Uncle Jay Expalins August 31, 2009

Ted Kennedy may have been the Lion of the Senate, but it hasn't been Hakuna Matata there for a long time. Can't health care just be re-mastered, like Beatles songs? Uncle Jay explains it all, with almost no Michael Jackson!

On scene fire video, what mistakes do you see?

Indiana house fire: From Lake Station yesterday morning. Here's the write-up with this video- Crews were dispatched to a reported house fire at 3804 East 36th Ave just after 10am on 8-27-09, police had all residents evacuated before fire personnel arrived on scene. After a line was advanced in the front door it was determined that the easiest way to access the fire was through the roof. Two lines were used from the roof vantage point and the fire was brought under control with no injuries. Fire investigators have determined the fire started due to an electrical problem.

Basement fire, side C of structure. Dispatched as possibly occupied. No one was home at the time.

Information with this video shot last Wednesday in Saginaw, Michigan:

Don’t you Just Hate It When That Happens?

Bringing out the big guns for a mud rescue, Fire engine extrication.

This looks like Engine 2 from Newstead Fire Company of Erie County, New York after a barn fire. The tractor doesn't do the job so the excavator was brought in. This can and does happen. Nice and dry and firm at the start and as you dump water for rural water operation the ground get really go soft on the operator. If you were aware and had the time a materials not a bad idea to place cribbing or planks under the tires in situations like this, but hey conditions are not always ideal.

Sometimes Firefighting is Just a Game ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S PLAYED OUT ON A MONOPOLY BOARD…..

Yes, it’s coming soon:  MONOPOLY:  Firefighters Edition

It’s  played on a real MONOPOLY board, except the street names have changed, and of course the game pieces are FD-oriented.  Instead of going to Jail, you get sent to the Chief’s Office.  The Chance and Community Chest cards have been replaced with Backdraft and Flashover decks…..and you can really get burned there!

The rules are same as the traditional game that we all grew up with, but the winner gets promoted to Fire Chief.

The Fire Store is taking orders NOW for an early November delivery at the reasonable price of $39.99, saving you the effort of trying to put a shopping list together.

Check it out and pre-order your copies now by clicking HERE for ordering information at The Fire Store.

Fire Geezer has some updated links on the car versa train from July in Michigan. AMTRAK Dashcam Verifies Cause of Fatal Crash Yesterday the Canton Twp. police released the Amtrak loco video and announced that the investigation was closed, blaming the crash entirely on the actions of the car’s driver.  The video clearly shows the crossing gates are down, the lights are working, and you can hear the train’s horn sounding for the crossing warning. MLive.com has a file posting with all of their articles pertaining to the crash over the past six weeks HERE.

On ObamaCare and Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan warned Americans against 'ObamaCare'

In 1961, Ronald Reagan joined the American Medical Association in opposing the Democratic Party's attempt to force socialized medicine on the American people.

President Reagan's advice is just as relevant today as it was then.  In part, he warned:

"One of the traditional methods of imposing statism or socialism on a people has been by way of medicine. It's very easy to disguise a medical program as a humanitarian project. . . . Now, the American people, if you put it to them about socialized medicine and gave them a chance to choose, would unhesitatingly vote against it." - Ronald Reagan

I hope you will take a few moments to listen to President Reagan's message to the American people, and then put his timely words into action by contacting your Representative in opposing ObamaCare.

TAKE ACTION

Send an email to your Representative and two Senators today.  Let them know oppose ObamaCare and socialized medicine.

'Shake and bake' method of making meth could show up in W.Va.

Found this article to be interesting.  Looks like we have something
new to look out for.
Full article here, well worth the read: http://dailymail.com/News/statenews/200908110712

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A new and simpler method of manufacturing methamphetamine, called "Shake and Bake," is just beginning to show up in West Virginia, according to state police.

A speaker at a drug conference in Charleston Tuesday said the state can be prepared to see the trend sweep the state as it is expected to sweep the nation.

"It's taking over in Arkansas, and it will soon be widely spread nationwide," Chris Harrison told a gathering of more than 200 representatives of law enforcement, social work, prosecutors offices and others who deal with drug crimes.

Harrison, chief illicit laboratory chemist at the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, spoke at the 2009 West Virginia Drug Endangered Children Conference.

He said seizures of clandestine methamphetamine labs went down nationwide after Federal laws were passed to limit sales of pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in many cold medications and a necessary element to making meth.

Good PSA from The UK “Texting Can Be Deadly”

Good PSA video from the UK. Doubt that you will see this on American TV, but you never know, that why I am putting in this Blog so that it will get some play other than You Tube. The texting while driving controversy continues. My guess is that it will get banned in automobiles in all areas the US. Would speech recognition for testing on a mobile device be any better? The is a very graphic video and should be shared. Good on for driver education class. Now this is an effective Public Service Announcement. But will people actually get the message? Texting is deadly while driving. Parents, watch this first before your teen does. This NEEDS to be banned.

CNN Airs Graphic "Texting Can Be Deadly" Public Service Ad

Good PSA from The UK “Texting Can Be Deadly”

Good PSA video from the UK. Doubt that you will see this on American TV, but you never know, that why I am putting in this Blog so that it will get some play other than You Tube. The texting while driving controversy continues. My guess is that it will get banned in automobiles in all areas the US. Would speech recognition for testing on a mobile device be any better? The is a very graphic video and should be shared. Good on for driver education class. Now this is an effective Public Service Announcement. But will people actually get the message? Texting is deadly while driving. Parents, watch this first before your teen does. This NEEDS to be banned.

CNN Airs Graphic "Texting Can Be Deadly" Public Service Ad

Bus camera catches July crash of Raleigh's Ladder 4 while responding.

 

Watch story and interview with Chief John McGrath

Our friend Jeff Harkey at FireNews.net was first out of the gate with this one. This is the video of the July 10 crash of Raleigh Fire Department's Ladder 4 that injured three firefighters. The video comes from a surveillance camera on a city bus.

I support her, almost

I like this, it’s what we all should be doing anyway. There are entirely too many close calls and collisions with fire apparatus. 

From firefightereclosecalss.com

Perhaps you are following the issue down in Austin (Texas) where the Fire Chief wants members to briefly stop and make sure intersections are clear before proceeding through red lights, stop signs, things like that.
Some Austin Firefighters are concerned about the new policy ordered by Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr. Under the policy, Firefighters must drive the speed limit and come to a complete stop at intersections before proceeding during an emergency. They don't have to wait for the light to turn green-just make sure it is clear.
However not everyone agrees.
"When we respond to an emergency we work as a team," said Steven Truesdell, President of the Austin Firefighters. "We have multiple sets of eyes surveying the traffic and the driver and officer work together to make sure they are proceeding through traffic safely." State law in Texas (like just about everywhere else) allows Firefighters responding to an emergency to drive over the speed limit and to go through red lights and stop signs.
You just can't hit anyone. And the only way to make sure that doesn't happen is to make sure it doesn't happen by briefly stopping-and then going thru when it is clear. That procedure works for thousands of FD's everyday across North America.
Some Austin Firefighters are concerned, saying the new policy is above and beyond the state law.
"We feel state law is appropriate. It requires us to use necessary caution and to be very careful," said Truesdell. But Kerr says the policy is designed to reduce the number of crashes where she is the ultimate person responsible-along with the officer-along with the driver.
So is the Chief looking out for her members?
Absolutely.
As she stated: "In today's world, there is so much going on in heavily-traveled streets. People are talking on their cell phones or texting or looking at their e-mails; we just want our Firefighters to have better control over hazardous situations"
So the order reduces Firefighter liability when driving apparatus.
So they don't hurt or kill someone who doesn't hear or see them coming.
So they don't potentially run into one of their own family as happened last year in Ohio when a Firefighter/Apparatus driver (who was doing nothing more than responding to help people with a vehicle fire)ran a controlled intersection without stopping, striking and killing 2 of her own relatives.
Literally a living nightmare for all affected. NO ONE wants to go thru that. EVER.
HERE it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga_vHeGYQ34
HERE are some other related examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPeyFND68Zs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9zAOEGAdfs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZQMeGW-hyY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6l-BkRhcfE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGuZQGgXFgY
Wanna reduce response times?
A few tips include making sure your dispatch center processes and tones out serious calls in about 30 seconds. And  make sure the members get out and are responding in less than a minute. And while we don't know if there are any underlying issues in this case (that has been known to happen at "some FD's) however, with about 30 or so of us killed in the Line of Duty each year, and many more seriously hurt in vehicular related crashes, it makes sense. 
Fire apparatus in any FD is ultimately the Chiefs responsibility and anyone driving the truck needs to drive them in the manner that the chief wants. That's called following policy, training, orders and direction.
Stuff like that. No one likes to do that all the time, but we have to pick our battles. This one isn't worth fighting because the Chief is right. And NO firefighter WANTS to have a crash. But we have them and speed and/or intersections are the heart of almost all.
Fire service history has absolutely proven that the Chief is right and is attempting to help her own members stay out of court, out of intense mental stress counseling and out of attending the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend for one of their own.
Whenever responding to a life threatening emergency, EVERY Firefighter-from Chief to probie WANTS to get there "5 minutes ago"-but we have to get there. Our goal is to help people with a problem without becoming part of the problem. If we crash responding-we help no one and create a brand new emergency with a host of new problems-some life altering to all affected.
Quite often, a Chief MUST be THE Chief and it will undoubtedly reduce the members of any Chiefs fan club. That's OK, we save on postage. When you are a Chief Officer, a Company Officer or someone that establishes/enforces policy, we think it is better if your Firefighters don't like you in circumstances like this, as opposed to having them "like" you-and them then losing their life in a situation that YOU KNOW can be prevented-by being THE CHIEF.
We have to pick our battles.

On arrival Video, Lots went wrong here.

I could almost taste the Sh*&^# tasting smoke from this one when I watched this video. There is not much back ground from this July 29th fire. This is reported to be a house that burned in Saginaw, Michigan. Here's the only description with the video. I think that there is a lot of “don’t do this” in this video. But it’s too short, would like to have scene what the outcome was. Did they ever find the fire, put a line on it. Did they ever put on their SCBA? 

Not quits sure if this is the news article about this fire???

Saginaw firefighters battle 10 p.m. Tuesday blaze The Saginaw News Wednesday July 29, 2009, 7:25 AM

Saginaw firefighters say a "robust" fire with "orange flames and dense black smoke" consumed an abandoned, unsecured home at 3422 Rust on the city's East Side about 10 p.m. Tuesday. The fire is "suspicious" and being investigated by the Fire Investigative Services Team, a division that investigates arson, Saginaw Fire Department Battalion Chief Edgar Johnson said. Johnson said firefighters were on scene for nearly an hour fighting flames predominantly in the front of the one-story home. Assessor's records show the home is owned by the Saginaw County Land Bank Authority.

Double-LODD in Buffalo

 

BUFFALO, NEW YORK, FIREFIGHTERS ARE ON THE SCENE of a 04:00 AM 3-alarm fire that has just suffered a partial collapse trapping two FF’s that were inside conducting a search.

TV station WGRZ is reporting that Buffalo Fire Commissioner Michael Lombardo confirms two firefighters did not make it out. He says they thought they heard someone pounding for help in the basement. When they went in for the rescue, the main floor collapsed under them.

A reporter on the scene is saying that the officers on the fire ground fear that the FF’s have perished.

Update, 8 am:
The fire is in a 2-story building that has a delicatessen on the ground floor with living units overhead.  The firefighters went missing shortly after the units began working the fire a little after 4 am.  Some of the local media are reporting that the firefighters have not yet been able to locate the missing two despite breaching the walls in an attempt to get into the basement area where they are believed to be buried under the collapsed floor.

Pair of Buffalo, New York Firefighters Missing in Building Fire
Fire officials say two Buffalo firefighters remain missing in the basement of building where the first floor collapsed during an early morning blaze.
Fire Commissioner Michael Lombardo says the firefighters were inside the convenience store on the burning building’s first floor when it collapsed Monday morning.
Read the Full Story, Watch Video Reports and Get the Latest Updates Throughout the Day Here.
• Read Full Story

WIVB-TV Channel 4 has two videos reports so far.
This first one has footage of the fire early on at its peak:

This second video has an interview with the Fire Commissioner who tells of the tragedy:

 

From Firegezzer.com this morning

Double-LODD in Buffalo

 

BUFFALO, NEW YORK, FIREFIGHTERS ARE ON THE SCENE of a 04:00 AM 3-alarm fire that has just suffered a partial collapse trapping two FF’s that were inside conducting a search.

TV station WGRZ is reporting that Buffalo Fire Commissioner Michael Lombardo confirms two firefighters did not make it out. He says they thought they heard someone pounding for help in the basement. When they went in for the rescue, the main floor collapsed under them.

A reporter on the scene is saying that the officers on the fire ground fear that the FF’s have perished.

Update, 8 am:
The fire is in a 2-story building that has a delicatessen on the ground floor with living units overhead.  The firefighters went missing shortly after the units began working the fire a little after 4 am.  Some of the local media are reporting that the firefighters have not yet been able to locate the missing two despite breaching the walls in an attempt to get into the basement area where they are believed to be buried under the collapsed floor.

WIVB-TV Channel 4 has two videos reports so far.
This first one has footage of the fire early on at its peak:

This second video has an interview with the Fire Commissioner who tells of the tragedy:

 

From Firegezzer.com this morning

Uncle Jay Explains: August 24, 2009

Uncle Jay premieres in London! Watch Uncle Jay give a speech in legendary Hyde Park. Try not to notice that he never gets around to explaining the week's news. Next week for sure!

Oklahoma City Fire station burns

I first hear about this story the other day and did want to blog about it, but here I am doing it anyway. Not a good thing anytime that a fire station catches fire. What caught my eye was that not only was it a fire station, probably build in the late 60’s to early 70’s but that no sprinklers were evidently installed. In the story it’s reports that this station is being replaced anyway, I can only hope that the new one will have a sprinkler system and fire alarm installed. One other thing, and maybe part of the reason for it being closed, look where the oil well is in relation to station, Was that oil well there when they built this place? I guess it is Oklahoma and that’s normal ????

Watch story from KOCO-TV

More video from KOCO-TV

A look at the future for this firehouse

Click here for more helicopter video of the fire

Oklahoma City Fire Station 6 at 620 NE 8th Street caught fire Thursday afternoon and has put the station out of commission.

From the AP:

Oklahoma City firefighters have extinguished a blaze at an unlikely location - a fire station.
Officials say the blaze at a station near the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center began about 3:20 p.m. Thursday and primarily affected the building's living area and kitchen.
There were no reports of injuries.
Battalion Chief Brian Stanaland says officials think the fire started in the kitchen. Stanaland says the crew was out of the station when it caught fire.
An initial assessment indicated the building is uninhabitable and firefighters stationed there will be split up temporarily and moved to other stations.
The building is scheduled to be replaced when a new station in the Bricktown entertainment district is completed.

How Broadband Can Enhance Homeland Security Webinar- Aug 25 @ 9AM EDT

On Tuesday, August 25, 9:00 a.m. EDT, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will host a workshop available to the general public via an online webinar.  The goal of the workshop is to examine existing and potential uses of broadband technology by public safety entities and ways in which broadband technology can enhance homeland security.  The workshop will bring together representatives from the public safety community, government agencies, industry, and academia to discuss interoperability, redundancy, cyber security, 911, and pandemic response, among other issues.  The first panel will focus on use of broadband applications by first responders to communicate emergency information and to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.  This panel will also explore issues relating to interoperability, redundancy, and the cost of providing broadband access to public safety.  The second panel will focus on the impact of broadband technology on particular homeland security issues, such as cyber security, pandemics, bioterrorism, and critical infrastructure vulnerabilities.  The panel will also examine current and future public safety use of managed IP-networks.

To join the webinar, you will first need to register and also set up the required software on your computer prior to the event.  Visit the following website to register and for more details: http://www.broadband.gov/ws_pshs.html.

Typical Democrats & the Kennedy’s

I haven’t blogged much on politics letting the democrats have their sink or swim time they are getting close to the deep end and running out of steam. (Looks like they are barely treading water). I just couldn’t pass this up, I hope it doesn’t get me started again. (No Obama, where's the certificate?) Senator Kennedy not doing so well wants to change the rules, doesn't like the way the game is going for his party. It was OK for MN to go without  a Senator for 6 months why can’t Massachusetts? Why can’t Ed’s position sit empty for 5 month? Sen. Edward Kennedy has just asked the Massachusetts state legislature to change the law requiring a state election to fill Senate vacancies. Involved in a battle with cancer, this is a sign the eight-term senator is contemplating retirement. Typical Kennedy doesn’t like the way things would go after he is gone and now want to change the way the replacement is chosen. Maybe Caroline can fill in, no wait, she doesn't live in that state, maybe we could make another exception to the rules? Should be a limit on terms for Senators anyway!

The full stories are here

Republicans balk at Kennedy proposal to change succession law‎

Kennedy Seeks Change in Massachusetts Law on Filling His Seat

Kennedy petitions to change law

Kennedy Wants Law Changed to Allow Quick Replacement

Ted Kennedy's last stand

Responder Safety

The Emergency Responder Safety Institute has conducted a review of typical functions performed by emergency responders at roadway incidents. This effort was funded as part of a grant from the Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (EMW-2007-FP-01749). To assist in the development process, the ERSI established a panel of experts to conduct the initial analysis and review the materials as they were developed. This report discusses the process utilized, outlines the specific job performance requirements for critical positions assigned to emergency responders and provided guidance on the use of the requirements by potential users and training organizations.

Full Report

http://www.respondersafety.com/Download.aspx?downloadID=77a342f9-9dcd-4ee6-ba8c-acb9548c0d28

OHIO RESPONDING FIRE APPARATUS CRASH

Thursday, August 13, 2009

A responding Westerville fire apparatus crashed Thursday afternoon in Columbus.
The crash occurred on Westerville Road just south of state Route 161 in the area of Minerva Lake Road at about 1545 hours.
The engine was traveling northbound on Westerville Road while on a medic run with three Firefighters on board.
A tow truck driver traveling southbound on Westerville Road was behind a car that yielded to the fire truck. The tow truck attempted to avoid colliding with the car and traveled left of center. The fire engine attempted to avoid the tow truck, but the tow truck clipped the back end of the fire engine, causing it to crash onto its side.
The three firefighters were not injured, but two other people involved in the crash were taken to Riverside Methodist Hospital in stable condition.
The crash remains under investigation.

ANOTHER DRUNK STRIKES RESPONDING FIRE APPARATUS-THIS TIME IN OREGON

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Last night in Tigard (OR) a Ford Bronco struck a responding Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue apparatus.
The crash occurred moments after the fire apparatus left the fire station responding to an emergency call.
A 46-year-female passenger in the SUV was transported by ambulance to an area hospital for non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the SUV, 69 year old Edward L Reid was uninjured and was arrested for DUII, Reckless Driving and Assault IV. Reid had a blood alcohol level of 0.14, nearly twice the legal limit in Oregon.
The 3 TVF&R Firefighters aboard the rescue apparatus were secure and uninjured. The majority of the damage to the heavy rescue occurred on the driver's side affecting compartments as well as the frame of the vehicle. The impact from the crash actually moved the 40,000+ pound rescue vehicle several feet.

Firefighter Honored 23 years after

August 16, 2009 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- A Chicago firefighter who was killed battling a hotel fire in January of 1986 was honored Sunday.

Lt. Edmund Coglianese died Super Bowl Sunday 1986, the day the Chicago Bears won it all. However, Sunday, his widow accepted a sculpture and was thanked for the work she' has done for fallen firefighters.

The ceremony marked a moment the firefighter's widow, Eileen Coglianese, had decided would never come.

"It kind of blew me away. I was like, 'Oh my gosh,'" she told ABC7 Chicago.

Uncle Jay Explains August 17, 2009

Thank goodness our Death Panels will be all American, so there's no nasty Russian judge like at the Olympics. Hey, Paula Abdul's available! Plus, Dick Cheney tortures himself over what to reveal in his new book. Uncle Jay explains it all!

5 firefighters, 2 others hurt in crash

August 15, 2009

Five firefighters and two others were hurt when a fire engine collided with another vehicle in the South Shore neighborhood this afternoon, a Fire Department spokesman said.

The incident occurred at about 5 p.m. at the intersection of 67th Street and Jeffery Avenue, according to Chicago Fire Department Chief Joe Roccasalva. The firefighters were responding to an automatic alarm in the 8000 block of South Brandon Avenue when the crash happened, he said.

A car collided with the fire engine as it was eastbound on 67th Street, police said. The fire engine then struck a pole.

Five firefighters were treated and released from Trinity Hospital, Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Roccasalva said. One of them was taken from the crash scene in serious-to-critical condition, while the remaining four were taken in fair-to-serious condition.

Two people from the other vehicle were taken to Northwestern in critical condition, he said.

The driver of the vehicle, Michael Quinn, 30, of the 2100 block of East 72nd Street, was cited for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, no insurance and damage to city property, police said. He is still at Northwestern for observation.

A passenger in Quinn's vehicle, a 24-year-old woman, was listed in critical condition at the hospital, police said.

 

1969 Woodstock Festival & Concert August 15 – 18 Remembered

Woodstock Music & Art Fair (informally, Woodstock or The Woodstock Festival) was a music festival, billed as "An Aquarian Exposition", held at Max Yasgur's 600 acre (2.4 km²; 240 ha, 0.94 mi²) dairy farm in the rural town of Bethel, New York from August 15 to August 18, 1969. Bethel, in Sullivan County, is 43 miles (69 km) southwest of the town of Woodstock, New York.

The young hippies who watched the sun come up with The Who in 1969 are now eligible for early bird specials. Many of the bands are broken up or missing members who died. But Woodstock remains one of those events - like the moon landing earlier that summer - that continues to define the '60s in the popular imagination.

Max Yasgur's Farm - 1969 Woodstock Festival Site

1969 Woodstock Festival & Concert 

The Woodstock Festivals and All Live Music. Share and Discover ...

Who Am I ????

I was born in one country, raised in another. My father was
born in another country. I was not his only child. He
fathered several children with numerous women.

 
I became very close to my mother, as my father showed no
interest in me. My mother died at an early age from cancer.

Later in life, questions arose over my real name. 
My birth records were sketchy and no one was able to
produce a legitimate, reliable birth certificate.

I grew up practicing one faith but converted to
Christianity, as it was widely accepted in my country, but I
practiced non-traditional beliefs & didn't follow
Christianity, except in the public eye under scrutiny.

 
I worked and lived among lower-class people as a young
adult, disguising myself as someone who really cared about
them. 
That was before I decided it was time to get serious about
my life and I embarked on a new career.

I wrote a book about my struggles growing up. It was clear
to those who read my memoirs that I had difficulties
accepting that my father abandoned me as a child.

 
I became active in local politics in my 30's then with
help behind the scenes, I literally burst onto the scene as
a candidate for national office in my 40s. They said I had
a golden tongue and could talk anyone into anything.

 
I had a virtually non-existent resume, little work history,
and no experience in leading a single organization. Yet I
was a powerful speaker and citizens were drawn to me as
though I were a magnet and they were small roofing tacks.

 
I drew incredibly large crowds during my public
appearances. This bolstered my ego.

 
At first, my political campaign focused on my country's
foreign policy...... I was very critical of my country in
the last war and seized every opportunity to bash my
country..

But what launched my rise to national prominence were my
views on the country's economy. I pretended to have a
really good plan on how we could do better and every poor
person would be fed & housed for free.

I knew which group was responsible for getting us into this
mess. It was the free market, banks & corporations. I
decided to start making citizens hate them and if they were
envious of others who did well, the plan was clinched tight.

I called mine "A People's Campaign" and that
sounded good to all people.

 
I was the surprise candidate because I emerged from outside
the traditional path of politics & was able to gain
widespread popular support.

I knew that, if I merely offered the people 'hope'
, together we could change our country and the world. 
So, I started to make my speeches sound like they were on
behalf of the downtrodden, poor, ignorant to include
"persecuted minorities". My true views were not
widely known & I kept them unknown, until after I became
my nation's leader.

I had to carefully guard reality, as anybody could have
easily found out what I really believed, if they had simply
read my writings and examined those people I associated
with.

I'm glad they didn't. Then I became the most
powerful man in the world. And the world learned the truth.

 
*Who am I? 

ADOLF HITLER 
WHO WERE YOU THINKING OF? 
Scary isn't it?

PHOENIX (AZ) FIRE OFFICER CRITICAL-EJECTED IN RESPONDING APPARATUS CRASH

Firefighter Close Calls

 

Tuesday, August 11, 2009 

Last night (Monday evening), a Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department Fire Officer and others were injured as they were responding on a run, when there was a crash. The PFD Captain is in critical condition after she was reportedly ejected from that fire apparatus that was responding to the emergency call. Around 1800 hours, the engine was passing through an intersection when a sedan crashed into the side of the engine. Witnesses said the engine did have its lights and sirens activated and the civilian car blew through a red traffic signal.
8 vehicles were eventually involved and about a dozen people were hurt, including the Captain who was ejected and the apparatus driver.
The civilian driver of a passenger car didn't stop for the fire company that was on its way to the run with lights and sirens on. The engine and the car collided, sending the engine into several cars waiting at the light and witnesses said the woman who caused the accident was driving very fast and she ran a red light.
The Fire Captain suffered numerous injuries, including a head injury who is a 21-year veteran of the department who splits her time between recruiting new firefighters and commanding crews on the trucks. More details later.

Uncle Jay Explains the News August 10, 2009

For 8 years, George Bush was Hitler. But thanks to America's stable transfer of power, now Barack Obama gets to be Hitler. Join the cheers, or boos, or whatever you call that behavior at those "WWE Town Meetings." Uncle Jay explains its all!

If you aren't scared, you're NOT LISTENING.

A sad obituary!

                                      Born 1776, Died 2008

It does not hurt to read this several times.

---

Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, points out some interesting facts concerning the Presidential election:

• Number of States won by: Democrats: 19    Republicans: 29

• Square miles of land won by: Democrats: 580,000    Republicans: 2,427,000

• Population of counties won by: Democrats: 127 million    Republicans: 143 million

• Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by: Democrats: 13.2    Republicans: 2.1

Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory Republicans won was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of the country. 
Democrat territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government welfare..."

    Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the "complacency and apathy" phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy, with some forty percent of the nation's population already having reached the "governmental dependency" phase.

If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal invaders called illegals and they vote, then we can say goodbye to the   USA in fewer than five years.
If you are in favor of this, then by all means, delete this message.

If you are not, then pass this along to help everyone realize just how much is at stake, knowing that apathy is the greatest danger to our freedom.

Both Parties are corrupt. Vote them all out of office.

Good Video

http://www.bornagainamerican.org/ It's a song written by Keith Carradine and performed by artists from all over the country.

Lightweight revisited

 

 

Engineered Structural Assemblies & Systems (ESS)
· The new Fire Service Challenge
· Do you know what they represent and how these components, assemblies and systems may affect or influence incident operations?
· Do some research and check these terms out for starters. We’ll talk more about these components and assemblies in the near future. So get busy on your down time today...

It's a Lot More than just talking about "Light Weight" Construction....

From Plywood-CDX….to…
Particle Board- PB
Orient Strand Board-OSB
Structural Composite Lumber- SCL
Laminate Strand Lumber- LSL
Laminate Veneer Lumber-LVL
Structural Insulated Panels-SIP
Parallel Strand Lumber-PSL
Machine Stress Rated Lumber- MSR
Medium Density Fiberboard-MDF and MDL (Lumber)
Finger Jointed Lumber-FJL
Adhesives…..
Take a look at an informative posting over at the Firegeezer, HERE. He has some great contributed information and manufacturer “insights” on the subject engineered wood I-joists and beams and firefighter safety. There are some interesting statistical extrapolations, correlations and conveniences’ that attempt to make the case. But then again, You be the judge. Take at look at the presentation developed by the American Forest and Paper Association, HERE and HERE.
We’ll have some more detailed follow-up on engineered systems information over at Taking it to the Streets. Remember, Building Knowledge = Firefighter Safety (Bk-F2S)

Don't forget to check out the free online training program on Structural Stability of Engineered Lumber in Fire Conditions at the UL University HERE

Other important Reference links:

NIOSH Publication No. 2009-114: Preventing Deaths and Injuries of Fire Fighters Working Above Fire-Damaged Floors HERE

NIOSH Publication No. 2005-132: Preventing Injuries and Deaths of Fire Fighters Due to Truss System Failures HERE

Volunteer Deputy Fire Chief Dies after Falling Through Floor Hole in Residential Structure during Fire Attack—Indiana, HERE

First-floor collapse during residential basement fire claims the life of two fire fighters (career and volunteer) and injures a career fire fighter captain - New York, Report HERE

Career Fire Fighter Dies After Falling Through the Floor Fighting a Structure Fire at a Local Residence - Ohio, HERE

Colerain Township, Ohio Double LODD Preliminary Report, HERE

Career engineer dies and fire fighter injured after falling through floor while conducting a primary search at a residential structure fire - Wisconsin, HERE

NFPA Report on Light Weight Construction, HERE

Technical report released on the NIU campus shooting

http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr_167.pdf

Attached is a Press Release from the US Fire Administration announcing the release of their technical report on the NIU campus shooting.  The link at the top of this e-mail will open the technical report. The link below will download the full report also if the other will not work.

+ Full Report (PDF; 1.8 MB)

Here is another first on scene video with different circumstances

Ok, so the previous post on first arriving video has a full time fire department with probably a large training budget. This is probably the reason I met so many people at the National Fire Academy that were from small volunteer fire departments. They were there like me to learn to do it better.Here is a video of a small Iowa volunteer fire department doing what they can with what they got. I am in no way knocking the small volunteer fire departments, they do what they can, if they can with what they have. The alternative is doing nothing, and the structure burns down. For what they had to work with this was most likely a good outcome here. Fire is a fire that occurred on Sunday August 2, 2009 at Columbus and West Fourth Street in Pella, Iowa.

Click on for : Google Street View

 

Want to really piss off some volunteers read the comments here.

There was a lot of feed back on statler911 blog on this video.STATler911.blog

Another good fist on the scene report from the IC

SBFD Company and Chief Officers arriving on scene and their Size-Up process. A good look Inside the Command Post here.Goof first on the scene video record the initial on scene report and size up. This video clip shows "Dynamic Risk Assessment" process that should be applied to all fires. The need to follow a systematic process to determine the mode and continually evaluate the fire conditions is absolutely needed in these types of situations.

This fire appears to have occurred last Sunday at 6:04 PM.

Read more about the fire from SBFD's public information blog.

You can see more of Chief Alder's videos here.

Uncle Jay Explains the News August 3, 2009

Happy Birthday Mr. President, even though you were really born on the International Space Station with the covert help of the people who shot JFK from the off-site branch of Area 51 beneath Loch Ness. Also, Cash for Clunkers becomes Crash for Flunkers. Uncle Jay explains!

St Paul FD EMS Fatal "Back Over" Report: FD DRIVER DIDN'T FOLLOW "SPOTTER/BACKER" POLICY (Other Factors As Well Including Witnesses Hearing The Backup Alarm) Update

UPDATE: DIDN\'T FOLLOW \"SPOTTER/BACKER\" POLICY

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Reports released Monday say the St. Paul ambulance crew that ran over a 79-year-old woman on June 20 did not follow recommended department guidelines.
The reports indicated people on the scene all heard the sound of the ambulance alarm beeping as it slowly backed down an alley in the 1600 block of James Avenue before running over and killing Margaret Adele Kuehn.
Police say driver Thomas Tommio Murakami, 57, was going just one or two miles per hour and no one was behind the ambulance guiding down the narrow alley—a practice recommended in department policy.
After a check of the vehicle, the Minnesota State Patrol says there were no mechanical problems with the rig.
Once Kuehn was hit, the reports describe a heroic effort to try and safe her. Several firefighters actually lifted the back end of the ambulance off the ground to free Kuehn.
The report says Kuehn had recently started wearing hearing aids and investigators believe she was not wearing them when the accident happened.
The city isn't commenting about the reports because of a possible lawsuit.

NEW Virtual Sprinklered House

VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FIRE SPRINKLERS

The new HFSC Virtual Sprinklered House lets you see the "behind the walls" details of residential fire sprinklers. You'll see how they work, how they are installed and why your community members need them. You can also use the presentation to show local builders how they can build higher value homes while reducing their construction costs through the use of municipal trade-ups.

SEE IT ONLINE

Be the first to see the new HFSC Virtual Sprinklered House and complete the survey by going to
HomeFireSprinkler.org
We offer a variety of free materials online and in hard copy that will help you build better, for less.
We are still completing our new Virtual Sprinklered House and are looking for feedback from members of the Fire Service. 

CSB Releases New Safety Video, “Combustible Dust: An Insidious Hazard”

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Features Three New Animations of Major Dust Accidents, Shows Need for Comprehensive Standard and Improved Safety Practices 

            Washington, DC, July 28, 2009 – The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today released a new safety video depicting how accumulations of combustible dust at worksites can provide the fuel for devastating explosions that kill and maim workers, shut down plants, and harm local economies. 

            Entitled, “Combustible Dust: An Insidious Hazard,” the new video is available online at www.CSB.gov, and on YouTube.  It can also be ordered free of charge on a new two-DVD set of all CSB safety videos by filling out the CSB’s online DVD request form.

“Combustible Dust” features all-new CSB computer animations which illustrate three major dust explosion accidents the CSB has investigated:  West Pharmaceutical Services in Kinston, North Carolina; CTA Acoustics in Corbin, Kentucky; and Hayes Lemmerz International, in Huntington, Indiana.

For each accident, the animations show how explosive dust accumulated over years on plant equipment, pipes, floors, ducts, dust collectors, and other areas.  The video shows how conditions develop needing only an ignition source to set off a primary explosion, which lofts the accumulated dust, leading to deadlier secondary explosions.

            News footage and still photographs depict actual damage caused by these explosions, as well as other accidents including last year’s tragedy which killed 14 workers at the Imperial Sugar Company in Port Wentworth, Georgia. 

            “No company wants to see its facility blown up and destroyed and its employees killed,” CSB Chairman John Bresland says in the video. “But they just don't understand what the hazard is, they don't realize that they have a hazard here, until that one day when the explosion occurs, and it's a terrible tragedy for them.  And they look back and say, ‘If we'd only known.’” 

             The video points out that dust accumulations – and the resulting secondary dust explosions – can be readily prevented.  National Fire Protection Association standards have long been available to general industry and, if followed, will prevent such accidents, as NFPA official Amy Beasley Spencer states in the video.

The video features comments by the CSB investigators who led each of the accident investigations, as well as Angela Blair, who led the CSB study resulting in a comprehensive CSB report on dust hazards in 2006. The report identified 281 fires and explosions that had occurred over the previous 25 years. “What is so frustrating about dust explosions is that they're so preventable,” Ms. Blair said.

Combustible-dust expert James Dahn appears in the video to warn companies against complacency:  “I mean we've been operating for 40 years and never had a problem,” Mr. Dahn states.  “That kind of logic is one that can guarantee you will get into trouble.” 

            Laboratory footage in the video depicts how easily combustible dust ignites, as a small dust sample gathered by investigators in the rubble of a dust explosion site is lofted over a flame and creates an instant fireball. 

            Chairman Bresland said the CSB hopes the video will be viewed across general industry – in all facilities where combustible dust may be generated in the manufacturing process.  “It is our hope,” the chairman said, “that company executives, safety managers, and labor groups will take 29 minutes to view this video and ask themselves, ‘Could this happen at our operation?’ And then take action to eliminate dust hazards from their facilities.”

In the video, Mr. Bresland calls for action to prevent dust explosions, saying, “We need education.  We need industry to understand what the hazards are.  We need regulation.  We need a comprehensive combustible dust regulation, and we need enforcement of the regulation.”

Tammy Miser, who lost her brother Shawn Boone in the dust explosion in Indiana, agreed: “The only way to keep my brother from dying in vain would be to make changes.  And if there’s not a change made, well then you know it’s going to happen again.”

The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems.

The Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations to plants, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA. Visit our website, www.csb.gov.

For more information, contact Director of Public Affairs Dr. Daniel Horowitz, 202-261-7613, cell 202-441-6074.