Firewhirl: February 2006 Archives

Heart Attack Questions

Dr. Helen (along with her husband Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit fame) is asking for questions for a podcast with cardiac professionals. Since heart attacks are a big concern for firefighters, I've left her a question to ask the cardiac folks. You should too.

College Students May Live in Station

Here is an innovative way to ensure enough firefighters are around to cover calls without having to hire full-time firefighters (from the Concord Monitor via FireFightingNews.com).

College students would live at the Newmarket fire station rent-free in exchange for covering emergency calls under a plan designed to save money and maintain the town's all-volunteer force.

Chief Rick Malasky hasn't worked out all the details yet, but he said the second floor of the new fire station could be renovated to accommodate up to eight men and four women who would be responsible for a certain number of on-call hours each week, particularly during weekdays when the personnel shortage is at its worst.

Town councilors like the idea, especially since it would cost about $1 million less over five years than hiring four full-time firefighters.

It's a great idea if there is a college in your town.

Poll Results - February 28, 2006

The results to this poll really surprised me. I thought for sure that there would be more departments with lots of older members. Hmmm.

Don't forget to vote in this week's poll.

Fire Horse's Prayer

Here is a nice poem that I ran across at the website of the Bonner Springs Fire Department in Kansas (via FIREFIGHTER). Here is the poem:

Fire Horse's Prayer

To thee, my Firefighter Master, I offer my prayer. Feed me, water and care for me, and, when the fire is put out, provide me with shelter, a clean, dry bed and stall wide enough for me to lie down in comfort. Always be kind to me. Your voice often means as much to me as the reins. Pet me often, so that I may serve you the more gladly and learn to love you. Do not jerk the reins, and do not whip me when going uphill.

Never strike, beat, or kick me when I do not understand what you want, but give me a chance to understand you. Teach me gently not to fear the smoke and flames and clanging of the fire bells. Watch me, and if I fail to do your bidding, see if something is not wrong with my harness or feet. Do not check me so that I cannot have free use of my head. If you insist that I wear blinders, so that I cannot see behind me as it was intended I should, I pray you be careful that the blinders stand well out of my eyes. Do not overload me, or hitch me where water will drip on me. Keep me well shod. Examine my teeth when I do not eat; I may have an ulcerated tooth, and that, you know, is very painful.

Do not tie my head in an unnatural position, or take away my best defense against flies and mosquitoes by cutting off my tail. I cannot tell you when I am thirsty, so give me clean, cool water often. Save me, by all means in your power from that fatal disease - the glanders. I cannot tell you in words when I am sick, so watch me, that by signs you may know my condition.

Give me all possible shelter from the hot sun, and put a blanket on me, not when I am working, but when I am standing in the cold. Never put a frosty bit in my mouth; first warm it by holding it a moment in your hands. I will pull the steamer or hose wagon without a murmur, and wait patiently for you long hours of the day or night as you save lives. Without the power to choose my shoes or path, I sometimes fall on hard pavement which I have often prayed might not be of wood or brick, but of such a nature as to give me safe and sure footing. Remember that I am ready at any moment to lose my life in your service, for I now am also a firefighter.

And finally, OH MY FIREFIGHTER FRIEND, when my useful strength is gone, do not turn me out to starve or freeze, or sell me to some cruel owner, to be slowly tortured and starved to death; but do thou, My Friend, take my life in the kindest way, and your God will reward you here and hereafter. You will not consider me irreverent if I ask this in the name of Him who was also born in a stable.

AMEN--Author Unknown

Dream of Being a Firefighter

Great story...read the whole thing (from Pittsburghlive.com):

KITTANNING -- At 2:25 p.m. Sunday, Armstrong 911 dispatched the borough's Hose Company 4 on a routine "smoke" call, but for one new firefighter, the call was anything but routine.

Hose Company 4's newest member, Michael Smock, sat in the front seat of the company's big fire engine and talked into the radio microphone to tell 911 that the fire unit was rolling. The ride was short, and thankfully no smoke was found, but when Smock returned, he got to man a fire hose anyway.

...

Smock, a resident of Evergreen Homes in West Kittanning, has always wanted to be a fireman, but spinal bifida and other disabilities kept him from fulfilling his dream -- until yesterday.

Congratulations to Firefighter Smock! Way to go, Kittanning Hose Company 4.

Beer at the Fire Hall

This fire department is learning the hard way that drinking at the fire hall is inappropriate (from mlive.com).

Officials say a group of firefighters play Texas Hold 'em poker and some drink beer every Monday night after training exercises.

In a report that aired Wednesday, Fox 66 Anchor/ Investigative Reporter Jim Kiertzner showed up at the hall with a video camera and asked Krupp and Quaderer whether "hoisting a cold one" rather than a ladder was good public policy.

...

Township Treasurer Cheryl L. Bishop said she was vaguely aware that some of the Fire Department's 50-man volunteer force drank at the hall.

"I didn't know that it went on all the time," Bishop said, vowing to "definitely do something" to "curtail" the practice.

In the past, the fire department not only provided an important service to the community, it was also a social club. Considering the liability issues surrounding alcohol consumption at the fire hall, I believe the days of have a cold one after training are gone.

NIOSH Report on 2005 Smoke Explosion

NIOSH has published their report on a 2005 smoke explosion at a town house fire in Wyoming. Here is the summary:

On April 18, 2005, a 23-year-old male volunteer fire fighter (Victim #1) and a 39-year-old male volunteer Assistant Lieutenant (Victim #2) died after a smoke explosion at a town house complex. Both victims were in the first apparatus to arrive on the scene and were advised that there were children inside on the second floor of the fire unit. The victims made entry into the structure and proceeded to the second floor with a charged hoseline. Within minutes, Victim #2 returned to the front door to request a thermal imaging camera and returned to the second floor just as another crew prepared to provide back-up. As the back-up crew entered the front door an explosion occurred forcing them back down the porch stairs and entrapping the victims in the bedroom on the second floor. The fire, which intensified after the explosion, had to be knocked down before the victims could be recovered. NIOSH investigators concluded that, to minimize the risk of similar occurrences, fire departments should:

• develop and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) for structural fire fighting that include, but are not limited to, the incident command system, accountability, ventilation, and emergency evacuation
• ensure that the Incident Commander completes a size-up of the incident and continuously evaluates the risk versus benefit during the entire operation
• ensure that adequate numbers of staff are available to immediately respond to emergency incidents
• ensure that the Incident Commander maintains the role of director of fireground operations and does not become directly involved in firefighting operations
• ensure that the Incident Commander is clearly identified as the only individual with overall authority for management of all activities at an incident
• ensure that fire fighters are trained to identify truss roof systems and their potential hazards

The report really focuses on the lack of action/control by the incident commander. I've been to a number of incidents where the incident command structure was weak or non-existent. The reason was the incident commander did not want to appear to be "above" the other firefighters. This report shows the flaws in that kind of thinking. It should be required reading at our department.

Grand Opening of our Online Store

Check out our new online store.

We offer firefighter kits - bundles of fire equipment - at a discount. We also offer each individual item so that you can build your own kits.

During the month of March, send an e-mail to a friend with a link back to our store and you earn twenty-five cents off of your order. Send it to 10 friends at twenty-five cents each to earn a maximum of $2.50!

See details here.

USFA Report on Response Times

The USFA has released a report on the response times for structure fires in the U.S. Here are their major findings:

• Regardless of region, season, or time of day, structure fire response times are generally less than 5 minutes half the time.
  
• The nationwide 90th percentile response time to structure fires is less than 11 minutes.
  
• Structure fires in the Northeast have the lowest response times while those in the West have the highest.
  
• Average structure fire response times show a relationship between flame spread and longer response times, but only after flames have spread beyond the room of origin.

The whole report is pretty short so reading it should only take a few minutes.

There was an interesting bit from the conclusion that caught my eye:

Despite the differences in size of fire departments, career or volunteer status, time of year, or location in the country, there is not a great difference in response times to structure fires as analyzed here. A more detailed analysis may uncover larger differences.

I was surprised by this. It would seem that large, urban fire departments would have better response times, but according to the report that isn't necessarily the case.

Nephew is Wrestling in State Meet

No posting on Friday because we will be traveling to the state high school wrestling meet to watch my nephew wrestle. By the way, this is his first trip to the state meet - he is just a 7th grader.

Everyone have a good weekend!

Near Miss: Gas Lift Cylinder Explodes

I've read a couple of different accounts over past couple of weeks dealing with the gas lift cylinders in cars. This near miss report addresses this same safety issue:

THE FIREFIGHTERS ADVANCED THE TRASH LINE TO THE CAR. WALKING IN FRONT OF THE CAR THEY HAD THE DRIVER CHARGE THE LINE AS THEY ADVANCED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR. AS THEY WERE GOING IN FRONT OF THE CAR, THE LEFT SIDE HOOD GAS LIFT CYLINDER EXPLODED AND CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND PROCEEDED TO PASS BETWEEN TWO OF THE FIRE FIGHTERS.

Read the rest of the report - it's short.

It's easy to get complacent for "just a car fire", but we all have to fight that urge. Here are the discussion questions:

Does your department have an SOP for fighting car fires?
Do your firefighters actually follow the SOP?
What other hazards do firefighters face when extinguishing a car fire?

Maryland Volunteer Fired

Looks like things are starting move forward on the Maryland misconduct incident (from nbc4.com).

LARGO, Md. -- A suspended volunteer firefighter has been terminated from the Prince George's County Fire and EMS Department because of an altercation at a fire in Landover Hills on Feb. 13.

...

Part of the confrontation was captured by a neighbor's camcorder. As flames shot from the home, Moses Nicholls said he grabbed his camera, but he captured more than flames. Nicholls recorded an angry Kentland volunteer firefighter screaming profanities at a volunteer from Bladensburg, after the Bladensburg firefighter accidentally drove his ladder truck over a water hose, cutting off the supply.

Then the Kentland volunteer got more aggressive, and the tape shows he eventually shoved the other firefighter.

I can understand the firefighter being upset when the water supply to the house was cut off, but he should have handled it in a professional manner.

I wonder what would have happened if the neighbor had not caught his actions on video.

Poll Results - February 21, 2006

High Rise Escape Device

Here is an interesting idea for evacuating people from high rise buildings (from FireFightingNews.com).

The team came up with a potentially lifesaving solution: a $1 million escape device with expandable cabins that could be lowered like lifeboats outside a high-rise in distress. A prototype tested in Tel Aviv won praise from politicians, public safety experts and the landlord of a midtown Manhattan skyscraper who offered his property for a pilot program.

Here is the company website for Escape Rescue Systems. Watch the video demonstating the system.

I know very little about high rise fires, so I don't know if this device is practical or not. However, this type of innovative thinking is important to the continued fire safety improvement.

Firefighter with Artificial Leg

This is an amazing story (from the BBC):

A Worcestershire man has become the first firefighter in the UK to work with a false leg.

Simon Hawkins, from Bromsgrove, lost his lower left leg in a motorbike accident in 2005.

He has been allowed back to work after a series of gruelling tests and what he calls "incredible" support.

People can do amazing things when they focus and get tough! The technology improvements in artificial limbs certainly helps too. Congratulations to Firefighter Hawkins.

Toughest Firefighter Alive

The World Firefighters Games are being held in Hong Kong which inlcudes an event called the Toughest Firefighter Alive (from news.gov.hk).

A total of 260 firefighters from more than 20 countries and regions, including 18 from Hong Kong, will vie for the 'Toughest Firefighter Alive' title tomorrow.

The main event of the 9th World Firefighters Games, being held in Hong Kong this week, will take place at the Games Village at the Tamar Site.

Here is the link to the official website. Here are the rules for the Toughest Firefighter Alive event.

Racial Intimidation at Jacksonville Station

Two Jacksonville firefighters found nooses in their gear at the fire station. I first saw this on Firefighter Blog, but here some details from Firehouse.com:

The fire station at Duval and Jefferson streets downtown became the scene of a hate-crime investigation Friday morning when two black firefighters arrived at work to find nooses on their gear.

Firefighter Rufus Smith found a noose on his suit when he reported to work at 7 a.m. Smith immediately reported it to his superiors.

Smith said finding the noose made him angry and scared.

"We're afraid -- my life is on the line," Smith said. "I give my life to the citizens of Jacksonville any day, any second, all day for 17 years."

Roderick Laws, the only other black firefighter on this shift at the station, also found a noose draped on his gear.

The investigation needs to find the perpetrator and prosecute them to the full extent of the law. Here is more about penalties from the article:

Prosecutors told Channel 4 that while the act itself was likely a misdemeanor crime, if it was considered a hate crime, by Florida statute, the person would receive an additional five-year sentence.

The entire fire service needs to condemn the actions of the person that planted the nooses.

FP&S Grants Round 4

Check here to see if you received your FP&S Grant in Round 4 which was announced on Friday, Feb. 17.

Chief Relies on Older Volunteers

Have you ever thought about the ages of the volunteers in your department? Here is a story about that question from The Patriot-News via FireFightingNews.com:

Like most chiefs of volunteer fire companies, Bill Carlisle has seen the number of volunteers dwindle.

Carlisle, 31, joined the Fairview Twp. Fire Department 13 years ago. "You used to have to fight to get a seat on the fire truck, we had so many volunteers," he said.

Things are different these days, but Carlisle has an ace up his sleeve.

He calls them his AARP crew, although the five members of the group have nothing official to do with the association of older people.

They only qualify because of their age.

The five are sort of Fairview Twp.'s Marines, first to arrive at the "battleground."

"The younger guys all work during the day. These guys are retired. They're often the first ones at the fire, and sometimes they put it out all by themselves," Carlisle said.

I haven't seen any official data on this issue, but I'm guessing that as the baby boomers get older, the average age of volunteer firefighters will also increase.

Firefighters Help Boy Send Valentine

Its stories like this that make me proud to be part of the fire service (from LAFD News and Info).

LINCOLN, Neb. - Firefighters braved sleet, wind and freezing cold to rescue a valentine that got snagged in a tree after a boy sent it into the sky by balloon for his mother, who died of cancer last fall.

Read the whole thing.

Well done, Lincoln Fire Department, well done. Here is a link to the LFD website.

Burning Out

This is a great picture of a firefighter starting a burn out with a drip torch. Unfortunately, I didn't save any details about the picture and now I can't track down where I found it.

If my memory is correct, this is a recent U.S. wildland fire. That is all I can remember. If you know where this picture came from, please let me know.

Maryland Incident Misconduct

Firehouse.com has a bunch of info on the Maryland incident that involved firefighter misconduct and possible criminal conduct (here is the original Firewhirl post).

An incident at a house fire in Maryland February 13 has led to a firefighter's suspension and an investigation that could lead to criminal charges according to Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department spokesman Mark Brady.

The investigation involves sorting out reports of firefighters actions inside a dwelling with fire showing with accusations that air supplies were vandalized by other firefighters, and physical confrontations outside the dwelling between firefighters. It involves several volunteer fire companies and career firefighters stationed at those responding companies.

Read the whole thing and watch the video.

It sounds like next week the investigation may be finished. Then we should hear the whole story. Stay tuned.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Did you know that there is a National Public Safety Football League? I sure didn't! Here is some info from the LAFD News and Info blog.

The LA HEAT, part of the National Public Safety Football League (NPSFL), is one of fifteen teams from across the United States comprised entirely of sworn public safety personnel. Each NPSFL team plays for one or more charities, with players adhering to the same honor and integrity on the field as they do while on-duty.

Here is a link to the NPSFL. Go to their links page to visit the homepages of each team.

No Pay, No Aid Policy

A Missouri fire department chose not to fight a fire because the owner had not paid membership fees for fire protection (from News-Leader.com).

Firefighters near Monett stood by and watched a fire destroy a garage and a vehicle because the property owner, who was injured battling the flames, had not paid membership dues.

Monett Rural Fire Department Chief Ronnie Myers defended the policy, saying the membership-based organization could not survive if people thought the department would respond for free. The department said it will fight a fire without question if a life is believed to be in danger.

...

The Monett Rural Fire Department responded to the scene but did not fight the fire. Firefighters stood by as the fire burned itself out, watching in case the flames spread to neighboring properties owned by members.

This is really an unfortunate incident. I'm a strong believer in letting each local jurisdiction handle it's own business, but I think there are better ways to fund a fire department. Fight the fire and sort the financial details out later.

Near Miss: Vehicle Moves Unexpectedly

This week's near miss report involves a vehicle that moves and surprises the responders:

PD directed the company to a vehicle with an unconscious victim. After they opened the door to determine the victim was beyond critical, they removed him. The victim had his weight on the brake pedal; the car was still in drive. The firefighters overlooked the situational dangers and proceeded with care. After the victim was removed, the car accelerated toward the Officer in front of it. A firefighter alerted the Officer who jumped out of the way. Another firefighter jumped into the vehicle and threw it into park.

Close call. Here are some questions to ask at coffee break:

At an MVA, do you always ensure that the vehicles are stable and will remain stationary?

Is a proper scene size-up completed at each incident?

Does your department utilize a safety officer even when it seems unnecessary?

Do responders take their own safety into account before thinking about patient care?

Stay Safe.

Valentine's Liaison Leads to Fire

This cracked me up (from the BBC via FireFightingNews.com).

Firefighters have issued a warning about using candles after a man's underpants caught fire while a young couple "celebrated" Valentine's Day. Crews were called to the house in Henstead Road, Southampton, shortly before midnight on Tuesday after the blaze started in the bedroom.

The discarded pants had caught fire on a nearby candle while the couple were enjoying a Valentine's Day liaison.

Ha! This gives a new meaning for the phrase "hot pants".

EMT-B Class

Well, I've been tossing around the idea of becoming an EMT-B over the past few years. Now I've finally made the decision to go for it. The timing of this project isn't great, but the classes will held here in town. If I wait until the next course, I'll have to travel which can add a lot of time and expense.

Class started on Monday night. We will meet on Monday and Wednesday nights until our test in June. If you have any advice, feel free to post a comment or send an e-mail.

Alleged Fight Between Firefighters at Fire

I thought this was a thing of the past (from wusatv9.com via Firehouse.com).

9 News has learned an investigation is underway into why Prince George's County Firefighters were fighting more than fires early Monday morning.

Departmental reports obtained by 9 News include claims by two career firefighters that someone deliberately shut off their air tanks and ripped off some of their protective gear while they fought the house fire on Standish Drive in Landover Hills.

The two firefighters, assigned to the Landover Hills station, received first and second degree burns. The reports claim that firefighters from the all-volunteer Kentland Station got into a battle over who was going to put out the fire.

There is a video report that really has a lot of good information and puts things into perspective.

If the allegations are true, heads should roll.

We'll keep our eye on this and post when we hear more details.

UPDATE: Rhett has some thoughts over at Roanoke Firefighters.

New USFS Type I Teams

The U.S. Forest Service has a new idea regarding incident management teams (from the San Diego Union-Tribune).

BILLINGS, Mont. – The U.S. Forest Service is looking for experienced wildland firefighters to fill two experimental teams that would be dedicated to tackling complex wildfires, hurricane relief or other large emergencies.

The teams would share the same qualifications as the specialized incident management squads, known as Type 1 teams. Those teams manage the nation's biggest wildfires and also have been called upon to help coordinate the response to disasters such as the World Trade Center terror attacks and the Gulf Coast hurricanes.

But the new teams would be smaller – seven members, rather than about 30 – and they'd handle their duties full-time.

This is an innovative approach and they are starting with just two teams to see if it will work.

It looks like the career path for emergency management is becoming better defined. Back is September, 2005, I posted about college degree programs in emergency management. A student could graduate from one of those programs, get hired in a variety of emergency management positions, and eventually land a job on a Type I incident command team.

Sprinkler Recalls

Will the sprinkler systems in your jurisdiction function properly when there is a fire? If they don't, what other systems are in place in those buildings to keep people safe?

These are questions are addressed in an article from Firehouse.com about sprinker recalls.

WASHINGTON -- Building codes around the nation rest heavily on the theory that sprinkler systems provide the best protection against fire. Now, with millions of defective sprinklers being recalled, fire officials face a new question: What if a sprinkler fails?

Beginning in the 1970s, state and local codes gave property owners who installed sprinklers more and more leeway to scale back on other safeguards such as smoke alarms and fire-resistant construction materials.

However, those so-called trade-offs are getting a second look after a string of four sprinkler recalls that has identified 45 million defective sprinkler heads in the past seven years -- a number equal to about one in every 10 sprinklers installed nationwide since 1991.

Read the whole article - good info.

Climate Change and Fire Danger

I haven't put much thought into what climate change might mean for wildland fire danger, but this short article jump started my brain cells (from ABC News Online).

A new study has found bushfire risk across Victoria will increase significantly, due to climate change.

The study, funded by the Federal Government, found the number of days of very high or extreme fire danger will increase by up to 70 per cent over the next 45 years.

A google search on "climate change" and "fire danger" has tons of reports and information on this subject from the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, etc.

I'm not a climate expert, but if it gets hotter without any additional moisture, it makes sense that there will be more wildland fires. The question is whether scientists know enough about global weather patterns and climate change to accurately predict what is going to happen. I wouldn't make any large wagers that they can.

If if does get hotter without more moisture, typical wildland fire areas could really be in for it. Areas that don't typically have wildland fires could be facing and wildland fire problem that they aren't prepared to deal with.

Poll Results: 02/14/2006

Not many votes last week. Oh, well - sometimes we hit a big one, other times we don't.

Thanks to those of you that participate in the polls.

San Diego Engines Catch Fire

The San Diego Fire Department has had not just one, but two engines start on fire in the last few days (from nbcsandiego.com).

Firefighters were in the right place at the right time on Monday morning when a fire truck catches on fire in San Diego.

...

Fire Truck 39 from Tierrasanta was sent out to the call, which was also responded to by the California Highway Patrol. While firefighters were tending to the injured driver, they noticed that their fire engine itself was on fire.

A mechanical fire apparently had started in the engine. At least one fire hose and some other equipment was destroyed. It is not yet known if the truck can be salvaged.

...

Fire Truck 39 was the second fire engine to catch on fire in three days. The other fire, which took place on state Route 163, was also apparently due to mechanical issues.

The story has some pretty good pictures of a fire-damaged pump panel and burned up gear.

FDNY Racing Team

I ran across a cool website this morning. It is the website of the FDNY Racing Team!

The outpouring of support from all Americans for the 9/11 victims and their families and the special emphasis for FDNY has evolved in many forms. It was this dedication to the American principles symbolized by the heroes of the FDNY that created the FDNY Racing Team, by Lt. Mike Bolnik, Ret., FDNY and Jim Rosenblum from Jim Rosenblum Racing and Bob Rahilly from RAHMOC Racing Engines. They established in conjunction with the Fire Department of New York the official NASCAR racing team FDNY Racing to honor the fallen heroes and their families and raise funds for the Widow's and Children's Fund and the Bravest Fund. The FDNY Racing Team is symbolic of the broad support already expressed by this great country. Its members hail from New York, Florida, North Carolina, Connecticut, Washington, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. During the week they are, firemen, salesmen, utility workers, building contractors, business professionals and avionics manufacturers. On the weekends, they join the FDNY Racing team in America's number one sporting event of NASCAR Racing, to raise funds for Greatest America's Heroes.

FP&S Grants Round 3

Check the list to see if your department received a Fire Prevention and Safety Grant.

Firefighters Shoot Chickens

When I first read this, I thought it was a joke. Then I thought it was something from a long time ago; perhaps the 1800s. But it's from February 1, 2006, in High Springs, Florida (from The High Springs Herald via Roanoke Firefighters).

HIGH SPRINGS — After seeing High Springs firefighters toting rifles through a neighborhood and shooting at chickens last week, residents said they are infuriated.

The southwest sector of town between Southwest Fourth Avenue and Poe Springs Road has had a chicken problem for years.

Many residents said they were upset not that the chickens were killed but the manner in which the situation was handled last Wednesday, Feb. 1.

Residents said they were not notified that the shooting would happen, that they worried about the safety of their children and pets, and that firefighters ran through private property without permission.

Read the whole article. It sounds like the city tried a number of ways to remove the wild chickens before they decided to shoot them. The firefighters were supervised by law enforcement officers along with other safety precautions.

I have to admit that the mental picture of this operation made me laugh!

Fire Station Burns Down

Here is another incident involving a fire station near Boulder, CO (from longmontfyi.com).

BOULDER — Steve Lavington didn’t expect to have as wild a Friday night as the one he experienced this weekend.

The longtime Sunshine Canyon resident watched as the fire station that sat just 200 feet from his home on Boulder County Road 83 burned nearly to the ground.

“I saw flames ... and immediately called 911,” Steve Lavington told the Daily Times-Call on Saturday.

The cause of the fire, which destroyed the Sunshine Fire Protection District station, was still under investigation Saturday.

...

Because firefighters quickly responded to the scene, they were able to rescue two trucks parked in the station’s garage, he said.

I'm sure the Sunshine Fire Protection District would appreciate any assistance you can give them.

If I find out any more details, I'll post them.

UPDATE: Here is an article from cbs4denver.com (with video) via FireFightingNews.com.

Famous People That Were Firefighters

Firefighter Wayne over at his blog called Firefighter has lots of interesting posts about the history of firefighting. This caught my eye from today's post:

BEING A VOLUNTEER WAS A STEPPING STONE INTO POLITICS.

SEVEN NEW YORK MAYORS,
EIGHTEEN ST. LOUIS MAYORS
AND
TWO PRESIDENTS STARTED THEIR CAREERS AS VOLUNTEER FIREMEN.
THE TWO PRESIDENTS WERE
JAMES BUCHANAN, UNION COMPANY, LANCASTER PENNSYLVANIA
AND
MILLARD FILLMORE, OF BUFFALO'S EAGLE HOSE

ALSO, SOME OF THE SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE STARTED OUT AS VOLUNTEER FIREMEN,
JOHN HANDCOCK,
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN,
JAMES WILSON,
DR. BENJAMIN RUSH,
GEORGE CLYMER,
FRANCIS HOPKINSON
AND ROBERT MORRIS

I wonder what fire departments these guys belonged to. If you have any info, please send me an email.

10,000 Visitors

Last night, just after supper, I checked the Site Meter to see how many visitors have come to Firewhirl and Northern Plains Fire. We have now officially had 10,000 visitors!

Thanks for stopping by, sending emails, and leaving comments. We hope you'll return again soon.

Investigators Find Handprint

CNN has an update on the investigation of the church fires in Alabama:

ALICEVILLE, Alabama (CNN) -- Investigators looking into the fires at nine Baptist churches in Alabama over the past week are hoping a handprint left on one church's front door may help catch a perpetrator.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would not indicate whether its agents were able to lift a readable fingerprint from the inside part of the front door at Dancy First Baptist Church, south of Aliceville in Pickens County.

It looks like the ATF is getting serious about this investigation:

More than 100 ATF personnel, including special agents and forensic experts, are investigating the fires. A criminal and geographical profiler also has been called in.

Hopefully, they catch the arsonist soon.

02/05/2006: Fire Alarm at Nursing Home

At 1600 hours on Super Bowl Sunday, the MFD was paged to a general fire alarm at the nursing home. My first thought was that I hoped it wasn't a real fire. My second thought was that I hoped this call would not take too long because the Steelers were about to play in the big game!

On the way to the fire hall, the sheriff came over the radio and informed us that the nursing home was requesting a limited response, so we responded with one engine and one support vehicle.

Upon arrival at the nursing home, the firefighters were directed to the laundry room where a battery charger for a floor buffer smelled hot. It looked like the problem had been found, but the maintencance crew at the nursing home couldn't get the alarm system to reset so the alarm kept going off.

We checked everything in the vacinity of the offending battery charger, checked the walls and ceiling with the thermal imaging camera, and sniffed around like a pack of hounds trying to find the source of the problem.

Well, needless to say, we were guilty of tunnel vision. The alarm zone that was going off was for the entire east wing. After looking through the east wing closely, we found a pull station that had been pulled. After the pull station was reset, the alarm reset just fine.

I even made it back home in plenty of time to catch the start of the game.

Reduced Funding for AFG Program Proposed

It looks like the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program could take another funding hit for 2007 (from Firehouse.com).

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program in the FY 2007 Budget Request released Monday by the White House, is again seeking funding at less than the appropriation in FY 2006.

President Bush's request for the Department of Homeland Security where the grant program resides, includes just $293 million for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (FIRE Act) down from the $545 million appropriated by Congress last year.

If I remember correctly, this is what usually happens: First, the budget proposal comes out with funding cuts to the AFG program. Then there is a bunch of arguing and wrangling which results in more funding than the initial budget proposal, but less funding than the prior year.

We'll see what happens this year.

Ixonia Fire Department Celebrates 100th Year

This from the Oconomowoc Focus (in Wisconsin).

Town of Ixonia - With a $72 purchase of 8,000 bricks and a $300 hand-operated pump, the Town of Ixonia's fire department got its official start.

That was 100 years ago, and the department is celebrating a century of service and commit­ment to the community.

Congratulations to the Ixonia Fire Department!

Poll Results - February 8, 2006

Well, it's unanimous. Our poll shows that people don't think removing lights and sirens from tenders/tankers would reduce injuries or save lives. It would be interesting to see someone conduct a formal study on this issue.

I'm not sure how to reduce injuries and deaths involving tenders/tankers. Perhaps a certification should be required to drive these vehicles.

Busy at Northern Plains Fire

Sorry for the lack of posts over the last two days, but I'm swamped. Hopefully, I'll be able to post some tonight - definintely by tomorrow morning.

Steelers Win Super Bowl XL!

Go Steelers! Here is the game summary from ESPN.

I know there will be a lot of discussion about the officiating, but the bottom line is the Steelers got the win. They made big plays when they needed them. They made fewer mistakes than Seattle when it counted.

Alabama Churches Set Ablaze

A rash of church fires broke out in Alabama (from FOXNews.com).

CENTREVILLE, Ala. — The search for a possible arsonist was underway Friday after six churches in rural Alabama were found burning.

FOX affiliate WBRC in Birmingham, Ala., confirmed that the churches in Bibb County burned Friday morning. As of 7 a.m. EST., those churches were Rehobeth Baptist Church in Randolph, Ashby Baptist Church in Briarfield, Old Union Baptist Church in Briarfield, Pleasant Sabine Antioch southeast of Centerville and Antioch Church in Antioch. Older Church in Chilton County also burned. Ashby Baptist and Rehobeth Baptist both burned to the ground.

All churches are within a 15- to 20-mile radius of each other, according to WBRC, and all were close to highways.

Hopefully, nobody was injured in these fires.

What really ticks me off about arson is that it exposes firefighters to a dangerous situation. It doesn't matter if the fire was accidental or arson, firefighters could get hurt or killed. Grr.

Near Miss: Hot Oil Spray

This week's near miss report again shows how important PPE is:

Members of the department were working to extinguish a fully involved front-end loader fire. While operating in close proximity of the vehicle an oil line busted spraying 2 firefighters with hot oil. Both firefighters were in full turnout gear including SCBA. The oil sprayed both firefighters from head to toe. All PPE was grossly contaminated with oil. Had either of the 2 firefighters been missing any PPE they likely would have sustained at least minor burns but it likely would have been severe.

This will be a wake up call for the firefighters on our department. We routinely have hay bale fires. May times, there are several tons of hay on fire. Typically, we utilize the farmer/rancher and his tractor equipped with a front end loader. They use the tractor to spread the hay bales out so that they can be extinguished in a timely fashion. This operation involves exposing the front end loader to high temperatures. To mitigate damage to the tractor, we usually station a firefighter with a 1.5 inch line near the tractor to cool the front end loader.

Most of the time, full PPE is worn, but I can't say that this happens all of the time. We will certainly talk about it at an upcoming training night.

Hero to Hero

Check out Hero to Hero program to support our troops (from Firehouse.com).

Hero To Hero is Firefighters, Law Enforcement and First Responders across America giving the shirts off their back for our deployed troops. NO POLITICS! NO PRO OR ANTIWAR! STRICTLY MORALE FOR OUR DEPLOYED TROOPS & THEIR FAMILIES!

...

So just how did this all come to be? Back in 2003, as the anniversary of 9/11 loomed near and the word 'Hero' was being tossed around pretty freely, I asked a soldier how it felt to be a Hero. He smiled, and replied, "Ma'am, I'm not a Hero ... just doing my job". So, since I tend to be an inquisitive person, I asked who he considered to be a Hero. "When I am deployed, I need to focus. I can't be worried about my family. Those people who make sure my family is safe ... the Firefighters, the Cops, all of them ... those are the Heroes".

Sounds good to me!

New York Fire Patrol Shut Down

This was posted yesterday at Firehouse.com:

Another traditional fire service that is going to be going down the tubes is the New York Fire Patrol. The New York Fire Patrol started back around 1800, when the Mutual Assistance and Bag Corporation was formed by a group of volunteers to protect and preserve the contents of buildings from fire & water damage.

...

The (insurance) organizations entitled to vote at the 2006 Biennial Meeting of the New York Board of Fire Underwriters voted to no longer have a New York Fire Patrol. These organizations adopted a resolution charging the board of directors of the NYBFU to carry out “in a lawful and orderly manner”, their decision to shut down the New York Fire Patrol....as soon as it can be done.

This is causing quite a stir in the firefighting community on the internet.

Check out this post from Cap Mike at Firefighter Blog.

Here is some good background info from a blog called New York Fire Patrol.

There should be changes made and chances given for all sides that have an interest in the New York Fire Patrol. This vote was the easy way out. Let’s not take the easy way out. Lets support the New York Fire Patrol as they have supported the 5 boroughs for over 100 years. Do not shut them down it would be a big mistake for all parties from the NYBFU to the insurance companies, to the mom and pop stores and large stores a like. It will affect the men who have worked hard to maintain a tradition of salvage work with pride and dedication and affect the family of these men. There is a better way.

Here is the NY Fire Patrol website.

Another website called Fire Patrol 1~2~3 with information and pictures.

Personally, it is sad that the NYFP is being closed. Another piece of firefighting tradition that just became a part of firefighting history. However, if the people that fund the organization think it is no longer necessary, there probably isn't anything that will save it.

UPDATE: Roanoke Firefighters has a post too.

Big Wildfire Season in 2006?

I'm starting to see quite a few news stories raising the possibility that the wildland fire season could be a big one. See this article from the East Valley Tribune:

A decade-long drought — followed by 107 days without a drop of Valley rain — have put Arizona at risk for the worst wildfire season in its history.

These predictions have popped up in Arizona, Florida, Texas, and perhaps other states. It's pretty early to get too worked up, but if you live in areas that are dry, you'll want to be prepared.

02/01/2006: Smoking Steak

At 1725 hours yesterday, the dispatcher contacted the Miller Police Department via radio to tell them that a general fire alarm had been activated at an apartment building in Miller. She then informed the police officer that she would page the Miller Fire Department. Question: Why didn't she page the fire department first? Hmmm.

I just happened to be at the fire hall when we were paged, so my response time was really quick!

By the time we had the first engine rolling and were halfway to the scene, the police called over the radio that the alarm was caused by lots of smoke from burned food. We continued with one engine to the incident, but canceled the rest of the fire response.

There was quite a bit of smoke in the hallways, and it smelled a little like burned steak. The police officer, several firefighters that responded directly to the scene, and some volunteers were ventilating the building by opening windows and using box fans.

When we arrived at the apartment where the smoke originated, the residents were just cutting into a delicious looking, medium-well steak. It sure caused a lot of smoke, but the steak looked fine. Too bad they didn't have enough for everybody.

Joyride Ends with Fender Bender

I'm a Steeler fan, so I can understand why these firefighters were fired up, but their enthusiasm got them in a little trouble (from KDKA.com via FireFightingNews.com).

The Bauerstown Volunteer Fire Department in Shaler took a big fire engine for a joy ride to celebrate the Steelers trip to the Super Bowl.

The fun came to an abrupt end when they hit a car.

...

The accident caused almost $6,000 in damage to the door, mirror and paint.

Oops! Follow the link to watch the video report from KDKA.

LAFD Celebrates 120 Years of Service

Happy 120th Anniversary to the Los Angeles Fire Department!

Koalas Hit Hard in Bushfires

Australian bushfires have hit the koala population pretty hard this year (from ABC Ballarat).

In the wake of bushfires in the Grampians and the Brisbane Ranges volunteers work to save koalas suffering severe injuries and trauma.

...

"Exact numbers are very difficult to determine... the fact remains around Anakie the losses are very high - the koala habitat is very good there. Last night I came back at midnight with an arborist who's a very good tree climber, and we rescued another two koalas. We've been out there six days and nights and rescued a dozen koalas and found 20 or 30 dead ones, and that's just the ones we've found.

Wildfires can move fast, and koalas move slowly - bad combination. Read the whole article for the details and visit the image gallery regarding the bushfires in this area.

Relatives Fill Fire Department Roster

The Baron DeKalb Fire Department has 11 members. Six of those members belong to the same family (from the Camden Chronicle Independent).

Chief Jim Crawford, his wife, Bobbie, her brother-in-law David Morrison, nephew Matt Morrison, sister Linda Nauman, and son Chris Rabon, all are active members of the department.

...

Not all the firefighters are family, but they are all close, Crawford said. And like all volunteer fire departments, they are constantly looking for new members. Finding volunteers is a little more difficult these days, because training standards are nearly identical with career firefighters. Also, many people work outside the area, making it difficult to respond to calls along the lake.

It's interesting that the majority of the members of one fire department are all related. Some families emphasize public service and other families don't.

Kansas City Gets 40 New Pumpers and Trucks

The Kansas City Fire Department is replacing a huge chunk of their firefighting fleet over the next few weeks (from The Kansas City Star).

The Kansas City Fire Department will add 40 brand-new pumper and ladder trucks to its fleet over the next four to six weeks. The first of the additions — pumpers 28 and 43 — were unveiled and put into service Monday. Overall, the department is receiving 36 pumpers and four ladder trucks.

...

Altogether, the new trucks cost about $14.2 million — roughly $312,000 per pumper and $747,000 per ladder truck. They’re being purchased on a lease-to-own plan. The money comes from a quarter-cent sales tax passed in 2001, which is also paying for building renovations and additional firefighters.

I don't know how most big cities purchase apparatus, but is it wise to purchase this many pumpers and trucks at one time?

Here is a link to the Kansas City FD website.