STATter 911

(Updated at 12:13 PM)

You be the judge

We have done many stories about issues at DC's 911 center, the Office of Unified Communications. On December 14, at a hearing just hours after he had to call 911 himself, DC City Councilmember David Catania called the experience "entirely dissatisfying". Trying to report a crime in progress Catania said that he was "so off-put, it made it more difficult for me to gather my thoughts."

STATter 911 and wusa9.com filed a FOIA request on December 17 and received the recording of David Catania's call yesterday. Click here to listen to the call, read more details and let us know your thoughts about how the call was handled. One of the more interesting comments said, "He should be made to work one shift anwering these calls".

There are also more comments on wusa9.com.

Brothers team up to save niece trapped in fire

In Aspen Hill, MD, two young men rescued their 8-year-old niece from a burning home early this morning. Read the story from wusa9.com.

All alone and filing suit

In Mishawaka, Indiana the city's only female firefighter/paramedic claims firefighters have put up "sexually derogatory cartoons and notes in stations to harass her into leaving". Dale Francis says she has also been given the silent treatment and refused help in moving patients and equipment. Read the story.

Driver only and other problems spark review

Gloucester, MA's mayor-elect wants an after-action report looking at the response to the Middle Street fire. More on Carolyn Kirk's comments from the The Gloucester Daily Times:

Kirk said the completing the AAR would require all emergency responders to create and submit reports, which would be used to gauge how the city, its first responders and the resources called from other communities fit together and executed their assignments.

Kirk also said she was exploring the best way to undertake a review of the performance of the Gloucester Fire Department.

"The challenges in terms of equipment, staffing, management and training predate this incident, " said Kirk, who takes office Jan. 1.

A recent article in the Boston Globe looked at staffing issues in Gloucester and elsewhere.

FireGeezer, who is now being quoted in New England, has more.

One call, two fire trucks wrecked

In Newport News, VA on Wednesday, the same emergency call led to two fire engines being involved in collisions. Everyone hurt, including firefighters with minor injuries, refused transport. VAFireNews.com has the story.

Charge The Line! inserts itself in the middle of a Boston cover-up where a columnist is shoveling it

You may have seen this controversy by now. The hydrants are covered by snow and a newspaper columnist thinks the firefighters should go around and dig out all 15-thousand plugs, because firefighters, as well all now, have plenty of down time . Bill Carey, at his Charge The Line! site, brings us up-to-date and gives us his view.

One apartment complex, two fires five months apart

In Houston, the last building standing at an apartment complex hit by a five-alarm fire in July, was destroyed by a fire just before midnight. Old 6-inch water mains at the complex have hindered firefighting operations (that sounds like a familiar problem). The first fire was determined to be electrical. This time there was no power at the complex. Watch and read the story from KPRC-TV. Short YouTube video.

Fire in Beverly, MA

A six-family apartment building burned in Beverly, MA yesterday. No injuries. Read the story.

Glenn Dale predicts the future?

A video from PGFD Station 18, Glenn Dale VFD. The caption reads "Check Out What's Coming From The Blitz Crew In 08". I'm not sure what they are trying to tell us is coming, other than more fires. But from someone who has worked in broadcasting for a while, it was a good tease. I tuned in. Have a happy and safe new year.