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Another Set of Train Horns…The Fire Critic Gets Schooled

You might remember I ran a post recently on the Granville VFD in West Virginia and their installation of train horns on their engine and ladder.

Since then I have been schooled on something I knew nothing about!

First things first…they aren’t actual train horns. They are more likely a horn similar to the ones that Wolo (I should get paid for that link) makes. That little tidbit came from a friend on facebook. Apparently actual train horns are different.

The other thing I learned was that these have been installed on apparatus at least back to the 70′s. Check the comments on the previous train horn post about other departments who have used them…including FDNY’s Rescue 3 back in the early 70′s.

As always, thanks for the lesson!

Here is another short video of train horn usage… Shrewsbury Rescue 61 (hat tip Ande Ebling)

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 11, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, News, Videos • Tagged: Apparatus, Fire Critic, Fire Truck, Fire Truck Train Horn, FireCritic.com, Rhett Fleitz, Train Horn, Train Horn on Fire Apparatus

Amazing Video: Burning Vehicles Explode in Italy and Belgium

5 comments

I have no clue as to how many vehicle fires I have run in my career. Not that it is a shit ton more than other firefighters, but my point is more that I have never seen a vehicle explode like either of the ones below. Maybe more common would be a tire exploding on a well involved car fire, but nothing like this.

What about you all? Have you ever experienced anything like this?

Check out this video of a Chrysler Voyager exploding in Naples, Italy. The vehicle is on fire as the video rolls and as you hear the Fire Apparatus getting closer, the vehicle explodes. Luckily, the firefighters are not putting out the fire as this happens. The Liveleak video explanation simply says that no one died.

Then there is this vehicle fire in Brussels, Belgium that explodes prior to the Fire Department arriving.

Here is some bonus footage of a car fire that might be more typical in the States….minus forgetting your helmet. Hat tip to ELAFF for this one.

Then again…Maybe these LA Firefighters are glad their vehicle didn’t explode like above. Note the use of SCBA (or lack their of).

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 10, 2011 • Filed under: EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News, Videos • Tagged: Belgium, Brussels, Car Fire, Fire Critic, FireCritic.com, Italy, Naples, Rhett Fleitz, Vehicle Fire

Amazing Video: Firefighters Daring Icy Pond Rescue of Young Boy

1 comment

Check out this video of a daring rescue by firefighters to save a boy who fell through an icy pond. The firefighters didn’t have the time (and maybe not the gear) for ice rescue suits, so they do what they have to do. The video is from Lakewood, Colorado.

You will have to click on the image for the video. Normally I wouldn’t post a link to this type of video because the embedding is disabled and I freakin hate that. But this is a short video and worth the view! View the video here or click the image.

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 10, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighting Operations, News, Videos • Tagged: Fire Critic, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighting, Ice Rescue, Lakewood Colorado, Rhett Fleitz

Classic Firefighter Prank: The Panties on the Turnout Pants

1 comment

Here is a classic prank. Firefighters “install” some very skimpy thong panties on this firefighters turnout pants. The twist here is that he puts them on during a quick drill evolution and on video. enjoy…

This is a great prank for the rookie!

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 9, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, Firehouse Pranks, Humor, News • Tagged: Fire Critic, Fire Station Prank, Fire Station Pranks, FireCritic.com, Firefighter Prank, Firefighter Pranks, Firefighter Quick Dress, Firehouse Humor, Firehouse Prank, Firehouse Pranks, Humor, Quick Dress, Rhett Fleitz

Video: This is Why We Take an Axe For Roof Ventilation

3 comments

This video of a house fire shows why we take an axe to ventilate the roof in case the saw quits. One firefighter is going to work with an axe, while the other it trying to get a saw going. Of course, we can’t tell if the saw stalled on the roof or if the firefighter forgot to start it on the ground before making his way to the roof (recommended). Luckily, another firefighter brings a second saw to the roof to finish the cut.

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 9, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News, Training & Development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Videos • Tagged: Fire Critic, FireCritic.com, Illinois, LSFD, Rhett Fleitz, Roof Ventilation, Training, Vertical Ventilation, Video

Video: Fatal House Fire in Charlotte

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Information from the Charlotte Fire Youtube channel.

On Thursday February 3rd, 2011 at 5:34 am members of the Charlotte Fire Department were dispatched to a working house fire at 6200 Springfield Dr. . While conducting their search, firefighters located a boy in the upstairs hallway. The young boy was removed and taken to an area hospital for life threatening injuries. The remaining family members who had escaped the fire were also transported to the hospital for treatment. Sadly, on Saturday February 5th, the 11–yr old, Kevin Boardman who was critically injured died. (48) FF’s were needed to knockdown the fire in 1 hour. Fire Investigators have determined that the cause of the fire was accidental. Damage caused by fire, smoke, water, and fire control was estimated at $150,000. Unfortunately, there was no evidence of operable smoke alarms in the home.
Fire Officials implore the population to:
Stay Alert: Be sure to have a smoke alarm in your home
Stay Safe: Test the smoke alarm regularly
Stay Alive: Practice escape plans and establish a meeting place

For more news and information on this fire and the Charlotte Fire Department check out: web site, blog, facebook, twitter

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 9, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News, Rescues, Videos • Tagged: Charlotte, Charlotte Blog, Charlotte Fire Blog, Charlotte Fire Department, Charlotte Fire Department Blog, Fire Critic, FireCritic.com, House Fire, Rhett Fleitz, Video

Live Video: Massive Fire at Mont Belvieu, Texas Petrochemical Plant

1 comment

CNN.com is running live streaming video here

A Texas Oil Refinery is on fire right now. The fire is in Mont Belvieu, Texas. The fire followed explosions heard at Enterprise Products on Sun Oil Road.

The Mont Belvieu Fire Department web site is here

More coverage:

According to Enterprise Products web site: Established in 1968, privately held Enterprise Products Company and its affiliates own significant equity interests in: Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE: EPD) and Duncan Energy Partners L.P. (NYSE: DEP), including the general partner of each. Combined, the partnerships have an enterprise value of approximately $49 billion. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. also has a significant equity interest in Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (NYSE: ETE) and owns Enterprise Transportation Company, one of the top ten tank truck companies in the country. enterpriseproducts.com

FireGeezer had a story on a 4 alarm fire in Texas earlier today here

Large Plant Fire in Mont Belvieu: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 8, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Major Incidents, News, Videos • Tagged: Enterprise Products, Fire Critic, FireCritic.com, Mont Belvieu, Mont Belvieu Fire Department, Refinery Fire, Rhett Fleitz, Sun Oil Road, Texas, Texas Oil Refinery

DO NOT Watch This Video of a Medic Complaining about his Partner!

5 comments

Don’t do it! Don’t watch this video of a medic complaining about his partner. I made it to the 2:46 mark and my ears started bleeding. Is this really what Medics talk about when they get around each other?

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 8, 2011 • Filed under: EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, News, Videos • Tagged: Ambo, Ambulance, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Medical Technician, EMS, EMT, Fire Critic, FireCritic.com, Medic, Medic Truck, Medic Unit, Paramedic, Rhett Fleitz

Video: Worcester Firefighters Battle Stubborn Triple Decker Fire that Leaves 19 Homeless

1 comment

Around 5:30pm, firefighters were called to this Henchman Terrace house for a reported structure fire. Upon arrival, the 3rd floor was fully involved. A 2nd then a quick 3rd alarm were transmitted.

Interior crews had to back out and go to exterior operations as conditions deteriorated and the fire tore through the roof.

Besides the house being at the end of a deadend street, frozen hydrants, ice and several feet of snow hampered firefighting efforts.

The fire was declared under control about 2 hours after the initial alarm.

http://www.providencefirevideos.com

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 8, 2011 • Filed under: EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News, Videos • Tagged: 3 Alarm Fire, Apartment Fire, Fire Critic, FireCritic.com, Rhett Fleitz, Triple Decker Fire, Worcester Fire Department

Train Horns on Fire Apparatus? Good Idea or not, You be the Judge!

16 comments

The firefighters at Granville VFD in West Virginia feel as though they need a little something extra to warn others while responding to calls. That something extra is train horns.

I have not heard of this being done before, but you just never know. This video is from 2009. Yes, I realize that was a little bit ago, but I just came across it (hat tip: carolinas fire page). You can visit the Granville VFD here.

I have posted some fires from Granville here and here in the past.

The video below shows them installing train horns on their engine and ladder… and responding with the horns blowing.

What do you think? Is this a good idea or a bad idea.

All I can think of is the citizens who complain about firehouse sirens. Every once in a while I read about another community complaining about firehouse sirens. There are not too many left across America as pagers can alert firefighters for calls now. The sound was the issue.

How long will it take for people to start complaining about the train horns.

As for me, I think that they might be a little over the top. The air horns on the apparatus I drive seem to be enough to warn MOST people. The ones who can’t hear it because of loud music or whatever I just have to deal with and pay attention to.

Be sure to read the comments on this video too…one guy is talking about putting them on his POV…enough said!

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 7, 2011 • Filed under: EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, News, Videos • Tagged: Air Horn, Fire Critic, Fire Truck Train Horn, FireCritic.com, Granville Fire Department, Granville VFD, Granville Volunteer Fire Department, Rhett Fleitz, Train Horn, Train Horn on Fire Apparatus

Buildings On Fire – Monday Morning Shoutout

1 comment

This weeks Monday Morning Shoutout goes to Christopher Naum’s BuildingsonFire.com.

About the site: The authoritative and informational site that provides leading insights on fire service issues related to Building Construction for the Fire Service, Firefighting Operations and Command Risk Management for Operational Excellence and Firefighter Safety.

Naum also runs CommandSafety.com and TheCompanyofficer.com

The newly developed Buildings on Fire site is one that Naum has been working on for several years. He has finally had the time to put it all together and offers great training and information on the site. Be sure to check it out and bookmark it!

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 7, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Prevention & Education, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Monday Morning Shoutout, News, Training & Development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: Buildings On Fire, Christopher J. Naum, Christopher Naum, Command Safety, Fire Critic, FireCritic.com, Monday Morning Shoutout, Rhett Fleitz, The Company Officer

Video: Fire Truck Runs over Protester in Egypt

1 comment

Watch this video as a fire truck is seen hitting a protester/pedestrian in Egypt. There isn’t much more information available.

I will say this…As unrest continues to spread through Egypt, I can only imagine how difficult it is for firefighters to do their jobs. Obviously, this action is inexcusable, but it is hard to imagine what working in these conditions is like.

Just last week a report on news.oneindia.in reads:

On Thursday, violence intensified in two cities outside Cairo, the situation turned untoward when anti-government protesters burned a fire station and looted weapons and later they turned on police. When protestors firebombed the station the firefighters jumped out widows to save their lives. During the exchange of fire between police and protestors, a 17-year-old boy was gunned down.

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 4, 2011 • Filed under: EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, News, Videos • Tagged: Cairo, Egypt, Egyptian Firefighters, Fire Critic, Fire Truck runs over protester, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighters, Firefighting, Rhett Fleitz, Video

Video: Massive Fire Tears Through Dallas Apartment Complex

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A huge fire tore through a Dallas apartment complex today. The building was three stories tall and located at 6050 Melody Lane in the Tealwood on the Creek community.

Still photo from video on NBC

The 40 displaced residents were kept warm in two DART buses.

More News Coverage:

View more videos at: http://www.nbcdfw.com.

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 3, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Major Incidents, News, Videos • Tagged: Apartment Fire, Building Fire, Condo Fire, Dallas Fire, Dallas Fire Department, Fire Critic, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighting, Melody Lane Fire, Rhett Fleitz, Tealwood on the Creek, Video

The Fire Critic is Back With Fires, Fires, and more Fires!

6 comments

Here is several fires via youtube from the past several days as I have been running the Black Diamond Boots Fire & EMS Blog of the Year Contest.

Norco Fire Company (PA)
Here is an interesting tactic…using a platform to put out a fire in the chimney structure of a house. I don’t have the full story here, but a ground ladder, pike pole, and an 1 3/4″ line would probably be my pick if we rolled up on this. Then again, I work on an engine company.Norco Fire Company web site here

San Francisco
Three fires kept San Francisco busy in the Castro area. Fire Officials say an Arsonist set three fires between 4:30 and 5:30 am in a two block radius. The fires included two 2 alarm fires. Two videos below and news here, here, here, and here.

House Fire in Waipukurau New Zealand
News on the fire here

2 Videos from a house fire in Minneapolis

A vacant house at 2031 Queen Ave. N. in Minneapolis was destroyed by fire on February 2, 2011, at about 10 PM. Two males were seen running from the house and getting into a late model truck, according to a high ranking police source. Neighbors on the scene said squatters had periodically occupied the house. An equally vacant house in close proximity was saved only by the quick and skillful work of Minneapolis firefighters.

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 3, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News, Videos • Tagged: Apartment Fire, Arson, Castro, Fire Critic, FireCritic.com, House Fire, Minneapolis, New Zealand, Norco, Rhett Fleitz, San Francisco, San Francisco Fire Department, Waipukurau

And the Winners are Iron Firemen and Ambo Driver

7 comments

Here is the moment you all have been waiting for…

The winners for the Black Diamond Boots Fire & EMS Blog of the Year for 2010-2011 are:

Iron Firemen.com – Fire Category

A Day in the Life of an Ambulance Driver – EMS Category

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It was a hard fought battle on both sides. This year there were around 90 nominations for 42 blogs and during the votes there were almost 5000 votes. All of the numbers were an increase from last year. Congratulations to both of you!

Iron Firemen won with 36% of the votes for fire blogs. Ambo Driver won with 37% of the votes for EMS blogs. It should also be noted that while Iron Firemen won with a sizable lead, Rescuing Providence gave the Ambo Driver a run for his money!

Thanks so much for the diligent voters and all who nominated their favorite blogs! Feel free to give me any feedback on what I can do to make it better! Next year I am looking at a few changes…but it will definitely be back!

This year, our winners will walking away with a brand new pair of Black Diamond X2 fire boots as well as bragging rights for the next year!

You can see the Black Diamond X2 Boot below as well as check them out via links below!

Black Diamond Boots - Web Site – Twitter – Facebook

Here is a bonus photo for you of the Black Diamond Babes!

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 2, 2011 • Filed under: Blog of the Year, Contests, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Must Read, News • Tagged: A Day In the Life of an Ambulance Driver, Ambulance Driver, Black Diamond, Black Diamond Boots, Black Diamond Footwear, Blog of the Year, Captain Willie Wines Jr., Fire Boots, Fire Critic, Fire Daily, Fireboot, FireCritic.com, FireDaily.com, Firefighter Netcast, Firefighter Podcast, Firefighting, Firefighting Netcast, Firefighting Podcast, Firefighting Radio, Iron Firemen, IronFiremen.com, John Mitchell, Kelly Grayson, NetCast, Podcast, Radio, Rhett Fleitz, The Firefighter Netcast Show

Blog of the Year Winners and Chief Billy Hayes New Show on Firefighter Netcast Live Tonight

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Tonights lineup on Firefighter Netcast includes the announcement of the Black Diamond Boots Fire & EMS Blog of the Year Winners as well as a brand new show hosted by Chief Billy Hayes.

Tune in tonight (February 2, 2011) at 9pm EST for a live show.

The direct link to the show is here

Chief Billy Hayes

Chief Billy Hayes is debuting a brand new show titled “Stop, Drop, and Roll with the Punches” on Firefighter Netcast.

Stop, Drop, and Roll with the Punches will will focus on prevention and risk reduction in the fire service. His guests tonight included Mike Love, Jim Marva, and Dennis Rubin.

Tune in tonight to see what is new on Firefighter Netcast!