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Thursday, May 23, 2013
Firefighters foundation releases Charleston 9 documentary    view comments tweat me share on facebook
VIDEO: Nearly six years after the Sofa Super Store fire claimed the lives of 9 of Charleston's firefighters, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation released a documentary of the department's recovery in the wake of the fire. The 25-minute documentary highlights the changes made in the department and the steps made to improve the way the department trains for and responds to fires. "We hope the community will watch the video and gain a better understanding of the tremendous accomplishments achieved by the team members of this department," said Fire Chief Karen Brack. "The incredible improvements are a tribute to the Charleston 9, recognizes the vision of Chief Carr, and provides an overview of a level of success that our community can take pride in."
abc news 4 Charleston

1 child killed, another missing after Minnesota field trip tragedy    view comments tweat me share on facebook
Authorities have suspended the search for a missing child after a gravel slide at Lilydale Park in St. Paul on Wednesday afternoon. The search will be resumed on Thursday morning. Four children were swept away when the ground beneath them sunk into a "hole." One child was killed, two others were rescued and taken to Regions Hospital and a fourth remained unaccounted for, officials said. The search for the fourth victim was hindered by weather conditions. "Water is flowing right into the hole making it extremely dangerous for rescuers to work anymore," said Steve Zaccard, of the St. Paul Fire Department. "We are working with our partners in Parks and Public Works to make the scene safe for what's become a recovery effort for what might be a fourth victim."
KARE-TV NBC 11

Delaware fire chief now packing heat; Rise in on-the-job perils cited for arming self    view comments tweat me share on facebook
Wilmington Fire Chief Anthony Goode has been carrying a department-issued firearm for about a month, saying with increased code enforcement duties he and the mayor’s staff thought it would be a wise move. “Firefighters are always in dangerous situations. You never know what you’re going to be walking into,” said Goode, who was appointed fire chief by Mayor Dennis P. Williams in January. Goode has been involved in several high-profile code enforcement actions over the past two months, including cracking down on three makeshift clubs run by the Thunderguards Motorcycle Club. While the city’s fire marshals also carry weapons, Goode said his decision to carry a firearm will not lead to all Wilmington firefighters arming themselves.
delawareonline.com

Illiniois fire chief resigns after allegedly paging firefighters to fake brush fire    view comments tweat me share on facebook
Blackhawk Fire Protection District Chief Gary Chapman has resigned from the fire department after he allegedly summoned volunteers to a fake fire. Mr. Chapman, who served more than 20 years with the fire protection district, headquartered at 102 W. 3rd St., Milan, resigned May 13, according to Lincoln Scott, attorney for the fire district. Milan Police Chief Shawn Johnson said that around 6:15 p.m. on May 6, a 911 dispatcher was contacted by Mr. Chapman, who said he had paged volunteer firefighters to a fake brush fire at 1220 West 2nd Ave., Milan. According to Chief Johnson, Mr. Chapman told the dispatcher the fire was made-up to make firefighters available to help clean a building in the area that had once served as a haunted house run by the fire department.
Quad-Cities Online: Dispatch-Argus

Recent events raise the question: Is Las Vegas prepared for a major medical emergency?    view comments tweat me share on facebook
Dr. Aaron Meltzer spent a week in November learning about medical care during emergencies and disasters in Israel, a country that handles multiple-casualty incidents on a regular basis. He returned to Las Vegas with questions about U.S. cities and how they have prepared for large-scale medical emergencies. In Israel, the public gets regular reminders on how the safety network functions. In the United States, while emergency planners may be working behind the scenes on comprehensive plans, the public often does not notice until an emergency occurs.
las vegas sun


Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Injured Illinois firefighter files lawsuit in crash that killed fellow firefighter   view comments tweat me share on facebook
A Hudson firefighter is suing a trucking company and a driver over injuries he suffered in March in an Interstate 39 accident that also killed a fellow firefighter. Tyler Cobler’s federal lawsuit names Move It Auto Transport and Mansur Shakirov, both of Washington State, as defendants. The March 5 accident damaged three Hudson Fire Department vehicles, injured five firefighters and killed Hudson firefighter Chris Brown, who also was a full-time firefighter with the Bloomington Fire Department. “One of the main goals of this lawsuit is to hold these people fully accountable,” said Kenneth J. Allen with the Allen Law Group, based in Valparaiso, Ind. “Our most important goal is to prevent this from happening again.”
Bloomington-Normal Pantagraph

Pennsylvania firefighter’s recovery has been painful and grueling, but also inspirational   view comments tweat me share on facebook
It's difficult for Andre Kelley to say what he remembers about Feb. 18, the day a ball of flame engulfed him and almost took his life. "I've had different dreams about it," says Kelley, his voice quiet and gentle. "It's hard to remember what was real and what wasn't." He remembers going up a flight of steps. And "oceans and waves of flames." After that, nothing, until he came to in a hospital bed, fighting to pull a tube out of his throat. A 13-year city firefighter and lieutenant, Kelley, 34, was severely injured early on Presidents Day, trapped in a burning house on East Madison Street. Kelley was hurt as he tried to rescue Pauline Stone, 39, and Leilani Roman, 6, who both died in the fire. Two other city firefighters were injured fighting the fire.
lancasteronline.com

Los Angeles Fire Dept. chief’s report slammed by city Fire Commission   view comments tweat me share on facebook
The Los Angeles Fire Commission on Tuesday delivered a strong rebuke of a highly anticipated report by the fire chief regarding a controversial plan to beef up the number of ambulances assigned to firehouses. The report by LAFD Chief Brian Cummings was intended to quell criticism of his plan to reassign 22 firefighters per shift from engines to ambulances, a move he said was necessary to address a growing load of 911 calls for medical help. But several members of the five-person civilian board that oversees the department, including the panel's president, slammed the chief's report as vague and unfocused, asking for major revisions before they would consider it acceptable.
los angeles times

Is calling 911 in the city of Cincinnati a game of roulette?   view comments tweat me share on facebook
Dying for help, some of those in need of urgent medical care are left holding the phone because dispatchers say when you dial 911 in the city of Cincinnati, it’s a game of roulette. The startling fact that some 911 operators in Cincinnati have no or only partial medical training comes amid a city budget crunch that has left a hiring freeze on the Emergency Communications Center (ECC), which runs the city’s 911 operations. Rhonda Andrews was having a heart attack when her sister called 911 for help. "I could have died that day," Andrews said. "My heart had stopped three times." The 911 call for Andrews lasted barely more than a minute. "No one gave us any instructions… they just hung up," Andrews said.
WCPO-TV ABC 9 Cincinnati

California Firefighters Physically Attacked During Medical Call   view comments tweat me share on facebook
Two Sacramento fire fighters were attacked in separate incidents this weekend while responding to medical calls. The police department said 29-year-old Daniel Sevall came at a paramedic after they responded to a call for help. The firefighter grabbed him until police came, but he suffered a slight muscle strain. Sevall was arrested for assault. Later that same day paramedics had just moved 23-year-old Jonathan Sawyer from a their gurney to a hospital bed at Sutter General Hospital when Sawyer took a swing at one of the firefighters grazing him on the chin. Sawyer was also arrested for assault.
fox 40 sacramento







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