Firefighter Close Calls

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Submit Your Close Call / Near Miss Navigation Home Secret List Gallery EMS CloseCalls Drills Firefighter Staffing Personal Survival Safety and survival SOGs Links Modern Fire Behavior About Us Never Forget Fire Communications Pass it On LODD STATS Yearly Totals Year Totals 2014 79 2013 101 2012 83 2011 81 2010 87 2009 93 2008 118 2007 118 2006 107 2005 115 "In Memory Of" Click this patch   Custom Search Contact Info Email BillyG info@ firefighterclosecalls.com Email Weekly Drill Suggestions to Drills@firefighter closecalls.com Click Here for The 9/11 Widows' and Victims' Families Association Click Here: Skyscraper Safety Campaign       Also check the most current issue of THE SECRET LIST for related News and Updates-(Click Here) APPARATUS ROLLOVER AND CRASH DUE TO ICE AROUND PITTSBURGH Sunday, November 23, 2014  A McKeesport fire truck hit a patch of ice on the ramp from the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge, traveled down an embankment and flipped over. Kenneth Ferree took several firefighters to the hospital. “They had some facial injuries, some mouth injuries, they were bleeding from the head and from the face a little bit,” said Ferree.   4 FFs INJURED IN MASSIVE NORTH VERNON, IN DOWNTOWN FIRE Sunday, November 23, 2014  Fire broke out Friday morning at Hatton's Carpet in downtown North Vernon for the second time this month, but fire officials said they do not believe the two fires are connected. The first fire broke out upstairs in the front of the Hatton's Carpet building on Nov. 5. Friday's fire began in the back of the basement around 6 a.m. The blaze spread to several other building before it was contained. The intensity of the fire was massive and firefighters have it contained, but it's not necessarily under control. The building housing Hatton's Carpet and several apartments is considered a total loss and will likely have to be demolished, fire officials said. Weather played an issue as crews battle the fire Friday morning. The water used to extinguish ... [ more ]         MAN SETS HOUSE ON FIRE - SHOOTS AT FD - KILLS COP - CRTIICALLY INJURES ANOTHER DailyWorldNews Video Sunday, November 23, 2014  A man set his house on fire and then fatally shot a sheriff's deputy and wounded another Saturday when they responded to the scene, before he was shot to death by other law enforcement officers, authorities said. Deputies and firefighters responded to the blaze about 10:15 a.m. As the first deputy approached the house, he was fatally shot. The gunman picked up the deputy's gun, walked down the street and used it to shoot a second deputy before he was killed, Lt. James McQuaig of the Leon County Sheriff's Office said. It wasn't known yet whether anyone was in the home when it was set on fire. Pockets of flames could still be seen in the smoldering wreckage hours after the fire was set The gunman was shot to death by a Tallahassee police officer who lived nearby and heard the initial shooting. That officer threw on his bullet-resistant vest — a decision that would later save his life — and grabbed his gun and ran toward the house, according ... [ more ]         UPDATE: Firefighter Injured After Fall From Roof While Operating at 2-Alarm Fire Sunday, November 23, 2014  A firefighter was injured after he fell off of a roof while battling a two-alarm blaze in Norwood Friday afternoon. The man’s condition was not immediately available. The fall was captured in news helicopter footage, with one journalist reporting the victim appeared to be moving his hands. WBZ reports that he was transported to Brigham and Women’s hospital with two broken ankles.         Two Yemassee Fire Dept. Volunteers Charged With Attempted Murder, Arson Sunday, November 23, 2014  According to the Hampton County Sheriff's Office, two Yemassee Fire Department volunteers have been charged with attempted muder and arson. Christopher Williams and Dominique Thompson are accused of setting fire to the station and town hall building on Tuesday night. Two people were inside at the time, but both were able to escape the building. According to reports, the suspects were fighting with the two people in the building, prompting the fire. Williams and Thompson are being held at the Hampton County Jail. Officials are investigating if they may be responsible for other fires.   CA TILLER STRUCK ON THE FREEWAY - 4 FFs INJURED Friday, November 21, 2014  Four firefighters were injured in a crash on the 210 Freeway in Rancho Cucamonga early Friday morning. Two cars collided on the westbound lanes at Haven Avenue around 12:26 a.m. While the California Highway Patrol and firefighters were helping, a tanker truck plowed into their vehicles. Four firefighters were transported with minor injuries. No one was injured in the first crash. Both crashes remain under investigation.         DALLAS LODD UPDATE: DRAFT REPORT MORE CRITICAL OF COMMAND THAN FINAL REPORT Friday, November 21, 2014  A 703-page draft of the Dallas Fire-Rescue line-of-duty death report on Stanley Wilson is far more critical of Deputy Chief Bobby Ross than the official — and drastically pared-down — version released by the department weeks ago. The draft, obtained Wednesday through a public information request, repeatedly takes Ross to task for a highly criticized decision to send firefighters anywhere near a burning apartment building long after it was safe to do so. The unofficial version also slams the department’s general sloppiness at the fire scene. The draft’s release raises questions anew about how Chief Louie Bright III could shut down any further inquiry into Wilson’s May 20, 2013, death at a far northeast Dallas condominium complex. He decided not to discipline anyone then with the simple declaration: “No one person bears all responsibility.” Bright has declined several interview requests to discuss the matter since the Sept... [ more ]         UPDATE ON ISFSI PRINICIPLES OF MODERN FIRE ATTACK PROGRAM Friday, November 21, 2014  The International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFS) continues to move forward with delivery of a Principles of Modern Fire Attack Program.  The ISFSI received funding from the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to deliver this material at 100 fire service venues across the USA in 2015.  The program went through a pilot delivery at the Ohio Fire Academy in November and the finishing touches and refinements are just about complete.  An ISFSI committee has selected a cadre of well-known and respected instructors from all sectors of the North American fire service.  They completed a train-the-trainer session immediately following delivery of the pilot program.  This session provided a remarkable opportunity for the instructors to work directly with research engineers and students to discuss both fire dynamics and the instructional methodology best suited to the delivery of a successful program. more ]         FF JUMPS FROM FIRE IN MA 7News Boston WHDH-TV WHDH Video Friday, November 21, 2014  Flames were so intense at the scene of a Saugus house fire on Thursday that a firefighter was forced to escape through a second story window. Officials reported three alarms at the single family wood frame home on Water Street. "One firefighter self-extricated through the front window," said Dept. Chief Michael Newbury of the Saugus Fire Department. "The crews on scene threw a ladder right to the porch, he climbed on the ladder. The lieutenant was in the hallway and came down the stairs and out the door." No one was home at the time, but Mary Pike's Chihuahua was inside. There was an emotional moment when a Revere fire crew found the dog alive. "I came home, just because I knew she was in the house and I wanted to get her. That's all," Pike said, fighting back tears. "I was on the first floor, under the bed hiding. We just picked the bed up, do our regular search anyway and found the dog,"  said Lt. Dennis Russo of the Revere Fir... [ more ]         FIREFIGHTER DIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY-NEW JERSEY-AT MULTI ALARM FIRE RIP Chief Thursday, November 20, 2014   We regret to pass on that Cape May County (NJ) Fire Coordinator Art Treone passed away late last night. Chief Treone was on scene of a multiple alarm fatal fire in North Wildwood when he developed chest pains on the fireground.  He was immediately treated and then transported and admitted to Cape Regional Medical Center where he succumbed. Art was a retired Lieutenant of the Cape May County Sheriff’s Dept as well as past Chief of the Townbank Fire Company in Lower Township, in Cape May County. Chief Treone was well known as one of the ‘good’ guys, a real legend in that area. MORE: Arthur E. “Art” Treon, whose name was synonymous with fire fighting and emergency management in the township, county, and state, died Wednesday night after leaving the scene of a fatal fire in North Wildwood. Town Bank Fire Chief Lou McGonigal, a longtime friend, said Treon ... [ more ]         TWO FIREFIGHTER SUICIDES IN FLORIDA Thursday, November 20, 2014  Out of respect to the families and members of those affected, we won't share names or the departments-but once again, two of "our own" have taken their lives in just the last few days, One FF in South Florida and the other in the Tampa Bay area. In addition to the "awareness" of the two losses, we wanted to share the leadership shown by a Chief of Department: It is with deep regret that I must inform you of the untimely death of Firefighter who took her own life this morning.  Words cannot express the profound sadness that we all feel.  I am at a loss as to how to make sense of her death, many of you have expressed the same sentiment.   We may never have an explanation that makes sense to us.  I have no words to offer that will make this right, or even bearable.  I can only say that I am both saddened and sorry that she did not feel like she had another option.  Our grief cannot compare to what Toni's family is going through s... [ more ]         FIREFIGHTER DIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY-COLLAPSES IN NEW YORK STATE FIREHOUSE Thursday, November 20, 2014  We regret to pass on to you that a veteran Summit (Schoharie County, NY, SW of Albany) Firefighter died after being stricken inside the firehouse Tuesday night while he was helping other Firefighters getting ready to deploy to western New York to assist in the aftermath of the blizzard. James Foote, 57, one of the Summit Fire Department Commissioners collapsed in quarters and while treatment was immediate, he tragically died at Cobleskill Hospital. Our condolences to all those affected. RIP.         FIREFIGHTERS: TWENTY FIVE FREE SCHOLARSHIPS TO FDIC 2015 Wednesday, November 19, 2014  While not a CLOSE CALL-this is an amazing and rare TRAINING opportunity fire Firefighters that we are passing on. Do you know someone who deserves to attend FDIC, but can’t due to budget restrictions or other impediments? What if you could make that happen? Honeywell First Responders (Morning Pride, Pro Boots etc) and UL (Underwriters Labs) have partnered together to offer TWENTY FIRE full-paid (travel, hotel etc-see below!) scholarship to TWENTY FIVE brave men and women protecting our communities to attend 2015 FDIC. * All you need to do is tell them why you’re nominating them! REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW! The registration link can be found on the FDIC website: www.fdic.com/scholarship.html Whats the fine print? Not much! TWENTY FIRE FIGHTERS WILL WIN...and that includes round trip travel, a VIP dinner reception, full stay private hotel room and full access to all FDIC classes, activities, sessions, exhibits! WHAT D... [ more ]   IN PURSUIT OF SMART (From the NFPA Journal) Wednesday, November 19, 2014  THE ENGINE 308 FIRE HOUSE IN SOUTH QUEENS is the kind of place where visitors receive a firm handshake and a strong cup of coffee upon arrival. Upstairs, Eugene Ditaranto’s office is equally old-school. The walls are clad in 1970s-era wood paneling, and Ditaranto, chief of Battalion 51 for the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), has tacked up clipboards and maps of his district. A couple dozen binders are arrayed in a bookshelf against the far wall, and the surface of the chief’s simple wooden desk is covered neatly in stacks of papers, folders and Post-it notes. Every few minutes the landline phone rings over the chattering buzz of two window AC units. Online Only Even in this modest space, Chief Ditaranto is only a few keyboard clicks away from one of the most ... [ more ]