FF Close Calls

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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 2014 85 2013 101 2012 83 2011 81 2010 87 2009 93 2008 118 2007 118 2006 107 2005 115 "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)  SC EX-MARINE NOT GUILTY BY INSANITY IN FATAL FIRE TRUCK CRASH  Friday, December 19, 2014    A judge has ruled a South Carolina man was insane when he stole a fire truck while naked and then struck and killed a pedestrian.Circuit Court Judge Carmen Mullen found Kalvin Hunt not guilty by reason of insanity on Thursday after prosecutors and Hunt's attorneys agreed on his mental state, multiple media outlets reported. The 28-year-old former Marine fled naked from the Naval Hospital in Beaufort in 2012, stole a Port Royal fire truck that was responding to a medical call at a nearby apartment complex, then struck and killed Justin Nicholas Miller before crashing into woods. Hunt was sent for treatment to a secure care facility run by the South Carolina mental health department. He must remain there until he regains his sanity, and there will have to be another hearing before he can be released. "Hunt will remain there until he's not a threat to himself or anyone else," Solicitor Duffie Stone said. "That status has the potential of remaining... [ more ]         TEEN SUING FDNY AFTER BEING STRUCK BY FIREBOAT PROP  Friday, December 19, 2014    A teenager who flipped his kayak has sued the FDNY, saying he was seriously hurt when responders rescued him.Frank Marino Jr., 17, alleges in the lawsuit that when three firefighters rescued him from Jamaica Bay, he was hit by the propeller of their boat, the New York Post reports. It caused "multiple severe and serious lacerations" to his stomach and legs, which required surgery, according to the claims. He’s seeking unspecified damages.         Dear Firefighters: Two Strikes & You're Out.  Friday, December 19, 2014   Every once in a while we like to "pass on" actions that some take related to AVOIDING things going wrong, close calls or direct hits. This would be one of those cases. This is a memo sent to the members of the San Antonio Fire Department by their Chief, Charles Hood a few weeks ago. It's pretty simple and clearly spelled out regarding his and the departments stand on driving while intoxicated. How do you argue with a boss who is looking out for his people, their family and the other innocent victims of DUI? You can't. Well-I guess you can. You can also argue that water on a fire isn't a priority. But anyway.... Here is Chief Hoods letter as written: Dear Members of the San Antonio Fire Department Family: Throughout my tenure as Fire Chief I have had the unpleasant responsibility of addressing a wide range of disciplinary issues relate... [ more ]         4 FFs INJURED IN LONG ISLAND FIRE  Friday, December 19, 2014    Four firefighters sustained minor injuries battling a house fire in Sea Cliff Thursday, authorities said.Nassau County Arson/Bomb Squad detectives say fire broke out at 12:27 p.m. at 88 Prospect Ave. The home was unoccupied and in the process of being restored. Workers discovered the fire as they were removing paint on the second floor of the residence, police said. Sea Cliff, Glen Cove, Glenwood Landing, Roslyn, East Norwich, Bayville, Oyster Bay, and Locust Valley Fire Departments responded with 20 trucks and approximately 100 fire personnel to extinguish the fire, police said. Two of the injured firefighters were treated and released at the scene. Two more were transported to a local hospital for treatment, according to police. The home sustained major damage, police said. The fire has been deemed accidental and non-suspicious, according to police.         FIREFIGHTER DOWN-LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK  Submitted Photo  Friday, December 19, 2014    Bad news from Nassau County, New York (Long Island) this morning. Initial reports are that there was a working house fire on Central Avenue in Woodmere, which is close to the Queens, NYC border. While operating at the fire, a Firefighter on mutual aid from nearby Inwood was a MAYDAY and removed with CPR in progress. That FF was transported with no further details at this time, other than he is now in extremely critical condition.We'll post more as it is made available. KTIYP's.         2 CLEVELAND FFs INJURED AT HOUSE FIRE  Thursday, December 18, 2014    The Cleveland Fire Department responded to a house fire at 16508 Southland Avenue on the city's west side on Wednesday night.  Fire spokesman Larry Gray says that when fire crews arrived at the scene, they found a 67-year-old woman in the house. Crews were able to rescue her and revive her from respiratory arrest. She was then transported to MetroHealth Medical Center with unknown injuries. more ]         2 PA FFs INJURED IN GAS EXPLOSION  Thursday, December 18, 2014    Two city firefighters were taken to the hospital after a gas explosion at a Lancaster city home Wednesday night. Both were treated for first-degree burns to their head and face and then released. One returned to the fire scene while the other went home, according to Battalion Chief Jeffrey Oatman. A city fire marshal is investigating the incident after an apparent bullet hole was discovered in the gas meter, Oatman said. UGI officials took possession of the meter which will be examined. Fire crews were dispatched to 56 S. Franklin St. around 6:10 p.m. after a resident of the two-unit apartment building called 911 and said she "heard a bang," then detected a heavy odor of gas, Oatman said. The residents of the building were told to evacuate. Upon arrival, firefighters went to the basement of the building, where they discovered a heavy gas smell and active leak. As they attempted to turn off the gas, an... [ more ]         Six Firefighters Injured In Anderson County Fire Truck Crash  WTVQ Video  Wednesday, December 17, 2014    A fire truck crash in Anderson County injured six firefighters Tuesday night, according to the fire department.Investigators said the fire truck was headed to a car crash on Puckett Road, when it crashed. An eyewitness told ABC 36 News that he saw the fire truck run off the road, hit a tree, which caused part of the truck to cave-in. The fire department confirmed that one firefighter had to be cut out of the wreckage. He was taken to UK Hospital in Lexington. He was conscious and talking, according to firefighters. The other five firefighters who were hurt, were treated and released from UK Hospital, according to the fire department. A Battalion Chief said it was an emotional night for the department. "We're going to be here to support them. We ask the community to say a prayer for them and be there and support them through this incident. This is not just tonight. This is going to be for the next week or so, and month... [ more ]         4 FFs INJURED IN RIVERDALE IL MAYDAY  Wednesday, December 17, 2014    Fur firefighters suffered non-life-threatening injuries while battling an extra-alarm blaze at a condominium building Tuesday in Riverdale, officials said. About 100 firefighters from departments all over the south suburbs responded to the fire in a three-story building within the Riverwood Condominiums at 137th Street and Stewart Avenue. The Riverdale Fire Department's deputy chief, Art Schweitzer, said he doesn't know how the firefighters were hurt, but said they will be OK. The injured firefighters were taken to Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey and MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island, Schweitzer said. Two are with Riverdale Fire, one is a Calumet Park firefighter and the fourth is with Markham. One civilian also complained of difficulty breathing, apparently because of asthma, Schweitzer said. He also said Riverdale police officers knocked on the doors of other residents in the building, helping them evacuate safely. more ]