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 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)  FIREFIGHTERS SAVE THE LIFE OF ONE OF THEIR OWN-THE DRIVER OF THEIR APPARATUS  Saginaw Fire Department Lt. Christopher       McGowan, left, and firefighter Brandon       Hausbeck saved the life of a fellow       firefighter last week when they were       returning from the scene of a fire. The       driver of their truck had a heart attack       and they were able to park the truck,       remove the driver from the cab, perform       CPR and shock him with a defibrillator       before a police officer transported him       to Covenant Healthcare hospital a few       blocks away. (Jeff Schrier | MLive.com)  Monday, January 12, 2015   While riding back to the station after fighting a suspected arson on the city's East Side, two Saginaw firefighters noticed something wrong. Their fire engine, stopped at a red light, began to roll forward before the light had changed. That's when Lt. Christopher McGowan, 37, and firefighter Brandon Hausbeck, 24, realized their driver was unconscious. The two men sprang into action, stopping the truck and saving their fellow firefighter, who was suffering a cardiac emergency. The incident happened on the morning of Thursday, Jan. 8, at the intersection of Genesee and Michigan, as the fire engine was returning to station No. 2 on Gratiot. The engine was dispatched to help battle a blaze at 1328 Essling. McGowan pulled the emergency brake and got the driver out and onto the ground, checking for a pulse and removed the driver's shirt. The firefighters — both trained EMTs — hooked an Automated External Defibrillator (AED... [ more ]         UPDATE: FIREFIGHTERS BURNED/INJURED IN SACRAMENTO MAYDAY  Monday, January 12, 2015    Three firefighters were injured in a fire that broke out early this morning at a home in South Sacramento. FD spokesman Roberto Padilla said three firefighters were transported to the hospital – one for smoke inhalation and two with burns suffered while battling a basement fire at a residence in the 5200 block of 22nd Avenue. The department identified the firefighters as Capt. Gary Pimentel, firefighter Adam McKahan and probationary firefighter Alex Galang. It is believed that McKahan and Galang were the most seriously injured. “We did have a May Day (call) go out,” said Padilla of the 6:23 a.m. Monday fire in the Colonial Heights neighborhood. Fire still burned an hour after the blaze was first reported in the two-story residence. When crews arrived to the burning building, smoke was pouring from the basement of the home. Firefighters began to attack the blaze and shortly after that the 6:34 a.m. May Day announcement was made, signifying ... [ more ]        YouTube Video    FIREFIGHTERS INJURED-SERIOUS-IN CALIFORNIA  Monday, January 12, 2015    At least one firefighter became trapped in the basement of a home on fire in South Sacramento Monday morning. In total, three firefighters were injured while battling this blaze.Around 6:30 in the morning, neighbors called after seeing smoke coming from a home along 22nd Avenue. Multiple crews of Sacramento City firefighters responded to the home, which quickly became engulfed in flames. The homeowners were not there at the time of the fire. Two of the injured firefighters were taken to the hospital for treatment, at least one has serious injuries.   FIREFIGHTER ACCIDENTLY SHOOTS HIMSELF IN THE FIRE HOUSE  Monday, January 12, 2015    A Cambridge fire captain was hospitalized this week and is now on sick leave after he accidentally shot himself in a fire station, officials said.The captain, whose name was not released, was in a stairwell of the East Cambridge fire station at 175 Cambridge St. on an administrative task Tuesday when he was removing a personal firearm and holster from his jacket pocket in an attempt to attach it to his belt, according to Assistant Chief Gerard E. Mahoney. The gun, which he was licensed to carry, accidentally fired, hitting the captain in his hip area. The incident is under investigation by the Cambridge police and the Cambridge Personnel Department, he said. “He should not have had it in the firehouse,” Mahoney said, adding that the incident was an accident. The captain, who has been on the force for close to 30 years, has not been disciplined for the incident, according to the assistant chief. He is using sick days for recovery, and was hospital... [ more ]         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 ]