STATter 911

Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com

Two for the price of one: This video has two back-to-back house fires from Gary, Indiana at opposite ends of town. Click here to read more about the fires.

UPDATED - Firefighters ordered to back out of fire man sleeps through: A man rolled off a bed onto the floor as a firefighter entered his room two hours after a house fire started in Ross Township, PA. The firefighter was quite startled. The man, now identified as Edward Stefanic, asked, "What are you doing breaking my windows?". Stefanic was taken to the hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. Much earlier, firefighters were ordered to abandon their interior attack because of the collapse of the roof. Here's the story and some added details and links.

Prostitution ring pays numerous of visits to on-duty firefighter: A Nashville firefighter turned in his resignation after his name surfaced in a prostitution ring investigation. The firefighter admitted to using the firehouse for his sexual encounters. Read more.

NEW- Another reason to stop smoking: This is an odd one from Alcoa, Tennessee. A firefighter who went outside the firehouse for a smoke break reported to police his PPE, stashed next to a fire engine, was stolen when he got back inside. Read more.

The sprinkler demonstration causes quite a stir: With its play on many fire service websites, blasted out on The Secret List, shown on CNN, featured on LiveLeak.com and posted on scores of other websites, a lot of eyeballs around the world have seen last Wednesday's sprinkler demonstration in the District of Columbia. There are more than 100 comments posted with our entry offering a wide range of opinions. While some are quite pointed, my personal favorite is from Lt. T. Cosgrove Jones of the department's training academy. Lt. Jones doesn't like the anonymous finger pointing but sees value in the video, writing - "I would hope that a lesson is learned and the video is used as a training tool. I know we will use the video as a training tool." Having known Lt. Jones for some time, my guess is he will rethink his position once he knows I agree with him. Click here for the video and the comments.

Kentland crew honored: Firefighters from Kentland VFD were recognized by Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department Chief Eugene Jones for the April rescue of FF Daniel McGown at a Largo house fire. Read more.

Tired of the serious discussion and need a little comic relief: After reading all of those comments on the sprinkler video I know I needed it. The laughs are coming from a Detroit fire video that has its own live musical accompaniment. This isn't any dubbed in music from Backdraft or Ladder 49. And it isn't the Motown sound as we know it. But it is quite memorable. Click here for the clip that has now made my "Top 5" list of favorite videos I have posted on the blog. I just wonder what the firefighter on the roof was thinking.

I don't blame them, I wouldn't want to associate with me either: I have been doing a number of talks about social media and its impact on the fire service. Maybe I should look at the emotional toll it can take on those who are left in the dust when their attempts to "follow" or "friend" someone are rebuffed. I write this with fresh first hand knowledge. I've been snubbed. I have been "blocked" on Twitter as if I was one of those services that "follow" you offering a good time (usually a little more direct than that). After "following" more than 800 people and organizations, the Columbia South Carolina's Association of Professional Firefighters (CFFA) are the first to "block" me (you always remember your first). Now I know how devastated all those women I have "blocked" must feel when I turn down what they are selling. Who can fault CFFA for not wanting to expose their followers to the junk that is on this blog? I actually admire them for doing this, because as Groucho Marx famously wrote, "I wouldn't want to belong to a club that would have me as a member".

UPDATED- Ugly statistic from West Virginia: State Fire Marshal Sterling Lewis told WOWK-TV that so far this year 30 firefighters have been arrested and charged with arson. "What my worst nightmare is, I'll get that 3 and 4 o'clock call from the arson hot line that a firefighter has died, and another firefighter set the fire." Read the story. Watch the story.

Firefighter makes the rescue, but first he has to dock the boat: An interesting story from Florida where an off-duty firefighter spots an apartment fire while out on his boat. Check it out.

Gunfire and scuffle punctuate deadly Houston fire: Firegeezer has the story of a house fire with three children trapped and bars on the windows. Firefighters were able to save one of the children, despite an uncle walking around with a gun. That same man is said to have gotten into a fight with a news photographer. Click here.

More from Houston where the FD and ATF weren't reading from the same playbook: Early on Saturday, the Houston Chronicle quoted District Chief Tommy Dowdy as saying two persons of interest were in custody for a string of fires in vacant buildings. Later on Saturday, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms held a press conference saying that was not the case. Here's the story.

Weekend videos: We posted another one from Thursday's house fire in Waterbury, CT and a three-alarm fire in Marlborough, MA.

Mother of fallen firefighter wants chief to resign: In Racine, Missouri there are problems between the mother of a firefighter killed storm spotting and the chief of the department. The dispute at the Seneca Area Fire Protection District is making the local papers. Click here.

# posted by Dave Statter @ 1:15 AM