Check out this short video of a response by Birmingham’s Bravest to a vacant house fire around 1pm today (as best I can tell).
The video includes a train passing by right in front of the apparatus.
The title of the post is influenced by the comments within the apparatus. Apparently there has been a rash of fires in the Birmingham area recently. Read more here
Check out this video. The fire occurred at the Pike house at Louisiana Tech on Saturday. Three firefighters were injured in the fire.
The story on Shreveporttimes.com states:
Parker said the blaze caused the collapse of the roof, which sent a plume of fire and smoke into the air, and caused some area residents to believe an explosion rocked the house when it was simply the collapsing structure.
You watch the video and be the judge…What do you think it is? A roof collapse, a backdraft, a smoke explosion, or a combination? Additional video of the fire is below.
I am not sure where this video is from, but I thought it was intriguing as to how fast the fire spreads engulfing the lower floor of this apartment complex.
Is that a booster line? The first line off? Maybe that is how they roll…
What line would you pull first?
This is a video of a house fire in Ocean City, New Jersey. The house is well off when firefighters arrive. One firefighter was injured (heat related injury). The fire occurred on Morningside Road. Photos of the fire and more information here
This fire was in Jacksonville, Florida on May 14, 2012 on Cinancy Street. The fire was captured on film by a helmet camera and shared by FDCam.com.
You just can’t win them all can you?
Check out more vids on FDCam.com and their Youtube page. I just wonder when they are going to send me one to try out!
Video info:
Jacksonville, FL
Crews were called for a mid-day structure fire. Fire crews found a large home (approx. 4000sqft) with heavy fire showing from the attic space of the second floor. Initial crews made a search to confirm no one was in the home and secondary units contained first floor fires. After little progress was made units were called out of the building and the fire was darkend down with master streams. Crews were sent back up to contain the fire but were eventually pulled from the home & the fire was contained with defensive tactics.
I work in a department where we utilize a traditional (some might say aggressive) interior attack on fires at every chance we get. Sure, there are some empty lots in our City…including some parking lots downtown. We haven’t saved every building…but our track record is pretty good. Chalk that up to our quick responses and ability of our firefighters. I wish I could say that we get decent fire training made available by our department numerous times each year, but that is not true. I wish I could say that our staffing levels and lack of closing down companies are the reason why our responses are so quick, but our story is very different.
We are just like every other department, we get the job done with what we have to work with.
Transitional attack is something you might see in our department, but you probably wouldn’t hear anyone using the terminology “Transitional Attack”. It would merely be a case of cooling the fire prior to heading inside if needed.
One thing I will note is the old teaching of pushing the fire through the house…I have never seen this happen. I am not saying it can happen. I will just say that the way we used to teach that you HAD to fight fire from the unburned side to keep from pushing the fire will not always occur if you get in their and put plenty of water on the fire.
Their motto is “We test, we demonstrate, you decide”
Watch the video below…
What do you think?
Kill the Flashover is an experiment. Unfortunately for me, I couldn’t find a definitive web site for the project. Joe Starnes’ web site has information on the project(2011 here and 2012 here) and then points to BShifter.com. I couldn’t find any information other than “Blue Card Certification” on BShifter.com though…nothing on Kill the Flashover. Maybe I just couldn’t find it.
There is a Facebook Fan Page for Kill the Flashover here.
There is a Youtube channel for Kill the Flashover here.
The Average Jake Firefighter recently wrote about the video I shared above. The post “So Traditional Attack is Wack Huh?”, delves into what you watched above and discusses its use in his departments.
Mark Vonappen also speaks on the topic in a post titled “Pride and Anecdotes”.
Here are some other videos from Kill the Flashover
Kill The Flashover (Burn Down Training Moment) Albemarle, NC
Watch this video closely and comment what you think the training moment is. There is a very important lesson in this short video that we all need to learn from.
Kill The Flashover Using Air Intake
This video clearly demonstrates the effects on temperature that something as simple as closing a do can do. This footage was taken during the first Kill the Flashover burn held in Shelby, NC in 2011. For more information on Kill the Flashover see us at www.facebook.com/killtheflashover
This is a video of a house fire in South Union. I am guessing PA or NJ…but I am not sure.
I had a couple of thoughts after watching this video.
This house fire occurred today around 1pm in the Stoney Creek area of Ontario, Canada. The home was under construction when workers noticed a small fire. In looking at the video it appears as though the “small fire” was much bigger when firefighters arrived!
The fire went to three alarms. The Hamilton Fire Department responded to the fire.
Links:
Here is another helmet camera video. This one states it is fresh from yesterday morning at 4:30am in Jacksonville, Florida. This footage was taken using the FDCam.com camera.
These FDNY guys have all the fun! This is from Woman v. Workout Ep. 3 and titled “Can a Model Handle FDNY Training?”.
I think she did a pretty decent job. What is interesting for me is seeing a bunch of the stuff at “The Rock” being used. There weren’t any recruits there when I have been there.
From the video info:
Watch as Lauren trains with the firefighters of FDNY at their training facility. There’s no special treatment for this model – she’s taking the test like any other firefighter-to-be. Find out how she handles the heat in this episode of Woman v. Workout!
More Episodes of Woman v. Workout: http://goo.gl/8L6Ko
Check Out More Shows from 3V: http://www.youtube.com/3vOn each new episode of Woman v. Workout, our fearless host will take on a crazy new fitness challenge. Whether she’s learning capoeira, or boxing with the pros, Lauren manages to stay on her feet while wearing a smile (well, most of the time). Subscribe to 3VFitness to see a new episode of Woman v. Workout every Wednesday!
Facebook: http://goo.gl/MeutS
FDIC was a blast. I will probably write some more about our week there in the next couple of days. Someone mentioned to me that the fire blogs were quiet with so many of us at FDIC…I think I am making up for that now.
Willie and I can’t stress enough how much fun we had (even though he is sick as hell still). We always enjoy meeting up with our friends and meeting others for the first time.
As always, there is more posted on The Fire Critic Facebook page as well as on Twitter @FireCritic. Be sure to check it out!
My friend Andrew Catron snagged this picture at the beginning of the FOOLS Brotherhood Bash at FDIC. That is my helmet with a special run MN8 FoxFire band. It was given to all who climbed at Greenbelt, MD 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Great Pic
Here are some recent posts about FDIC:
Add any other links to the comments and I will update
Some other blog authors we ran into:
Dave Statter and I will be speaking in Newark, Ohio on May 23-24. Be there! The gloves are coming off…just kidding, we are speaking not fighting. Ohio Fire & Emergency Services Foundation’s 2012 Leadership Conference. We cover various aspects of social media and the fire service. Join us in Newark, Ohio for May 23 & 24. Click here to sign up.
Captain Wines and I will be in South Dakota in September for a brand new event that promises to be a great one. Check out more on SDFirefighters.com. Wines and I will be speaking and having a great time with everyone else. That isn’t all though. We are actually going to tour South Dakota from Rapid City to Sioux Falls in a Spartan ERV fire engine. Yeah, that is how we roll! SDFirefighters.com
STATter911.com – Death Race 2010 and 2012…I think my chevy could hang!
FireRescue1.com – Practical PPE by Mike McKenna. Firefighter turnouts: Does color impact safety? The visibility of department members the fireground and on the roadways is critical to reduce the risk of injuries
FireGeezer.com – The Fashion Police err FireGeezer has a story about a cutie who headbutted his mom and burned her house down. Read more
Firefighter Nation.com - Massachusetts Firefighters Battle Six-Alarm Fire. Six neighboring departments responded to the Marlborough condo fire.
FireEngineering.com - Grant Awarded to Detroit Fire After Premiere of Documentary Film. Read more
Last I will leave you with this video of a house fire in a small single family dwelling. There is certainly some work being done, it just seems they are having trouble finding the seat of the fire.
Two firefighters venting the roof at a house fire felt the heat tonight in Uxbridge, MA. They were venting the roof via aerial ladder when fire met them and their task was accomplished! The video states it was a close call…I don’t necessarily agree. After all, when you are venting the roof you are above the fire. The aerial operator backed them away from the fire as they began backing down the ladder.
It looked like solid work.
The video states: The 4 alarm fire was in Uxbridge, MA on Kasey Court shortly before 7:30pm on April 10, 2012. The original call came in as a grill on fire but when firefighters arrived, the fire had extended to the house.
This is a unique video. The video is very clear, videoed by a frantic neighbor, and shows pre-arrival fire spread. What is also pretty neat is how the single engine gets some serious work done before others show up…and on tank water!
The house is apparently vacant…yet it WAS potentially occupied by the arsonist when the fire was set. Remember, vacant does not mean unoccupied!
The suspect in setting the fire was seen by neighbors as he tried to leave the scene. Neighbors told a Sheriff’s Deputy who showed up and he went after him. The suspect is being treated for burns…hmmm.
As for where it happened…I did a little searching, but couldn’t quite figure it out. The fire engine says “D2FR” on it. The fire occurred in Bexar County. I believe this is near San Antonio, Texas.
New addition to “Best of the Rest” is the “Random Tweet of the Week”! Scroll down to see this one.
Willie and I are getting geared up for more traveling in 2012. We are looking forward to hanging out with the MN8 FoxFire team at FDIC. In September, Bob Gard is planning one helluva a good time in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. If you are anywhere in the vicinity you will want to be at this event. Willie and I will be speaking, and there will be plenty of other stuff going on as well! We will post more information soon.
In May, Dave Statter and I are presenting in Ohio at the Ohio Fire & Emergency Services Foundation’s 2012 Leadership Conference…Dave has been looking forward to this to some time. He gets to share the stage with his hero err idol (ME). Join us in Newark, Ohio for May 23 & 24.Click here to sign up
If you want to have Willie and I, or Dave and I, or all three of us speak at an event near you just let us know! FireCritic@FireCritic.com
Voting for the 2012 Blog of the Year Contest, hosted by EMS1, FireRescue1 and FireCritic.com, and sponsored by the American Military University, will begin tomorrow (March 14th). There are some great blogs on the ballot in both Fire and EMS categories! There were almost 400 nominations for 55 blogs.
AltKilt.com
Web Site: http://www.altkilt.com/
Facebook: Like them on Facebook: lt.Kilt
Twitter: @Alt_Kilt
Our purpose is to provide functional, stylish and well-made kilts that are individually designed and handmade custom for each client.
Alt.Kilt is making Willie Wines Jr. and I custom kilts. Hopefully, we will be wearing them at FDIC!
You can view all of the weekly drills by FirefighterCloseCalls.com here. Try these two at the firehouse this week:
Brotherhood Cuts – Willie Wines Jr. has an update from this past weekends inaugural “Brotherhood Cuts” fundraiser. The event raised around $2400 for local departments.
I visited the Shoals Volunteer Fire Department. I was there for the 1st ever Brotherhood Cuts Event.
“Brotherhood Cuts” is a fund raising event specifically designed for the fire service. It raises money through the National Firefighters Endowment who in turn, provides much needed funds and equipment to Departments in need all across the Country. Read more here
BostonFireGear.com
MN8 FoxFire is looking for your designs…and you could win!: MN8 Foxfire, you know…the photoilluminscent company, wants your help designing their new shirt! The new shirt will feature the MN8 FoxFire logo on the front and your design on the back. The winner will recieve a $100 MN8 FoxFire credit and a t-shirt. The winning design will be available at FDIC. Check out details of the contest.
There might be a FireCritic/IronFiremen/MN8FoxFire shirt in the near future!
Boston Fire Gear: I just got my St. Patrick’s Day long sleeve t-shirt today from Boston Fire Gear. I love Boston, St. Patrick’s day is one of my favorite days to drink holidays, and as a good friend of mine told me yesterday…that is where Irish people are from! NICE! Get your Boston Fire Gear here
STATter911.com: Dave “The Investigator and UL Tester” Statter is at it again with the vinyl siding. This time, two houses go up in Loudoun County…in broad daylight. Check out the pre-arrival video and Dave’s investigative reporting here.
4 Factor "Thin Red Line" Door Chock
4Factor: Matthew Ritter, one half of the now known writers at ELAFFHQ.com, has branched out. Welcome 4Factor to the mix. Right now they are offering hand painted “Thin Red Line” door chocks. Check out the site here. Like them on Facebook here. I haven’t got my hands on one yet…but I will soon. They retail for $4….however read below.
**Current donations, for EACH wedge purchased , are going to Team ELAFFHQ.com bucket brigade for the National Firefighters Endowment! What this means to you is as follows: For EACH wedge you purchase, we make a donation to the bucket brigade in YOUR name. Each donation in YOUR name enters you into a DRAWING for a Phenix TL-2 Leather Fire Helmet! The more wedges you purchase, the better your odds in winning that helmet! Good luck Brother and Sister Firefighters!
FDNY Supports World Record Attempt: A SCARBOROUGH firefighter’s plans to enter the world record books are gathering pace as his fundraising challenge gets the green light in New York. Justin Rowe, who lives in Scarborough and is watch manager at Malton Fire Station, is planning to run to every fire house in New York in seven days. He will be joined in the challenge by Ryedale station manager Andrew Blades, Whitby station manager Mark Naylor and York firefighter Terrence Gregg. Read more here
FireRescue1.com: Are cellphones that important? Worth your life? FireRescue1.com has the story of a woman rescued from a trash compactor after trying to retrieve here cellphone she accidentally threw away. Read about it here
Magnesium Fire in Bellevue, Ohio
Magnesium Fire in Bellevue, Ohio: FireGeezer.com has this story which hits close to home for The Fire Critic. My Mother’s side of the family lives in Bellevue including my Grandparents. I was just up there for a short visit not too long ago. Paul Hasenmeier shared this photo to the right from miles away.
A MAGNESIUM FIRE PRESENTED THE BELLEVUE, OHIO, firefighters with an unusual challenge Tuesday morning when they responded to the MagReTech factory across the road from the Bellevue Hospital. Read more here
Follow @FireCritic on twitter for more news 24/7!
A quick note about comments on FireCritic.com. Don’t cuss, your comment will not be approved. Other than that, I don’t appreciate or approve assaults on others. That is all.
Web Site: FireProductReview.com
Facebook: Firefighter Product Review
Twitter: @FireReviews1
The Bowring Tool
Feature post: The latest review completed is on the Bowring tool. I (I am one of the reviewers and the site administrator) am seeing how benificial this site can be with letting others rate the products too. I gave the Bowring a 7. The user score is a 3.1 (7 votes total) as of this writing. The site gives users and visitors the ability to rate the products themselves. You don’t have to login to offer your thoughts. If you want to login, you can register or use Facebook to connect. It is as simple as that!
It seems as though there are 3 kinds of people when it comes to the Bowring. Those who love it, those who hate it, and those who have never heard of it.
You can view all of the weekly drills by FirefighterCloseCalls.com here. Try these two at the firehouse this week:
The Blog of the Year Contest for 2011-2012 will be starting on March 1st. This will be the third year for the contest. This year, FireCritic.com teamed up with FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com for the contest. The sponsor this year is the American Military University. Look for more information on the contest, how and when to nominate, and when voting begins in the next two days!
9/11 Memorial Stair Climb - Why We Climb: Taking the Step to Honor and Heal - When five firefighters from Colorado first gathered in the spring of 2005 to climb the stairwell of a local office building, they intended to do it for conditioning and camaraderie. They never thought that, within six years, they would be coordinating a series of nationwide climbs to honor the lives of the 343 firefighters from FDNY who died on September 11, 2001 and help their survivors heal. As we approach the 2012 9-11 Memorial Stair Climbs with the inaugural event at FDIC on April 20 at Lucas Oil Stadium, we look back at a recent event that explains why we climb. Click here to register for the FDIC climb and here to find other climbs this year.
Brotherhood Cuts – I have been mentioning this for weeks. It goes down on March 10th. MtAirynews.com picked up the story and I am even mentioned in the article. Firefighters Shave the Day - “I have decided to join friends and firefighters to shave our heads and mustaches to raise money to help protect each other. The funds raised will go to purchase bail-out kits for fire departments in Surry County,” said Gillett. Read more: Mount Airy News – Firefighters to shave the day
Jordan and her brother at their father's firehouse on 9/11/11
Jordan B. is 9 years old. Her father is a long time reader of The Fire Critic.This year, Jordan is shaving her head for St. Baldrick’s. Read more about this little girl here. Read it here
Jordan is hoping to raise $3000. She has already raised $1780. Help her out! Her message: I’ve answered the call to be a hero! I’m having my head shaved to stand in solidarity with kids fighting cancer, but more importantly, to raise money to find cures. Please support me with a donation to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. This volunteer-driven charity funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U. S. government. Your gift will give hope to infants, children, teens and young adults fighting childhood cancers. So when I ask for your support, I’m really asking you to support these kids.
A lesson in Social Media - Site Unseen: Red Sox Spring Training Park Gaffe: Boston’s beloved baseball team is moving into JetBlue Park this spring in Ft. Myers, Fla. The new crown jewel of the Grapefruit League cost an estimated $78 million to build … but they probably wish they’d spent a few more bucks. A resident not far from the new ballpark owns the most likely web domain name for the Red Sox new spring home. Eric Engelman purchased the site last year. Read it here
The Hose Jockey has an excellent awareness article and video on MAYDAY scenarios. Check it out here
One of the best articles I have read all year resides on FireEngineering.com. The article titled “Thirty Five Years: An Open Letter to My Father”: I barely knew what a screwdriver did when he taught me to tie knots, told me handcuff knots are good for dragging a lifeless firefighter and he taught me a snap bowline and winked, said, “Impress them with that one, kid.” He gave me a prussic and a couple of carabiners and showed me 20 things to do with that loop of rope, like hanging onto a 2 1/2 for an hour despite squad telling me I am a wuss. Read it here
IronFiremen.com – America’s Fire Captain Willie Wines Jr. has been following a local story of a volunteer Chief who has been outspoken against the hiring of a County wide Fire/EMS Director. Willie shoots it straight and offers some quotes from the misinformed Chief. The latest is here. Read previous posts here and here.
Jerry Perdomo is still missing in Maine. I posted here and here on the story. Firefighter Nation has been keeping up with the story and its latest here.
ELAFFHQ.com – The guys at ELAFFHQ are giving stuff away. Word is that they will soon be giving up their identities. Willie and I couldn’t be more proud of this couple for coming out of the closet! Get your swag here!
Statter911.com has the latest on our brothers in Bladensburg here
By now, I am sure you guys have seen the video from the Daytona 500 last night when Juan Pablo Montoya crashed into a jet dryer truck. If not, the video is below
This past weekend was one helluva good time. I clocked out from the computer on my 4 day break (for the most part) and headed skiing with the family. I haven’t been skiing for around 15 years. It was my children’s first time on the slopes, and the first time skiing with my wife. We had a blast. If I had more time, I would have swung in to the McGaheysville VFD located just down the road from Massanutten Resort where we were staying. Already this year, I have family or fire service trips scheduled for Nashville, Gatlinburg, Columbus x2, South Dakota, Aruba, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Chicago, DC, Denver, and New Jersey. Let me know if you want to meet up and I will tell you when I will be in town!
Be sure to follow Fire Critic on Facebook and click “like”
Today’s shoutout goes to some close friends of mine. The guys behind ELAFFHQ.com have emboddied the grassroots effort of creating a fire service community…backwards. Not that there is anything wrong with that! I found it interesting how they created a Facebook Page (albiet a joke at first), then a Twitter account, and finally ended it with a blog of their own. The truest tell of their ability is that they have been able to keep it going for 2 years now. I don’t know the exact timeframe, but most guys pack it up way before 2 years…These guys are still going strong!
Where is Chuck Norris when you need him? Word is that she was talking on the phone about something she was reading on FireCritic.com! Found on the net, not sure if it is a real photo or not.
Facebook: Excessive Leather Accessories for Firefighters
Web Site: ELAFFHQ.com
Twitter: ELAFFHQ
Their latest post “A New Frontier” talks about getting to 1500 “likes” on their Facebook page and then they are going to start giving away swag. Click here, click “like”, and sit back and see if you win!
You can view all of the weekly drills by FirefighterCloseCalls.com here. Try these two at the firehouse this week:
FireProductReview.com - Firefighter Product Reviews is online. Right now, we are still working out the glitches and getting all of the previous reviews online. Next, we have a dozen new reviews to complete and publish. The new site allows readers to rate and comment on the products as well! Check it out now: FireProductReview.com
Two Virginia LODD’s – For those of you who don’t know it, I also run VAFireNews.com. This past week, we have had two Line of Duty Deaths.
Paramedic Weissman’s funeral arrangments are available here
Can anyone tell me what this "FD" mark is next to the front door. The photo was taken in Florida.
Quick Takes on STATter911.com – Dave Statter always has a pile of news saved up for his Quick Takes he publishes on Monday. Read all the latest news here.
Brotherhood Cuts – We are open for business. This is a very cool event that is kicking off on March 10th in North Carolina. Read more about it here. Brotherhood Cuts is an initiative to support the National Firefighters Endowment. Myself and Willie Wines Jr. are looking forward to more events in the future!
Speaking of National Firefighters Endowment…The first sweepstakes winner from The National Firefighters Endowment is Dan Shuck, firefighter at Williamston Fire Dept. He won a Bail-out bag. Connect with the Endowment on Facebook to see when the next sweepstakes will be!
Leatherhead 109 - Remember when the new buzz going around the Internet was all about better ways to do the job? Better tactics, little nuggets, the tips and tricks. That wasn’t all that long ago. I remember one of the websites that I really took a liking to was “Fire Nuggets”…continue reading Fire Service Writing and Blogging: We were on a roll…
On The Lamb Productions - My cousin died in 9/11 and in his honor I created a super hero called Fireman. A young firefighter with soul of a viking warrior in him. It’s a great story. I just released the first issue last week and I’m looking to sell thousands to bring an awareness of the men and woman that sacrifice their lives for everyone. The first responders. There will be 8 issues in this series and all are filled with suspense and drama. Oh and action.
Legislative Appeal for EMS LODD Benefits – Danny was a paramedic, a cop, and a firefighter. If Danny had been working as a law enforcement officer, his family would have been covered. If Danny had been working as a firefighter, his family would have been covered. Danny died in the line of duty, and the federal government denied his family the Public Safety Officer Benefit to his wife & two children because his employer, Bensalem Rescue Squad, is a non-profit. Read my post here
FireGeezer - MORE THAN 100 MONMOUTH COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS were called to a commercial blaze in downtown Long Branch, New Jersey, Monday mid-day. A large and difficult-to-control fire ripped through a 3-story apartment building and several adjoining businesses. via Fire Geezer – The Digital Dayroom – Firefighting Blog.
FireRescue1.com - Medics’ alleged mistakes in Chicago girl’s death likely to cost $1.75M — Chicago taxpayers will likely spend $1.75 million to compensate the family of a 13-year-old girl who died of bronchial asthma in 2002 after a string of alleged mistakes made by Chicago Fire Department paramedics. via Medics’ alleged mistakes in Chicago girl’s death likely to cost $1.75M.
Controversy in Philly: Union says department is punishing heroes with burn policy. Commissioner says it’s about safety. | STATter911.com - From KYW-TV, firefighters are upset over a Philadelphia Fire Department policy about being burned on the job. The union says heroes are being punished instead of praised. The fire commissioner says it’s about safety. via Controversy in Philly: Union says department is punishing heroes with burn policy. Commissioner says it’s about safety. | STATter911.com.
Product reviews are in the works. I have about 10 of them to complete. The hold up is the new site. Look for it in a couple of weeks. If you want/need a product review, let me know and I will set it up!
You can view all of the weekly drills by FirefighterCloseCalls.com here. Try these two at the firehouse this week:
National Firefighters Endowment. The NFE is giving away a bail out kit. You can enter the sweepstakes once per day. It ends Friday! The bail out kit was donated by JB Rescue, Inc. in North Ridgeville, Ohio. Click here to enter. Plus you get 5 entries for every friend who signs up through facebook!
Presenting Dave and I. Dave Statter and I will be presenting in Ohio in May. Dave is already thinking up dreamy names for him and I. Not to worry, I get it a lot. It just never works out for the other guy. They always seem to want to be the bad guy!…I quote
“Come see Superman & Lex Luthor together: Or maybe it’s more like Austin Powers & Dr. Evil. Dave Statter meets Rhett Fleitz. Somehow I ended up on the same bill with THE Fire Critic at the Ohio Fire & Emergency Services Foundation’s 2012 Leadership Conference. It is May 23 & 24 in Newark, Ohio. Lt. Steve Robertson from the Columbus Division of Fire will also be at the conference and may end up having to referee. Click here to sign up.”
Petaluma battalion chiefs appear in Chrysler Super Bowl commercial. Two Petaluma Fire Department battalion chiefs appeared in one of the acclaimed Super Bowl Sunday commercials. Phil Sutsos and Jack Schach appeared for about two seconds in Chrysler Group’s “It’s Halftime in America” narrated by Clint Eastwood.
Statter911.com - Must see video of a fast moving fire: See the firefighter starting to run in the picture to the right? There is good reason. Firefighters in Australia had just pulled up on a box truck fire only to see the location of the fire suddenly move to the other side of a busy four lane road. Don’t miss this video.
Backstep Firefighter So Much For That “It’s Not Vacant Until We Search” Ideology. Bill dissects a fire where a search occufred, a victim was missed, and a body was recovered during demolition.
IronFiremen.com (America’s Fire Captain) just wrapped up a 3 part post about our latest trip to New York City (Haw Dilly). Check them out here, here, and here.
FireRescue1.com:
MN8 Products is the leader in illuminating technology for firefighters. They also have a blog where you can keep up with their travels and new products! Check it out here
Firefighter’s Truck Stolen As He Battled Fort Gibson House Fire. A Green Country firefighter is fired up. The firefighter was the victim of a thief while he was out risking his safety on a house fire. When Virgil Walters got in his pickup and headed to the Ft. Gibson fire station for a house fire call, it was like most other calls he’s had during 16 years as a volunteer.
Check out these stories of rescues…Winston-Salem - Firefighters found a 3-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl unconscious at the house on 1809 Trellis Lane, off La Deara Crest Lane near 25th Street. INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Firefighters rescued a man from a house fire Monday afternoon in the 200 block of N. Glenwood in Independence, Mo.
This is firehouse antiqueing!
Best of the Rest this week…
Reminder: if you want to be included in the “Best of the Rest” just let me know!
Check out this Facebook page: J5 Firelids…this one is new to me. However, if you are in the market to customize your helmet these guys offer custom inserts for your helmet. They offer handcrafted professional accessories created by a firefighter for firefighters since 2008.
If you are looking for a decent example of how to build your community on facebook, check out MN8 Products Facebook Page. They are currently at over 11,000 fans! It is all about communication and building a buzz!
CharlotteObserver.com: Off-duty rookie firefighter alerts couple in burning home - As house fires go, the one early New Year’s Day wasn’t a doozy, but for rookie firefighter Henry Calle it was a big one. Calle, who is 24, had just finished his 24-hour shift at Station 31 on Ridge Road and was heading home with his car windows down. As he passed a small white-frame house on MallardCreek Road, he caught a whiff of smoke. Then out of the corner of his eye, he saw the smoke, pouring from the attic. Read more here
Chad Ochocinco got a reply from @FireCritic on Facebook. I am sure he cherished it and blogged about it!
Ochocinco offering condolences to the family and friends of Peabody FD's Firefighter James Rice.
Chad Ochocinco on Twitter – I have been sitting on this story waiting for the right time to bring it up. I thought it was kinda neat that Chad Ochocinco mentioned the Peabody LODD on Twitter. Ochocinco has over 3 million followers on twitter. It is great to see someone with his celebrity offering condolences for one of our fallen. Follow Ochocinco on Twitter @Ochocinco
Boron Extrication - GM Announces Safety Enhancements for Chevy Volt
TheTailboard.com – Written by Teague Kenny. Read an article on the DCFD..err FEMS…err DCFEMS, or whatever they didn’t agree on…Let’s Hear it for the D.C. FEMS!
Raising Ladders – Need more on DCFD/DCFEMS? This one is hilarious. RaisingLadders.com: Comment Cards
The Fire Critic Product Reviews: You might have seen my brand new helmet adorned with a custom shield from Box Alarm Leather. I am working on a product review for the shield now. Soon I will be wearing custom leather suspenders from Wolfpak LeatherWorks (only seen on Facebook, but a web site is in the works). I currently am wearing Overhaul Logo Nylon Suspenders from Black Helmet (review coming soon). There are so many great firefighter owned and operated companies out there. Be sure to hook up with Fire Critic on Facebook and let us know your favorites! I also have two book reviews coming soon. I just finished the books.
Brotherhood Instructors – Speaking of reviews, the Brotherhood Instructors offer a review of the Bam Bam Tool. Read about it here
Shortage of volunteer firefighters - WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WDTN) – They’re experts at putting out flames, but now they’re fighting something else. ”There is just not the interest there used to be out there,” says Washington Township Fire Chief William Gaul. Over the last decade Washington Township has seen a dip in volunteer firefighters. Continue reading
FireRescue1.com – The Domino Effect, a FireRescue1.com blog by Mark van der Feyst offers this one. Handicap firefighting: Water source issues - Whenever we respond to structure fire, having access to, securing water source is vital component of overall fireground operation
Firefighter Nation - Two Dead, One Critical after Philadelphia Apartment Fire
TurnOut Blog – TurnOutBlog.com is a new blog on the horizon by Eric Lamar. Read his latest about Firehouses: History versus Safety here
Quick Takes on STATter911.com – Dave Statter offers his usual rundown every Monday of his biggest stories from the week prior as well as some other goodies that don’t require a separate article. This is always a great stop every Monday to see what is going on in the World of Fire. Check out Quick Takes for January 9, 2012
FireGeezer – Do you need more fire news? Check out the News Ticker over at FireGeezer.com. Read it here
And finally, I will let you all be the critics! What issues do you see in the video below? It doesn’t matter what department it is…just take a look and discuss how things might have been done better. Is that a red (booster) line?
AllHandsGoingToWork Video by Ed Gray
01.03.12 – Third Alarm – 4945 Broadway – Manhattan, NY.
Fire officials said the blaze erupted around 11 pm Tuesday night inside 4945 Broadway, a Chinese restaurant which had been closed since the summer. It took 138 firefighters from 33 units to bring the fire under control at 2:48 am.
Sources told the Daily News “illegal nighttime welding” inside the restaurant appeared to be the cause of the fire. A spokesman for the NYFD would only say its investigation is ongoing.
Check out this video in Detroit. You guessed it, something is burning!
Bystanders try several times to kick the door in on the exposure of this apartment fire in Detroit. However, it isn’t until 2:05 into the video that bystanders are able to force entry into the apartment next to the one burning using a sledge hammer. The would-be-rescuers then enter the apartment for an impromptu search. After about :30 seconds, they reemerge from the apartment. Firefighters make it to the scene around the 3:00 minute mark. Whaddya Think?
Chalk up one VES, minus the V, for the bystanders…
Welcome to a new column here on FireCritic.com. I am shooting for having this column run on Tuesdays each week. If you have something you want to share whether you are a reader or blogger, have a video or photo, or anything else just let me know.
The Best of the Rest is a column featuring other bloggers, videos, news, and information you might have missed over the past week or so. Enjoy!
You can also follow along and connect with The Fire Critic via Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Youtube.
As seen on FailBlog.com
Addison Fire Protection District – Can this be real? FailBlog.com has this photo of the message board at Addison Fire Protection District Station #3. The message “Better to arrive late than never”..WTF? Who approved this? Maybe the Chief’s message was directed to firefighters and should have read “Better to arrive safe than never”…or maybe it is meant as a message to the citizens and should have been “Call 911 and we will get there whenever we can”.
Daily911Deals.com - 40% OFF MN8 Foxfire Illuminating and Reflective Helmet Tetrahedrons. EXCLUSIVE NEW PRODUCT! I think they are pretty decent tetrahedrons. Read my review here.
Firehouse Zen- Chief Mick Mayers continues to lay it down in his writings that occasionally have me seeking dictionary.com for a definition. Don’t let that dissuade you from reading though. He offers some great insight to the fire service. Check out: OKAY, IT’S 2012: NOW WHAT? and 2012: “WHAT IF?”.
Statter911.com – Dave offers a video of a house fire in Maryland. This is video posted yesterday of a December 23 fire in Upper Marlboro, Maryland (Prince George’s County) Raw Video: PGFD House Fire in Upper Marlboro. Switch to Defensive Operations
911 Memorial Stairclimbs – The majority of the stair climb events are now affiliated with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. One of the original climbs is a bit smaller scale and has a local feel. The Albequrque Stair Climb started in 2003. Read more about it here. If you are looking for a stair climb event check out http://www.9-11stairclimb.com/
Here is a lost photo I just found. This is a picture of Willie and I immediately after climbing 110 floors in Atlanta at FRI for the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.
FireGeezer.com - A FIRE LATE SUNDAY NIGHT in a downtown brothel in Mitchell, Australia, is still deemed suspicious by the fire investigators. The Canberra area business was closed for New Year’s Day, as all the city’s brothels were when smoke was discovered coming from The Gentlemen’s Club on Grimwade Street around 11 pm. http://firegeezer.com/2012/01/02/brothel-fire-suspicious/
The Colorado Firefighter Facebook Page - This page continues to impress me on the sharing of links and information. Check them out here and click “like”!
ELAFFHQ.com – Their latest post “Raise money for a good cause, and get a chance to win a leather helmet” is just that…a chance to win a Phenix Leather Helmet. The chances are $1 a piece and the helmet will be given away once they reach $1000 for the National Firefighters Endowment. Click here to go directly to the donation page. They are currently 1/4 of the way to their goal! The Fire Critic gave $50…If I win the helmet I will give it away to pay it forward!
Fire Service Warrior – This site continues to impress me. The latest post “Brotherhood Insurance: A Pay for What You Get Policy” by Brother Brian Brush is a great post on the Brotherhood of the Fire Service and a must read!
IronFiremen.com – America’s Fire Captain Willie Wines Jr. outdoes everyone on his End of Year Review for 2011. Even though this post probably took three weeks for his little fingers to type, it is well worth a read. See what he has accomplished this past year!
Firefighter Nation – They have the story and the video of a huge fire at a former Illinois factory here.
Happy Medic – The Happy Medic is handing out his “Best of 2011″ awards. Check them out here!
IronsandLadders.com – This blog is great on content. Their latest post “Thru-The-Lock Time Trial (storefront doors)” is just one of many great training videos available.
Brotherhood Instructors – One of the leading privately owned and operated by firefighters instructing team offers “Forcing Doors in Zero Visibility – By Andrew Brassard” Check it out and continue your learning!
FireRescue1.com – They offer this story: Authorities probe fire attacks on 4 NYC sites “Blog post that may be linked to attacks: ‘Throw 10 Molotov cocktails into these mosques and burn them down’” Read it here
I love sushi and I love wasabi. I understand the use of wasabi and how it enhances the flavor with a little spice. I would never eat a spoonful of wasabi. I don’t think this next firefighter ever will…again! He might say this is a near death experience! Maybe this is the new cinnamon dragon challenge!
Crews battle flames and smoke at Westport Presbyterian Church
As dozens of onlookers packed Westport Road Thursday evening, all they could do is watch as Westport Presbyterian Church burned.
“We were out in Westport and my wife got a message on Facebook saying ‘Westport’s burning,’” Luke Rocha said.
Rocha, like many others, went down to see the flames shooting from the roof of the historic church that stood at Westport and 40th street for more than 100 years.
Gary, Indiana firefighters worked a fire on December 28th. Truck 4 (Truck 7) catches fire towards 8:30 into the video.
Video Description from MABAS21:
Crews were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 1600 block of Broadway at approximately 1pm on 12-28-11. Crews reported a large header from quite a distance and a working fire was declared in a 25×60 2 story brick apartments over a store front. An aggressive attack was made and conditions deteriorated quickly. An exterior attack was executed from multiple angles. Crews from Lake Station, Lake Ridge, and Merrillville were requested to assist. The building did collapse towards the end of the fire. It has not been determined what happened as of yet to Truck 4 (Truck 7) when it caught fire. One firefighter was treated for exhaustion. Crews worked on the fire scene for over two hours.
Also on Firefighter Nation
The middle house at 13 Nunan St. was fully involved when firefighters arrived and Ruppel praised them for stopping the flames from spreading beyond the two neighboring homes at 11 and 15 Nunan, which were severely damaged.
Photo from http://charlestonffsupport.blogspot.com
http://charlestonffsupport.blogspot.com:
Crews from Charleston, North Charleston, St. Andrews and James Island were called into town today for a fire on Nunan Street involving three houses. Fire began in an abandoned structure and quickly spread to the adjacent exposures before being stopped “dead in its’ tracks” with an aggressive attack by “C” Shift, 3rd Battalion personnel backed up by our brothers and sisters from the other departments. View more photos here and be sure to “like” the Charleston Firefighter Support Team on Facebook!
Hat tip to SConFire.com’s Facebook page for the video link!
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