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November 6th, 2009
In this Edition:
Around Montana
Montana Mutual Aid and Large Incident Management Training Symposium
Caughey pleads not guilty to vehicular homicide
Vaughn mobile home destroyed in late-night blaze
Fire ignites at Butte home
House burns near Butte hospital
Kalispell apartment fire suspect facing new charges
Around the Nation
Information on Cyanokit usage sought
Benefits Denied to Kids of LODD Fire Trainee
Near-Miss Technical Difficulty
NC LODD
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Around Montana
Caughey pleads not guilty to vehicular homicide
MontanasNewsStation.com
Jason Caughey, the former chief of the Gore Hill Volunteer Fire Department, appeared in a Great Falls courtroom on Thursday and pled not guilty to three charges stemming from the hit-and-run death of 21-year old Sasha Holt in July.
Caughey pled not guilty to the following charges:
• Failure to remain at the scene of an accident causing death or injury; he faces 1-10 years in prison, and a fine of up to $50,000
• Vehicular homicide while under the influence; up to 30 years; up to $50,000
• Negligent homicide; up to 20 years; up to $50,000
Caughey's trial is scheduled for February 22nd.
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Vaughn mobile home destroyed in late-night blaze
MontanasNewsStation.com; Hayley Gunn Reporting
Shortly before 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, a mobile home in Vaughn caught fire; all of the human residents escaped without injury, but several pets were lost in the blaze. The trailer was deemed to be a total loss.
Some neighbors are upset with the department's response time, while fire officials counter that they did the best they could.
One resident, who asked not be identified, said, "The fire department is two blocks away right next to the post office, and it took them 23 minutes to get here, and they showed up with a truck that didn't work."
Vaughn fire chief Nate Curtis said, "We had mechanical problems with our first truck out of Vaughn, but our Sun Prairie truck was the second engine in, and we were able to get water on the fire quickly with that truck."
But it wasn't quick enough, according to neighbors.
"I know my house would have been lost and the comment was if it would have happened to any of these houses in this row, we would have lost all of them before we would have gotten someone here to help," said an area resident.
Curtis says even if crews would have gotten there sooner, the structure still would sustained extreme damage: "Trailer fires, you usually have seven minutes max from the time the fire starts to the time you get there to get it 100% out, and with volunteer companies, that's not possible."
Neighbors say they understand that volunteer's resources are limited, but that they are still helping finance it.
"I know that's a lot, but we do pay to the fire department in our taxes, it is a volunteer but we do pay for it," commented one person.
Curtis says the Vaughn, Sun River, Fort Shaw, and Gore Hill fire departments did a great job with the blaze, and adds that equipment issues are just bound to happen. He added, "Any departments that have fire trucks have mechanical problems, even paid city departments, so you face it and you go past it."
Friends of the family say they are doing well, and currently receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.
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Fire ignites at Butte home
MontanasNewsStation.com; Shane Ewing
No one was injured when fire erupted at a Butte home Thursday afternoon.
The fire at 518 South Clark Street, located about 50 yards from St. James Healthcare, was reported at about 5:15 p.m. By 6:15 p.m. the fire was pretty much extinguished.
A police officer on the scene described the interior of the home as "pretty well cooked."
Police had most of the blocks around the fire blocked off. The home is located between Gold and Platinum streets.
Butte-Silver Bow Fire Department responded with three engines.
One person was at the home at the time of the fire, but no one was injured in the blaze.
No other structures were affected, but one neighbor said he looked out of his window and saw flames shooting out the west windows.
Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.MontanasNewsStation.com; Shane Ewing
No one was injured when fire erupted at a Butte home Thursday afternoon.
The fire at 518 South Clark Street, located about 50 yards from St. James Healthcare, was reported at about 5:15 p.m. By 6:15 p.m. the fire was pretty much extinguished.
A police officer on the scene described the interior of the home as "pretty well cooked."
Police had most of the blocks around the fire blocked off. The home is located between Gold and Platinum streets.
Butte-Silver Bow Fire Department responded with three engines.
One person was at the home at the time of the fire, but no one was injured in the blaze.
No other structures were affected, but one neighbor said he looked out of his window and saw flames shooting out the west windows.
Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.
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House burns near Butte hospital
By The Montana Standard Staff
Butte firefighters spray water on a fire through a rear window to a residence at 518 S. Clark St. Thursday evening.
The fire was reported at the home about 5:15 p.m., and firefighters quickly got the blaze under control.
The owners were not home at the time, but two pet dogs were killed in the fire, according to a resident who was on scene.
The owners said that they had work done on the building's heater that afternoon.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The home was a total loss. Watch raw video of the fire at mtstandard.com.
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Helena Firefighters put out another burning bush
By ANGELA BRANDT Independent Record
Firefighters made quick work of a burning bush at Capital High School on Wednesday afternoon.
A juniper bush on the corner of the student parking lot was reported on fire at about 3:45 p.m., according to Helena Fire Battalion Chief Kevin Kelly. Although initial reports indicated there were cars in the area of the blaze, the vehicles had been removed by the time firefighters arrived on the scene.
The cause of the fire has not been determined. A school resource officer will investigate, Kelly said.
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Kalispell apartment fire suspect facing new charges
MontanasNewsStation.com; Angela Monroe
A Kalispell man who started a massive apartment fire last November will face new charges after being pulled over in a reported stolen vehicle.
A Flathead County sheriff's deputy pulled over David Bernach, 46, on Tuesday night after Bernach tailgated him, and illegally passed the officer.
Sheriff Mike Meehan reports that Bernach then said to the deputy, "why don't you just shoot me?"
Bernach was pulled over in Evergreen before midnight last night after a stolen vehicle alert went out. He faces charges of theft, DUI, open container and no driver's license.
The Kalispell man is scheduled to be sentenced later this month for negligent arson charges. Bernach tried to light a fire in fireplace by pouring gasoline on it, and then throwing a match on it.
The fire destroyed and damaged ten apartment units at the Mountain Villa Apartments last November.
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Around the Nation
Information on Cyanokit usage sought
I am looking for cases that the Cyanokit@ has been utilized in the field. Please provide any particulars of the case, within the limits of HIPPA of course. Thanks for any information you can send only regarding the use of the Cyanokit!
Thanks
Otto Sandleben
Division Chief Training/Safety
Largo Fire Rescue
(727) 587-6740 ext. 2111
Cell: (727) 235-8470
osandleb@largo.com
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Benefits Denied to Kids of LODD Fire Trainee
The Secret List - FireFighterCloseCalls.com
Thanks BillyG
The Baltimore Sun is reporting that the U.S. Justice Department has, at least for now, denied a $295,194 benefit to the children of Racheal Wilson, the Baltimore fire cadet who died in an appropriately criticized training exercise in 2007, saying that the city's Fire Department failed to submit paperwork establishing her eligibility for the funds. More below but HERE are links about her horrific death:
http://firefighterclosecalls.com/pdf/BaltimoreTrainingLODDFinalReport82307.pdf
http://firefighterclosecalls.com/pdf/BaltimoreTrainingLODDFinalReportAppendices.pdf .
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/pdfs/face200709.pdf
"The department and the city not only failed Racheal when she was alive, but they've failed her when she was dead," said Bob Sledgeski, the head of the firefighter's union. "It was always expected that the Fire Department would take care of your family if something bad happened. ... It is a death of that tradition."
Fire Department officials are scrambling to determine what information they can provide to support an appeal that has been filed by the family, but the decision is a slap in the face to Wilson's survivors and another psychological blow to a city agency facing deep budget cuts and still struggling to find its footing after the cadet's death.
Mayor Sheila Dixon suggested that any culpability on the part of the city be attached to the administration of the previous fire chief, saying that the failures of that era are "coming back to a haunt us."
She said she will seek help from the state's congressional delegation in appealing the Justice Department decision. "This is why you have different levels of representation," Dixon said.
Ambrose Slaughter, Wilson's stepfather, declined to comment. The fathers of Wilson's children applied in May 2007 for the federal funds, known as the Public Safety Officer Benefit, given in a lump sum to survivors of police or firefighters who die in the line of duty.
Wilson died of asphyxiation after becoming trapped in a West Baltimore rowhouse that her instructors set on fire as part of a training exercise. The exercise violated dozens of recognized safety standards and roused calls for sweeping change within the department, which immediately discontinued its practice of setting fire to city rowhouses so that cadets could gain experience in extinguishing such blazes.
It was the first public safety crisis that Dixon handled upon taking office, and she moved quickly - dismissing the commander in charge of the training academy and ordering an investigation. The report was released publicly. Within months of Wilson's death, the fire chief stepped down and the mayor appointed a new one.
A series of investigations into the death revealed that Wilson had been issued tattered protective gear, her instructor lacked a radio to call for help, and training officers set at least seven fires instead of the single fire that national safety standards permit for such exercises.
The death, and the missteps that led to it, have been studied by fire departments across the country. At the time, Wilson's name became a rallying cry: Then-Chief William J. Goodwin Jr. pledged at her funeral that her memory would be "our driving force to excellence."
Last week, a Justice Department official e-mailed Baltimore Fire Chief James S. Clack to inform him of the agency's decision to deny the family's claim. The reason: "Information was sought several months ago from the City of Baltimore Fire Department. ... Nothing responsive has been received."
The claim lacked Fire Department information outlining the "extent and nature" of Wilson's fire training and the "authority and responsibility" she had to respond to fires, according to the Justice Department report.
Questions to the Fire Department were referred to Chief Joseph V. Brocato, who became the head of the fire academy two weeks after Wilson was killed and was charged with reforming the academy.
"This is a priority for me both personally and professionally," Brocato said in an interview. "I feel a sense of obligation, not as a training chief but as a firefighter. We need to do everything we can to be sure her family has everything they need."
Brocato said he was unaware of any Justice Department requests for further information until last week when the benefit was denied.
He noted that the Fire Department has undergone significant administrative changes since the claim was filed in 2007, and that he does not have a copy because it was filed by the fathers of Wilson's children. Brocato said he has made a series of calls to the Justice Department, left messages for officials and tracked down a former Fire Department attorney to brief him on the application.
"The first thing I did was call [the Justice Department] and ask, 'What is it you didn't get?' " Brocato said. He said he has not heard back from the federal agency.
Brocato said he might have to reconstruct some of Wilson's training files with information from other agencies because the department no longer has the original records. They were missing when he arrived at the academy, Brocato said.
The Justice Department's report acknowledges that Wilson was a fire cadet employed by the city Fire Department and that she died while attempting to extinguish a fire set in a Baltimore rowhouse - a statement that would seem to imply that she had the legal authority to suppress fires.
The Justice Department declined to tell The Baltimore Sun what other information it needed or why it had denied the claim. Justice spokeswoman Matz, stressed that the denial "is not a final determination."
The Public Safety Officer Benefit was established in 1976, and any payment would go to Wilson's two children, Princess J. Davis, 11, and Cameron J. Richardson, 14.
In the past year, the federal agency has received 334 claims, of which 14 were denied, Matz said. In general, Matz said, a job description or a signed statement detailing the role of recruits could be enough to establish that a firefighter has authority to suppress a blaze. But she said, "because every PSOB claim is unique, other clarifying documentation may be requested to establish authority." There is no minimum amount of training required to be eligible, Matz said.
No matter what, a TRAINEE was killed in the line of duty due to failures by the fire department and taking care of whatever needs to be taken care of is the priority. Be it BFD not doing all the paperwork or BFD trying to deal with the historically bureaucratic DOJ, we have trouble believing, and know this does not have to be THAT difficult.
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Near-Miss Technical Difficulty:
The PDF version of the ROTW will not be available on our website until Monday, November 9, 2009. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Good day.
This week's ROTW is 09-913 (http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/googlemini/h09-0000913.html). An excerpt from the report appears below. You can view the entire report by clicking here, or on any of the highlighted report numbers that appear throughout the ROTW. Report 09-913 places emphasis on the importance of always considering carbon monoxide (CO) as a threat, especially during the fall when heating systems are once again placed into service. Odorless, colorless and invisible, CO has earned a highly renowned reputation for being the, "invisible threat."
"Our department was sent to a residence about two months ago for a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm sounding...Upon arrival, the CO alarm was sounding. The home was checked with our CO detector and high levels were found in the first floor bedrooms. All members were packed out and two-in/ two-out was followed. The home was vented using an electric PPV fan. Crews were sent post ventilation and checked the house again, with the detector showing acceptable levels in the residence. The residence was again checked prior to leaving showing acceptable levels. The gas company was called and no source was identified."
"We responded to the same residence on a dispatch of an alarm sounding. Two of our department captains were out running errands and responded non-emergency to the address. Upon arrival, the homeowner's CO alarm was sounding. The captains...entered the residence without SCBAs or any PPE. The department's detector again was reading high CO levels of..."
When you receive a second call from the same address for a similar problem it could be an alarm malfunction, or it could be a resurfacing problem that was partially corrected by the fire department. During CO calls don't discount things like, closed dampers on fireplaces and wood stoves where the fire has been reportedly "out" for several hours. There can also be sufficient incomplete combustion from the coals which can produce high levels of CO. Residential carbon monoxide detectors are much more common in today's households, while handheld gas detectors and SCBAs are the firefighter's best friend in situations involving CO. Once you have read the entire account of 09-913 and the related reports, consider the following:
1. What are the early signs and symptoms of CO poisoning?
2. Does your department have an updated SOP regarding CO incidents?
3. What is the best course of action when faced with a structure that contains a level of CO that is above recommended tolerances?
4. Has your department considered personal CO monitors for all personnel?
5. If CO poisoning is suspected, should you confirm this before beginning treatment?
Have you experienced a near miss involving carbon monoxide or another invisible gas? Submit your account to www.firefighternearmiss.com today to keep others safe tomorrow.
Note: The questions posed by the reviewers are designed to generate discussion and thought in the name of promoting firefighter safety. They are not intended to pass judgment on the actions and performance of individuals in the reports.
Rynnel Gibbs
Program Coordinator
National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System
www.firefighternearmiss.com
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NC LODD
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatality:
Name: Chad Eric Greene
Rank: Deputy Chief
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: 18
Date of Incident: 11/4/2009
Time of Incident: 1230hrs
Date of Death: 11/4/2009
Fire Department: Union Cross Fire and Rescue of Forsyth County, Inc.
Address: 4401 High Point Road, Kernersville, NC 27284
Fire Department Chief: Thomas (Dean) Mabe
Fire Department POC: Thomas (Dean) Mabe
Incident Description: Deputy Chief Greene completed his shift at approximately 0830hrs immediately after responding to a motor vehicle accident. After completing his shift, he left the station, dropped his son off at pre-school, and went home. When Deputy Chief Greene’s wife returned home, she found him unresponsive and subsequently called 911 and began CPR. Deputy Chief Greene was transported to the NC Baptist Hospital where he was pronounced dead at approximately 1230hrs. The cause of death is pending further investigation.
Funeral Arrangements: Viewing will be held on November 7, 2009, 1800hrs-2100hrs - Greene Street Baptist Church, High Point, NC. The funeral will be held on November 8, 2009, 1400hrs – Greene Street Baptist Church, High Point, NC.
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending
Tribute is being paid to Deputy Chief Chad Eric Greene at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
To date, 80 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2009; 78 from incidents that occurred in 2009 and two from previous year incidents. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online @ http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm