Helicopter Crashes In Carroll Twp.

A helicopter cutting trees along a power line in Carroll Twp., Washington County, for Allegheny Power crashed into a heavily wooded hillside. The following link is a video interview of Rob Greenlee. Chief of Carroll Twp. Volunteer Fire Department.

Link to video by Bob Donaldson http://www.post-gazette.com/multimedia/?videoID=101131

IAFF Says Don’t Just Change Your Batteries – Change Your Smoke Detector, Too.

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is urging households to change more than just smoke alarm batteries when Daylight Savings Time ends November 2. The IAFF also recommends changing to a photoelectric smoke alarm. About 90 percent of homes are equipped with ionization smoke alarms.

“More than 3,000 people die each year in the United States and Canada in structure fires, and we need to do everything we can to reduce that number,” IAFF General President Harold A. Schaitberger said. “Using better smoke alarms will drastically reduce the loss of life among citizens and fire fighters because it will mean earlier detection of fires and result in faster response by emergency crews.”

More information located at http://firefightingnews.com/article-US.cfm?articleID=56670

Doing Something Wright

By Mark Hofmann
DAILY COURIER

Two days and three scenarios tested the response and procedures of local and Fayette County first responders with Operation Wright Plan 2008.

“This took eight months to plan,” said Roy Shipley Jr., Fayette County Emergency Management Agency director.

We try to plan a full-scale drill such as the one last week once every two years, he added.

The exercise planning team of Operation Wright Plan 2008 selected objectives that focused on evaluating emergency response procedures, identifying areas of improvement and achieving a collaborative attitude with municipal and county responders.

Last Friday morning was the first of three drills.

That drill took place at Uniontown City Hall, where the fire department responded to an alarm. However, the responding firefighters report shots fired from inside City Hall, which brings the Uniontown City Police.

With a shield set in front of them, the officers enter the building to take care of a victim with a gunshot wound; to rescue a hostage played by Uniontown City Councilman Joe Giachetti; and to neutralize the gunman portrayed by Uniontown City Police Chief Jason Cox.

About the same time, a fire alarm is pulled at the Fayette County Courthouse to make the scenario more difficult for the first responders and the tactical team.

“It went well,” Shipley said of the first exercise, which was designed to test notification procedures, tactical entry procedures, coordination between emergency response units, county courthouse evacuation plan and the county’s ability to develop an incident, manage resources and track and log pertinent actions.

Later Friday afternoon, FCEMA and Uniontown’s police, fire department and ambulance services arrived at the United Dairy where they simulated an ammonia leak at the plant.

Shipley said the scenario was designed to test the off-site response plan for United Dairy and to test the procedures of the fire department, police and 911 dispatch center, which made a call to Ben Franklin School to enact its procedures for such an incident.

Hazmat crews also took part in the scenario. Geared in their contamination suits, they entered the plant to locate and address the leak.

Shipley added that, because the wind was blowing during the exercise, had it been a real emergency, they would have had to implement an evacuation of the immediate area, put a shelter in place and would have notified the Uniontown Hospital of the incident so officials there could prepare their own response plan.

The third and final scenario took place on a rainy Saturday morning at Ohiopyle Prints in Ohiopyle.

The scenario was to test fire departments’ gross decontamination procedure, unified command, bus plan, communications, mass casualty plan, hazmat teams technical decontamination procedures, multi-county response and the county’s ability to develop an incident, manage resources and track and log pertinent actions.

After each scenario, FCEMA met with the local responders to evaluate and discuss the exercise.

The next step is to compile the information taken during the exercises so we can identify what went well and what needs improvement, Shipley said. “This will lead to deciding what training and resources are needed in case the scenarios would ever become a reality.”

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/dailycourier/s_596143.html

Alabama Firefighter Killed In House Fire

I am sad to report that another brother firefighter has lost his life doing what he loved. Click here for the full story. When I read the story for the first time, it reminded me of how important it is for all of us to make sure we have each others backs at all times. Please make sure that when two go in, two come out. We may never know, but it seems that this young man may still be with us today if that simple rule had been followed. May this brave young man rest in peace amd may we all learn a little something from his death.

West Lake FD Responds to Vehicle Accident

On Sunday night, West Lake was dispatched to the 1400 block of Powell Ave for a two vehicle accident. Millcreek Police arrived and reported two vehicles with heavy damage. One driver was taken to the trauma center by MPS and the crews clear scene in one hour.

More pictures and info located at http://www.westlakefiredepartment.com/

New Apparatus Pictures Added

Six fire apparatus photos have been added in the photo gallery.  Thanks to Tony Codespote for submitting them.  They are all out of state from Maryland.

---

2 Homeless After McKees Rocks Car Fire Spreads To Duplex

McKEES ROCKS, Pa. — Police are investigating after a fire that started in a car in McKees Rocks spread to a duplex, leaving two people homeless.

According to police, the car went up in flames along Owens Street early Wednesday morning as it was parked under the home’s deck.As the flames grew bigger, the fire spread to the home, damaging one side of it.Firefighters said they were able to extinguish the flames, but the home is no longer livable.No injuries were reported. The fire marshal is investigating the cause of the blaze.

http://www.wpxi.com/news/17829173/detail.html#-

Overloaded outlet linked to Monroeville house fire

A fire that destroyed a Monroeville home was caused by an electric heater and overloaded electrical system, officials said.

A home in the 2300 block of Pitcairn Road caught fire shortly before 5 a.m. Sunday, said Doug Cole, chief of Monroeville Volunteer Fire Company No. 4. The smoke detector was not working properly, Cole said, but the two residents escaped without injury.

The fire originated at the electric heater, which was one of many appliances plugged into outlets and extension cords, Cole said.

Cole warns that overnight fires often can be fatal, particularly if a smoke detector isn’t working. He urges people to check smoke detectors regularly and to be careful of misusing electric heaters and fireplaces.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_595492.html

Wilmerding blaze destroys Pitcairn Street home

An early-morning fire destroyed a home in the 2100 block of Pitcairn Street in Wilmerding on Sunday.

Monroeville fire departments responded to the house fire just after 5 a.m. Fire Department officials were unavailable to comment on the cause of the fire.

The American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania said it provided food, shelter and clothing for three adults affected by the fire.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_595375.html

Tires, Insulation Ignite Washington Warehouse; Arson Suspected

WASHINGTON, Pa. — A warehouse filled with years worth of discarded tires, paper and insulation went up in flames in the city of Washington Tuesday night.

The fire started around 11:30 p.m. on Wallace Road, the former site of the Penn Pro Insulation Company.The company had moved out of the building about two or three years ago, but it continued to use the building to store debris.Firefighters spent most of the night soaking down the flames. No one was hurt, but Chief Linn Brookman, of the City of Washington Fire Department, says he’s quite certain this fire was intentionally set, making it the city’s fourth case of arson this month.

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/17776425/detail.html#

Next Page »