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Lou Angeli's Blog (24)
Love Affair With Buffalo's Firefighters Ends
Citizens demand that Firefighter overtime be eliminated.
BUFFALO, NY (April 2, 2009) -- Crooks, the millionaires club and greedy old men. Nope, these aren’t remarks about the scoundrels who have set this nation’s economy in a tailspin. Rather, they are comments being voiced by the citizens of Buffalo, NY about city’s firefighters, who find themselves defending the fact that they accepted $10 million last year in overtime.
Although I'm not a Buffalo resident, our small East Coast Department, al… Continue
Added by Lou Angeli on April 2, 2009 at 11:06am — 12 Comments
Asst. Fire chief arrested in Coatesville arsons
Added by Lou Angeli on March 23, 2009 at 10:15pm — 4 Comments
9 Philly Firefighters Injured in Crash
Squrt vs Aerial in Old Town Philly.
KYW-TV in Philadelphia is reporting a serious crash between two Philadelphia fire apparatus. At first it was reported that 5 firefighters were taken to the hospital, but that number has now been increased to 9.
RAW VIDEO: http://cbs3.com/video/?id=76542@kyw.dayport.com
Lou Continue
Added by Lou Angeli on March 19, 2009 at 1:38pm — 2 Comments
What if you had a fire…and no one came?
By Lou Angeli
They are the folks who leave behind family and home at a moment’s notice to help a neighbor or other any person in need. That’s the story of 800,000 Americans who serve as fire-rescue volunteers. Until recently, it was a story that brought pride and inspiration to 80% of the communities in this nation. But times have changed and what was once America’s greatest emergency asset is suffering from a variety of setbacks.
A generation ago, when the fire whistle or siren blew, m… Continue
Added by Lou Angeli on March 13, 2009 at 11:41am — 10 Comments
Coatesville's Arsonists: Please God, Not the Firefighters?
COATESVILLE, PA (February 7, 2009) -- Since the first of the year, firefighters in this once bustling steel town have seen more work in a few short weeks, than they might have seen during their entire career. A string of arson fires, now totalling 29, have plagued the city's 12,000 residents, and the multi-agency task force investigating the blazes have no solid leads.
It's a news story that is making world headlines, and has many in the fire-rescue services sitting on the edge of their seats.… Continue
Added by Lou Angeli on February 7, 2009 at 6:13pm — 4 Comments
Cold Weather Firefighting Quiz
With much of the nation locked in by cold and ice, I thought it would be useful to share a quiz that deals specifically with cold weather firefighting. If you're game, here's the scenario:
It's 0212 hours and the crew of Ladder 9 have been dispatched as the 2nd due truck on a building fire. For Ladder 9's crew, this will be the 4th response of the evening, two of which were working fires. Because of the previous jobs, there's some standing water remaining in the ladder pipe and the master strea… Continue
Added by Lou Angeli on January 28, 2009 at 9:42pm — 1 Comment
Disorientation and the Interior Firefight
by: Lou Angeli
(Anytown, USA) -- The fire service here in the USA is extremely fortunate to employ some of the bravest firefighters and most knowledgeable fire officers in the world. But firefighting is inherently a dangerous profession, and things will and do go wroong. When a firefighter loses his or her life in a burning structure it is usually a result of unanticipated or unexpected fire development, not the inadequacies of command or even a firefighter’s skills.
So what’s the probl… Continue
Added by Lou Angeli on January 23, 2009 at 5:47pm — 7 Comments
A debt is owed to all who volunteer to fight fires
This is my response to a stinging series of features recently published in the Wilmington, DE News-Journal regarding the failure of the volunteer system in the state. The News Journal writers printed a great many inaccuracies, manipulated response times and, in general, skewed their stories to place the volunteer fire service in as bad a light as possible.
Here is letter to the editor -- published as the series was being presented.
"America’s volunteer firefighters and emergency medical techni… Continue
Added by Lou Angeli on January 13, 2009 at 8:46pm — 9 Comments
Update on Delaware LODD, Ffr. Michelle Smith
Driver with Revoked License Arrested in Firefighter's Death
Line-Of-Duty Death Update:
NEW CASTLE COUNTY, DE (December 23, 2008) -- Delaware State Police late Monday identified the driver of a BMW which ran down Firefighter Michelle Smith and an injured motorcyclist, as Joseph Taye, 28, of Bear, Delaware. Taye was arrested and taken to Troop 2 in Glasgow, state police spokesman Cpl. Jeff Whitmarsh said.
Taye was expected to be charged with manslaughter, second-degree assault, driving on a revo… Continue
Added by Lou Angeli on December 23, 2008 at 12:48pm — No Comments
Delaware Firefighter Dies After Weekend Accident
First Delaware LODD Since 2000
DELAWARE CITY, DE (December 22, 2008) -- A Delaware City (DE) Volunteer Firefighter died today of injuries she sustained after being run down by a motorist on US Route 13 at the New Castle County Airport. Firefighter Michelle Smith, 29. was assisting in the treatment of the victim of a motorcycle accident when a driver sped through the emergency scene, running over Smith and the patient.
Smith and her EMT partner were staffing the Delaware City BLS Unit, which ha… Continue
Added by Lou Angeli on December 22, 2008 at 7:26pm — 4 Comments
California Burning -- Again!
Federal Engines Stand Idle as The Search for Trained Firefighters Begins
By: Lou Angeli
Big Sur, CA (July 8, 2008) -- With dry winds and low humidity in store, the day doesn’t seem to be a promising one for firefighters working fires on California’s central coast. The Basin Complex fire in the Los Padres National Forest has currently destroyed 74,985 acres and is only 11 percent contained. The complex is burning away at one of the nation’s most beautiful destinations, Big Sur. Scenic Highway 1… Continue
Added by Lou Angeli on July 8, 2008 at 11:16pm — No Comments
First Annual WTC Responder Day
Date: Saturday, June 14, 2008
Lx: Ground Zero, Lower Manhattan
Noon-7pm
A day honoring the courageous men and women who worked on rescue, recovery and clean-up following the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. A series of free events during the afternoon with a closing concert.
Sponsored by the WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program in addition with labor unions, firefighters, law enforcement and community based faith groups. Continue
Added by Lou Angeli on June 11, 2008 at 4:49pm — 1 Comment
Firefighting As Entertainment
In the 2005 season finale of FX's "Rescue Me," Firefighter Tommy Gavin is pictured driving along in his pick up with Jesus Christ as a passenger. For Gavin, played by actor/writer Denis Leary, JC is just one of many visions tha
Added by Lou Angeli on January 20, 2008 at 11:25pm — 4 Comments
Volunteer Firefighter’s Family To Receive 9/11 Benefit
Added by Lou Angeli on January 16, 2008 at 1:48pm — 2 Comments
Disorientation and the Interior Firefight
During a recent Delaware incident, 7 firefighters became trapped on a 2nd floor duplex during a tough firefight. Fortunately, the firefighters were rescued by an agressive Rapid Intervention Team with just minutes to spare. Initial reports were that there was no life hazard, as occupants had been accounted for. But considering the time of day, 7:30am on a Saturday morning, Chief Chuck Hayes did what most chief officers would do -- order a search.
… Continue
… Continue
Added by Lou Angeli on January 7, 2008 at 10:10am — 2 Comments
RIT Team Rescues 7 Delaware Firefighters
Saving Our Own
by Lou Angeli
(Wilmington, DE) – January 5, 2008 -- An early morning Delaware blaze may have turned deadly for 7 firefighters if not for mutual aid pre-planning and a superfast F
… Continue
Added by Lou Angeli on January 5, 2008 at 11:51pm — 1 Comment
Cold Weather Firefighting
By: Lou Angeli
(St. Louis, MO) -- As weather experts debate the effects of El Nino on North American weather patterns, the "B" shift members of St. Louis Squad-2 don't really give a damn. Winter is on them, and the simple fact of the matter is it's getting cold.
Cold weat
… Continue
Added by Lou Angeli on December 22, 2007 at 11:26am — 4 Comments
WTC Vets to Help Rebuild St. Bernard’s Parish, Louisiana
Added by Lou Angeli on November 23, 2007 at 9:25pm — 4 Comments
Firefighting Offers a Way Out for California's Offenders
I'm posting this story because I'm hoping to get reaction, especially from East Coast and Midwest firefighters about using prison inmates for fire-rescue work. It should prove to be controversial. I don't necessarily advocate the idea -- I only report the stories.
Added by Lou Angeli on November 2, 2007 at 11:13am — No Comments
Mutual Aid: California Style
Last week I had the opportunity to cover the 2007 Firestorm from the firefighters' perspective. Over half a million acres have been burned, 3500 homes destroyed, and another 25,000 homes damaged. In all, about
… ContinueAdded by Lou Angeli on November 2, 2007 at 1:13am — 2 Comments
Latest Blog Posts
- Love Affair With Buffalo's Firefighters Ends
- Asst. Fire chief arrested in Coatesville arsons
- 9 Philly Firefighters Injured in Crash
- What if you had a fire…and no one came?
- Coatesville's Arsonists: Please God, Not the Firefighters?
- Cold Weather Firefighting Quiz
- Disorientation and the Interior Firefight
Most Popular Blog Posts
- Update on Delaware LODD, Ffr. Michelle Smith
- Coatesville's Arsonists: Please God, Not the Firefighters?
- 9 Philly Firefighters Injured in Crash
- Disorientation and the Interior Firefight
- What if you had a fire…and no one came?
- A debt is owed to all who volunteer to fight fires
- Greek Wildfires: Terrorism or Lack of Firefighting Resources?
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"Captain" 703 -
Your comments like this "I'm not trying to put you down. I know how you like to get on here and put others down" shows how juvenile you really are. You actually are doing exactly what you accuse me of doing - ironic, huh?
And reg...
Ok, I'm a little bit confused here what are you refering to as a no mans land?
And the Winner is? Jack DNT, for his "What I care about"
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