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Nov 22, 2009

Nov. 21--A man and a woman burned in a gas explosion Thursday were in critical condition Friday in a Mobile, Ala., hospital.

The victims, Michael Blanchard, 49, and Faye Boroughs, 40, were at the University of South Alabama Burn Center, said Mimi Ramirez, Blanchard's sister.

The explosion was caused by a natural gas leak, according to Lt. Kevin Fiddor of the state Fire Marshal's Office.

Nov 22, 2009

South Carolina Sheriff Elected Fire Chief

The sheriff does not anticipate any conflict in fulfilling both of his duties.

Nov. 21--Aiken County Sheriff Michael Hunt is getting back to his roots in the fire service, officials have confirmed.

At the Clearwater Fire Department's regularly scheduled meeting Thursday, Hunt was elected to be the new chief of the volunteer fire department.

A spokesperson for the sheriff's office, Capt.

Nov 21, 2009

Conn. Dept. Donates Truck To Maine

Nov. 21--ANSONIA -- A 21-year-old fire truck that outlived its usefulness here is headed for a new home in Lee, Maine.

The Webster Hose, Hook & Ladder Company 3 donated the 1988 pumper to the rural Maine town, which intends to put the truck right to work.

Fire Commission Chairman Gene Sharkey, a 46-year member of Webster Hose, said four members of the Lee Fire Department are expected to arrive in the city this afternoon to take delivery of the truck.

Nov 21, 2009

2 More Charged in Minn. Potty Fire

Two more suspects face charges in the case of the burning port-a-potty.

On Sept. 3, police stopped Mike Vruno, a paid on-call firefighter with the Eagan Fire Department, and his friend Thomas John Schmidt as they were driving away from a burning port-a-potty near Rich Valley Park in Inver Grove Heights. Authorities believe gasoline and fireworks were used to start the toilet on fire, causing about $1,100 in damage.

Nov 21, 2009

Mom, 4 Kids Die In Fla. Trailer Fire

OCALA, Fla. --

A fully engulfed mobile home fire in the Ocala Estates area early Saturday morning left five people dead.

Marion County fire officials said they received a call from a cell phone shortly before 6:45 a.m.

Nov 21, 2009

Ariz. Tot, 3, Pulls Baby Sister From Blaze That Killed Their Mom

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PHOENIX

A 3-year-old Arizona boy dragged his 1-year-old sister from a house fire that killed their mother and injured two other adults Friday, authorities said.

Fire crews responding to the fire in the Pinal County community of Maricopa south of Phoenix found the mother, Michelle Mariano, 22, lying near a doorway of the mobile home, Maricopa Fire Department spokesman Brad Pitassi said.

Authorities said the children's aunt, Marion Mariano, 28, was also severely burned.

She and the

Nov 21, 2009

Calif. Firefighters Rush to Shooting Victims' Aid

San Bernardino rescuers had to make a quick decision after hearing gunshots.

SAN BERNARDINO - A tense few moments followed the sound of six to eight gunshots outside Fire Station 7 late Tuesday.

Firefighter-paramedic Greg Soria and his crew stood up in the living room of the station, looked out the window and saw a man lying in the middle of the intersection of 40th Street and Electric Avenue.

"This guy was in the middle of the street almost getting hit by cars," Soria said.

The firefighters had to make a decision: Wait for the police or run outside and save the man in the street, not knowing if the sho

Nov 20, 2009

Pa. FFs Scolded For Political Campaigning with Fire Dept. Vehicles

Nov. 20--After a resident complained about Larimer firefighters campaigning for a political candidate, North Huntingdon commissioners said Wednesday that they'll send a letter to the volunteer department reinforcing a township policy that their vehicles should be used only for fire-related calls.

Nov 20, 2009

Maine FFs Seek Grant for Tankers

Fire Chief John Lee knows that his department's trucks are as well-maintained as his firefighters can make them, but someday soon, two tankers won't be able to answer any more alarms.

Nov 20, 2009

Ariz. Fire Claims 1, Injures 2

MARICOPA, Ariz.

A mobile home fire claimed the life of a 22-year-old woman Friday morning and severely burned a 1-year-old girl and her 28-year-old aunt, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.

The blaze broke out at about 8:30 a.m. at the structure in the Pinal County community of Maricopa south of Phoenix.

The name of the victim has not yet been released.

Nov 20, 2009

Task Force Formed For Pa. Arsons

GINTER, Pa.

An early-morning fire in Clearfield County has been ruled suspicious and officials have established a task force to investigate a string of arsons over the last month.

The fire started around 2:30 a.m. at an abandoned house on Union Street in Ginter. Neighbors said no one has lived at the house for about a month.

The home was destroyed, but crews were able to save the house next door even though heat from the blaze started to melt its siding.

Nov 20, 2009

Excavator Used in Wash. Rampage

STANWOOD, Wash. --

Police were called to a Stanwood business in the middle of the night Friday to find a man using an excavator in a destructive rampage, reported KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.

Neighbors who live near Forest Land Services called 911 around 3 a.m.

Nov 20, 2009

Toddler Rescued in Elgin, Ill. Fire

An Elgin firefighter heroically saved a 2-year-old boy from a burning home on the city's west side Thursday afternoon, minutes before the toddler could have died from smoke inhalation, officials said.

Meanwhile, fire officials said the boy's father remains in police custody and they're calling the fire suspicious.

Nov 20, 2009

Minn. FD Recounts Tour Bus Crash

Nov. 20--Wednesday's tour bus crash on Interstate 90 was the largest mass-casualty event that Austin Fire Chief Dan Wilson has been to in his 25 years with the department.

Austin firefighters were called for mutual aid and were among the first on the scene, where two were killed and 21 were injured.

Nov 20, 2009

Woman Dies, Two FFs Injured In Ky. Fire

INDEPENDENCE, Ky. --

A woman was killed and two firefighters were injured by a fire and explosion inside a home in Independence, Ky.

The fire was reported at the home on Sharpsburg Drive at about 4:40 a.m.

Nov 20, 2009

Calif. Firefighters Free Fowl From Fence

SACRAMENTO, Calif.

A goose got stuck Thursday when its leg became entangled in chicken wire on an island in the middle of Sacramento's Land Park duck pond.

Animal control officers called the fire department for help when they realized they needed a raft to get over to the goose.

Once it was freed, firefighters and animal control officers paddled back to shore with their injured feathered friend.

Nov 19, 2009

Texas Dept. Pleas for Pumper Truck

Nov. 18--TIVOLI -- A fire that displaced a Tivoli family last week has rekindled a second plea for a pumper truck from the unincorporated community's volunteer fire department.

Last Tuesday, the idea got support from Refugio County commissioners when they voted unanimously to seek bids on a the truck after the Tovar family lost its home, said Rene Mascorro, county judge.

Nov 19, 2009

Consultant Hired to Study Wis. Dept.

By STEFANIE SCOTT

Consultants will be keeping an eye on Wauwatosa Fire Department's operations over the next several months.

The Common Council on Tuesday approved spending $65,000 on a review by International City/County Management Association, a professional organization for city managers, to see if any personnel or service changes could result in efficiencies within the department.

Nov 19, 2009

College Building in Virginia Burns

Nov. 19--Fire heavily damaged a Lynchburg College storage facility used to house sporting equipment Wednesday night, Lynchburg Fire Department officials said.

Battalion Chief J.P. Kilgore said fire crews received the call to the building on Faculty Drive off Lakeside Drive about 9:30 p.m.

Nov 19, 2009

N.H. FFs Take Trench Training

By Alec O'Meara

Union Leader Correspondent

LONDONDERRY -- With the widening of Interstate 93 poised to become a major construction project in town over the next several years, Londonderry firefighters are spending the week preparing for trench cave-in rescues, one of the more dangerous and labor-intensive emergencies related to construction.

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