First Responder Road Side Accidents

Responder Traffic Hazards

Traffic accidents involving First Responders are being reported on a frequent basis.  The First Responder Safety Institute has provided a Job Task Analysis for improving road side safety for responders. The Institute created as a Committee of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association, serves as an informal advisory panel of public safety leaders committed to reducing deaths and injuries to America's Emergency Responders.  A copy of the Job Task Analysis may be downloaded below.

A copy of the Job Task Analysis is available at:
http://lepcnews.squarespace.com/responder-traffic-hazards/
Job Task Analysis
http://lepcnews.squarespace.com/responder-traffic-hazards/Task_Analysis_Report11.pdf

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Helmet Cam Video posted on You Tube NJ Window Bail Out

Randolph NJ - Firefighter Allen Bell from Dover Fire Dept. in New Jersey captured this CLOSE CALL video of a firefighter who had to bail out of a 2nd floor window while conducting a search for a missing resident. As conditions worsened, the firefighter made it to a 2nd floor window and called out for a ladder. This put firefighter Bells RIT team into action by grabbing the nearest extension ladder to assist the firefighter. This video shows the firefighter falling from the window to the ground and other firefighters carrying him to the front of the house. This video should be used as a training tool. There are several training classes and videos offered that show proper technique in "ladder bail outs". You and your dept. should learn these techniques so this does not happen to you. His injuries were minor, but he could have suffered worse injuries. Also, the FC3 Fire Helmet Camera (www.FireVideo.net) was used in the video and shows that this camera can be another "tool for the helmet", and if used properly, can assist in training, review and investigation. Below is the story from the Randolph News. 

"One Meridian Plaza"

Nine years ago today, smoke was reported in the early evening at the 38-story "One Meridian Plaza" office tower in Center City Philadelphia.
That fire would take the lives of Philadelphia Firefighters, Captain David P. Holcombe, age 52, Firefighter Phyllis McAllister, age 43 and Firefighter James A. Chappell, age 29.
This fire burned for 19 hours and ran from the 22nd floor to the 30th floor before a sprinkler system installed by a tenant on the 30th floor knocked it down. It eventually went to 12-alarms using 51 engine companies, 15 ladder companies, 11 specialized units, and over 300 Firefighters.
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr-049.pdf

TR-049, High-rise Office Building Fire One Meridian Plaza ...

File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML This report on the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, One Meridian Plaza ... of high-rise fire safety

One Meridian Plaza  Oct 24, 1999 ... Photographs of the dismantling of One Meridian Plaza in Center City Philadelphia, PA.

LODD KS

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Clay Center, KS

Jonathan Siemers of the Clay Center Fire Department in Clay Center, KS has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-02-20

Initial Summary:  
Upon completion of his shift during which he responded to an apartment building fire, Fire Chief Siemers returned home. Early the next morning, Fire Chief Siemers complained of shoulder pain and subsequently collapsed from and succumbed to an apparent heart attack. 

Fargo firefighter recently promoted told he’d have to give up his position on the volunteer fire dept.

Firefighter gives up Casselton volunteer job for promotion in Fargo

A Fargo firefighter recently promoted to captain was told he’d have to give up his position on the Casselton, N.D., volunteer fire department if he wanted to advance.

By: Mike Nowatzki, INFORUM
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/269932/

A Fargo firefighter recently promoted to captain was told he’d have to give up his position on the Casselton, N.D., volunteer fire department if he wanted to advance.

Joe Mangin previously served as assistant chief in Casselton. He had stepped down from that role but was still a Casselton firefighter when he was offered the promotion by the Fargo Fire Department, Fargo Assistant Chief Dean Meyer said.

Mangin was given the choice of accepting the promotion or continuing to be a Casselton firefighter, Meyer said last week.

“The problem is that we compete for grants and other funding with Casselton,” as well as other large volunteer fire departments, including West Fargo, Meyer said.

Mangin was the only Fargo firefighter serving on Casselton’s department, which has about 30 volunteers, Casselton Fire Chief Tim McLean said.

“It doesn’t leave us short-handed, and we have somebody else that filled his position,” McLean said, declining to comment further. Casselton Mayor Ed McConnell said last week he hadn’t heard about Mangin’s exit, calling it “unfortunate.”

“Well, it’s always a concern,” he said. “We need all the bodies we can get, especially experienced ones. That’s just kind of the nature of the beast nowadays in a small town.”

Mangin, who lives in Casselton, said there’s no bad blood between the two departments.

“It was my choice. I’m fine with it,” he said.

Several Fargo fire captains serve on area volunteer fire departments: Capt. Kevin Bernier is fire chief in Abercrombie, N.D., Capt. Bob Cuchna is chief in Glyndon, Minn., and Capt. Leroy Skarloken is on the Davenport, N.D., department, Meyer said.

Those departments don’t compete with Fargo for funding, he said. Mangin’s promotion officially takes effect today. Ron Guggisberg and Dave Conrad also were promoted to captain, Meyer said.

FYI

Uncle JAY EXPLAINS THE NEWS FEB 21, 2010

America asks: was that attack on the IRS a crime or actual terrorism? China asks the same thing about the Dalai Lama's White House visit. And Tiger asks if the media will ever leave him alone. Thank goodness at least one of these questions has an easy answer! Uncle Jay explains the rest.

True or not interesting chuckle out of this

In a  Purdue University classroom, they were discussing the qualifications to be President of the United States  . It was pretty simple the candidate must be a natural born citizen of at least 35 years of age.

However, one girl in the class immediately started in on how unfair was the requirement to be a natural born citizen. In short, her opinion was that this requirement prevented many capable individuals from becoming president..

The class was taking it in and letting her rant, and not many jaws hit the floor when she wrapped up her argument by stating "What makes a natural born citizen any more qualified to lead this country than one born by C-section?"

Yep, these are the same kind of 18-year-olds that just voted in our last election and they walk among us...

Received as a email an made me

laugh out loud!

FF death notices from USFA

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Linn Valley, KS

from USFA Firefighter Fatalities

Stanley L. Giles of the Linn Valley Lakes Fire Department in Linn Valley, KS has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred 2010-02-10

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Priest River, ID

from USFA Firefighter Fatalities

John Coyle of the West Pend Oreille Fire District in Priest River, ID has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-02-08

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Woolrich, PA

from USFA Firefighter Fatalities

Donald G. Mellott of the Woolrich Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 in Woolrich, PA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2010-02-12

Good first on scene video

Put yourself in the seat of the first arriving engine, what would you do. What are the priorities? Good tactics and strategy learning tool.

 

On February 18, 2010 around 12pm Central dispatched the Oradell Fire Department (bergen county) to 332 Demarest rd for a reported fire in the 2nd floor bathroom. As members were enroute to the fire, PD had already confirmed a working fire. Oradell chief Kahill (2-0) requested a 2nd alarm upon his arrival which filled out a triboro response bringing in River Edge and New Milford fire departments along with a fast truck from Paramus.
Despite slight extension to the attic, crews made a quick aggressive attack and knocked the fire down fast.

Ever get that feeling

Paying attention to the news can be a full time job. Recently received this as an email and got a good chuckle out of it. Looking back on some reports in the news from the past couple of years seems this may be how it has went?

How true!

A Harley biker is riding by the zoo in Washington , DC when he sees a little girl leaning into the lion's cage. Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the cuff of her jacket and tries to pull her inside to slaughter her, under the  eyes of her screaming parents.
The biker jumps off his Harley, runs to the cage and hits the lion square on the nose with a powerful punch. Whimpering from the pain the lion jumps back letting go of the girl, and the biker brings her to her terrified parents, who thank him endlessly.

A reporter has watched the whole event.

The reporter addressing the Harley rider says, 'Sir, this was the most gallant and brave thing I've seen a man do in my whole life.'

The Harley rider replies, 'Why, it was nothing, really, the lion was behind bars. I just saw this little kid in danger and acted as I felt right.'
The reporter says, 'Well, I'll make sure this won't go unnoticed. I'm a journalist, you know, and tomorrow's paper will have this story on the front page... So, what do you do for a living and what political affiliation do you have?'
The biker replies, 'I'm a U.S. Marine and a Republican.' The journalist leaves.

The following morning the biker buys the paper to see if it indeed brings news of his actions, and reads, on the front page:
U.S. MARINE ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND STEALS HIS LUNCH. 

New NFPA 1620 Pre-Incident Planning, 2010 Edition

 

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has passed the 1620 Standard for Pre-Incident Planning, 2010 Edition. This new standard has an effective date of December 5, 2009. The 2010 edition of NFPA 1620 features a number of technical and editorial changes. The document was completely revised and changed from was previously a “Recommended Practice” to a standard as the technical committee established minimum requirements for developing preincident plans for use by firefighters. Chapters 4 through 10 address the pre-incident process, physical and site consideration, occupants consideration, water supplies and fire protection systems, special hazards, emergency operations and pre-incident testing and maintenance.

The Annex features cases histories, information addressing special or unique characteristics of the specific occupancy classifications, and preincident plan field collection cards and facility data intelligence sample forms are provided for the end user.

Refer to a preincident planning article in Fire Engineering's January 2010 issue, “Enhance Fireground Operations with Digital Building Intelligence."  This technology is available today to further assist firefighters with the every changing built environment.

A look back – Station Night Club Fire

The Station nightclub fire occurred beginning at 11:07 PM on Thursday, February 20, 2003, at The Station, a nightclub located in West Warwick, RI , it is considered to be the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in American history, killing 100 people, four of whom died after being admitted to local hospitals. The fire was caused when pyrotechnic sparks, set off by the tour manager of the evening's headlining band, ignited flammable sound insulation foam in the walls and ceilings around the stage, creating a flash fire that engulfed the club in 5½ minutes. Some 230 people were injured and another 132 escaped uninjured. Video footage of the fire depicts the astonishing rapidity of its initial growth, the quickness with which stampeding patrons blocked the front entrance, and the ensuing pandemonium as several people tried desperately to help, by whatever means possible, those attempting to escape the building, which, by that time, was already gushing black smoke.

NIST Final Report - June 29, 2005

• Final NIST Rhode Island Nightclub Fire Report Urges Strict Adherence to and Strengthening of Current Model Safety Codes (News Release)

• Final Report of the Technical Investigation of The Station Nightclub Fire (pdf)
  http://www.ntis.gov
• Final Report—Appendices (pdf)

Future of EMS? Interesting to see how this plays out.

Rockford is one of the largest communities outside of Chicago In northern Illinois. They are considering doing away with provided EMS service and turning it over to privatization. Would a hospital based EMS system work better? Fully private service? Will have to watch this. Government studies have shown that fire incidents are down and EMS incidents have been increasing for many years. Could this be the service of the future? Has fire based EMS reached the breaking point. With The government meddling in national health care could this be the next thing? We shall see?

Rockford leaders debate privatizing ambulance service - Rockford Register Star 

ROCKFORD — The Rockford Fire Department could more aptly be called the Rockford EMS Department, going on about 18,000 emergency medical service and rescue calls versus about 400 fire calls a year.

Read full story and comments here.

NIOSH has recently released the following Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation Reports:

F2009-22

Jun 04, 2009

Fire fighter suffers intracranial cyst bleed during residential fire operations and dies three days later – Virginia http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200922.html

F2009-19

Dec 31, 2008

Fire fighter suffers sudden cardiac death while working at a residential fire – Mississippi http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200919.html

F2008-11

Mar 26, 2008

A career fire fighter dies and a career engineer is seriously injured investigating smoke resulting from a manhole fire – California http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200811.html

F2007-26

Jul 27, 2007

Uncle Jay Explains the News Feb 15, 2010

Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc. On these holidays, America shows its deep respect. With deep discounts! Uncle Jay takes a holiday from the regular news to explain our multi-Monday holiday traditions. Or hey, you can always go back to Bob Costas.

Are you ready?

I know a few years back they had a issue with thinking that the New Madrid fault was going to do something and we got a rider on our house insurance, came to find out the earthquakes were not covered under the present coverage.

FEMA Asks: Are You Earthquake Prepared?

from FEMA: News Releases

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Midwesterners expect and prepare for a variety of seasonal hazards such as extreme snow, ice, flooding, tornadoes and severe weather. But the non-seasonal threat of earthquakes may not register on every family’s hazard scale.

“Recent earthquakes, both domestic and abroad, illustrate the magnitude of devastation and destruction an earthquake can cause,” said Beth Freeman, Regional Administrator for FEMA Region VII.

Software on the Cheap

from Lifehacker

Windows/Mac/Linux: The latest version of OpenOffice.org, the free and open-source office suite, improves startup times by over 40 percent (by some tests), improves importing and support for password-protected and 2007 office files, and improves many areas of the Calc spreadsheet.

You can check out the full feature list at OpenOffice.org, but the majority is nitty-gritty stuff. That said, the Calc tool seems to have picked up quite a few improvements and compatibility features, including support for "complex" (multi-row or column) copy and paste, pivot table importing, cell sorting and merging, and much more.

Importing Office 2007-formatted files seems to have gotten lots of attention in this release as well, and password-protected files can successfully be loaded, provided you've got the password. If you're an OpenOffice.org fan and see something new and great, share it in the comments.

OpenOffice.org 3.2 is a free download for Windows, Mac, and Linux systems.

Miss Me Yet?

 Boston Globe A billboard along Interstate 35, taken on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010 in Wyoming, Minn., carries an image of former President George W. Bush and reads "Miss me yet?". Office manager Beverly Master of Schubert and Hoey Outdoor Advertising in Minneapolis says the message was purchased by a group of small business owners and people from the Twin Cities area who want to remain anonymous. (AP Photo/Minnesota Public Radio, Bob Collins)

New 9-11 photos

New 9-11 photos released

Stuff.co.nz
New 9/11 photos released‎  This photo taken Sept. 11, 2001 by the New York City Police Department and obtained by ABC News, which claims to have obtained it under the Freedom of ... Toronto Sun - 629 related articles »

New 9/11 Photos Capture Enormity Like Never Before (Video)‎ - HispanicBusiness.com

(Click here for a BBC slide show.)

Uncle Jay Expalins Feb 8, 2009

WARNING: You may need to watch this episode twice! Or maybe you'll need 3-D glasses. It's double-extra Uncle Jay. And Happy Chinese New Year! It's the Year of the Tiger ... because last year was definitely NOT that.

Explosion in Conn. Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — A Connecticut emergency official says some people have died in an explosion at a power plant in Middletown.  Middletown authorities have asked surrounding communities for help. Hard says urban search and rescue teams are on their way.

Fox news report - power plant is not online, construction workers were inside the plant working at the time of the explosion, blast was felt in durham (one town over) and believed to possibly be from a gas line that is believed to be what was being worked on

Witness To Middletown Explosion: 'There Are Bodies Everywhere'

Huge explosion at Connecticut power plant

Update - A fire official says about 50 construction workers were at an under-construction natural gas power plant in Middletown, Connecticut when an explosion happened.

Again another incident where a Rescue-Vac may have helped?

United States (Minnesota) - Emergency crews from across the metro spent almost nine hours Thursday trying to delicately extricate a worker trapped up past his chest in corn in a Farmington grain silo. The man fell in while attempting to empty it shortly before 11:30 a.m. He was freed 8 1/2 hours later.

FARMINGTON, Minn. –Video HERE - http://www.kare11.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=65119454001

After eight hours stuck in a grain bin and a night at Hennepin County Medical Center, Mark Malecha is back home in Farmington. They had to be concerned with Crush syndrome and move the corn bucket by bucket to dug him out. It was literally a race against the corn that the rescue workers and Mark Malecha won.

Rescue Vac Systems web site, they only problem here would have been having long enough hose. 

Coal Fire Still Burning

Centralia, Pa., coal fire is one of hundreds that burn in the US

Christian Science Monitor - Mark Clayton -

The underground coal fire that has slowly consumed Centralia, Pa., isn't unusual. Many such fires burn around the world. Retired Centralia Postmaster Tom ... Approximately 200 underground coal fires burn in about 20 states, according to Glenn Stracher, a researcher at East Georgia College in Swainsboro, Ga., A separate tally shows 112 fire sites in 21 states, according to Office of Surface Mining data analyzed by Dr. Stracher and fellow researcher Ann Kim.

LA Times

Volunteer Training White Pater From NVFC

NVFC Releases Volunteer-Training White Paper

from FIRE CHIEF - The NVFC white paper focuses on the need for proper training to ensure the safety and effectiveness of firefighters and also examines several barriers to implementing basic training in volunteer fire departments. Download the white paper here.

NVFC Releases White Paper on Training in the Volunteer Fire Service

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is committed to ensuring that volunteer firefighters have an appropriate level of training to safely and effectively carry out their responsibilities ... more » 

Download the white paper at www.nvfc.org/training.

Here is is, what he said in his State of the Union

We shall see if your representatives and Senators can keep this funded as it is, but guess is may start to fade away? At least the USFA made it out OK.

Obama Administration proposes cuts to Assistance to Firefighters Grant program

from Alltop RSS

Earlier this week, the Obama Administration released its proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 budget. Of the $3.8 trillion in proposed spending, $45.6 billion has been set aside for homeland security related costs.

While increases were proposed in other areas of homeland security spending, the 2011 budget proposal calls for $305 million for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, an almost 22% reduction from the FY 2010 allotment and a 46% cut from FY 2009.
The AFG program provides funding to local departments for training, equipment, apparatus purchases, fire prevention programs, and research.

Wichita Falls Bailout Video

 

Firefighter Spot - Home of The Best Firefighting Video: Dramatic ...

Dramatic Wichita Falls Firefighter Close Call VIDEO -. Dramatic window bailout through the top sash of a double hung window captured on video in Wichita ...

video On You Tube engine139

Wichita Falls Firefighter Close Call Video

New Free After-Action Evaluations Program Available

The Firefighters Support Foundation (FSF) has released its newest free program, After-Action Evaluations. 
This approximately 30-minute video program presents two of the most powerful performance-improving techniques in use by the world’s best-managed corporations: root cause analysis and constraint analysis. 
These techniques are at the foundation of the long-term stellar performance of companies such as Toyota and IBM, but to date they have seen little use in the public safety professions despite the fact they are extremely well suited for them. 
This program presents the principles of these techniques as they apply to public safety and takes the viewer through examples. 
After viewing this free program professionals from firefighters to top management will have a clear idea of how to apply these extremely simple, but extremely powerful, management techniques to the continuous improvement of their own or their team’s performance

Like all FSF programs, this program is free to all public safety professionals. 
Simply go to http://www.ffsupport.org to download your copy.

EMS CEU’s from NFA

Now there is no reason that EMS personnel can have any excuses for not attending the NFA. Taking  EMS courses and receive CEU’s for attending.

Press Releases from the U.S. Fire Administration. This information has recently been updated and is now available.

USFA to Issue Continuing Education Credits for On-Campus EMS Courses

Emmitsburg, MD.- Students who need continuing education (CE) credits to maintain Emergency Medical Services (EMS) certification now can earn CE credits for each National Fire Academy (NFA) EMS on-campus course they attend in Emmitsburg, Maryland. EMS CE credits are accredited by the Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services (CECBEMS). It is estimated that this new NFA effort will benefit up to 750 students each year.

Beginning January 1, 2010, students who attend any NFA resident EMS course receive 35 to 60 CE credits, in varying categories, for each course completion. The number of CEs will be granted based on the length and content of the courses. The CE credits will be printed on a Continuing Education certificate, so that students will have immediate documentation of their work. Please note: CE credits cannot be granted for on-campus courses taken before January 1, 2010.

“It is evident that continuing education better prepares our EMTs and paramedics to meet the needs of their community,” said National Fire Academy Superintendent Dr. Denis Onieal. “By receiving accreditation for continuing education in Emergency Medical Services courses, the United States Fire Administration reaffirms its commitment to provide professional development that increases the abilities of our nation’s fire and emergency medical services.”

In addition to the CECBEMS CE credits, the NFA will continue to issue International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) continuing education units for its traditional classroom courses, as well as its online training programs, through NFA Online.

Questions about the CE program can be directed to Julie Davis at (301) 447-1084 or Michael Stern at (301) 447-1253.

4-11 in Chicago

Fire ravages popular Greek eatery Costa's on Near West Side

No injuries were reported, the fire at 340 S. Halsted St. that left the Costa's Greek Dining & Bar a total loss, according to Fire Media Affairs Dir. ...

In the heart of Greektown..heavy smoke conditions...aerial pipes, tower ladders and snorkels working. This was the 2nd of 2 major extra alarms the night of Jan 31-Feb 1 2010 Posted to You Tube by SRResquire
February 01, 2010

Also fire audo link below by radioman911:

Watch live video from Radioman 911 on Justin.tv

Uncle Jay Explains Feb 1, 2010

Steve Jobs said, "Here's my Change and Hope!" President Obama said, "Here's my Service Pak 2.0!" Judge Alito said, "What a load of app!" Uncle Jay says, "There's an explanation for that."