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Rookie firefighter Damien Jon Hobbs and 50-year-old veteran firefighter James Harlow of Pasadena died in a fire, bringing the Houston Fire Department's death toll to seven since 2000. For full story see article in Firehouse.com.

 
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Firefighters held at gunpoint by patient PDF Print E-mail
Written by Edmond Hetu   
Tuesday, 23 February 2010 11:30

By Ann DeMatteo
New Haven Register

 

Firefighters are being praised for bravery after a man who didn't want to go to the hospital pointed a loaded gun at them. They remained calm as the man held the .38- caliber revolver while they asked about his medical condition and took his blood pressure. "We're lucky to be able to tell this story today instead of a tragic story," Fire Chief David A. Berardesca said. Full story
Last Updated on Tuesday, 23 February 2010 11:33
 
Wear Full FF Gear at MVA! PDF Print E-mail
Written by Edmond Hetu   
Monday, 08 February 2010 11:23
Two Croft firefighters have a new appreciation for their protective gear after a pickup truck exploded on them. The fire department responded to a vehicle fire around 5:00pm Wednesday on Blanchard Road near Carolina Country Club Road.

“It’s the small calls like this everyday that can really put a firefighter out for his career,“ said Croft Fire Chief Lewis Hayes.

When firefighters arrived, a Ford Ranger had flames coming from the engine and cab area. The driver had already safely gotten out. As two firefighters were spraying the truck with water from a distance of about five feet, the truck exploded in a shower of white sparks and flames. Another firefighter had a camera mounted on his helmet and captured video of the explosion. Click on the video above to see it for yourself. You can see the two firefighters engulfed in the ball of showering metal. Chief Hayes says the video is an invaluable teaching tool. Click here to see some dramatic video of the explosion.

“We can show other firefighters across the country that a routine call like this can turn into something that can end your career if you aren’t wearing your protective gear,“ says Hayes.

He says many firefighters don’t wear their face mask and breathing apparatus when putting out vehicle fires. But his firefighters were wearing the gear, and Hayes says it saved them from serious injuries.

“They no doubt would have had severe facial burns,“ says Hayes.

Hayes says the explosion was caused by the magnesium that is used in the production of most of today’s vehicles. But he says magnesium explosions are rarely that large.

“This was a really big one,“ says Hayes. “From now on, we will stand farther back from vehicles when putting water on them because the explosion really occurs when the water hits the burning magnesium.“

 
 
N.Y. Firefighter Killed in Ambulance Crash PDF Print E-mail
Written by Edmond Hetu   
Wednesday, 13 January 2010 12:51

A Tioga Center firefighter driving an ambulance died early this morning while responding to a call, according to The Ithaca Journal.

Firefighter LeRoy Kemp was on his way to a cardiac call in Nichols when he was involved in a three-vehicle crash on Route 17C and was killed on impact.


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Ontario Vol.FF Dies during Training PDF Print E-mail
Written by Edmond Hetu   
Tuesday, 02 February 2010 07:14

An Ontario volunteer firefighter is dead after a training exercise took a deadly turn near Sarnia on Saturday.

Gary Kendall, 51, of Point Edward was taking part in a water rescue drill when he got trapped under a sheet of ice. The man's fellow firefighters managed to pull Kendall to safety, and he was taken to Bluewater Health hospital where he died Sunday morning from his injuries.
 
USFA: FF Deaths Lowest Since '93 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Edmond Hetu   
Wednesday, 13 January 2010 11:59

Ninety firefighters died while on duty in 2009

BY SUSAN NICOL KYLE , Firehouse.com News -
Posted: Tue, 01/12/2010 - 15:11
Updated: Wed, 01/13/2010 - 11:46

Last year, the number of firefighter killed while on duty was the lowest it has been in more than 15 years.

Ninety firefighters died while on duty in 2009, according to a newly released USFA report. It is the least amount of deaths reported by the agency since the total was 81 in 1993.

Thirteen of the 90 deaths were classified as Hometown Heroes. Firefighters who die of heart attacks or strokes within 24 hours of a response or training received the designation, which was adopted after legislation was signed in 2003.

An analysis of statistics on the USFA Web site shows the 2009 fatalities the third lowest since the agency started keeping records in 1977.

The number of on-duty deaths last year may change in the next few months as more information may be outstanding. Traditionally, state fire marshals across the country are asked to check records to make sure all incidents were reported.

During 2008, the USFA reported 118 firefighters lost their lives on duty.

Last year, heart attacks were blamed for 47.7 percent of deaths, while 31.1 percent died of traumatic injuries and strokes were cited in 8.8 percent.

The preliminary records showed 46 were volunteers and 36 were career firefighters. Eight wildland fire personnel also were killed. Twenty-eight percent of those killed were under 40.

Stress and over exertion and vehicle collisions were listed as the top causes of the fatal incidents last year.

April was the deadliest month -- 14 deaths -- followed by February and August with 10 each.

Pennsylvania lost eight personnel last year, while New York lost seven.
 
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