ST. ANNA, WIS - One firefighter from the Saint Anna Fire Department is dead and six others are injured after an explosion at a factory.
Crews were called to the scene of a dumpster fire at Bremer Manufacturing in St. Anna after a patrol man noticed a fire around 7:20 Tuesday night.
from USFA Firefighter Fatalities
Richard Adam Miller of the Belmont Fire Department in Belmont, NC has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-12-29
Initial Summary:
Incident Description: Firefighter Miller collapsed while on duty at the Belmont Fire Department headquarters station, reportedly while participating in physical fitness training activities. Belmont firefighters immediately began resuscitative efforts and Firefighter Miller was transported to Gaston Memorial Hospital where he later passed away. Investigation continues into the cause and type of fatal injury resulting in Firefighter Miller's death. Incident Location: 301 Keener BLVD, Belmont, NC 28012 (USNG: 17S MU 9654 9910)
from USFA Firefighter Fatalities
Craig C. Starr of the Plymouth Fire Department in Plymouth, UT has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-12-24
Initial Summary:
Fire Chief Starr passed away from an apparent heart attack while working an EMS incident.
Received this as an email, an worth passing for you consideration. What will this mean to you. Maybe not personnel, but what about the big picture, is this a start? Is this what we can expect in the next three years to be the path we are going to follow? Several links to the articles ate in the text below. Be sure to check them out.
Tyranny is coming!! We are in BIG trouble!!
According to Threatswatch:
December 17, 2009, The White House released an Executive Order "Amending Executive Order 12425." It grantsINTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization) a new level of full diplomatic immunity afforded to foreign embassies and select other "International Organizations" as set forth in the United States International Organizations Immunities Act of 1945.
By removing language from President Reagan's 1983 Executive Order 12425, this international law enforcement body now operates - now operates - on American soil beyond the reach of our own top law enforcement arm, the FBI, and is immune from Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
What, exactly does this mean? It means that INTERPOL now has the full authority to conduct investigations and other law enforcement activities on U.S. soil, with full immunity from U.S. laws such as the Freedom of Information Act and with complete independence from oversight from the FBI.
In short, a global law enforcement entity now has full law-enforcement authority in the U.S. without any check on its power afforded by U.S. law and U.S. law enforcement agencies.
A bit of background is in order here, and Hot Air provides it:
During his presidency, Ronald Reagan granted the global police agency Interpol the status of diplomatic personnel in order to engage more constructively on international law enforcement. In Executive Order 12425, Reagan made two exceptions to that status. The first had to do with taxation, but the second was to make sure that Interpol had the same accountability for its actions as American law enforcement — namely, they had to produce records when demanded by courts and could not have immunity for their actions.
Barack Obama unexpectedly revoked those exceptions in a change to EO 12425 last (week)...
Thus, Interpol now can conduct its operations on U.S. soil with ZERO accountability to anyone in this country.
And you beginning to understand now just what the 'end game' is on the part of those who are currently running the U.S. Government?
Let's go a step further in fleshing out exactly what this means in practical terms. It gets ugly...and scary. Again, from ThreatsWatch:
Section 2c of the United States International Organizations Immunities Act is the crucial piece.
Property and assets of international organizations, wherever located and by whomsoever held, shall be immune from search, unless such immunity be expressly waived, and from confiscation. The archives of international organizations shall be inviolable. (Emphasis added.)
Inviolable archives means INTERPOL records are beyond US citizens' Freedom of Information Act requests and from American legal or investigative discovery ("unless such immunity be expressly waived.")
Property and assets being immune from search and confiscation means precisely that. Wherever they may be in the United States. This could conceivably include human assets - Americans arrested on our soil by INTERPOL officers.
Why would INTERPOL be arresting American citizens on our own soil, without oversight from our own law enforcement agencies? And remember, citizens who are thusly arrested would have no legal authority to demand full documentation from the International Police concerning the charges brought against them.
Andy McCarthy at National Review asks these crucial, sobering questions of the secretive Obama order:
Why would we elevate an international police force above American law? Why would we immunize an international police force from the limitations that constrain the FBI and other American law-enforcement agencies? Why is it suddenly necessary to have, within the Justice Department, a repository for stashing government files which, therefore, will be beyond the ability of Congress, American law-enforcement, the media, and the American people to scrutinize?
At least one answer to these questions is very clear. A coup is underway in the United States of America, the goal of which is to establish complete, unquestioned authority over the citizens--a 'fundamental change' to the United States where citizens have no legal recourse against an authoritarian central government.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
December 17, 2009
EXECUTIVE ORDER
- - - - - - -
AMENDING EXECUTIVE ORDER 12425 DESIGNATING INTERPOL
AS A PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION ENTITLED TO
ENJOY CERTAIN PRIVILEGES, EXEMPTIONS, AND IMMUNITIES
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 1 of the International Organizations Immunities Act (22 U.S.C. 288), and in order to extend the appropriate privileges, exemptions, and immunities to the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), it is hereby ordered that Executive Order 12425 of June 16, 1983, as amended, is further amended by deleting from the first sentence the words "except those provided by Section 2(c), Section 3, Section 4, Section 5, and Section 6 of that Act" and the semicolon that immediately precedes them.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 16, 2009.
RESPONDING APPARATUS ROLLS OVER IN TENNESSEE from Firefighter Close Calls
Monday, December 28, 2009 This is one more of MANY responding apparatus incidents over the last few days. In the latest incident, this one in Tennessee yesterday, 4 Firefighters were injured when their engine rolled over. The apparatus rolled over when the White House Community Volunteer Firefighters hit a ditch on their way to another crash. The truck lodged into a muddy shoulder before rollover over. No word yet on their use of seatbelts but the Firefighters suffered cracked ribs, cuts, bruises and scrapes. Our best for a rapid recovery.
SLOW DOWN - BUCKLE UP
SERIOUSLY!
More stories ![TexDOTDanger[1]](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_x4rPzvgxp6o/SzkI_u1kZ2I/AAAAAAAAAco/XJ8IVqL4ky0/s1600-h/TexDOTDanger%5B1%5D%5B2%5D.jpg "TexDOTDanger[1]")
HERE at Fire Fighter Close calls
from USFA Firefighter Fatalities
Paul D. Holmes of the Douglas County Fire Department in Douglasville, GA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-12-26
Incident Description: Firefighter Holmes was responding to a vehicle fire with injuries when the fire department rescue in which he was riding reportedly was struck by a privately owned vehicle that they were attempting to pass; according to news accounts, the rescue vehicle rolled several times, ejecting Holmes. Firefighter Holmes was transported by medivac helicopter to a Level-I trauma center where he was reported to be in stable condition, however, his condition worsened and he subsequently passed away from his injuries. Investigation into the incident continues by the Georgia State Police. Incident Location: Annewakee Road
from USFA Firefighter Fatalities
Clair Melvin Pierce of the Wellsboro Fire Department in Wellsboro, PA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-12-26 00:00:00.0.
Initial Summary: Firefighter Pierce passed away at home after responding to a series of EMS and fire calls. The cause and nature of Firefighter Pierce's fatal injury are still to be reported.
I received this as an email a couple of days ago and thought worth passing on, makes pretty common sense. Even prisoners on jail get random urine test. why not welfare???
THE JOB - URINE TEST
(Whoever wrote this one deserves a HUGE pat on the back!)
Like most folks in this country, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck in my case, I am required to pass a random urine test (with which I have no problem). What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test.
So, here is my Question: Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them?
Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their butt - doing drugs, while I work. . . . Can you imagine how much money each state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?
I guess we could title that program, 'Urine or You're Out'.
Pass this along if you agree or simply delete if you don't.
Hope you all will pass it along, though.
Something has to change in this country -- and soon!!!!!!!
Market Watch is reporting Aboard an Airbus 330 carrying 278 passengers, a suspected attacker identified as Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab set off an explosive mixture that was not powerful enough to force down the plane, Associated Press reported. Mutallab said he was acting on instructions from al-Qaida, which wanted him to destroy a plane in U.S. airspace, the AP reported. Also story atNew York Daily News
More UPDATE 12/27/2009
Link HERE - DETROIT - Passengers on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 knew something was very wrong when they saw flight attendants running for fire extinguishers. Then they smelled the smoke.
from USFA Firefighter Fatalities
Bobby Joe Mullins of the Dante Volunteer Fire Department in Dante, VA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-12-20
Initial Summary:
While working a vehicle fire, Assistant Chief Mullins became ill. He was treated and transported to the emergency room. Mullins was then transferred to a trauma center but passed away soon after arriving of sudden cardiac arrest.
The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) has been working with the CBS Early Show and Danny Lipford to prepare a fire safety/fire sprinkler segment that will air this Wednesday, December 23rd, 7 to 9 a.m. This will be a live segment in a home in LaGrange Park, IL, with fire sprinklers protecting the living room. Two weeks ago, the HFSC taped a house fire without sprinklers in Brentwood, TN. That tape will be shown first, then CBS will go live to demonstrate how sprinklers would have made a difference.
By Rome Neal
(CBS) Danny Lipford, the host of "Today's Homeowner," is a regular contributor to The Early Show. His down-to-earth approach and extensive experience in all aspects of remodeling makes him one of the most sought-after voices in home improvement.
Lipford's interest in home improvement began when he was just 9 years old. While in third grade, he bought his first electric jigsaw from a mail-order catalog with allowance money he had saved. He put his natural curiosity into building shelves for his room, a tree house and an endless list of projects around his parent’s home. As he grew older, Lipford even remodeled a log cabin that his father had built for him and his brothers as a playhouse when they were younger. The former playhouse soon became Danny Lipford’s first workshop.
He started his remodeling business when he was just 21 years old. His company, Lipford Construction, soon became one of the most respected remodeling companies in the southeast. In the beginning days of his business, Lipford and one helper did all of the work on his jobsites, from digging footings and pouring slabs to general plumbing and electrical installations. After years of experience and a proven track record, Danny became a Certified Graduate Remodelor, as designated by the National Association of Home Builders Remodelors Council. He has received numerous awards including, “Builder of the Year,” “National Remodeler of the Month,” and has been voted into the “Big 50” of the remodeling industry.
Posted to YouTube December 15, 2009 A more coordinated operation should have prevented this. This is a video of a structure fire in which a firefighter vented purportedly on their own which led to a room flashing with firefighters still inside the structure. Would make a good video of how not to do it for training. Pretty dramatic footage with example of what happen when the fire get a good foothold and then oxygen. I have no info on whether the FF inside were injured.
Last year's Singing Review went viral, in a GOOD way (not like H1N1). Re-live the year's news and sing along with Uncle Jay! Oh wait, you can't he changed all the words. This episode is on the new DVD: http://tinyurl.com/yjuvqt4 See you in January!
What’s up with this??
Twitter and Facebook contacts were meeting for an innocent snowball fight in Washington D.C. during today's storm. The even greater storm seemed to be a plain clothed police officer who had his truck hit by a snowball. It is said that officer may have drawn a sidearm in the shouting/snowball conflict? Thus the folks in the area there called in, "Man with gun". Then a uniformed police officer shows up in response. He also draws his gun while the snowball tossers can't believe what has become of their winter fun!
BBC news is even carrying this Police in the US are investigating a detective who appears to draw his gun during a mass snowball fight on the streets of Washington DC.
WASHINGTON – United States Fire Administrator Kelvin J. Cochran announced today the availability of the fifteenth edition of Fire in the United States. This edition of Fire in the United States covers the 5-year period from 2003 to 2007, with a primary focus on 2007. The purpose of the report is to aid the fire service, local leadership, and the general public with fire loss information which may be used to set priorities, establish and evaluate specific fire programs, and serve as a guide for fire data analyses at state and local levels of government.
“Since the inception of the United States Fire Administration in 1974, we have endeavored to provide the fire and emergency services the data it needs to combat the fire problem which still exists in the country. This fifteenth edition of the Fire in the United States will emphasize the areas which still need improvement so we may continue to reduce the nation’s fire losses, especially deaths and injuries.”U.S. Fire Administrator, Kelvin J. Cochran
The report focuses on the national fire problem and provides an overview of fires and losses in buildings, vehicles and other mobile properties, and other properties. The report also examines fire and fire loss trends, fire casualties by population characteristics, and fire cause profiles by property type. Detailed analyses of the residential and nonresidential building fire problems will be published as stand-alone reports.
Fire in the United States is a statistical overview of fires in the United States, focusing on the latest year in which data were available at the time of preparation. The primary source of data is the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), along with data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), State Fire Marshals’ offices, U.S. Census Bureau, and the Consumer Price Index.
Fire in the United States may be downloaded from the Statistics section of the USFA’s Web site. Printed copies are expected to be available at a later date.
A little old, but I was just emailed this link. Good speech from Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North. Not trying to give an opinion or change anyone’s mind and while it does say Thanksgiving, please watch this and remember our brave men and women fighting for our rights to say and do and live the life we have been given due to our heroes. Please keep our soldiers in your thoughts and prayers this Christmas and New Year. It is probably one of the best tributes I have ever, God bless our heroes…
http://www.nragive.com/ringoffreedom/nr_j0199_landing.html
It always seemed that depending on who you talked to in the insurance area that they may of may not use the ISO rating system, and that it seems that they were not following the ISO rating. The ISO, or Insurance Services Office as it’s commonly called, has started to give some thought to a new era of connection to the fire and emergency services and the communities it serves. They are in the process of completing a much-needed upgrade of its Fire Suppression Rating Schedule. Has it been too many years since the rating system had been revised? Having been though and involved in the testing I say it has, you had to attend a seminar and ask questions just to understand the basic rating schedule.
The new rating system recognizes accredited departments and will include recognition of a science-based standard of cover measuring a department’s operational performance in time-based fractile percentages, where sufficient data exists, or use of the traditional distance-based method of coverage. The system provides points of credit for fire prevention, an updated technology section and many other improvements.
It seems that there may a new level of cooperation with today’s fire and emergency service management. ISO has invited key players to review and provide feedback on the draft of the new rating schedule, they will conduct beta testing to ensure the changes can be practically implemented and are committed to improving and updating the rating system regularly. ISO has also be investigating easy access to fire chiefs’ to the immense ISO database to help the chiefs do their jobs in planning and response.
Seems that the change is finally coming to this sometime underrated system. Hopefully it will not again be fulltime department oriented, and give the consideration to small struggling departments too. Go to their revisions web page to see Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS) updates proposals. There is a list of potential modifications and additions to the current FSRS. Good or bad you be the judge? You will be the one dealing with them.
Classis video from CFD 2nd alarm, on scene as the fire suppression plays out. Establish water supply, protect exposures, access problems.
Chicago Fire 2nd Alarm-Fully Involved House "Fire Blowing out of The House"
Chicago,IL 600 West Stratford Place 11/04/2006, Historic Louis Sullivan Home was Under Renovation, Fully Involved Upon Arrival with 2 Exposures
Filmed by Todd Sherman
(note-This Video has been Reposted in Hi-Definition Quality)
from Lifehacker by Kevin Purdy
McDonald's doesn't want you to just grab your grease bombs and go—they want you to stick around, have a coffee drink, and surf the web from your laptop or smartphone. That's why they're offering up free Wi-Fi, which previously cost $2.95 for two hours, at 11,000 of its 14,000 U.S. locations, starting in mid-January. The service comes through AT&T, and looks to be an escalation of the iconic burger chain's attempt to lure some latte-and-laptops business away from Starbucks. That said, the messy use of both fries and keyboards will likely remain a challenge. [WSJ.com via Mashable]
from USFA Firefighter Fatalities
Tommy Lee Adams of the Shreveport Fire Department in Shreveport, LA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-02-21 Chief Adams fell from a fire department ladder truck following the Crew of Gemini Mardi Gras parade earlier this year. At the end of the parade route, the fire trucks pulled to the side of the road to secure any loose empty boxes that held beads or cups. While clearing debris and boxes from the ladder truck, Adams fell approximately 10 feet, landing head first on the concrete roadway. Chief Adams' heart stopped and CPR was performed. Chief Adams was transported to Willis Knighton Pierremont hospital where he regained a heart rate, and his condition was listed as critical. He suffered fractures to his cervical (neck) spine and was placed on a breathing machine. In early March, Chief Adams was transferred to a rehab facility in Atlanta, Georgia. Chief Adams had been in a relative state of a coma since sustaining debilitating injuries as a result of this accident and passed away on December 12. Incident location: Pending
2010 - DO NOT FORGET
Your U.S. House & Senate have voted themselves $4,700 and $5,300 raises.
Over 2-yrs they each get $10,000
Do you feel SCREWED?
Will they have your cost of drugs - doctor fees - local taxes - food, etc., increase?
NO WAY .
They have a raise and better benefits. Why care about you? You never did anything about it in the past. You obviously are too stupid or don't care.
Do you really think that Nancy, Harry, Chris, Charlie, Barnie, et al, care about you?
SEND THE MESSAGE-- You're FIRED.
IN 2010 YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO GET RID OF THE SITTING CONGRESS:
Up to 1/3 OF THE SENATE, AND 100% OF THE HOUSE.
MAKE SURE YOU'RE STILL MAD IN NOVEMBER 2010 AND REMIND THEIR REPLACEMENTS NOT TO SCREW UP.
It is ok to forward this to your sphere of influence if you are finally tired of the abuse
From YouTube Obama says having his Peace Prize won't keep him from kicking butt. Congress says having no money won't keep them from spending more. But Tiger says having no endorsements WILL keep him from playing more. Uncle Jay explains it all!
from Firefighter Hourly web site. No link on the Federal LODD notice site yet
Jimmy Davis was serving the community when he left his house to respond to a fire call around 0655. He briefly returned home to get something before heading back to the call but collapsed. Family members found him next to his truck. He died in the line of duty.
White Oak operates in Onslow County, North Carolina. The department is located in the town of Maysville.
High-rise fire response rules changed after 2003 fire
Chicago Sun-Times
BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter/fspielman@suntimes.com Five years ago, the Chicago Fire Department revamped high-rise training and firefighting ...
See all stories on this topic More HERE
Firefighter Close Calls has a lot of good links and radio traffic - Thursday, December 10, 2009
A towering fire in a high-rise condo building in Streeterville left a woman dead and a dozen others hurt, and required the use of about a third of the city's fire equipment.
from USFA Firefighter Fatalities
Gary F. Neidig, Jr. of the Mount Carmel Volunteer Fire Department in Mount Carmel, PA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-12-04
Shortly after clearing the scene of a mutual aid call, a motor vehicle accident with confinement and injuries, Fire Police Officer Neidig fell ill from a cause still to be determined. Neidig was transported to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries. Incident Location: Coal Township on the Excelsior Highway near the Mount Carmel Township Border Line
IdahoStatesman.com - Patrick Orr - Firefighters didn't ask him his age but said he was probably 10. The boy is OK, Boise Fire Capt. Bill Tinsley said Tuesday morning. ...
Boise Idaho: Boys Tongue Sticks To Pole, Firefighters Rescue; Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra Right Pundits
Sticky situation News 10NBC Boy couldn't resist metal pole Turn to 10.com
Memo to children — and adults for that matter — everywhere: Don’t try to emulate Flick from "A Christmas Story." Ever. Your tongue will get stuck to a metal pole when the temperature is -2. 
from USFA Firefighter Fatalities
Walter Hessling of the Dix Hills Volunteer Fire Department in Dix Hills, NY has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2009-11-21
Incident Description: On November 21, 2009, Firefighter Hessling responded to motor vehicle accident call at 1033 hours and subsequently, after clearing the scene, suffered a stroke at 1554 hours. Firefighter Hessling passed away several days later due to complications from that medical emergency. Incident Location: Deer Park Ave and Macniece Pl (USNG: 18T XL 3987 1745).
We have been traveling and limited internet access, so that’s why you have not seen an post for the last week. I will make it up, I have gotten some emails that are well worth passing along. So here is this weeks Uncle jay Explains. this week he reports on Groups going gaga for Sarah! Globe goes green in Copenhagen! Gitmo goons go to Gotham! Tiger doesn't go anywhere. Uncle Jay explains it all!
And here is last weeks installment of Uncle Jay -
Those people sneaked into the White House and met President Obama, but now they have to return the 400 billion dollars he gave them. The system works! And Tiger Woods landed one in the water, which was unfortunately inside a fire hydrant. Uncle Jay explains it all!
