Fire news

... video: but even the smallest blaze can turn on you -- as shown on a newly surfaced video of a backdraft that injured four chicago firefighters last month. the video, shot by a neighbor through a window, will now be used to train recruits....    (Source: Chicago Tribune (IL) 566827)

... they are the most wired vehicles on the road, with dashboard computers, sophisticated radios, navigation systems and cellphones. while such gadgets are widely seen as distractions to be avoided behind the wheel, there are hundreds of thousands of drivers " police officers and paramedics ...    (Source: New York Times (NY) 1120420)

... the first amendment does not protect a fire chief who was disciplined after commenting on what he considered the inadequate funding of his department at a news conference at the scene of a fatal fire, a federal appeals court ruled yesterday. ...    (Source: Boston Globe and Boston.com (MA) 355417 )

... new york city fire department officials say they are going forward with their budgets cuts, even as city council members vowed to fight the closing of fire companies. during testimony at a city council hearing wednesday, fire commissioner salvatore cassano said 20 fire companies are facing closure as a result of the mayor's 2011 budget plan ... related: big ax looming at fdny; threat of 1,000 layoffs, closing of 62 companies    (Source: NY1-TV (NY) N/A )

... d.c. city council members are angered over a growing number of allegations of misconduct by d.c. fire and ems. a number of high-profile cases involving the department came to a head following the death of 2-year-old stephanie stephens.... statter911.com: ems crew disciplined for failing to transport woman to hospital     (Source: WTTG-TV FOX5 (DC) N/A )

... the workers found themselves trapped high above the water on the atlantic boulevard bridge around 10:30 a.m. pompano beach fire rescue was called to the scene where a hook and ladder unit was used to rescue the men ...    (Source: WFTS-TV ABC 28 Tampa Bay (FL) N/A )

... firefighters charged with setting fires, cheating scandals, thefts of fire department funds and equipment, responding to incidents after drinking alcoholic beverages, harassment and discrimination. with these incidents occurring in fire departments across the nation, it may be time to adopt a code of ethics, according to the fire service reputation management white paper released tuesday morning ...    (Source: Firehouse Magazine (NAT) 81500 )

... an estimated 200 atlanta firefighters on tuesday waved protest signs and yelled "stop, thief!" outside a buckhead restaurant at members of an organization that sued the city last week, claiming it illegally approved pension increases for city employees in 2001 and 2005 that taxpayers cannot afford ...    (Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA) 357399)

... nassau county police arrested the hempstead fire department chief and a second man for allegedly holding a man at gunpoint in what investigators described as an act of vigilantism following a hempstead gunfight sunday afternoon ...    (Source: Long Island Press (NY) 65000 )

... the families of eight of the nine charleston firefighters who died battling the 2007 sofa super store blaze have reached a more than $1.2 million partial settlement with several companies they claimed were negligent in the deaths of their loved ones ... related: study of sofa super store fire still a few months away    (Source: Charleston Post & Courier (SC) 100400 )

an internal boston fire department inquiry into a fatal firetruck crash last year blamed brake failure that was caused in part by inadequate maintenance, according to a report released yesterday ...    (Source: Boston Globe and Boston.com (MA) 355417)

... over the past 70 years, the number of lodds suffered by the fdny has been drastically reduced. from 1941 to 1960, an average of 9.25 firefighters lost their lives in the line of duty. over the next 20 years, it dropped to 8.25. from 1981 to 2009 " excluding the september 11 terrorist attacks " the department has averaged 2.04 fatalities annually  ... related: cochran calls for greater firefighter safety at summit     (Source: Fire Rescue (NAT) N/A )

... daniel mcintosh of bensalem suffered a massive coronary while chasing a suicidal man, police said. he was the first bucks county paramedic to die in the line of duty ... related: colleagues remember bensalem paramedic     (Source: Levittown Bucks County Courier Times (PA) 68467)

nevada county consolidated fire capt. bruce niederberger was being evaluated at sutter roseville medical center monday after he passed out behind the wheel while on a call.a stroke or heart attack have been ruled out, said consolidated fire chief tim fike. the incident sunday morning tied up traffic in grass valley, but a crash involving the engine was avoided ...    (Source: TheUnion.com (CA))

... an irwin firefighter who allegedly called in to report a fire is accused of intentionally setting the blaze last week in penn township...    (Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (PA) 120320 )

... "the medics arrived first and were approached by the person and as a result, the medic was injured at the scene," andrew aninsman of the bensalem police said. investigators say the man then ran. one paramedic followed. when his partner caught up to the two, the medic was on the ground. he had visible signs of injury, but police say they still don't know the cause of death. ...    (Source: WPVI-TV 6abc.com (PA) N/A )

... the firefighters were working on a ladder truck off bellaire and the southwest freeway and ran into a problem with power lines. according to the fire department, a more experienced firefighter was showing a younger firefighter some equipment, but one of the ladders got a little too close to the power lines and that sent a shock waves to three firefighters ...    (Source: KTRK-TV ABC 13 Houston (TX) N/A )

... rowe, who was unaware that dodge had died, suffered a heart attack and died en route on the rescue call. the west forks fire and rescue emergency medical personnel who had been at the snowmobile accident came to rowe's aid and performed lifesaving measures, but those efforts were unsuccessful, according to turcotte ...    (Source: Bangor Daily News (ME) 40000 )

... an officer detailed to the philadelphia fire department's recruitment team, was placed on paid leave yesterday over allegations that he proposed a scheme to bring in more minority candidates by doctoring the city's computerized application process ...    (Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer (PA) 352593)

... five firefighters with the lake geneva fire department were shocked after the truck they were working with hit a live power line."when we felt the tingling, everyone said, 'what the heck is going on?' and we looked over at the ladder truck itself and saw flames coming out from the perimeter of the outriggers that were touching the ground," ... related with photos/video: firefighters injured in delavan pub fire    (Source: WISN-TV ABC 12 Milwaukee (WI) 255654 )