SEATTLE – Seven people escaped a blaze that destroyed their house in the Ballard neighborhood by climbing onto a rooftop where they were rescued by police and firefighters with just minutes to spare.
View more photos of the house fire »
One of the seven, an elderly woman, was critically injured when she jumped from the roof into the arms of rescuers, but she is expected to survive, officials said.
This is the Year in Review for the Fire Critic. Below you will find the most popular articles and referring sites, as well as some other data that defines what is read, who reads it, and where they are reading it.
This year at the Fire Critic has been one of growth, definition, and fun. I have a blast doing this blog and I am glad that my readers have seemed to enjoy it as well. This year, there has been significant growth in readership. I have also better defined exactly what I want to do with the Fire Critic Blog. Basically, the site is about the fire service and it brings news, videos, fun, humor, and networking among other aspects.
Next year should certainly be a another big year for the Fire Critic. I should be rolling out the new logo for the blog and continuing with more growth that you have gotten used to over the past 6-12 months.
Stay tuned in.
Top Articles for 2010
They are in order of #1 – #15 and they are the most read stories during 2020.
Three Buffalo firefighters fell through the floor of a burning vacant house in the city’s East Delavan-Fillmore section Wednesday night, and two of them were injured and taken to the hospital, fire officials reported.
The injuries in the blaze at 145 Mohican Ave. were described by fire officials at the scene as “non-life-threatening.” The nature of the fire is being described as “suspicious.”
Firefighters responded to a call at 8:13 p.m. and arrived to find flames on the first and second floors at the front of the 2 1/2-story house.
The fire at 145 Mohican Ave. started on the first floor and did an estimated $20,000 in damage, according to officials. Sharon Cantillon / Buffalo News
The casket of firefighter Corey Dewayne Ankum is escorted from the Apostolic Church of God at 6320 S. Dorchester in Chicago after his funeral. (Alex Garcia/Chicago Tribune)
Approximately 3,000 family, friends and fellow firefighters packed the inside of Apostolic Church of God on the city’s South Side as firefighter Corey Ankum was laid to rest.
In a stirring two-hour service that featured emotional tributes from Mayor Richard Daley and Chicago Fire Chief Thomas Hoff, Ankum was remembered as a dedicated family man and an honorable public servant.
Ankum was one of two Chicago firefighters killed in a Dec. 22 blaze inside a vacant laundry building.
Mayor Daley called Ankum a “hero” and a “true defender in every sense of the word.”
“Corey Ankum was a natural born leader, a good young man, a family man, and a spectacular father,” Daley said. “We will miss you, Corey. You are a brother in blue.”
Previous Coverage of this fire with aerial view of the fire once the fire went through the roof here.
The video below shows the fire shortly after the crews arrived on scene. The fire began in the basement. No cause has been determined yet. Obviously the fire was a stubborn one as the fire and as you can see from the video in the previous post completely destroyed the building. Five firefighters were injured fighting the blaze.
A Union City fire devastated two adjoining residences, collapsing one building and displacing 23 people, according to today’s Jersey Journal.
The four-alarm blaze that started about 2:30 p.m. in the basement of 3807 Park Ave, North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Co-Director Jeff Welz said.
Firefighters were able to contain the blaze within four hours, but continued to battle flames that were fed by a ruptured gas line after 3809 Park collapsed around 6 p.m.
Here are some videos of Firefighter Stringers Funeral. There was more to it, including comments by IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. However, they did not post the entire funeral. If I come across it I will add it.
Thousands gather to remember Chicago firefighter
Daley speaks at funeral for Chicago firefighter
CFD chaplain speaks at funeral for Chicago firefighter
Yesterday, I reported on a house fire in Jacksonville. The fire in Bartram Springs was well involved by the time firefighters arrived on scene. Apparently it took them 15 minutes to get there and the homeowner got to watch his house burn up with all of his possessions inside. Now Union Officials are placing pointing the finger at funding.
JFRD said it took firefighters 15 minutes to reach the fire, which the union said is unacceptable.
“An extension of a response time by just a couple of minutes can mean something very minor to something major like we said yesterday,” Union Chief Randy Wise said.
The department recommended the city implement a station in the Bartram Springs area, said Wise, but the plans have been dormant since 2001 because of lack of funding.
LIMESTONE COUNTY – A Limestone County Sheriff’s Deputy who pulled a disabled man from a burning home three weeks ago was honored on Monday.
Deputy Charles Fabian was on a routine patrol on Dec. 7 when he noticed fire coming from a residence at 2764 LCR 656 in Thornton, about 50 miles east of Waco.
When he arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames and a woman, Diane Gonzalez, who arrived shortly after, said her wheelchair-bound son, 33-year-old Corey Gonzalez, was inside.
The direct link for the streaming video is on ABC is here. WGN has live video here. The WGN was streaming the procession. ABC’s feed was from inside, but it was not streaming well.
Warning…you might have to mute the player below during aerial footage.
For Previous Coverage on the Chicago LODD’s click here, here, here and here.
The sharp, red sheen of a Chicago Fire Department ladder truck and its flashing lights, parked outside an Oak Lawn funeral home, pierced the gray backdrop of this chilly winter day. Source
Related Video
News This Morning
Short Video from Firefighter Edward Stringers Wake
FDNY Firefighters battled a 5 alarm fire in Queens today. There was also a 3 alarm Fire in the Bronx around the same time.
Firefighters were hampered by blocked streets due to the heavy snow and heavy wind. Maybe you didn’t hear about the blizzard that just pummeled the Northeast.
Blocked Street Delays Firefighters (source)
5 Firefighters and 3 civilians were hurt in the blaze at 41-72 Judge Street in Elmhurst.
Responding Departments: Hanover Volunteer Fire Department, Madison Township Fire Department, Mary Ann Township Fire Department, Newton Township Fire Department, Newark Township Fire Department, National Trail Fire Department, Frazeysburg Fire Department, Newark Fire Department and Licking Township Fire Department.
Multiple fire departments from Licking and Muskingum counties responded to a fire on Dragoo Road. / Michael Lehmkuhle, The Advocate
HANOVER TOWNSHIP — No one was injured in a house fire that took multiple fire departments hours to put out Monday evening.
Firefighters responded to 2601 Dragoo Road near Marne Road in Hanover Township at 4:16 p.m. Monday. Flames were visible from the two-story residence and its garage for hours after crews arrived.
North Attleborough firefighters were busy battling a 3 alarm fire at a historic home on South Washington Street today.
Fire Chief Peter Lamb collapsed on scene and was transported to the hospital.
This report says the the Fire Chief was hospitalized for a flu virus or stomach bug.
Chief Pete Lamb also has a web site at petelamb.com. It hasn’t been updated for a while though.
Chief Lamb was recently in the news after he got a bad midyear review by a fire commissioner. Apparently, Chief Lamb did not inform town officials that he planned on running for the board of selectmen. Read that story here.
Fire Chief Peter Lamb is steamed over a midyear review in which a fire commissioner deducted points for the chief’s failure to inform town officials he planned to run for the board of selectmen.
North Attleboro Chief Peter Lamb is placed on a stretcher after collapsing at a fire on South Washington Street. (source)
Firefighters responded to the home, located at 168 South Washington St., at around 2:45 p.m. to find heavy smoke in the basement and the first floor. It is not clear whether anyone was home when the fire occurred.
Smoke continued to billow from the house as firefighters were given an evacuation order at around 3:30 p.m. Firefighters chopped holes in the roof to vent the smoke as they continued to fight the blaze.
December 27, 2010 – JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Firefighters with the Jacksonville Fire/Rescue Department are on the scene of a house fire in the Bartram Springs.
The fire broke out shortly before 3 p.m. Monday.
A man in the house heard the smoke detector go off. When he went upstairs to investigate, he found the heating unit engulfed in flames.
This fire comes 2 days after a story on Christmas day on how Jacksonville has had 39 house fires in the past 3 weeks (link).
An Evanston firefighter remained hospitalized Saturday night after crews battled a Christmas morning fire that ravaged two homes and three garages in the northern suburb.
Two other firefighters were also injured in the blaze on the 1800 block of Laurel that broke out at 5:07 a.m.
Evanston Fire Battalion Chief Don Kunita said emergency crews arrived at the scene three minutes later and found a fire that was “getting big rapidly.’’
Toward the end of the battle against the fire, a “Mayday” was called when one firefighter had trouble breathing.
“He obviously needed help. We got him out of there,’’ Kunita said. The firefighter, a 25-year veteran of the department, was taken to Evanston Hospital, where he was in good condition Saturday night.
FireTruckBlog.com (info and photos source) has a decent write-up with pictures.
Suddenly the captain in front dropped into the basement through a large hole in the floor. He was suspended by his shoulders on electrical wires, the only thing that prevented him from dropping fully into the basement. His partner was directly behind him and instantly transmitted a MAYDAY to Command.
The handline crew on the other side of the wall was now able to see just his head above floor level.
It is pretty funny, but very long. His impression of me this time is priceless.
Fire hits Guadalupe Bliss apartment 12/24
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – A fire has broken out at an apartment complex in Guadalupe Bliss in Makati City, the Makati Fire Station said on Friday afternoon.
The fire has hit Building 5, which is located at the end of the apartment block and near the so-called “Gate 1″ along JP Rizal Extension in Barangay Cembo.
There is an entire series of videos on this fire here.
3rd Alarm Bergey’s Tire Structure Fire – 12/24
On-Scene of a 3rd alarm structure fire at Bergey’s Tire Center in the Retread facility….Pd arrived on location and advised of heavy fire conditions and removed two people from the building….Fire units arrived to heavy fire and called a 2nd alarm….3 Tower ladders 1 Ladder Pipe and 1 Squirt along with several hand lines were in service with multiple tankers supplying water….fire was under control in about 2 1/2 hrs with no injuries, however there was major structural damage to the building….
2nd Alarm; Allentown, PA – 12/25
At 02:15 hours, Allentown Fire Dispatch transmitted a Structural Fire for box 5312, 2115 Downyflake Lane. Engines 11, 14, 9, Truck 2 and BN 3 (Scheirer) respond. Engine 11 arrives and transmits a working fire in a single-story office to the rear of the motel.
Battalion 3 Transmits the 2nd alarm sending Engines 10, 4, 6, Air 1, Car 40, 46 and 48 to the scene. Engine 11 stretches 3 lines with 2 in operation and make a quick hit of the fire.
2nd Alarm; Allentown, PA – 12/26
Box 3435 was transmitted at 17:52 for a structural fire at Izzy Diner, 920 Union Boulevard. Engines 13, 6, 9, Ladder 2 and BN 3 (Scheirer) respond on the ticket.
Engine 13 arrives and reports heavy smoke from the diner. They stretch a handline into the diner and try to locate the seat of the fire. Truck 2 reports fire out of the rear of the building. Battalion 3 transmits a working fire and strikes the second alarm at the sight of fire from the roof.
Engines 14, 4, 10, Air 1, chief 40, cars 46, 48 and FM 3 respond on the second. 4 to 5 lines are stretched and operating. Truckies go to the roof to open up and find more fire. Engine 6 finds some fire in the basement where another line was stretched.
All Hands Working; Whitehall, PA 12/26
At 05:51 hours Whitehall Fire was dispatched to 1634 MacArthur Road for a structural fire at the Finance Adjusters, a automobile repo company.
Assistant Chief Hazl arrived moments later and transmitted a working fire in a single-story commercial building with partial collapse.
4 engines, a squirt, tower ladder and the rescue operate at the scene.
2nd Alarm Barn, South Whitehall, PA – 12/24
South Whitehall companies 3, 32 and 11 respond to a barn fire on Springhouse Road near Highland. Chief 32 arrives and reports debris in the barn burning. Engine 32 arrives and drops a supply line and goes up the driveway to attack the fire.
Shortly thereafter, Chief 32 transmits a second alarm bringing with it Wescosville 30 and Fogelsville 8. Tower Ladder 331 is placed in-service on side 2 of the fire building. The fire is placed under control in about an hour and a half.
Russellville, Alabama Warehouse Fire Fire – 12/25
waff.com:
RUSSELLVILLE, AL (WAFF) – Several fire departments from three different put out a warehouse fire in downtown Russellville.
The Russellville Fire Department was called to the scene of a fire on Lawrence Street at the D & D Tool storage building. When they arrived on the scene at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, flames were already shooting from the building.
IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger weighs in on the Holidays, the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, and the Recent LODD’s in Chicago.
Previous Coverage of the 9/11 Health Care Bill here and here.
Previous Coverage of the Chicago LODD’s here, here, here and here.
Ankum grew up around 92nd and Green streets and moved with his family to Lynwood when he was about 14. He played football and baseball but excelled at basketball, a sport he still loved playing. He also enjoyed cooking and drawing.
Family said that, after graduating from Thornton Fractional South High School, he played basketball at area colleges and later graduated from Kendall College. He decided to take both the Chicago police and fire tests and was accepted first by the Police Department.
Ankum spent about a year as a patrol officer in the South Chicago District, family said, but, after the Fire Department told him it had a probationary spot, he decided to move to what he thought was a less dangerous job.
“He actually switched over because he thought it was safer, and he didn’t want his wife to be up worrying as much as she was when he was on the force,” Charmain said.
Ankum married Dameka, whom he met after she enrolled her daughter at a Chicago day care the Ankum family used to run, about three years ago. Dameka, who works as a secretary in Mayor Richard Daley’s office, has two daughters, Baylee, 10, and Demia, 13.
News of his death rippled down the Southwest Side street where he lived and all the way into rural Wilmington in southern Will County, where Stringer camped on days off since 1996.
“He was a good guy. He helped people,” said Monica Murdaugh, manager of the campground, Lakepoint Club. “(His death has) affected a lot of us.”
Stringer, who was divorced, had a side job as a home inspector, but firefighting was his passion, friends said.
He was a “real man and a damn good fireman,” said a comrade at Engine 63, where Stringer worked. A shift commander there described the scene inside the station as brokenhearted. Firefighters, the commander said, were in mourning.
One firefighter who knew Stringer said of him: “Crazy as all get out. You talk about somebody that was a firecracker around the firehouse — a lot of fun. I’m going to tell you right now, if you couldn’t catch, you couldn’t work with Eddie, because Eddie was bringing it. He was bringing it.”
He said that Stringer was in a motorcycle accident a while back and was out of work for a lengthy period, costing him his spot on the truck he was then on.
Here are some links to learn more about these two Fallen Brothers…
On a personal note here at Fire Critic…It just goes to show that these guys aren’t alone…They have 343 guys along with them. Just look at the screenshot of FireCritic.com below.
8 people have been rescued by Seattle Firefighters at a house fire at 6419 9th Avenue NW. The Fire came in at 4:30am this morning.
Yesterday, I reported on a house fire in Jacksonville. The fire in Bartram Springs was well involved by the time firefighters arrived on scene. Apparently it took them 15 minutes to get there and the homeowner got to watch his house burn up with all of his possessions inside. Now Union Officials are placing pointing the finger at funding.
IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger weighs in on the Holidays, the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, and the Recent LODD’s in Chicago.
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