Reminder–If you didn’t hear

FEMA, FCC Announce Nationwide Test Of The Emergency Alert System

Link HERE -Nationwide Test

Similar to local Emergency Alert System Tests, this Test is Scheduled to Take Place on

November 9, 2011  WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The nationwide test will occur on Wednesday, November 9 at 2 p.m. eastern standard time and may last up to three and a half minutes. The EAS is a national alert and warning system established to enable the President of the United States to address the American public during emergencies.  NOAA's National Weather Service, governors and state and local emergency authorities also use parts of the system to issue more localized emergency alerts.

Similar to local EAS tests that are already conducted frequently, the nationwide test will involve broadcast radio and television stations, cable television, satellite radio and television services and wireline video service providers across all states and the territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa.

On November 9, the public will hear a message indicating that "This is a test." The audio message will be the same for both radio and television. Under the FCC's rules, radio and television broadcasters, cable operators, satellite digital audio radio service providers, direct broadcast satellite service providers and wireline video service providers are required to receive and transmit presidential EAS messages to the public. A national test will help the federal partners and EAS participants determine the reliability of the system and its effectiveness in notifying the public of emergencies and potential dangers nationally and regionally. The rest of the release HERE

LODD

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Fairfax, VA

Horace "Chris" C. Pendergrass of the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department in Fairfax, VA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2011-10-22

Initial Summary:  
Firefighter Pendergrass was discovered deceased in bed by fellow firefighters at shift change, having passed away during the night in his sleep from a cause still to be determined. Incident Location: Station #41, 9610 Hampton Road, Fairfax Station, VA 22039-2813

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Atlanta, GA

Harold Gregory Gibson of the Fulton County Fire Rescue in Atlanta, GA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 1993-06-19

Initial Summary:  
Firefighter Gibson contracted Hepatitis C after coming in contact with blood while treating a patient injured in a traffic accident in 1993. Due to medical complications related to Hepatitis, Firefighter Gibson left the fire department in 1998 and passed away in July, 2011.

Future of auto extrication?

Would, could, should this type of machine be used for auto extrication,

building collapse? Could be the future of rescue tools?

Raytheon-Sarcos Prototype Power Loader

from MAKE Magazine by Sean Michael Ragan

It rolls on tracks instead of walking, but this ditch-witch style tracked chassis retrofit with a pair of giant waldos is pretty much the power loader from Aliens. This video showing it in action is a great news segment from Ed Yeates of Utah’s KSL-TV, right up to the point where they start talking about the system as an “equalizer” opening up jobs to women “that might’ve otherwise been closed just based on strength issues.”

Last time I checked, guys, there aren’t a lot of men running around out there who can wave 200-lb steel I-beams around with one arm, either. Still, in all, an extremely cool toy developed by Raytheon-Sarcos (Wikipedia), the same folks who produced the XOS-series powered exoskeletons we’ve featured here before. [via Gizmodo]

LODD

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Cape May, NJ

Andrew "Andy" K. Boyt of the Cape May Fire Department in Cape May, NJ has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2011-10-03

Initial Summary:  
A few hours after working a twenty-four hour shift, Lieutenant Boyt's personal vehicle was observed parked on the side of a local road. Boyt was inside of the vehicle, slumped over the steering wheel. Police, EMS and medics responded, found Boyt unresponsive and started CPR. He was immediately transported to Cape Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. Lieutenant Boyt had responded to fire calls within 24 hours prior to his passing. The cause of his death is still under investigation.

 

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Hagatna, GU

Vince Cruz of the Guahan (Guam) Fire Department in Hagatna, GU has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2011-09-28

Initial Summary:  
Firefighter Cruz passed away while onduty from a cause still to be determined. Cruz, posthumously promoted to Fire Lieutenant, was reported by authorities to have responded to a number of emergency calls the fire department answered the previous night. 

LODD reports

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Whiteriver, AZ

Deon "Dino" Jason Classay of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fort Apache Agency in Whiteriver, AZ has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2011-06-23

Initial Summary:  
The lightning caused Diamond Fire was reported to Show Low Dispatch on 06/23/2011 at approximately 1200hrs local time. The location of the fire was confirmed by a helicopter to be north of the Black River on Fort Apache, approximately 2.5 miles northeast of Ten of Diamonds Ranch. The Fort Apache Helitack and Fort Apache Hotshots were dispatched as Initial Attack resources and were flown to a helispot located on a ridge top on Paddy Butte near the fire start. Terrain in the area is steep and rocky with a dense woodlands fuel type. Following completion of a handline around the approximately 35 acre fire all resources hiked back up to the helispot (spike camp). As resources returned to helispot, the Incident Commander determined that one firefighter was not accounted for and initiated a search to locate the missing firefighter. The firefighter was in possession of a handheld radio and attempts to contact him throughout the evening were not successful. After several sweeps of the area, law enforcement from local, county and state agencies were requested to assist with the search efforts. Search efforts continued throughout the night until the missing firefighter was found deceased at 0618hrs. Incident Location: Vicinity of Paddy Butte, AZ (USNG: 12S XC 292 230) 

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Stone Lake, WI

Ronald Dwane Ruprecht of the Stone Lake Fire Department in Stone Lake, WI has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2011-06-10

Initial Summary:  
Lieutenant Ruprecht responded to a false alarm call at approximately 1200hrs. The following morning, he was found by family members having passed away during the night. 

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Salisbury, MA

Timothy Oliveira of the Salisbury Fire Rescue in Salisbury, MA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2011-07-29

Initial Summary:  
Lieutenant Oliveira passed away from injuries sustained when the fire department vehicle he was working under fell off of a jack and struck him. Incident Location: 37 Lafayette RD, Salisbury, MA (USNG: 19T CH 4783 4537) 

LODD notices

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Asheville, NC

Jeffrey Scott Bowen of the Asheville Fire Department in Asheville, NC has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2011-07-28

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Baytown, TX

Gaston Gagne of the Baytown Fire Department in Baytown, TX has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2011-07-25

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Waterloo, IN

Travis Lee Miller of the Waterloo - Grant Township Fire Department in Waterloo, IN has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2011-07-19

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Valley Forge, PA

John Lackovic of the Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Company in Valley Forge, PA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2011-07-11

Four LODD’s to post

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Lake City, FL

Brett Fulton of the Suwannee Forestry Center, Florida Division of Forestry in Lake City, FL has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2011-06-20

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Lake City, FL

Josh Burch of the Suwannee Forestry Center, Florida Division of Forestry in Lake City, FL has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2011-06-20 :

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Du Quoin, IL

Corey Shaw of the Du Quoin Fire Department in Du Quoin, IL has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2011-06-17

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Muncie, IN

Scott Davis of the Muncie Fire Department in Muncie, IN has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2011-06-15