SageVigiles

Charles County is now Department 10.

So companies were clearing from a small basement fire in Company 46's area (that's Kentland's second station, all career staff though.) Engine 838 notified Communications that they were gonna check out some smoke in the area. While they were on the way to check it out Communications dropped a box alarm for a building fire, and about 2 minutes later E838 arrived on scene, announced they were laying dual lines and that they had heavy fire from a 2-story commercial. Immediate second alarm.

First Alarm:

Engines: E828B, E838, E823, E829

Specials: TK809, TK838, RE833

Battalions: BO887, BO884

Ambulance: A826

Volunteer Chiefs: VC823, VC282B, VC837B, VC827A

Working Fire Dispatch:

Safety Officer 800, Volunteer Safety Officer

Duty Officer 800

Paramedic Ambulance 846

Southern EMS Duty Officer

Second Alarm:

Engines: PE830B, E855, E812B, E817 (PE: Paramedic Engine)

Specials: TL820, TK843, SQ827

Battalion Chiefs: BO884, BO883

Ambulance 812C

Light/Air Unit 816

Water Supply 825

Volunteer Chiefs: VC828A

Rehab 800

Canteen 801

Mobile Command Unit 800

Third Alarm:

Engine: E845, E816, PE844, E811B

Specials: TK821, TL839, SQ806

Battalion Chiefs: 887

Foam Engine 812 with E812

Other PGFD Units:

Fire Chief

Executive Officer to the Fire Chief (on board Eagle One as Air Recon Chief)

Deputy Fire Chief

Volunteer Services Commander

PIO

Fire Marshal's Office

Other Agencies:

PG OEM

United States Park Police Aviation Unit (Eagle One)

PGPD

I'm sure I missed a few, but that's the best rundown I can come up with.

We didn't do a damned thing but pick up 2300 feet of 5", but it was a pretty crazy scene.

I'm not going to comment on other things that happened at this call other than to say I'm glad all the guys from 33 and 28 are going to be okay. Despite all the talk that's out there, I've actually run fires with 33 before and I have never had a problem with them.

A lot of the equipment is purchased with grant money. And to be honest, isn't it better that most of it isn't deployed, considering if it is that would mean a disaster has occurred?

Better to be prepared then get caught with their pants down, no?

Just because you CAN buy something with grant money, doesn't necessarily mean you should. Look at the disastrous Mass Decontamination Trailer CT purchased. One truck and trailer for every municipality with a hospital and an airport. Trailers kept breaking down, company that manufactured/maintained them went out of business. Now, 10 years later, the regional committees are purchasing inflatable decon tents for a fraction of the price. Sure they aren't as sexy looking as the big red trailers and spare rescue trucks "Prime Movers" that everyone got at first, but the tents are a much better use of taxpayer dollars.

Of course there should be a (reasonable) cache of disaster equipment, but if we have trouble providing basic emergency services to the people we're supposed to serve, how are we going to perform in disaster conditions?

Since the money is starting to dry up, people are starting to make wiser choices. But just after 9/11 it was basically a free-for-all and from what I saw in the emergency preparedness community in CT, there were a lot of projects that got funded in the name of the next catastrophe that will never be truly useful.

Connecticut actually set up their foam trailer deployment pretty well. One of the few smart purchases in terms of CT emergency preparedness.

State of CT Regional Foam Trailer System

Date: 3/31/15
Time: Approximately 0345
Location: 3300 Gallows Rd, Inova Fairfax Hospital
District: Fairfax County Police Mason District

Units:
Fairfax County Police: Patrol, K9, SWAT, Detectives, "Fairfax One" Aviation Unit

Fairfax County Sheriffs

Virginia State Police

United States Park Police: "Eagle One" Aviation Unit

Federal Bureau of Investigation

United States Marshals Service

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives

Fairfax County Fire

Description:

Bank robbery suspect overpowered an armed security officer at Inova Fairfax Hospital, was able to disarm the officer and escape. Inova Fairfax on lockdown and full diversion. SWAT searching the entire hospital campus and surrounding neighborhoods. Unconfirmed reports of shots fired but no reports of injuries ATT.

Suspect is Wossen Assaye, 6'0, 170 lbs. BOLOs also out for suspect's girlfriend and vehicles she is known to operate.

Large perimeter of roads shut down during the search.

Fairfax County Police Twitter: Photo of Suspect

I'm currently in my office 2 miles from the scene...

Thats cool, I guess. Any word on when they going to add "trucks that run for more than 3 weeks without breaking down" to their portfolio?

Probably necessary disclaimer: I realize some departments have good success with E-One. I've just never been a member of any of those departments.

Summonses are returnable to the Town in which the summons was issued, regardless of the issuing agency.

Unless they start fiddling with those laws, this should not be a big issue.

When a Putnam Sheriff or a Trooper writes a summons now, how is it split with the Town/County/State?

If there is not a current policy, I am sure they can come up with one.

This will only get complicated if the politicians want it to get complicated.

We are still talking about the State of New York, are we not? That's probably something we can all bank on.

Rest in Peace FAO Daryl Gordon.

Date: 3/26/2015
Time: Approximately 0545
Location: 6000 block of Dahlgren St (Cross of Ward St)
Units: Cincinnati Fire, Cincinnati Police

Description:

Apartment fire was placed U/C as a 3rd Alarm after crews rescued several civilians. 4th Alarm with MAYDAY transmitted after a Firefighter fell down an open elevator shaft, becoming pinned between the car and the wall of the elevator shaft.

Firefighter now extricated, ALS units to the lobby ASAP. Request PD to set up an escort.

Praying for the best.

Cincinnati Fire Live Audio

Lots of homeland security grant money drying up in the past few years. Not surprising that a company in that sector is having trouble staying afloat.

SP is always going to provide patrol services. Everyone in the state pays for that service so its not likely to go anywhere.

I agree that this is probably all academic at this point, but maybe the Sheriff's "lukewarm" response to the idea is due to his concern/fear for the future of his department. Think about the possible implications for a Sheriff's Office if a County Police is formed, and again I stress this is ALL HYPOTHETICAL:

1. All field law enforcement operations become the County PD's responsibility. Sheriff's Office becomes responsible only for court security, county jail, and serving legal process. Hardly an exciting prospect for those working for the SO.

2. As in Westchester County, the County PD takes charge of almost everything and the Sheriff's Office becomes an Auxiliary unit.

Also, if there is a County PD formed I'd be surprised if an elected politician is put in charge of it...

NEW YORK STATE AMBER ALERT: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 - 10:48 PM

The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office has activated the New York State AMBER Alert and is investigating a child abduction that occurred on Dom Drive , in Monticello, NY at about 6:00 PM on 3/18/2015.

The CHILD, Gabriella Torres is a Hispanic female. Also taken were 3 other children: Jacob Esquilin boy age 4; Jionni Torres boy age 2; and Assata Mari Franklin girl age 6 months.

The SUSPECT, Tina Esquilin is a Hispanic female, approximately 27 years old with black hair and brown eyes. She is approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs about 169 pounds.

The SUSPECT, Alfred Franklin Jr is a Black male, approximately 30 years old with black hair and brown eyes. He is approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs about 220 pounds.

Suspects have a violent history and fled with the children following a court order removing the children from their custody due to neglect and suspected drug activity.

Anyone with any information on this abduction is asked to call the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office at (866)N Y S-AMBER or dial 911 to provide information on a report or sighting.

Date: 3/18/15
Time: Approximate 2015
Location: Queens Box 8561 - 91-21 90th St (bet. Atlantic Ave and 91st Ave)
District:
Units:

First Alarm:
E293, E285, E294, E236
TL142, L143, TL107 (Extra truck for reported entrapment)
Batt. 39, Batt. 51
Squad 270
Rescue 4
DC13
RAC
Medical Branch resources

2nd Alarm:
E319, E286, E303
Batt. 28 (Firefighting)
Batt. 44
Batt. 50 (Safety Coord)
Rescue Batt.
Safety Batt.
E324 w/ Satelite 4
Field Comm
Tactical Support 2

Command Tactical Unit

3rd Alarm:

E305, E302, E298, E277
L126, L127
Batt. 46 (Staging) - Staging location will be at 89th St and Atlantic Ave
Batt. 33 (Air Recon Chief)

4th Alarm:

E332, E331, E290, E218 act. E215

E262 with IMO1

E263 (Communications Vehicle)

L103, L170

Batt. 54 (Planning)

Additional Units:

Special Calls:

L173, L151, L125 - S/C above the 3rd

Batt. 58, Batt. 37 - S/C above the 4th

L133, (L122 act 120), L155 (act .142) - S/C above the 4th

Staff Officers (Probably missing a few):

Car 1-Charlie - Commissioner’s Liaison/Officer In Charge - FD Operations Center

Car 1-Frank - Commissioner's Liaison - Bureau of Health Services

Car 4 - Chief of Operations

Car 9 - Queens Borough Commander

Car 11-Adam - Chief of Rescue Operations

Car 12 - Chief of Safety

Car 12-Adam - XO to the Chief of Safety
Car 36-Henry - Chaplain

Description:

Originally reported as a kitchen fire in a private dwelling, upgraded with report of children trapped.

DC13 has Command

2 10-45s (no code) on the 2nd floor

DC13 transmitting the 4th Alarm, fire has extended to at least 5 buildings (sounds like a cockloft issue.) Special call 2 addl. Trucks above the 4th.

Command reports all primaries negative in the original fire building. Both 10-45s are Code 4 (Green Tag.)

2105: DC13 requesting an additional 2 Chiefs above the 4th Alarm (Battalions 58 and 37 assigned). 7 L/S/O.

2110: Additional 10-45 Code 4. Duration is exactly 1 hour.

2121: DC13 reporting main body of fire knocked down. Fire's still Doubtful. Trucks opening up, still dealing with pockets of fire. 8 L/S/O.

2126: S/C an additional 3 Trucks above the 4th: L133, (L122 act 120), L155 (act .142)

2211: Total of five 10-45 Code 4's. Car 4 places this fire under control.

Great article on the subject by Firefighter Close Calls.

Firefighters First Due... With So Few

Congratulations Chief Dunn!

They did have reports of multiple people trapped, which might explain it. Honestly I'm not familiar enough with their operations.

LAFD PIOs live tweeted the incident, they also have an email alerting system you can subscribe to if you are interested, we monitor it at work:

https://twitter.com/lafd

If I am not mistaken, LAFD's "Task Forces" consist of a traditionally staffed Engine, a minimally staffed Pumper (for water supply), and a Truck responding all as one unit. So the number of "Engines" is likely skewed because some of those only have a Driver. But maybe Seth or one of the more frequent LA buffs can explain better than I can.

Date: 3/12/15
Time: Approximately 2315 PST
Location: 742 S Ardmore Ave
District: Fire Station 29 (Koreatown)

Units: LA City Fire Department

Chief Officers: DC22, BC1, BC11, BC18, BC5, BC9

Engines/Pumpers: E11, E13, E211, E226, E227, E26, E261, E27, E29, E52, E6

Trucks: T11, T26, T27, T29, T61

USARs: UR27, UR88
Rescue Ambulances: RA26, RA27, RA52, RA829

EMS Captains: EM1, EM11

Emergency Air Unit: EA1

Arson Investigation: AR1

Rehab Tender 59

Description:

Working fire on the 2nd floor of a 2-story house. 1 occupant rescued by LAFD, being evaluated by RA units. Fire now in the attic space.

Fire knocked down, Command releasing some companies.

Sorry, I must have misheard. Correcting now. I didn't start listening until they dropped the 2nd so I missed the first 2 alarm rundowns.

Thanks!

Date: 3/10/15

Time: Approx 2355

Location: Manhattan Box 1335 - Address of 1295 5th Ave (off E 110th St)

Description:

Manhattan Box 1335 - 1295 5th Ave (off E 110th St) - 10-77 transmitted for fire out the windows of the 17th floor of a 34-story apartment building, extending to the 18th floor.

2nd Alarm Transmitted - Division 3 has Command

Car 6 (Manhattan Borough Commander) responding, reports he sees heavy fire still blowing out several windows while en route.

Apartments 31C and 31F reporting they are trapped.

1219 - Car 1-David responding on the 2nd alarm.

1221 - ***3rd Alarm Transmitted*** Heavy Fire on the 17th Floor, numerous people trapped. No water on the fire.

3rd Alarm:

E37, E44, E69, E60, E83

L23, L49 (Act. L26)

BN53, BN17 (Staging), Safety BN

They have to follow OSHA's Fire Brigade standard, but that's a joke. State Statute does not require them to be NFPA certified, though most individual departments do (I can't think of any that don't require it, except in the instance when a department allows a member with out-of-state certification to join)

The amount of back slapping I see on social media these days on the heals of a fire in many of these communities is crazy. Everyone always did "a good job" and everyone going home safe is often used as the yard stick to measure the effort. They may have given 100% and done the best that they could, but that doesn't always mean that they actually did "a good job", did it in a reasonably safe fashion or that their efforts made the situation better.

You sir, have nailed it. Everyone going home is not the only metric for success on the fireground. Unfortunately we've conditioned too many Chiefs/Officers to believe this is the case.

All dependent on the service your town expects from its fire department. You get some of these tiny towns out west in the middle of nowhere, where you get 2 guys in traffic vests and hard hats because the community contracts its "fire service" out to a couple of yokels in a wagon from 1950 that barely runs.

Are most of our politicians/residents ignorant to the level of service their fire departments actually provide in comparison to what they're paying for it? Absolutely. But I'll bet the same happens for the police, DPW, and education services as well.

All that being said, you're absolutely right. Its not a career/volunteer issue if you have a 100% union career department that only has 5 guys split between an Engine, Truck and Ambulance? Guess what, you can't handle a fire without mutual aid. If you have a volunteer department with 3 stations, 4 engines, 2 rescues, 2 ladder trucks, and 9 Chief cars, but you can only get 6 guys for a fire at noon on a Tuesday, 5 of which are old enough to collect social security? Same deal.

I'm not sure if its reasonable for a town of 10,000 people to pay for enough staffing for a full NFPA-compliant response of 12-14 Firefighters for a residential structure fire. (Source) All the more reason to consolidate to one combination department. Less equipment, standardized training and SOPs, and you ensure that everyone in the area gets the same level of service for their dollar.

Officer Robert Wilson III, Badge # 9990, has succumbed to his injuries at Temple University Hospital. RIP.

Date: 3/5/15
Time: Approximately 1640 Hours
Location: IAO Gamestop - 2100 Lehigh St (Cross of 22nd St)
District: 22nd District
Units: Philadelphia Police Department, Philadelphia Fire Department

Description:

Unit reporting shots fired at 2 PPD Police Officers IAO Gamestop. 1 MOS shot in the head.

Officer transported to Temple University Hospital via PPD radio car, listed in extremely critical condition. 22nd St closed to allow for escort detail.

2 suspects in custody, 1 transported to Einstein Hospital with GSWs, unknown condition.

Prayers going out to the injured Officer.