From North Braddock News

 

Firefighters operating at a house fire were injured over the weekend. The firefighters, two from North Braddock and one from Braddock, were hurt when the kitchen floor collapsed and fell into the basement.

The firefighters were transported, treated and released.

Searching or operating on the floor above a basement has claimed lives over the past 100 years. The dangers faced by firefighters is the weakening of structural members supporting the floor above. Firefighters performing a search or working to achieve a knock down may be operating on borrowed time.

The National Fire Fighter Near Miss Reporting System has discussed basement fires. One such report can be read here.

This still seems to be a high learning curve for this type of incident. Isn’t it time that all fire fighter should know about this type of incident?

Application Period to Open: Fiscal Year 2009 Assistance to Firefighter Grants

USFA Press Office: (301) 447-1853

The Department of Homeland Security has posted the FY2009 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program Guidance on the AFG Website. The application period is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Applications for these grants must be received by Wednesday, May 20, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Nationally, the AFG awards, which will be distributed in phases, will ultimately provide approximately $510 million to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations throughout the country. AFG awards aim to enhance response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public with respect to fire and other hazards. The grants enable local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations to purchase or receive training, conduct first responder health and safety programs, and buy equipment and response vehicles.

An applicant tutorial is available through the www.firegrantsupport.com website. The tutorial provides you with valuable grant information and will walk you through the preparation and submittal of competitive applications. In addition, the applicant tutorial will provide an overview of the funding priorities and evaluation criteria. Applicants who have questions regarding the Assistance to Firefighters Grants opportunity should contact the help desk at 1-866-274-0960 or at firegrants@dhs.gov . During the application period, the help desk will operate Monday to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (EDT), but is prepared to revise hours of operation based on volume and demand.

The AFG Program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Grant Programs Directorate in coordination with the U.S. Fire Administration.

For access to the FY09 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program Guidance or FAQs - visit www

Oficer with flashlight makes Rescue from burning car in Clinton Township, Michigan

I thought this story would soon be added to Mag Instruments' Mag Amazing Stories web page. But as one eagle eyed STATter911.com reader notes, despite the officer referring to his Maglite, he was carrying a Streamlight.

The article below by Christy Arboscello of The Detroit Free Press:
A Clinton Township police officer rescued a man trapped inside a burning car today immediately before it was completely engulfed in flames.
At approximately 9:30 a.m., Officer Mark Krutell noticed smoke billowing from outside Tower Automotive on Groesbeck south of Hall Road. Around the same time, a 911 call was placed that a man fainted inside his locked 2002 Ford Escort that was partially on fire in the parking lot. When Krutell arrived, bystanders were trying to break open the window with rocks. The officer ended up smashing the glass with his flashlight, opening the door and dragging the unidentified man to safety. Witnesses also helped bring him away from danger. Seconds later, fire ravaged the car, Capt. Bruce Wade said.
“The man apparently had some type of medical condition and passed out with his foot on the accelerator and the accelerator pushed to the floor…The car overheated and caught on fire,” Wade said.
He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries. Inside the hospital, he shook Krutell’s hand and thanked him for his actions, police said.
Township police officials are recommending that the veteran of 23 years gets honored for his bravery.
“He really did just a marvelous, heroic job,” he said.

USFA Announces 2009 Arson Awareness Week Theme

The U.S. Fire Administration announced the theme for the 2009 Arson Awareness Week: "Arson for Profit." From May 3 to May 9, the USFA and partnering agencies will emphasize statistics about arson for profit in their public-education efforts in the hope of expanding the resources and support necessary to reduce this crime.

The USFA's National Fire Incident Reporting System showed the two leading causes of civilian deaths are arson, at 28%, and smoking, at 18%. Arson is, by far, the leading cause of property loss, at 26%.

The USFA is partnering with the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI).

For more information, including a media kit for the 2009 Arson Awareness Week campaign, go to USFA's Arson Awareness Week page

Two Houston Bravest Lost Battling Easter Morning House Fire

 

FirefighterNation.com News
Two Houston, Texas firefighters died early Easter morning battling a house fire, numerous local media stations reported.
During an aggressive interior attack of the one-story structure during which at least one person was rescued, command determined fire conditions were too intense and backed all crews out. During the post evacuation accountability check, the two firefighters were determined to be missing.
An e-mail from FirefighterCloseCalls.com early Sunday indicated that early information was that the victims were a veteran Captain and a rookie firefighter, but the names and ranks of the vicitms had not been released by the Houston Fire Department as yet.
A mayday was called, KHOU reported, but intense flames kept crews from going back in for search and rescue for up to 10 minutes. The exact timeline of the incident was not immediately available.
KTRK reported that at 4:26am, Houston firefighters formed two lines outside of the home as the bodies of the fallen firefighters were removed from the scene by stretcher. Reports indicate CPR was started when the firefighters were brought out of the home, but they were pronounced dead at the scene.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation as firefighters are providing their accounts of the incident to investigatiors.
There have seven line of duty deaths in Houston in the last nine years, according to the Houston Fire Memorial site.

Chicago - Body Found 2 Days After Fire

 

A FIRE VICTIM IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, WAS NOT FOUND until two days after the fire occurred.

The man was found Wednesday in his basement apartment.  Crosby Lipscomb, a retired school janitor who lived there, was found by family members who had come looking for him.  The heaviest location of the fire was in the basement apartment and when the FF’s left the scene there was about 2 ft. of water still standing in the basement.

The Chicago Tribune reports:

Family members said they found Lipscomb’s body on Wednesday after kicking in the door to the home, which had been boarded up after the fire.

“The Fire Department didn’t do their job,” said Haywood Lipscomb, 42, a nephew of the victim who said he was among Wednesday’s private search party. He said he had implored fire officials on Monday to keep looking for Lipscomb when his uncle did not emerge from the smoke.

The whole family asked the Fire Department” to continue the search, Haywood Lipscomb said.  “It appears we missed a recovery,” (a fire department spokesman) said. “It’s a terrible thing for a family member to find someone after a fire.”

Investigators believe that the fire was started by a portable cook stove that was being used.   An autopsy is scheduled for today.

Read the full story in the Tribune HERE.

WFLD-TV has this video report: