A fire at the Carriage House at the Cranwell Resort in Lenox has destroyed the historic building. The fire broke out just after 2 o’clock Wednesday afternoon. Fire departments from 20 surrounding towns were called in to help battle the blaze.
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Today has been busy…and very bitter sweet.
Today is very bitter…
Chicago Firefighters are joined by firefighters everywhere as we mourn the death of Firefighters Corey Ankum and Edward Stringer. These deaths occur on the anniversary of two other very well known LODD fires.
Follow the links here and here to coverage on Fire Critic today
Chicago fire personnel evacuate an injured firefighter at a extra-alarm fire at 1700 East 75th Street. (E. Jason Wambsgans/ Chicago Tribune)
Today is also very sweet…
Many firefighters are rejoicing with the passing of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act
Follow this link to the coverage of the Senate passing the bill today
Photo from CNN.com. In the years since 9/11, respiratory and mental health issues have been a concern for firefighters and other first responders.
Today, the Senate passed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act passed through Senate. The measure had previously passed through the House.
There is speculation on why it passed through the Senate after having been shot down just days ago. Some people think it might have something to do with The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart’s hilarious political jabs at the Republicans who filibustered the bill.
It really makes you wonder what the catalyst was. After all, the bill was rewritten removing over $2 billion in cost. Republicans have caught a bad rap on the whole deal…maybe they realized how damaging the bad press could get.
Then again, maybe the nay sayers just did the right thing…we may never know.
Previous coverage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act on FireCritic.com here and here. Rambling Chief also offers coverage here.
Photo from CNN.com. In the years since 9/11, respiratory and mental health issues have been a concern for firefighters and other first responders.
CNN.com:
Washington (CNN) — The Senate on Wednesday passed a compromise version of a bill to provide free medical treatment and compensation to first responders of the September 11 terrorist attack.
The bill passed on a voice vote on what is expected to be the final day of the lame-duck session of Congress. It now goes to the House, which also is expected to approve it and send it to President Barack Obama to be signed into law.
Jubilant Democrats hailed the last-minute approval as a triumph for firefighters, police officers and other emergency personnel who put themselves in harm’s way to help others in the 2001 terrorist attack.
Related Video:
Rep. King: Coburn Wrong on 9/11 Health Bill
GOP lawmaker responds to senator’s opposition to legislation
Previous Coverage on The Daily Show Below
Daily Show: Republicans Block 9/11 Health Care Bill
Republican senators refuse to vote on the 9/11 health care bill until wealthy Americans receive an engraved notification that their taxes won’t go up.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Republicans Block 9/11 Health Care Bill | ||||
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Daily Show: Lame-as-F@#k Congress
Here’s a tribute to a few Republican senators who find comfort and advantage in invoking the heroes of 9/11 but refuse to give them health care.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Lame-as-F@#k Congress | ||||
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Daily Show: 9/11 First Responders React to the Senate Filibuster
9/11 first responders express their thoughts on Mitch McConnell’s tearful sendoff of a retiring friend and Jon Kyl’s reasons for why the Senate can’t work after Christmas.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| 9/11 First Responders React to the Senate Filibuster | ||||
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Daily Show: Worst Responders
Senate Republicans filibuster the Zadroga bill but pass tax cuts for the wealthy, which is great news for firefighters who make over $200,000 a year.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Worst Responders | ||||
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Firefighters Cory Ankum and Edward Stringer Died in the Line of Duty December 22, 2010.
It should be noted that today was a very deadly day 100 years ago in Chicago. On December 22, 1910, 21 Chicago Firefighters died in a massive fire at the Chicago Union Stockyard Fire. Up until September 11th, this had been the deadliest LODD fire in fire service history.
In addition…11 years ago today, 3 firefighters died in Keokuk, Iowa.
Previous Coverage on FireCritic.com
Previous Coverage at STATter911.com
Previous Coverage on Firefighter Nation
FirefighterCloseCalls.com Coverage
Chicago fire personnel evacuate an injured firefighter at a extra-alarm fire at 1700 East 75th Street. (E. Jason Wambsgans/ Chicago Tribune)
Suntimes.com:
Two Chicago firefighters were killed Wednesday morning and 14 others were hurt when a roof and wall collapsed while they were fighting a fire in an abandoned, one-story, brick former laundry building on East 75th Street.
The two firefighters were identified as Edward Stringer, a 12-year veteran, and Cory Ankum, a member of the department for two years.
Two other firefighters were trapped inside the former Sing Way Laundry at 1744 E. 75th, near South Shore High School, before being pulled to safety and taken to hospitals.
Chicago CFD Fire Fighter Motorcade Form Northwestern Hospital. December 22,2010
The Mayday and Radio Traffic
Chicago FF Mayday 12/22/10 from a 3-11 fire on East 75th St Audio used under a creative common license from Radioreference.com
More News Coverage
News Coverage from the Incident
Video and Audio: LODD: Two Chicago Firefighters Killed after Mayday and Collapse in Chicago Building Fire
1 comment
Chicago fire personnel evacuate an injured firefighter at a extra-alarm fire at 1700 East 75th Street. (E. Jason Wambsgans/ Chicago Tribune)
Two firefighters died after a wall collapsed during a 3-11 alarm fire at an abandoned South Side commercial building this morning, authorities said. Fourteen other firefighters were injured, including two who were trapped with the ones who died.
Police squad cars escorted two ambulances north on Lake Shore Drive to Northwestern as ramps were closed to clear it of traffic, according to fire communications. One of the firefighters taken there has died, sources said. The condition of the other one was not known.
CHICAGO — Two Chicago firefighters were killed and 14 others injured after a building collapsed during a fire this morning . The collapse prompted a Mayday alarm just after 7 a.m. in an abandoned brick building at 1744 E. 75th Street when a wall collapsed trapping them at least four of them inside.
Four of the firefighters were listed in critical condition, another eight in stable, according to Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Robert Hoff.
“We got firemen unaccounted for,’’ according to Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford who was on the scene at 7:30 a.m. “Right now we’re working to get inside the building,’’ Langford said.
As of 7:24 a.m. the alarm has been elevated to a 3-11 and an EMS Plan II, which automatically sends about ten ambulances to the scene, is in effect, Knight said.
Knight said the building is 40 feet by 125 feet.
News Coverage
- STATter911.com: Breaking news: Wall collapse in Chicago injures 4 firefighters. One still trapped. Live dispatch.
- Firefighter Nation: Chicago Firefighters Trapped In Vacant Building Fire Collapse
- Firefighters unaccounted for, 3-alarm fire burning in South Shore
- Firefighters trapped after building collapses, call for MAYDAY response
- Firefighter unaccounted for at South Side fire
- Report: Four firefighters trapped after building collapses
- Fire Traps Firefighters in Building on South Side; 3 Rescued, 1 Still Missing
- 4 Firefighters Trapped
Firefighters dig through rubble as they search for trapped colleagues after a brick wall collapsed at a South Side fire in a vacant commercial building. (WGN-TV)
Live Video
Cnn.com has live video here
Live Audio
WLS-TV slideshow from chopper
Live Chicago Fire Department audio here and here
Video Coverage
Video Coverage
Video Coverage
Amazing Video: Helmet Cam Videos House Fire in Cedar Rapids, Iowa From Response to Extinguishment
1 commentCedar Rapids firefighters battle a house fire on December 8, 2010. This video recorded by helmet camera shows everything from response, to roof vent, to search, to extinguishment.
Apparently, the Cedar Rapids Fire Department has loaded this on youtube and will be using this as a training video.
I would like to offer a partial critique…below the video.
Visit the Cedar Rapids Fire Department here
The press release has been added to the bottom. Once again, thanks to Dave Statter for the hookup on the press release. STATter911.com has now posted the video with a little more information from the PIO.
I understand that my department and my way might be different than the Cedar Rapids FD way of doing things. Potentially, some of my comments might be wrongly identified and maybe even debunked by Cedar Rapids guys. I welcome that!
As for the overall ability of the firefighter we follow from his POV (point of view) I will say that he does a pretty decent job. He communicates well and gets the roof vented. He comes off the ladder, does a 360 degree walk around and radios what he finds. He then cuts off the gas. Next he ladders the roof, and gets tools and a roof ladder. Another firefighter joins him to do a quick vertical vent. Great job.
One question…who did the search? The news reported that a neighbor rescued one occupant. Maybe they already confirmed it was unoccupied when they got there. Do we still do a search?
The fire was started by the car in the garage/carport. Firefighters probably did not know that going into this. It might have helped to knockdown the fire from the outside first. After all, it took 5 minutes after the ladder arrived to get the hose in the door. At the 12 minute mark, most of the fire was still rolling. Maybe the bulk of the fire was outside of the living space of the house.
In comparison to my FD, I really think that the bulk of the fire would have been out by the time these guys got the hose inside (armchair quarterbacking). What gives you might ask? That is easy…Fire Department culture, experience, knowledge, manpower, SOP’s, and a lot of other variables. Translated…these guys might have done a perfect job under the operational culture of their fire department.
Either way, this is a very impressive look at firefighting from the first person POV!
In the end, I don’t think any firefighters got hurt. Hopefully, firefighters will be able to identify areas to improve on. We should do that after all the calls we run.
Here is news coverage:
Neighbor Helps Resident from Fire at 430 20th Street NW
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – December 8, 2010 – Roberta Ackman, age 80, arrived home from the grocery store and pulled her 1998 Buick Regal into the attached one-stall garage of her single-story residence. As she was unloading groceries, smoke started coming from the engine compartment of the vehicle. The smoke soon turned to flames and started to involve the entire garage with fire.
A neighbor, Paul Michelson, age 47, witnessed smoke pouring from the nearby garage and assisted Ackman out of the garage to safety. The fire was reported at 4:34 p.m. to 911.
As firefighters arrived on scene, the entire attached garage was involved with fire and the fire had spread into the adjacent living room and kitchen area of the house. Fire crews made entry through the front door of the residence and pushed fire back to the north side of the structure that was already involved with fire. Firefighters were able to create an effective ventilation hole in the roof that contained fire damage to one half of the structure. There was major fire, heat and
smoke damage to the one half of the house, but the other side of the house, which includes three bedrooms and a bathroom, sustained only light smoke damage.
An investigation by the Fire Department verified that the fire originated in the vehicle in the garage. The exact cause will likely not be determined due to the fact that the vehicle is totally destroyed.
The house is owned by Roberta Ackman and Diane Ackman, age 51. Diane Ackman was not home at the time of the fire. The occupants are being assisted by the American Red Cross. Both occupants are displaced due to the extensive damage.
No further information available at this time.
Backstep Firefighter was first up with this one here.
140 firefighters battled a high rise fire in the Bronx today. The building is located at 1882 Grand Concourse, near East Tremont Avenue.
You can see in the first video how the firefighters deploy the high rise fire blanket that is supposed to cover up the opening. You can view a high rise fire blanket here although I do not know if that is the type used in this fire.
I wonder what the FDNY guys think about its effectiveness.
TOWSON, Md. — Baltimore County fire crews battled a two-alarm fire that destroyed a chiropractic office in the heart of the Towson business district.Firefighters responded just after 2 a.m. Tuesday to a fire at Adolph and Kalkstein Chiropractic on the second floor of a building at 28 W. Pennsylvania Ave.The fire was brought under control just before 3 a.m.
Responding Departments include Baltimore County FD, Towson FD, Hillendale FD, Providence FD, Brooklandville FD, Lutherville FD, Pikesville FD, Cockeysville FD, and Chestnut Ridge FD.
Amazing Video: Neighbors Catch Tenant as he Falls from Second Story Balcony in Perth Amboy
1 commentThere are several videos below on this fire. The most amazing is the first one as neighbors help rescue a man who falls from the second story balcony.
Firefighters battled a third-alarm blaze for hours Sunday evening at a Perth Amboy townhome complex. (Courtesy: M. Kennedy)
PERTH AMBOY — Officials are continuing to investigate the fire Sunday night that displaced nearly 100 residents of the Harbortown Terrace development in Perth Amboy, authorities said.
Management officials, meanwhile, were trying to relocate the residents after the blaze damaged or destroyed 31 of 32 units of one building, the city fire department said Monday. Victims were being taken in by relatives and were referred to the American Red Cross, who was distributing vouchers at the Alexander Jankowski Community Center on Olive Street.
No serious injuries were reported.
Here is the fire after it made it through the roof.
Another one late into the fire
“Advise PD (aka Petey) that we have Etoh on board”.
We all know what ETOH means, but what the hell does it stand for. It means that our patient is drunk. It stands for Ethanol.
Ethanol is a straight-chain alcohol, and its molecular formula is C2H5OH. Its empirical formula is C2H6O. An alternative notation is CH3–CH2–OH, which indicates that the carbon of a methyl group (CH3–) is attached to the carbon of a methylene group (–CH2–), which is attached to the oxygen of a hydroxyl group (–OH). It is a constitutional isomer of dimethyl ether. Ethanol is often abbreviated as EtOH, using the common organic chemistry notation of representing the ethyl group (C2H5) with Et.
I bet that some of you didn’t know that! I didn’t.
Ethanol Fires, otherwise known as “invisible fire” is very dangerous. Ethanol burns a blue flame and smokeless….. and are darn near invisible to the naked eye. If you cannot see it, you could very easily find yourself enveloped in fire before you realize it.
Ethanol fuel is ethanol (ethyl alcohol), the same type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. It is most often used as a motor fuel, mainly as a biofuel additive for gasoline. World ethanol production for transport fuel tripled between 2000 and 2007 from 17 billion to more than 52 billion litres. From 2007 to 2008, the share of ethanol in global gasoline type fuel use increased from 3.7% to 5.4%.[1] In 2009 worldwide ethanol fuel production reached 19.5 billion gallons (73.9 billion liters).[2]
Today, we had a short hazardous materials class led by Lt. Travis Simmons. I enjoyed learning a few new things. It made me think about a video below that I had watched a while back and I figured I would put this article together.
Most of the useful information in this post is in the links. There are links below to A LOT of useful information on Ethanol fuels and Ethanol fires.
Jamie-Andrea Yanak / AP file Several cars from a freight train hauling ethanol and other hazardous chemicals derailed in Painesville, Ohio, in October, setting off a large, smoky fire and prompting the evacuation of a half-mile area.
Information on extinguishing Ethanol fires (link with plenty more info.): A series of performance fire tests were conducted on denatured ethyl alcohol, ethanol, (95% ethanol that was denatured with 5% gasoline) and on gasohol (defined by API as regular unleaded gasoline with up to 10% by volume ethyl alcohol). The purpose of the test program was to evaluate the effectiveness of various foam concentrates and other water additives on these two types of fuels.
Another article with extinguishing information here: Many fire departments around the country don’t have the foam, don’t have enough of it, or are not well-trained in how to apply it, firefighting experts say. It is also more expensive than conventional foam.
Post incident perspective of an Ethanol tank fire:
The Incident: The Incident One person is missing, and another has minor injuries after an explosion and fire at an ethanol tank at Port Kembla, south of Wollongong, in New South Wales. The tank, 7 million litres of inflammable liquid, blew up near the Port Kembla steelworks shortly before 10am AEDT.
Training module on Fire Fighting Foam Principles and Ethanol-Blended Fuel (.pdf)
Two Firefighters recently died in an ethanol truck fire. The Secret List has the story here.
Maybe the idea for the next clip from Talladega nights came from Mears fire above…enjoy!
One of the larger more recent ethanol fires occured in Baltimore as seen in the video below. During the video, you can see flames, but that is not the ethanol burning. The ethanol had burned off by this point. When the ethanol was burning, the ethanol and invisible flame was rolling off the edge of the bridge and burning cars below.
May 13, 2007 Baltimore, MD. A tanker truck overturned and burst into flames on a curving interstate ramp, killing the driver and sending a burning stream of its load of ethanol into the street below, igniting a row of parked vehicles.
Today, an enormous fire after a pipeline explosion in Mexico killed 20+ people, many of them children.
The explosion and subsequent conflagration is thought to have been started after thieves were illegally trying to steal oil by extracting it from the pipe.
Ulises RuÃz Basurto / EPA A view of a burnt road after an explosion of a pipeline in San Martin Texmelucan, Mexico, Dec. 19.
The latest report is that 27 people have died, over 50 injured, 32 + houses burned and over a hundred more damaged by the fire.
Many have said that the fire flowed right through the streets after the explosion.
More coverage:
MSNBC photo blog – Twenty-three killed, 32 houses damaged in Mexican pipeline explosion
MSNBC – 27 killed in Mexico pipeline explosion
CNN – Oil pipeline explosion kills 27 in Mexico
Administration & Leadership
Republicans Kill the 9/11 Health Bill – Lame-as-F@#k Congress
Firefighter Safety & Health
Video Review: Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer with Host Randolph Mantooth
Firehouse Pranks
Firefighter Pranked at the Wrong Time and Almost Loses It
Humor
Beloit Fire Audio Remix…You thought it was funny the first time!
Major Incidents
Video: 4 Alarm Fire at Historic Provo Tabernacle in Provo, Utah
Video Update: Charlotte Greater Alarm Fire on Reafield Drive
Video: Massive 3 Alarm Apartment Fire in Charlotte
Product Reviews
Video Review: Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer with Host Randolph Mantooth
Safety
Video: Car Slams into Firetruck in Turkey
Videos
Early Video: Homeowner Videos Fire Before Getting Out of the House
Raw Video: Advantage Rental Burns in St. Albans, Vermont
Aerial Video: House Fire in North Seattle Golden Gardens Area
Video Review: Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer with Host Randolph Mantooth
Time-lapse Video: Buildings Burn and are Torn Down in Cloudcroft, NM…in 52 seconds
Fire Video: 3 Alarm Fire in Uxbridge, MA injures 4 Firefighters
House Fire Video/Audo: Beloit, Wisconsin…”You ain’t lived in Beloit very long!”
Video and Photos: Abandoned Clubhouse Blaze at Boca Raton Executive Country Club
The other day, I posted Jon Stewart’s Lame as F@#k Congress. The feature on the Daily Show was an eye opener for many and focused on the Republicans who killed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.
The show below shows four 9/11 First Responders giving their thoughts on the Filibuster by Republicans.
Hat tip to the @setla
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| 9/11 First Responders React to the Senate Filibuster | ||||
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Donald W. Meyers | The Salt Lake Tribune Smoke pours from the Provo LDS Tabernacle Friday morning as firefighters battle an early morning blaze in the building. The fire gutted the building and collapsed the roof. source
Updated: You can view a photo gallery of the fire here.
I also added 3 more vidoes below.
PROVO — Smoke billows from the Provo Tabernacle as firefighters continue to work on a four-alarm fire that gutted the historic building.
Authorities say a security guard noticed the fire at 100 S. University Ave. and alerted them at 2:43 a.m. Provo Fire Marshal and Battalion Chief Lynn Scofield told KSL when firefighters arrived, heavy smoke was pouring from the upper levels. Crews considered an offensive approach but when they tried to enter the building they determined it wasn’t safe. They have been fighting it defensively from the outside ever since.
The roof collapsed around 6 a.m. and Scofield said parts of some walls have come down. Our crews on the scene said smoke has poured from every window and door in the building.
Video Courtesy of KSL.com
Check out this video as the homeowner (or tenant) begins recording before leaving the residence. Then watch as the fire grows before crews arrive.
BCLocalNews.com has the story:
Port Alberni firefighters are battling a fire in a housing complex on Eighth Avenue by Dogwood Street.
It is unknown at this time whether all residents from the housing complex have been evacuated. The Port Alberni Fire Department had three trucks battling the fire, the call for which went out shortly after 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 13.
A housing complex on Eighth Avenue between Roger and Dogwood streets in Port Alberni is on fire. SUSAN QUINN/Alberni Valley News
I posted this story as it was going on on Tuesday. Now, there is more video available from the scene.
View the original article here with video.
Since then, the Charlotte FD has posted information on the Charlotte Fire Blog as well
On December 14, 2010 at 10:26 AM (14) Companies of Charlotte Firefighters, (1) Heavy Rescue Company, (4) Battalion Chiefs, (1) Deputy Chief, (1) Emergency Management Coordinator, (3) Fire Investigators, and (2) Fire Inspectors responded to a greater alarm fire at 6304 Reafield Drive in south Charlotte. At least eleven residents were displaced and although there were no human causalities, one canine perished. Fire Investigators said the fire began in the attic space and was caused by an electrical failure. Damage is estimated at $750,000 to $1,000,000.
The Advantage Rental building caught fire tonight in St. Albans, Vermont.
The three videos below show the fire get a head of the firefighters and quickly venting itself through the roof.
It is obvious that the firefighters might have had water issues as they set up drop tanks and tanker shuttles.
For the complete story click on the link below.
WCAX.com:St. Albans, Vermont – December 15, 2010
A St. Albans business was destroyed by fire Wednesday afternoon.
Firefighters responded to Advantage Rental on the Sheldon Road where smoke was showing. But the furniture and appliance rental store soon erupted in flames.
Bitter cold temperatures made it difficult to fight the fire and firefighters were also hampered because much of their equipment was still frozen from a fire they fought Tuesday night.
This is a prank that has been around for a long time. The thing that makes this even more funny is that the firefighter is on the phone in some hypochondriac rant about how he doesn’t get a little sick, he gets deathly sick.
And then it happens. The setup has occurred, the camera is in place…and the prank happens.
Then the firefighter starts to lose it.
Good job guys.
Check out the aerial coverage of this fire in North Seattle. Video is below.
Flames have completely engulfed a house in the 3000 block of Northwest 93rd Street, and firefighters are working to keep the blaze from spreading to nearby homes.
Firefighters were dispatched to the home at about 7:40 a.m., but fire had already spread through the home before they arrived. Smoke from the blaze could be seen billowing over the Golden Gardens area.
I have kinda been sitting on this one a while, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act was voted down in Senate. Today, a friend sent me the link to the video below and I had to run it!
Who better to explain what happened and expose the GOP leaders who continue to utilize 9/11 to seem compassionate all the while not giving a damn about the first responders who worked at Ground Zero than Jon Stewart on the Daily Show. Even if this is Political humor, the humor is typically not to far from the truth.
The House bill passed at 268 to 160 (17 Republicans voting for the bill and 157 against). Only 3 Democrats voted against the House Bill.
The Senate bill failed. The vote was 57-42, short of the 60 votes in favor needed to proceed under Senate rules.
Getty Images. (source) Construction workers at the World Trade Center site in October. A bill to provide health care to workers sickened by toxic debris during the recovery effort at Ground Zero failed a test vote in the Senate on Thursday.
All I can say is that this is ammunition for when the debate comes up next time at the firehouse. You know, when all those guys sit there and talk about Abortion and Gun Rights…claiming that the Democrats are going to take away their guns.
That being said, I am not a staunch Democrat. I vote for the candidate. My livelihood comes from my job. Therefore, issues like abortion and gun rights take a back seat to those which directly affect my job. Certainly, the Democrats are not perfect…but it is despicable for these Republicans to think that they can stand behind the flag of OUR FALLEN BROTHERS and then vote down a bill which provides for our first responders at Ground Zero.
Watch the video below….til the end!
The Bill:
Known as the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, the bill bears the name of a New York City detective who participated in the rescue and recovery efforts at ground zero for about three weeks after the Sept. 11 attack.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Lame-as-F@#k Congress | ||||
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The Silent Killer – visit the web site for more information and to request a free DVD.
Firefighters have enough to worry about on the fireground. Things like fire behavior, reading smoke, wearing PPE, building construction, and many more. Over the years, firefighters have developed training, education, protocols, safety ideology, and risk management in a job that is as dangerous as it gets. So many things in our job on the fireground we can recognize using our senses like smells, sights, feeling, and hearing…
We rely on these senses to recognize and understand our environment, and keep us as safe as possible while operating in deadly conditions.
What if there was something on the fireground killing firefighters that you cannot see, you cannot feel, you cannot smell, and you cannot hear. What if I told that that it could increase your chances of a heart attack and/or stroke even up to 72 hours AFTER you leave the fireground AND your exposure to it happens after MOST of the danger on the fireground is over.
What if I told you that it can kill you immediately.
Carbon Monoxide – The Silent Killer
I am talking about Carbon Monoxide…The Silent Killer.
Carbon Monoxide is the Number 1 cause of poisoning deaths in the world. Firefighters have an increased risk operating around Carbon Monoxide and Cyanide on the fireground.
Consistent exposure to Carbon Monoxide (CO) can cause serious disabilities, heart attacks, strokes, Neurological disorders, and premature death.
The leading cause of death for firefighters is heart attacks and strokes. Carbon Monoxide exposure increases those risks.
Randolph Mantooth hosts a short video teaching the effects of exposure to Carbon Monoxide. The video is also available as a DVD free of charge.
The video is not over the top and they don’t try to shove the lesson down your throat. The message is simple. Know your environment and wear your SCBA through the overhaul stages of fire. What you can’t see and can’t smell can kill you… Carbon Monoxide…The Silent Killer.
I also love seeing my IAFF logo in the video showing that they are doing their part to educate us on The Silent Killer.
“Firefighters take necessary risks every day, but CO is an unnecessary risk. Educate yourself on CO, wear your mask during overhaul, avoid exposure, and get yourself tested… so you’ll be around to share with your family, life’s most precious moments.”
Randolph Mantooth
Johnny Gage from Emergency!
Watch the video below, watch it with your entire crew. Email it and share it.
Chiefs…send it out to your entire department. Because what firefighters don’t know could kill them. As the soundtrack says in the video…Move Us Further Down The Line….Move Us Further Down The Line….
Visit TheSilentKiller.net for more information on Carbon Monoxide, to request a free DVD, and learn more about The Silent Killer.
The Fire Critic offers product reviews. Please visit this page for details on how to get your product reviewed and what our policy is on reviews.
A massive 3 alarm fire burned an Apartment building in South Charlotte this morning.
I will be following and updated this story.
Updated: News from Tuesday night.
Chopper video at WSOC TV
CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) – Firefighters battled a two-alarm fire in a three-story apartment building in south Charlotte for more than an hour Tuesday morning.
Flames ripped through the roof of the building. Photo from WBTV.com:
The fire was at the Archstone Apartments at 6304 Reafield Drive which is located off Highway 51. The fire was reported around 10:30 a.m. and firefighters from a nearby fire station arrived about three minutes later.
When Sky 3 flew over the scene at 10:47 a.m., we could see flames and smoke coming from the top of the apartment building. Smoke from the fire could be seen for miles.
Several fire trucks and about 60 firefighters with the Charlotte Fire Department were called to the scene to assist.
Watch the video here from the chopper video at WSOC TV. They also have a photo slideshow here.
More links:
CharlotteObserver.com: Photos from the scene
WBTV: Firefighters battle massive apartment fire in south Charlotte
FoxCharlotte.com: 3 Alarm Fire At South Charlotte Apartments
Charlotte.News14.com: Three-alarm fire destroys 10 units at S. Clt. complex
WCNC.com:Flames engulf south Charlotte apartment building
Charlotte Fire Blog
The other day, I posted a video of a house fire in Beloit, Wisconsin (watch the original here). The video is not that great, but the audio is hilarious!
I then said it would be hilarious if someone did a remix of the audio/video because I knew it would be funny.
Well, someone came through with it. Who you might ask? ELAFF is who. Who is ELAFF? Thats easy… it is Excessive Leather Accessories for Firefighters.
ELAFF is a Dedicated to leather firefighting accessories, and the firefighters with a fondness for wearing them…sometimes in excess.
(You know who you are.)
ELAFF is a facebook fan page that often posts links to interesting firefighting articles and videos.
The purpose of ELAFF:
To support our firefighting brethren who choose to wear so much leather crap that it often slows and hinders their ability to quickly enter the apparatus, let alone function efficiently on the fireground.
Check out this time-lapse video of two buildings burning in Cloudcroft. Before they were done, the Fire Department had the buildings demolished.
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at the Pinestump Mall in Cloudcroft, N.M. on Monday, Dec. 13. The fire, which started at approximately 4 a.m., destroyed two buildings along the village's boardwalk on Burro Street. (J.R. Oppenheim / Alamogordo Daily News)
CLOUDCROFT — The village of Cloudcroft was shocked after a fire gutted a portion of its main shopping strip in a forest community that is a favorite retreat for residents of El Paso and Las Cruces.
The fire destroyed the Pine Stump Mall and the Copper Butterfly store on Burro Street — Cloudcroft’s main shopping strip — and dealt a severe blow to the economy of the mountain village that relies on visitors.
Cloudcroft Mayor Dave Venable said no one was injured in the fire and the buildings were unoccupied at the time of the blaze, which began around 4 a.m.
This video is via liveleak. Searching the internet for more information uncovered nothing.
I don’t know if this is new or not, but I haven’t seen it before.
Hat tip to Drew Abel for finding this one.
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