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Submit Your Close Call / Near Miss Navigation Home Secret List Gallery EMS CloseCalls Drills Firefighter Staffing Personal Survival Safety and survival SOGs Links Modern Fire Behavior About Us Never Forget Fire Communications Pass it On LODD STATS Yearly Totals Year Totals 2015 2 2014 87 2013 101 2012 83 2011 81 2010 87 2009 93 2008 118 2007 118 2006 107 "In Memory Of" Click this patch   Custom Search Contact Info Email BillyG info@ firefighterclosecalls.com Email Weekly Drill Suggestions to Drills@firefighter closecalls.com Click Here for The 9/11 Widows' and Victims' Families Association Click Here: Skyscraper Safety Campaign       Also check the most current issue of THE SECRET LIST for related News and Updates-(Click Here) 4 COPS (TYPICAL BLUE CANARIES) AND A FF OVERCOME BY CO IN LA Sunday, January 11, 2015  Four Los Angeles police officers and a firefighter were overcome by carbon monoxide early Friday when they rescued a man who was attempting suicide inside a boutique car dealership.A relative of the man called police about 4 a.m. and alerted them that he might try and take his own life, officials said. Officers and firefighters rushed to Exclusive Motorcars in the 10500 block of West Pico Boulevard on the Westside, where the man had apparently started at least three cars in the showroom to fill it with exhaust fumes, CBS2 reported. The man was passed out on the floor when officers arrived, the station reported. Police were able to rescue the man before he could succumb but four officers and one firefighter were overcome by the fumes in the process, officials said. The four officers were treated at a hospital and released, said Sgt. Peter Kim. The firefighter was also treated and is in fair condition, said LAFD spokesman Erik Scott. The man who was re... [ more ]         MI FF SUFFERS CO POISONING AT COMMERCIAL FIRE Sunday, January 11, 2015    Delaware Township firefighter was hospitalized with carbon monoxide poisoning after a fire of unknown origin broke out at Kolar Bros. Construction, Inc. early Thursday morning.According to Minden City Fire Chief Zach Kramer, firefighters were called to the corner of Palms Road and Ridge Road around 1:30 a.m., when owners Bob and Lisa Kolar were awoken by the blaze and called it in. By that time, the company's main building was fully engulfed, and the fire wound up completely destroying the building and all of its contents, including multiple skid steers and forklifts, tools, equipment, a tractor and a pickup. Kramer said around 40 firefighters battled high winds and freezing temperatures until around 9 a.m., using over 100,000 gallons of water in the process. Delaware Township, Deckerville and Sherman Township fire departments were on scene providing full assists, and construction equipment had to be used to break through the ice of a nearby pond to get water ... [ more ]         MONTANA FIRE CHIEF DIES LEAVING BEHIND A LEGACY OF SERVICE Sunday, January 11, 2015  Helena and East Helena communities are mourning the loss of a friend and true public servant after Eastgate Fire Chief Ken Mergenthaler died Thursday.Reports indicate that Mergenthaler died Thursday at his home. According to Lewis & Clark County Coroner Mickey Nelson, the cause of death was a heart attack. Mergenthaler served with the Eastgate Volunteer Fire Department for 30 years. He served as Fire Chief for 25 of those years. Under his leadership, Eastgate expanded from a department that provides fire protection for the East Gate subdivision to a regional firefighting force that includes its own ladder truck. Mergenthaler was also the driving force behind Montana Mutual Aid; the compact where a Montana fire department can get help from other departments around the state with a single phone call. Chief Mergenthaler leaves behind a fire department in shock. Tri-Lakes Fire Department Chief Bob Drake says, "He's th... [ more ]         COLORADO SPRINGS AERIAL FLIPS ON ICY ROAD Sunday, January 11, 2015  No injuries have been reported after a fire engine flipped on its side in a front yard in Colorado Springs, after it slid into a curb.The firefighters were on their way to a fire in a residential neighborhood when the accident happened Saturday morning. The Colorado Springs Fire Department says the icy roads caused the truck to slide into the curb and topple over. According to KRDO-TV, the accident happened just after 6 a.m., near the intersection of Rice Drive and Mt. Werner Circle on the south side of Colorado Springs. http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/icy-roads-blamed-after-fire-engine-flips-over-in-colorado-springs-yard?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter         Firefighter Struck-Critical in NY Sunday, January 11, 2015  This morning, a member of the Montgomery Volunteer Fire Department (Orange County, NY, about an hour north of NYC) was struck by avehicle while directing traffic in front of their firehouse on Route 17k. Firefighter Charlie Wallace was assisting an engine company that was responding to a mutual aid standby call-when he was struck. As of 1800 this evening, Wallace remains in critical condition at Westchester Medical Center-where he was taken by medevac. Charlie has been a member of Montgomery for over 40 years and is also the current Chairman of the board of Commissioners. We'll post updates as they become available. KTIYP's         APPARATUS STRUCK ON THE INTERSTATE IN MA Friday, January 9, 2015   A car slammed into a Hanover fire truck on Route 3 southbound Friday afternoon.The fire truck was responding to a car accident on the highway just south of Route 53 when the crash occurred. According to Hanover Fire, the fire truck driver and the two occupants in the car were transported to South Shore Hospital. http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/01/09/car-crashes-into-fire-truck-in-hanover/         FIREFIGHTER HURT AFTER APPARATUS IS STRUCK - NORTH DAKOTA Friday, January 9, 2015  A Fargo fire engine was damaged, and one firefighter was taken to the hospital, after a vehicle struck the engine while it was responding to a crash on Interstate 29.At 7:25 Fargo Firefighters responded to a traffic accident on Southbound Interstate 29 near 7th Avenue North. The crew found a vehicle pulling a trailer that looked like it jackknifed near the center divider of the interstate. The fire crew placed their apparatus in a position to protect the scene from more accidents. After the fire crew returned to the apparatus, a vehicle hit the engine in a second accident. One Firefighter was taken to the hospital for evaluation. The Fargo Fire Department says he will return to work tonight.         FIREFIGHTERS TEST POSITIVE FOR TOXIC MOLD - FLORIDA WPTV Video Friday, January 9, 2015   Those who risk their lives to keep us safe are feeling unsafe in their own workplace.Two Indian River County Firefighters have tested positive for exposure to toxic mold that could be from inside their fire station, according to John O'Connor, President of the International Association of Firefighters chapter in Indian River County. O' Connor says those firefighters work at station no. 7 in Vero Beach and station no.10 in Fellsmere. "We're in these fire stations a 3rd of our life. So, if we don't have a safe working environment to operate out of, that's not good," O'Connor said. O' Connor says he's been complaining about poor air quality and possible mold at several of the county stations for more than a decade. Some complaints sent to authorities were documented in emails. "This has been going on for years. Even for me personally, I've been symptomatic at some of these stations. As soon as you leave the station it automat... [ more ]         AUSTRALIAN FFs SURVIVE BURNOVER SHELTERING IN BRUSH TRUCK Friday, January 9, 2015  Heat shields and fire blankets saved the lives of two volunteer firefighters caught in a burnover in Western Australia's South West, the WA Emergency Services Minister says.The firefighters, from the Bindoon bushfire brigade, were battling a fire in Bindoon on Tuesday afternoon when they became trapped. They took shelter in their light tanker as the flames bore down. Emergency Services Minister Joe Francis said the light tanker had been fitted out with burnover blankets, radiant heat shields, and critical component lagging, which protects the vehicle's fuel lines and other critical parts of the engine. "Luckily the crew were very well trained in how to use this and it effectively saved their lives," Mr Francis said. "They were unharmed but obviously very shaken from the experience." The WA Government pledged in the lead up to the 2013 election to fit fire trucks with protection after a burnover at the Black Cat Creek fire claime... [ more ]         FORMER MD FF SENTENCED FOR DRUNK DRIVING IN FIRE APPARTUS Friday, January 9, 2015   An Eastern Garrett County volunteer firefighter was sentenced to serve six months in jail after being convicted recently in Garrett County District Court on unauthorized use of a vehicle and drunken driving charges. Justin A. Clark, 22, who pleaded guilty to unauthorized use of a vehicle and driving while impaired by alcohol, was sentenced by Judge Stephan Moylan to four years in the Division of Correction with all but six months suspended. For the DWI charge, Clark was sentenced to 60 days consecutive that was also suspended. In addition, Clark was ordered to serve three years of supervised probation after completion of his jail term. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Tracey Henline. Clark was represented by Assistant Public Defender Catrina Aquilino. According to the Office of the State’s Attorney, Clark was charged by Maryland State Police following an investigation into an accident that occurred on private property off Piney Run Road ... [ more ]         BATTALION CHIEF DIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY-MISSOURI Friday, January 9, 2015   We regret to pass on to you that Battalion Chief Chris Tindal of the South Metro FD near Kansas City, MO, has died in the Line of Duty.  Chief Tindal reportedly suffered chest pains after an incident, went to the hospital was treated and released. Unfortunately, Chief Tindal died following his discharge from the hospital. Among his many roles, responsibility and dedication he was also a handler for the Missouri Search and Rescue K9. Our condolences to all affected. RIP.Additional Details HERE: https://www.facebook.com/IaffLocal3112?fref=nf         FF SLIPS ON ICE - SUFFERS HEAD INJURY AT FIRE IN PA Thursday, January 8, 2015   A fire of undetermined origin displaced a family early Wednesday morning. In addition, David Joseph, New Castle Fire Department assistant chief, slipped on ice and sustained a head injury. Firefighters were called to 208 Richlieu Ave. about 12:10 a.m. Crews said they saw flames coming out of an attic window. Firefighters said the flames were confined to the attic, but the rest of the building sustained a lot of smoke damage. Low temperatures resulted in ice building up at the site, the firefighters said, and Joseph slipped, striking his head on the running board of a firetruck. Firefighters said Joseph was taken to Jameson Hospital, where he was treated for a gash at the back of his head and released. According to firefighters, the house, occupied by Wanda McKnight and her four children, sustained about $25,000 worth of damage to its contents. McKnight told firefighters her lights had started going off. She said she ... [ more ]         3 FFs INJURED AT OREGON FIRE Thursday, January 8, 2015  Three firefighters were injured Tuesday evening battling a house fire along Oregon 211. While trying to reach a hot spot on the roof, one firefighter tried to secure himself to a ladder. But part of the house gave way, causing the ladder to fall, said Colton Fire Chief Richard Beaudoin. Two firefighters below were hurt while trying to catch the falling firefighter. All three were treated at local hospitals and released. Beaudoin said crews were dispatched at 8:05 p.m. after a report of fire in the living room walls of a home in the 24200 block of South Highway 211. Arriving firefighters found smoke pouring from the home's second-story windows and eaves. The homeowner told firefighters that the "popping" sounds likely were from ammunition he stored in the attic. Firefighters determined that the fire started in the fireplace and spread up the walls to the attic. They tried to enter the attic through a second-story bedroom, but were turned ba... [ more ]         DALLAS LADDER VS. CEMENT TRUCK CRASH Thursday, January 8, 2015  A fire truck was involved in a crash Tuesday afternoon while responding to a structure fire in Dallas. The incident happened shortly before noon at the intersection of Hatcher Street and Second Avenue.The crash included the Dallas Fire-Rescue truck, a cement truck and a pickup truck. Police are investigating the details surrounding the crash, but it ended with the cement truck partially rolling onto the pickup truck. A witness said that the cement truck was trying to turn in front of the fire truck, which had its sirens blaring. Four firefighters and the driver of the pickup truck were taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Their injuries were not life threatening. The cement truck driver was not hurt during the crash. The names of the victims were not released.