Great Video–Church fire Ada Ohio

Great Tactics training video, just goes to show that you need the right amount of water in order to out a dent in the fire. Would have liked to see what a deck gun would have done ? This occurred on 3/13/2012

Huge fire devours historic church in downtown Ada - Toledo Blade

Flames shoot out of the windows at First United Methodist Church in Ada, Ohio

 

This is the first and most complete video take from the beginning of the fire. It was filmed the rear of the church south west on Highland St. My husband had to keep moving further back because of the intense heat. Later he moved around to the north west side of the church. The sound was removed because of all the comments from bystanders. http://youtu.be/53G91JMG8LQ

Report released on set fires in residential buildings

US Fire Administration Releases Report on Intentionally Set Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010)

The U.S. Fire Administration issued a special report today examining the characteristics of intentionally set fires in residential buildings. An estimated 16,800 intentionally set fires in residential buildings occur annually in the U.S. These fires result in an estimated average of 280 deaths, 775 injuries and $593 million in property loss each year.

DOWNLOAD HERE Intentionally Set Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) (PDF, 746 Kb)

LODD notice from USFA

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Gilmore City, IA

Larry D. Nielsen of the Gilmore City Fire Department in Gilmore City, IA has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2012-10-09

Initial Summary: 
Fire Chief Nielsen was responding to a barn fire riding in fire department apparatus when he fell ill. The vehicle operator immediately pulled over to the side of the road and called for help. Chief Neilsen was treated at the scene by EMS responders and transported to the hospital where he passed away from an apparent heart attack. Incident Location: Vicinity of Gilmore City, IA(USNG: 15T UH 81 31) 

Have you got a code of Ethics for your department

Do you have a code of Ethics, is it followed and supported by you city , fire district or special district? It’s not something that should be taken lightly but a code to follow as your guideline to follow. It’s a mind set that should be in every firefighter from day one. Followed from the top down and the bottom up.

U.S. Fire Administration Acknowledges the New Fire Service Ethics Statement

EMMITSBURG, MD – Today’s fire service leaders face a variety of challenges managing budgets, personnel, and programs. Occasionally, ethical issues emerge for which there are no easy answers. To provide guidance to address these complex questions, the National Society of Executive Fire Officers (NSEFO) and Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) jointly have released a firefighter code of ethics that can be adopted by local fire and emergency medical service organizations. The ethics statement is the result of almost two years of effort by the Board of Directors of NSEFO.

In acknowledgement of the importance of this first of its kind fire service ethics statement, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has posted the statement throughout the National Fire Academy’s (NFA) facilities and will now include the statement in all course materials distributed to NFA students.

To download a copy for the NSEFO statement for posting within fire department facilities and distribution, visit the USFA website at:www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/

Firefighter Code of Ethics (PDF, 497 Kb)

 

Firefighter Code of Ethics
I understand that I have the responsibility to conduct myself in a manner that reflects proper ethical
behavior and integrity. In so doing, I will help foster a continuing positive public perception of the fire
service. Therefore, I pledge the following…
•    Always conduct myself, on and off duty, in a manner that reflects positively on myself, my department
and the fire service in general.
•    Accept responsibility for my actions and for the consequences of my actions.
•     Support the concept of fairness and the value of diverse thoughts and opinions.
•    Avoid situations that would adversely affect the credibility or public perception of the fire service
profession.
•    Be truthful and honest at all times and report instances of cheating or other dishonest acts that
compromise the integrity of the fire service.
•    Conduct my personal affairs in a manner that does not improperly influence the performance of my
duties, or bring discredit to my organization.
•    Be respectful and conscious of each member’s safety and welfare.
•    Recognize that I serve in a position of public trust that requires stewardship in the honest and efficient
use of publicly owned resources, including uniforms, facilities, vehicles and equipment and that these
are protected from misuse and theft.
•    Exercise professionalism, competence, respect and loyalty in the performance of my duties and use
information, confidential or otherwise, gained by virtue of my position, only to benefit those I am
entrusted to serve.
•    Avoid financial investments, outside employment, outside business interests or activities that conflict
with or are enhanced by my official position or have the potential to create the perception of impropriety.
•    Never propose or accept personal rewards, special privileges, benefits, advancement, honors or gifts
that may create a conflict of interest, or the appearance thereof.
•    Never engage in activities involving alcohol or other substance use or abuse that can impair my mental
state or the performance of my duties and compromise safety.
•    Never discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, creed, age, marital status, national origin,
ancestry, gender, sexual preference, medical condition or handicap.
•    Never harass, intimidate or threaten fellow members of the service or the public and stop or report the
actions of other firefighters who engage in such behaviors.
•    Responsibly use social networking, electronic communications, or other media technology opportunities
in a manner that does not discredit, dishonor or embarrass my organization, the fire service and the
public. I also understand that failure to resolve or report inappropriate use of this media equates to
condoning this behavior.
Developed by the National Society of Executive Fire Officers

And they let them vote too

This audio clip from Y94 Playhouse Fargo, ND radio station was too funny to not find a way for more people to hear it so thus, this video. A lady asks for help getting deer crossing signs moved to lower traffic areas. "The government can guide deer to lower traffic areas" ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! Kudos to Y94 Playhouse and Donna for the joy that you have given many through laughter.
Also, THANK YOU to all who have viewed it and shared it. Watching this spread has been equally entertaining for this 47 year old lady, who just wanted to share something funny with a friend or two... or three... or....

USFA report along with Consumer product Safety Commission

Kitchen Fires No. 1 in New Report

In recognition of Fire Prevention Week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the U.S. Fire Administration are providing new statistics on fires in American homes and urging consumers to install smoke alarms in their homes and check to make sure all smoke alarms are working properly. It is also vitally important to develop and practice a family fire escape plan. The top cause of fires in the home is cooking equipment, accounting for an estimated 147,400 or 40 percent of residential fires each year between 2008 and 2010. Cooking was also associated with the largest percentage of fire-related injuries, an estimated average 27.4 percent or 3,450, in the home.

Major wildfire in Kittson and Marshall Counties could have been arson

Arson likely cause of County 27 Fire (Karlstad), reward offered

Fire investigators have determined that the probable cause of a major wildfire in Kittson and Marshall Counties in northwestern Minnesota was arson.  An investigation is ongoing by the Kittson County Sheriff, the Marshall County Sheriff and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.They are offering a reward of up to $6,000 for information leading to identification of the arsonist.

Anyone with information on the County 27 fire is encouraged to contact either the Kittson County Sheriff at 218-843-3535 or the Marshall County Sheriff at 218-745-5411.  For those who wish to remain anonymous, call the Arson Tip Line at 1-800-723-2020.

The wildfire started Sept. 30, at about 2 p.m. in Marshall County north of the intersection of County Road 27 and 250th Avenue NW.  By the next day, it had grown to 500 acres.  On Oct. 2, there were Red Flag Fire Warnings for western Minnesota and states and provinces to the west and north.  Temperatures were in the 70s, relative humidity exceptionally low – in the teens and sustained winds of 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph.

The Red Flag fire danger conditions led to fast moving fires that burned with extreme intensity.  The County 27 Fire spread from Marshall County to Kittson County, burned 4,440 acres, led to the evacuation of part of the city of Karlstad, damaged dozens of structures and destroyed
11 homes.

The coordinated efforts of local fire departments, wildland firefighters, sheriff’s offices, emergency managers, and the National Guard were instrumental in saving most of the homes in Karlstad.

Fires started by arsonists cost Minnesota taxpayers millions of dollars each year.  The cost to those who lost homes is immeasurable.  Please help stop arson.

Yeah, I wouldn't admit to it either

 

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — It's a complicated story, but a Thurston County, Wash., man says he managed to shoot himself in the head with a .22-caliber rifle while fishing for salmon.A sheriff's report says the man told deputies he fired a shot into the Deschutes River on Sunday afternoon but the bullet ricocheted off a rock and hit him in the temple. When he scratched the spot with his finger, he says the bullet fell out of his head and into the river.
The tale came to light although the man went home and refused to tell his girlfriend how he had been injured. After he left again, she called 911. When deputies pulled over the man's pickup truck, he told them what happened.
The Olympian reports that the man was treated at an area hospital and released. The newspaper says the man was not cited for any violations.
Grandview Outdoors

Fire Prevention Week

USFA Library - Working to Bring Knowledge to Practice

This Week's Highlights

• The first Fire Prevention Day proclamation was issued by President Woodrow Wilson in 1920 and four more ensued through 1924. Then in 1925, in the first year of his second term, President Calvin Coolidge issued the first Fire Prevention Week proclamation. This page provides access to the texts of these proclamations of the Presidents from 1920 to the present.
• Fire Prevention Week and National Security, what do these two have in common? During World War II they had a lot. See these rare World War 2 era posters for Fire Prevention Week recently scanned by the University of Edinburgh, Fire Safety Engineering Group.
• A new study just published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine evaluated the cost-effectiveness and cost benefit of smoke alarm installation and giveaway programs. It concluded that while both types of programs compare favorably with other types of home safety intervention programs the installation approach may achieve a lower cost per outcome as compared to giveaway programs. Citation . Find more studies relating to smoke alarm installation and giveaway programs.
• 141 years ago - Great Peshtigo Fire of1871 | circa 1,500 fatalities | About this incident |
• 141 years ago - Great Chicago Fire of 1871 | circa 200-300 fatalities | About this incident |

On the lighter side:  Who mastered fire? - the heated archaeological debate

Interesting fire News this week

Watching NBC's new 'Chicago Fire' with real firefighters
WBEZ
The real firefighters watched their fictional counterparts respond to car crashes, house fires and gunshot wounds. O'Brien said the biggest difference between real fires and the fires on television is the amount of smoke on a scene. “A lot more smoke ..

Minnesota News Briefs: Firefighters on alert for fires at egg carton plant
Pierce County Herald
Minnesota News Briefs: Firefighters on alert for fires at egg carton plant. The Moorhead Fire Department has been quietly staging firefighters around the clock at a company where three fireshave broken out since March. Talk about it. MOORHEAD, Minn.

Firefighters free kitten from car engine in Beltsville
Gazette.Net: Maryland Community News Online
In between responding to medical emergencies and battling blazing fires, Prince George'sfirefighters responded to the 10600 block of Baltimore Avenue in Beltsville to perform a cat rescue Monday afternoon. Around 1:30 p.m., the driver of a BMW sedan .

You know how I like pre-arrival an on arrival videos here is one from YouTube this week from Memphis Tennessee about 10 mins.

 

Couple of LODD notices from USFA

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Riverview, MI

John Grabowski of the Riverview Fire Department in Riverview, MI has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2012-10-01

Initial Summary: 
On Sunday, September 30, during his shift, Lieutenant John Grabowski participated in fire department training. His shift ended that day at 1800hrs. The following morning, Lieutenant Grabowski traveled to his second job. At approximately 0803hrs, Lieutenant Grabowski was found collapsed in the parking lot of his second employer. The second employer?s emergency response team tended to Lieutenant Grabowski and performed CPR. Advanced life support also responded to the scene where they treated Lieutenant Grabowski and transported him to Henry Ford Wyandotte Michigan hospital. Efforts to revive Lieutenant Grabowski at the hospital were not successful and he passed away within approximately one hour of being found in his employer?s parking lot. The official cause of death has not yet been determined.  

Sep 28, 2012 9:53 AM

Notice of Firefighter Fatality: Dagsboro, DE

Justin Townsend of the Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Department in Dagsboro, DE has died as the result of an on-duty incident that occurred on 2012-09-27

Initial Summary: 
Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched for an outside fire in a wooded area on East Clogg Drive just outside town limits. While en route to Station 73 in a personal vehicle, Junior Firefighter Justin Townsend was fatally injured in a motor vehicle crash on Pepper Road, in the area of Jay Patch Road. No details of the accident are available at this time. The Delaware State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit is currently conducting an investigation into the fatal incident. Incident Location: Fire: Wooded area on East Clogg Drive (USNG: 18S VH 7696 6949). Fatal MVA: Pepper Road near Jay Patch Road (USNG: 18S VH 8015 5977).