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) Tweets by @alertpage SAN DIEGO FFs SURVIVE ROOF COLLAPSE Thursday, November 27, 2014  A two-alarm blaze at an abandoned building in El Cerrito turned into a firefighter's worst nightmare Wednesday afternoon, when the roof collapsed with firefighters inside, an official said. Fortunately, said San Diego Fire-Rescue Capt. Joe Amador, everyone got out unscathed. "That's one of our big fears," said San Diego Fire-Rescue Capt. Joe Amador of roof collapses. "And when we put people on the roof, that's one of the most dangerous duties we give firefighters." Smoke and fire were seen coming from the roof of a boarded up, two-story building on University Avenue near Chollas Parkway about 2:45 p.m., San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesman Lee Swanson said. It took about an hour to put out most of the flames. No injuries were reported and no other buildings were damaged, Swanson said. A stretch of University Avenue was closed while crews worked to mop up.     Tweet   DETRIOT FFs INJURED - CITY RUNS OUT OF RIGS DURING BUSY 14 HOURS Motorcitymukraker Archive photo by Steve       Neavling Thursday, November 27, 2014  Motorcitymukraker.com – “It was a frigid, frustrating and overwhelming 14 hours for Detroit’s exhausted firefighters. Between 2 p.m. and 4 a.m. Tuesday morning, three firefighters were injured, the city didn’t have enough rigs to respond to fires and wind knocked down hundreds of power lines. The culprit – an ill-equipped fire department and strong winds that howled into the early morning. During the 14-hour period, the understaffed fire department responded to more than 200 calls for fires, people trapped in cars and downed trees and power lines. The department was so overwhelmed that some downed power lines sparked for up to 45 minutes before available fire rigs were available. Shortly before 4 p.m., firefighters were unable to save a burning house on the 14000 block of Ohio because there were no extra fire engines available. At about the same time, a fire engine malfunctioned at the scene of a commercial building fire at Alfred and Orleans. Making matters... [ more ]     Tweet   OHIO ENGINE SLIDES OFF ROAD RESPONDING TO CALL Wednesday, November 26, 2014  This morning our engine co. 73 was responding to an emergency when a deer ran into the roadway in front of the engine. The engine operator in attempt to avoid a collision steered towards the right which ultimately dropped the right rear tires off the roadway onto a very soft berm. The engine was sucked into a rather deep ditch and struck a utility pole on the passenger side of the cab. The pole was completely sheared. Major damage to the cab occurred and intrusion into the officers side compartment occurred. The A post was roughly 12-14 inches away from the head rest of the officers seat. This  depicts how much intrusion was made into the cab space. The officer of the engine was transported to the hospital for an evaluation of some minor injuries. The engine driver and bucket firefighter were not injured. This is due in part to all firefighters wearing there seat belts. If it weren't for both front passengers and rear passenger wearing there seat belts there would most certai... [ more ]       WYTV Video Tweet   FFs GREETED BY EXPLODING FIREWORKS AT CANADIAN FIRE Wednesday, November 26, 2014  Peterborough firefighters and police are investigating the cause of a Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 25) fire at the corner Rubidge and Sherbrooke streets. The fire appears to have started in an apartment above a laundry mat. Witnesses say when firefighters broke down the door, they were greeted with exploding fireworks. A woman — the lone occupant — was taken by paramedics to PRHC where she was treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation. Damage is estimated at $8,000. The cause is unknown but fire department officials... [ more ]     Tweet   DUBLIN FF INJURED AT APARTMENT FIRE Wednesday, November 26, 2014  A firefighter has been injured while battling a blaze at an apartment block in south Dublin. The fire broke out at the Abbey Glenn apartments in Cabinteely at about 5.45am. Residents were evacuated from the complex. A Dublin Fire Brigade spokesman said the initial report received was of a car having caught fire in an underground carpark. The fire later spread and caused damage to a number of vehicles. The blaze was contained in the basement area but may have caused structural damage to the apartment block, he said. The spokesman said four pump appliances were sent to the scene and that fire crews used breathing apparatus while tackling the flames. A male fire fighte... [ more ]     Tweet   FIRE DEPARTMENT CAPABILITY.....HOW DO YOU REALLY KNOW? Tuesday, November 25, 2014  You don't have to go very far to find discussions related to fireground operations, tactics, command and control. You also don't have to go far to find opinions on the above-which is a good thing. What is hard to find, at times, is actual fact. Fact about what might or could happen. How do we really KNOW how, what, why or when our fire department may or may not act based upon the given circumstances. How do you KNOW your first alarm assignments are adequate? How do you KNOW your first alarm staffing matches the fire? How do you KNOW how a line will be stretched? How do you KNOW you will have adequate water supply? How do you KNOW your officers are able to size up, in order to make the correct decisions? How do you KNOW the members know what venting will-or will not do? A departments leadership may "feel" that things will go a certain way-or even "know" based upon the last run. The issue is, quit... [ more ]     Tweet   FL FF INJURED IN POLICE SHOOTING Tuesday, November 25, 2014  A Bradenton firefighter and Iraq War Veteran has been identified as the man fatally shot by a police officer. The city of Bradenton Fire Department confirms that Donald "Donnie" Wendt was the man killed after a stand-off on the 3300 block of Oxford Drive, around 9:00 p.m. Sunday night. Mr. Wendt joined the Bradenton Fire Department in 2003. He served a 13 month tour of duty in Iraq as a member of the Army Reserve, and was awarded a bronze star. Bradenton Police Chief Michael Radzilowski says,  Wendt was in the front yard of the home, waving a gun around and threatening to kill himself and his sister. Neighbors called 9-1-1 and an officer responded to the scene. That officer called for SWAT to assist. Chief Radzilowski says soon after SWAT arrived, Wendt walked out of the front door with two firearms. He pointed one of those guns at the officers. An officer shot and killed the ... [ more ]     Tweet   FIREFIGHTER SHOT, KILLED BY POLICE IN STANDOFF-FLORIDA Monday, November 24, 2014  Tragic news out of Manatee County (Florida, Tampa Bay area) this morning as a City of Bradenton Firefighter is dead after a standoff Sunday evening between him and Bradenton Police.The veteran FF was also an Iraqi war veteran. Around 2100 hours last night cops responded for a domestic situation involving a that Firefighter that ended with a SWAT team response and gunfire on Oxford Drive West in West Bradenton. The Firefighter came out to his front yard with firearms, threatened to kill himself and threatened to kill his sister. Police arrived with negotiators and after talking, the man came out of the house with two guns, he then pointed at officers-and a police officer fired one shot and killed the Firefighter. Police stated that the Firefighter was influenced by alcohol and it's uncertain if the incident was a suicide by cop or if the man had an illness resulting from his service in the military. Our condolences to everyone affected by this loss. RIP. <... [ more ]     Tweet   Firefighter Shot/Killed By PD (The Secret List) Monday, November 24, 2014  All, Tragic news out of Manatee County (Florida, Tampa Bay area) this morning as a City of Bradenton Firefighter is dead after a standoff Sunday evening between him and Bradenton Police. The veteran FF was also an Iraqi war veteran. Around 2100 hours last night cops responded for a domestic situation involving a that Firefighter that ended with a SWAT team response and gunfire on Oxford Drive West in West Bradenton. The Firefighter came out to his front yard with firearms, threatened to kill himself and threatened to kill his sister. Police arrived with negotiators and after talking, the man came out of the house with two guns, he then pointed at officers-and a police officer fired one shot and killed the Firefighter. Police stated that the Firefighter was influenced by alcohol and it's uncertain if the incident was a suicide by cop or if the man had an illness resulting from his service in the military. Our condo... [ more ]     Tweet   FALLEN FIREFIGHTER WIDOW TO FD: SEE YOU IN COURT! Monday, November 24, 2014  The attorney for the widow of Dallas LODD Firefighter Stanley Wilson blasted fire officials for what he called a “cultural indifference” that led to Wilson’s line-of-duty death last year. Attorney Barry Hasten, reacting to the release last week of a 703-page draft report on Wilson’s death, said the document shows that Dallas Fire-Rescue suffers from a lack of accountability. He also believes fire officials botched their response to the investigation. Hasten said Chief Louie Bright III — who has said he does “not believe discipline is merited” for anyone for their actions during the deadly six-alarm blaze — hasn’t shown the leadership needed to fix a “cultural indifference to policies, rules, tactics and manual of procedures” cited in the draft report. more ]     Tweet   FF SHOCKED/SENT TO HOSPITAL IN PA WICU12 HD WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather, Events WICU Video Monday, November 24, 2014  n abandoned home goes up in flames and sends one firefighter to the hospital. It happened just before 1:00p.m. in the 5700-block of Buffalo Road in Harborcreek. Officials say it started in the rear and quickly spread to a detached garage next door. One firefighter was shocked by electrical wiring upon arrival and was taken to the hospital as a precaution. The cause is under investigation and officials say they are not ruling out arson. The building is a total loss. http://www.erietvnews.com/story/27463070/firefighter-shocked-sent-to-hospital-in-harborcreek-blaze     Tweet   APPARATUS STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY - THIS TIME IN CINCINATTI Sunday, November 23, 2014  A Cincinnati Police officer and firefighter were injured after they were struck while responding to crashes on westbound Ronald Reagan Highway Saturday morning. District Four Officer Jeff Share was responding to an overturned 2003 Acura when the driver of a Ford Five Hundred struck the Acura, pinning Share between the car and retaining wall. Officer Share was able to free himself and extricate the driver of the Acura. They were both transported to University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A short time later, a Cincinnati Fire Department ladder truck was struck head-on by a Nissan Maxima, according to a press release from Cincinnati's Traffic Unit. Fire Officer Robin Woods was knocked to the ground from the impact. Officer Woods was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital where he was treated and released. The westbound lanes of Ronald Reagan Highway reopened around 1 p.m. after being closed for se... [ more ]     Tweet   MA FF SUFFERS CARDIAC ARREST DURING FIRE RESCUE Sunday, November 23, 2014  A firefighter was transported to a hospital Saturday morning after giving his breathing mask to a victim at a Springfield fire. Fire officials responded to Roosevelt Avenue at around 7:18 a.m. for a fire on the sixth floor of a 7-story building. A lieutenant was transported to Bay State Medical Center after giving his breathing mask to a victim who was burned on the left side. He suffered cardiac arrest. He is in good health and is with his family, according to officials. The cause of the fire was determined to be a cigarette that was lit close to an oxygen tank. http://www.whdh.com/story/27459085/springfield-firefighter-suffers-cardiac-arrest-during-rescue     Tweet