Well, what do ya know? After our first blog post and subsequent follow-ups asking that the photo on the front of Dallas Fire-Rescue’s website be changed – it finally happened. The original full size photo showing a firefighter not wearing any respiratory protection while surrounded in smoke with a link to their Respiratory Protection Program has been replaced with rainbows … and the removal of the respiratory program link. Coincidence? We think not! (more…)
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After a long, hard fought battle, former Austin Firefighter Alejandro Garza lost his battle to keep his job after being accused of posing nude in AFD gear on a dating website. The accusations came forth from the husband of the woman with whom Alejandro had an affair with. An arbitrator sided with the Austin Fire Department yesterday which led to the official firing. (more…)
Turns out that you can’t fondle yourself in a Walgreen’s parking lot and ask a woman (with an infant) to touch your genitals for money. It’s against the law. Just ask FF Joseph Phillips of the Collingdale (PA) Fire Department. The incident occurred in the lot on Chester Pike near MacDade Boulevard in Darby outside of Philadelphia. Phillips allegedly told the woman that she aroused him and that he was unhappily married. (more…)
Kingsport Tennessee firefighters were dispatched to a woman stranded on the roof of her car in the middle of the Holston River. Witnesses state the driver drove down a hill and into the river without ever slowing down. Our guess is that she was updating her status on Facebook. The entire rescue was caught on video by the Times News Online. Our favorite part of the video can be viewed at 1:01 of Troy Hall – a man with a huge bluetooth in his ear and no tooth in his mouth. He made us chuckle. Check out the video below … (more…)
Lt. Kevin Brady of Station 22, Cleveland Fire Department is featured today in a news story on WEWS-TV. In it, Kevin details how after a fire he felt, “a pain like I’ve never felt before” in his chest. Instead of ignoring it he told a paramedic in the station who hooked him up to the monitor to discover he was having a heart attack. Heart attacks are the #1 killer of firefighters in the United States. (more…)
SideCharlie.com has obtained a copy of the debut flyer that was provided inside the gift bags at the 2011 World Police & Fire Games fundraiser last week. The 8.5″ x 11″ handout depicts Firefighter Robert Keiley stricken with ailments as a 9/11 FDNY rescuer when in actuality he wasn’t employed until 2004.
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Fire Chief Charles Hood of the San Antonio Fire Department suspended three firefighters for traveling at an unsafe speed and not buckling up while racing to a fire on the Northwest Side last year. Firefighter Robert Arranaga, 30, was trapped and hospitalized with a broken neck and remains on medical leave. The crash destroyed Ladder 35 priced at $600,000. (more…)
This is a growing list of online resources from around the globe the provide the detailed, 24 hour coverage of the Japan disasters. If you are aware of additional resources that may be of use to humanitarian aid and responders please add them to the comments section below. We will be updating this list over the next few days. (more…)
This goes in the category of ‘Who didn’t see this coming?’ A Clark County Nevada commissioner is calling for a criminal investigation into possible abuse of the sick leave and overtime systems by firefighters. This on the heals of an arbitrator chose Clark County’s new contract deal over IAFF Local 1908′s version which calls for a reduction of pay and benefits of 5.5 percent. Clark County is the home of the City of Las Vegas. (more…)
An early morning fire out in Los Angeles caught by a citizen across the street from 1324 N. Sunderland Street in Echo Park. As first reported by the Fire Critic over the weekend this fire took 17 minutes to bring under control with 32 firefighters. (more…)
[fblike]KAWARTHA LAKES, ONTARIO, CANADA (Jan. 19, 2011) – Little Britain division firefighter Kevin Cunningham works to put out a fire that razed a City of Kawartha Lakes plough on Little Britain Rd. about 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. The driver was not hurt. Photo courtesy Jason Edward Scott Bain. Send us your shots to pics@sidecharlie.com
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Check out this video from last nights Stockton Thunder hockey game in California. The fans honored a fallen firefighter through their annual Teddy Bear Toss. In the Thunder’s sixth annual “Teddy Bear Toss” game, fans were invited to donate stuffed animals to the ice surface on the first Thunder goal. Stockton ended up beating Ontario 4-1. (more…)
Firefighter Mark Falkenhan, 43, was killed last night after becoming trapped and calling a mayday during an apartmentment fire where he suffered massive burns. He leaves behind his wife and 2 children. He was a member of the Lutherville Volunteer Fire Company. Radio traffic audio available after the jump (more…)
As reported first on myFOX Houston this morning the Houston Fire Department learned of the disturbing results of a year long investigation by the EEOC. It found that FF Jane Draycott was indeed a victim of sexual harassment within the department. The actual EEOC report is available to read below. (more…)
For those fire stations allowed, there is nothing better than a firehouse dog that greets you when you come to work or from a stressful emergency. For the East Dundee Fire Protection District that dog was named Bunkers. On January 7th, Bunkers was put to sleep due to a sudden onset of complications. Bunkers was 13. (more…)
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A tribute video was posted last night by YouTuber apttotwinkle in memory of Retired FDNY Firefighter Roy Chelsen. We posted an excerpt and link to the New York Times article covering Roy’s actions on 9/11. Tragically, the number of first responders who lost their lives as a result of 9/11 continues to grow. Roy Chelsen was heroic, both as a firefighter and as he battled cancer caused by working at Ground Zero. Watch this fitting video after the jump … (more…)
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Dramatic video provided to KOCO-TV News of a large apartment complex fire at the Quail Ridge apartments in northwest Oklahoma City back on Jan. 11, 2011. No fire department units are on the scene. Several items to note: At 0:02 you will see the attic vent out of the gable end. At 0:25 a panic flows through the crowd as they hear someone cough and believe someone is trapped in the building. Check out the video – lots of training worthiness … (more…)
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WIVB in New York is reporting this morning tat a 26-year-old Big Tree firefighter passed away last night. The firefighter became ill during what the article calls ‘routine SCBA training Monday evening at the fire hall. The firefighter was rushed by the company’s ambulance to Mercy Hospital. His condition worsened and passed away last night. His name has not yet been released to the public. (more…)
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This past Sunday, FF Roy W. Chelsen of FDNY Engine Company 28 died as a result of multiple myeloma, a cancer that many link to his incredible work on 9/11. He is also the first firefighter to die after the signing of the 9/11 Health Law. Today in the New York Times is an incredible article we recommend to all, from rookie to vet, to read and discuss. It talks of a man when faced against a worst-case scenario stood up and made decisions that saved many on that fateful day. FF Roy Chelsen is a firefighter’s firefighter. (more…)
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New video posted on YouTube by nelmore11 (no date on the fire, but we can assume it was yesterday) of a fully involved house. The fire is along a highway out in the middle of nowhere and the structure is almost completely on the ground. Funny thing about amateur videos – they catch you doing interesting things (3:40 in the video) like using an 1 3/4″ hand-line downwind of a house fully involved and on the ground. Dude, just let it burn. Video after the jump … (more…)
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Overnight amateur video posted on YouTube by guyz65 (Guy Zampatori) shows a vented attic fire in an old 2 story house. Looks like they also have about 6-8″ of snow to deal with. The weather forecast for last night stated light snow with overnight lows of 10F degrees and factoring humidity and wind it would feel like 3F degrees. Throw in some snow and wet gear … well, you know. Watch the video after the jump … (more…)
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