Sun. Aug 10th 2008
PA. FIRE INSTRUCTOR LODD:
It is with deep regret that we advise you that PA. Fire Instructor Sean Whiten, 47 of Stockdale (PA) a former Chief and Captain of the Roscoe VFC died in the Line of Duty yesterday during a training burn.
F.I. Whiten was operating at the Westmoreland County (Western PA) Fire Training Academy (South Huntingdon) and had lead several training burns when he decided to go to rehab. While at rehab, his vitals were determined to be good, he sat in front of cooling fan, felt better and went to an area to relax. Following that, he was found down, suffering from a medical emergency...personnel worked on him, an AED was used and he was transported to the hospital where he passed away. Chief Whiten leaves behind a wife and a 17 year old son. Our sincere condolences to all affected and especially the Whiten family and friends.
TWO FIREFIGHTERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY: HONG KONG:
It is with deep regret that we advise you that 2 Firefighters and a woman were killed in a 5 alarm multi-family dwelling fire this morning, which also sent 55 people to hospital. Senior Firefighter Siu Wing-fong, 46, 25-year-old Firefighter Chan Siu-lung during rescue attempts. Our sincere condolences to all affected.
REMEMBERING THE NOONDAY FIREFIGHTERS DOUBLE LODD:
As you know, we always do our best to remember specific LODD's-especially one's we can all learn from.
It has been 1 year since the Line of Duty Deaths of Captain Kevin Williams and FF Austin Cheek of the Noonday VFD in Texas. A report into the tragic August 3, 2007 deaths at that house fire has been completed by the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office. Click the below link to read the entire report--our thanks to our affiliate Dave Statter at Statter911.com.
BRIEFLY, WHAT WAS FOUND IN THE DOUBLE LODD REPORT?
As you will read, much of the below (such as the failure to conduct a full 360 and size up before committing companies interior) is consistently showing up in numerous LODD reports.
-A command post was not set up and the Incident Commander was mobile.
-RIT was established during operations but was not dedicated for immediate response.
-No tracking or accountability used from the start.
-No 360 size-up.
-Problems with scene command and control between the various responding companies..
-Ventilation was not coordinated and FF's were between the fire and the venting.
-Problems with communications between interior crews and command and command didn't take immediate actions when his request for updates went unanswered.
As fire conditions progressed changes were not made to the fireground operations.
CLICK THE LINK for the ENTIRE DOUBLE LODD REPORT ...WHICH IS WELL WORTH READING:
May Captain Kevin Williams and FF Austin Cheek rest in peace.
FIRFIGHTER FACES CHARGES IN CRASH:
The operator of a Jacksonville (FL) Fire Rescue Department rescue vehicle (ambulance) that crashed during a rainstorm on I-10 while transporting a patient earlier this week is now facing charges of careless driving, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crew was transporting to Shands Jacksonville with a patient in critical condition....the unit driver, 38 year old FF Paul Brennan lost control, hit the concrete median and overturned....he had a seatbelt on.
The other 2 Firefighters on board didn't have seatbelts on as they were providing patient care. The cops say Brennan faces charges of careless driving...all were treated and released.
WHY DO REGULAR LICENSE CHECKS?
A Japanese firefighter who has driven fire apparatus and ambulances hundreds of times over 20 years was sacked after it was discovered that he never had a driver’s licence.The man’s family was in on his "secret" and would drive him each day to and from the firehouse, from where he would get behind the wheel of fire apparatus and ambulances. But the firefighter in Takaoka (NW of Tokyo) was busted last week after he hesitated to show his licence during a routine (?) FD inspection.
“An inspector thought he was looking awkward and yanked the driver’s licence from his hand and discovered it was his father’s,” said a FD Official.
The Firefighter, who is in his 40's, was a FF for some 20 years...during the five years to this March, for which records were available, he drove ambulances 309 times and fire trucks 97 time.
The city ALSO cut the salaries of the Chief of Department, his Deputy Chief and other senior officials by 1/10th for one month as punishment....the FD only began monthly licence inspections in November.
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