Cal Fire, Santa Clare Unit, Battalion Chief On-Duty Death...

Battalion Chief Van Wormer passed away on Saturday evening, 10/27/2012 at  1900hrs, while on assignment in Santa Cruz from a cause still to be determined while on a work assignment in a neighboring jurisdiction.

Battalion Chief Rob Van Wormer fell ill, lost consciousness and was transported to Dominican Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 8 p.m., according to a statement from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Director Ken Pimlott.


Chief Rob Van Wormer 47, had served with Cal Fire for 24 years and served as both Fire Chief and a Fire Investigator. His brother, Kirk, is a Cal Fire Battalion Chief in the Sonoma Lake-Napa Unit.

Rob Van Wormer, pictured in 1999, a Cal Fire battalion chief with the Santa Clara County unit, died Saturday evening at Dominican Hospital. (Meri Simon/Bay Area News Group file)

Our condolences to the Van Wormer Family & Friends, the Cal Fire Santa Clare Unit, and to all affected by Battalion Chief Rob Van Wormer's passing.

To date, 63 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2012. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) Fatality Notices page.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Baldwinsville N.Y. Blaze, No One Hurt 10.25.2012

Three up-state New York fire departments Baldwinsville, Belgium Cold Springs, and Moyers Corners responded quickly at 5:45 a.m. to a reported in a home at 26 Mechanic Street.



Upon arrival the Baldwinsville Fire Chief KC Pickard said he saw smoke showing from the back corner of the building. No one was home, and when firefighters first arrived, it's reported, they saw that only a small fire behind a TV. Though the structure, which housed several apartments, appeared to be uninhibited firefighters performed a quick search to make sure no one was inside.

The fire quickly spread but was extinguished by firefighters an hour later at 6:50 a.m.. Fire Chief Pickard said that the fire started in a second floor rear apartment.

No one was injured and cause of the fire is under investigation.

Fire crews respond to vacant home in Baldwinsville

No one hurt in Baldwinsville fire



(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

"Have 2 Ways Out"

Fire Prevention Week 2012 has come and gone. But, this year's highlighted fire safety theme is something that everyone, young & old, should do as well as needs to practice through the year. Always "Have Two Ways Out!"

listen to ‘Check Out Exits In Public Buildings’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘"Two Ways Out!"’ on Audioboo

Can a fire happen in your home or where you work? Will you know what to do if a fire does happens? These are important questions to answer...a person or family member's life may depend on simply knowing and having two ways out when exiting a structure, be it your home, place of work, or where you shop when a fire occurs.

Most people believe a fire won't happen to them in their homes and they don't plan ahead. Since fires usually give only three to four minutes to escape safely, not knowing what to do can be deadly. Prepare a Home Fire Escape Escape Plan and have the entire family practice it.

- Plan two ways out of every room. Your normal exit may be blocked.
- Test emergency exits. Make sure you can open windows and remove screens and storm windows.
- Provide folding escape ladders from second story windows. Make them out of light rope or purchase metal ladders for escape.
- Practice using emergency exits in the dark and always be safe when practicing. Keep a flashlight next to every bed. Most fatal home fire start at night, while we are asleep and least likely to respond quickly.
- Install and maintain smoke detectors/smoke alarms on every level of the home. Test them monthly and change out the batteries twice a year. Once in the Spring and in the Fall.
- Teach the family to stay low in smoke to avoid poisonous gases. Crawl to exits. Most fire deaths that do happen occur due to smoke inhalation.
-Arrange a meeting place outside the home. Make sure everyone knows to get out quickly and go to the meeting place.
-Call the fire department from a neighbor's house. Do not wait in a burning building to use a phone. Get out and stay out if a fire is occurring in the home.

Plan Your Escape - Have Two Ways Out! 

Be Fire Safe, Be Fire Wise, Learn Not To Burn!

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Key to Surviving Fires In The Home: Smoke Alarms & Escape Plan

During this past month's Fire Prevention Week, October 7-13, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) sent out a news release where along with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). Both agencies are providing new statistics on fire in American homes that urges consumers to install smoke alarms in there homes and check to make sure all smoke alarms are working properly. It is also vitally important to develop and practice a family fire escape plan.



In a report released, the CPSC estimates there were an average of 366,700 unintentional residential fires each year between 2008 and 2010.

The top cause of fires in the home is cooking equipment, accounting for an estimated 147,400 or 40 percent of residential 2008 and 2010. Cooking was also associated with the largest percentage of fire-related injuries, an estimated average 27.4 percent or 3,450 in the home.

Home heating and cooking equipment, including portable space heater, was a top cause of fire deaths, accounting for about nine or 210 deaths on average, in homes each year between 2008 and 2010. Portable heaters were associated with100 percent of those deaths each year.

"Six people die every day in home fires," said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "The early warning provided by smoke alarms can make a big difference. Consumers who have working smoke alarms in their homes die in fires at about half the rate of those who do not have alarms."

"Every second counts where there is a fire in you home," said U.S. Fire Administrator Ernie Mitchell. "It is easy to believe that when the smoke alarm sounds, you and your family will be able to escape. A home fire drill can prepare you and others to escape a real life emergency in your home."

CPSA and USFA recommended that every family have a working smoke alarm in their home. To provide better warning of a fire and more escape time, install more than one alarm and interconnect all smoke alarms in the home. Interconnected alarms speak to one another so if there is a fire in one part of the house, the interconnected alarms sound throughout the house and alert consumers to the fire more quickly.

For the best protection, CPSC and USFA recommend installing alarms on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas and inside each bedroom. Install both ionization and photoelectric alarms and made sure alarms are interconnected throughout the home. Alarms that are powered by house wiring should have battery backup.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the death rate per 100 reported fires was 49% less in homes with working smoke alarms than in homes without this protection. In addition to using alarms, never leave cooking items unattended and have a professional inspect heating and cooling equipment every year, including fireplaces and chimneys. Be extra careful with cigarettes and other smoking materials. Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.

According to USFA, the fire death rate dropped by 20 percent over the 10-year time period 2000 through 2009 on a per capita basis for a variety of reasons . CPSC and USFA are working to further reduce fires and fire deaths through education and standards work. CPSC staff is working with other federal agencies on new smoke alarm technology to improve effectiveness and reduce nuisance alarms. CPSC is also developing rule making at reducing upholstered furniture fires.

This year's Fire Prevention Week theme was "Have Two Ways Out!" It's not just a fire slogan for a week that highlights Fire Safety once a year, it's something that should be practice throughout the year!

Be Fire Safe - Be Fire Wise - Learn Not To Burn!



(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Gilmore City FD, Iowa On-Duty Death...

Fire Chief Larry D. Nielsen, 60, of the Gilmore City Fire Department on October 9, 2012 was responding to a barn fire riding in fire department apparatus when he fell ill. The vehicle operator immediately pulled over to the side of the road and called for help. Chief Neilsen was treated at the scene by EMS responders and transported to the hospital where he passed away from an apparent heart attack.

Our condolences to the Nielsen Family & Friends, the Gilmore City Fire Department, and to all affected by Fire Chief Larry Nielsen's passing.

To date, 62 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2012. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) Fatality Notices page.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Remember Fallen Firefighters...

Firefighters who died serving their communities were honored Sunday.





The sights and sounds of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 2012 Memorial Weekend where 85 firefighters who died in the line of duty were honored.









(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; Th is is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

4-Alarm Fire: Wyncote, Cheltenham Township, Pa. 10.05.2012

Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29

Condo Inferno Leaves Dozens Homeless - Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29

4-alarm fire ravages condominiums in Wyncote: PHOTOS

Firefighter crews battled a fire at a condominium complex in suburban Philadelphia. The 4-alarm fire began around 9:30 p.m. at  the Chelsea Condominiums complex on the 1600 block of Church Road in Wyncote. 125 firefighters and other emergency responders arrived at the scene and fire was placed under control around 3 a.m. 

Investigators say the fire spread quickly and that at least five people are hurt. Two firefighters and five residents were taken to the hospital. Officials say they all suffered from non-life threatening injuries.

At least 50 condominiums were impacted, and at least 100 residents are reported to be displaced. Fire may have started in stove of third floor unit. Cheltenham High School set up as temporary Red Cross shelter; up to 150 displaced

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Fire Prevention Week 2012 Just Around The Corner...

NEWS RELEASES

NFPA offers tools, tips and resources for October’s Fire Prevention Week

Campaign offers life-saving reminder to have an escape plan

The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) annual awareness campaign, Fire Prevention Week, is slated for October 7-13. The non-profit fire safety organization is reminding the public to, ‘Have 2 Ways Out’, the theme for this year’s effort which focuses on the importance of having multiple escape routes in the event of a fire.

“Less than 25 percent of American households have developed and practiced a fire escape plan to be prepared in the event of a real emergency,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Communications. “Having a plan and knowing what to do can make the difference between getting out safely and quickly or not.”

The Fire Prevention Week website is the central portal for information and resources to help people from fire chiefs and community leaders running outreach programs, to parents teaching their families basic home fire safety information.

The site includes fire safety tip sheets, fire statistics, a family safety checklist, Sparky the Fire Dog® activities for kids and public service announcement videos.

Visitors can also test their knowledge of fire safety with the Fire Prevention Week Quiz, a great resource to see how well prepared families are for an emergency. Quiz-takers can review their results and compare them with others via Twitter and Facebook.

New for 2012, NFPA launched Sparky’s Wish List, designed to help fire departments connect with their local communities. Fire departments across the country have registered for public safety education materials they need in their communities. Individuals can then help their local fire department prepare for Fire Prevention Week by fulfilling the wishes.

NFPA offers these important fire safety tips:

• Watch your cooking: Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you must leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
• Give space heaters space: Keep fixed and portable space heaters at least three feet from anything that can burn. Turn off heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Smoke outside: Ask smokers to smoke outside. Have sturdy, deep ashtrays for smokers.
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach: Keep matches and lighters up high, out of the reach of children, preferably in a cabinet with a child lock.
• Inspect electrical cords: Replace cords that are cracked, damaged, have broken plugs, or have loose connections.
• Be careful when using candles: Keep candles at least one foot from anything that can burn. Blow out candles when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Have a home fire escape plan: Make a home fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year.
• Install smoke alarms: Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Interconnect smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
• Test smoke alarms: Test smoke alarms at least once a month and replace conventional batteries once a year or when the alarm “chirps” to tell you the battery is low. Replace any smoke alarm that is more than 10 years old.
• Install sprinklers: If you are building or remodeling your home, install residential fire sprinklers. Sprinklers can contain and may even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive.

About Fire Prevention WeekNFPA has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week since 1922. According to the National Archives and Records Administration's Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record. The President of the United States has signed a proclamation proclaiming a national observance during that week every year since 1925. Visitwww.firepreventionweek.org for more safety information.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; Th is is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Riverview F.D. Lieutenant - On-Duty Death Michigan

On Sunday, September 30, during his shift, Lieutenant John Grabowski participated in fire department training.  His shift ended that day at 1800hrs.  The following morning, Lieutenant Grabowski traveled to his second job.  At approximately 0803hrs, Lieutenant Grabowski was found collapsed in the parking lot of his second employer.  The second employer's emergency response team tended to Lieutenant Grabowski and performed CPR.  Advanced Life Support also responded to the scene where they treated Lieutenant Grabowski and transported him to Henry Ford Wyandotte Michigan hospital.

Efforts to revive Lieutenant Grabowski at the hospital were not successful and he passed away within approximately one hour of being found in his employer's parking lot.  The official cause of death has not yet been determined.

Veteran Riverview firefighter dies

Our condolences to the Grabowski Family & Friends, the Riverview Fire Department , and to all affected by Lieutenant John Grabowski's passing.


To date, 61 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2012. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) Fatality Notices page.




(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)