Dallas Firefighter Line of Duty Death
Stanley Wilson
May 20, 2013
The Bedford Fire Department, located in the City of Bedford and serving as the county seat for the County of Bedford, is today dealing with a vehicle accident in which four of their members were injured. Their Engine 1, a 2007 Seagrave Marauder II, was responding to a fire on Peaks Street when it overturned the same road about three miles from the scene. According to sources in the area, and confirmed by WSET television, four members were transported to area hospitals – three by ground and one by air.
The Big Island VFD filled Company 1 while their members tended to the incident.
WSET Television: Four people are being treated in the hospital after a fire truck flipped over in Bedford Saturday afternoon.
Police say Peaks Street is blocked from Whitfield Drive to Boone Drive.
Several crews are on the scene at the intersection of Peaks Street and Boone Drive where a Bedford County fire truck landed on its side.
Bedford County Fire Chief Brad Creasy says the Company 1 Engine 1 truck was responding to a fire on 4159 Peaks Street.
Creasy says the four male department volunteer firefighters inside the truck were injured. Two were taken to Lynchburg General Hospital, one was taken to Bedford Memorial Hospital and one was airlifted to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Two received serious injuries and the other got minor injuries.
Officials are investigating the accident.
From: Four People in Hospital After Fire Truck Flips Over in Bedford – WSET.com – ABC13.
Rhett Fleitz, the FireCritic, also shares this story, as it occurred in the same area in which he lives: 4 Firefighters Injured in Bedford (VA) Fire
You know what’s wrong with the fire service?.. Attitudes.
Instead of rookies coming in and learning from the experienced firefighters, they come in with an attitude as if they know more then said firefighters. It’s all about attitudes, you have to earn respect to get respect.
Simple solution for an ever growing problem.
Today marks the end of 38 years of service for Chief Edwin Smith with the Henrico County Division of Fire.
Starting to schedule out some training for the next couple months. And outside input/ideas are always appreciated. So if anyone out there has some good ideas, scenarios, whatever please feel free to share. Looking for Fire & EMS
Just wanted to take a minute to remember all those who lost their lives on September 11,2001 may we never forget. And to the military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the following years to come.
Air is an Accelerant
By: Brian Brush
A recent question was posted as a comment to Eddie’s article “Do you have any thoughts on positive pressure attack?” This is a very common question when ventilation is discussed and with Eddie’s piece I feel it is once again a good time to address positive pressure.
I like to start by defining the positive pressure options first as a mechanical means of ventilation. I believe that having a clear definition is important and the point that we are using a machine to overpower the forces of Mother Nature should raise our level of concern. Vertical ventilation relieves pressure and utilizes heat’s natural desire to rise with convection currents to ventilate structures. Horizontal ventilation in the absence of a machine creates flow paths as the high pressure heated gasses inside the structure fire seek out the lower atmospheric pressures of the exterior in an effort to equalize.
When the choice is made to use a machine to ventilate a structure it should only be done after we have discovered or determined that utilizing natural fire behavior to ventilate the structure is not an option. The reasons are fairly simple; machines can stop where Mother Nature will not and air is an accelerant.
When we watch this first video consider the situation these firefighters would be in if the fan stopped or was moved as they were descending the basement stairs. A failure of the fan would eliminate the benefits they are taking advantage and Mother Nature would take back control of the interior environment while firefighters are in a chimney and flow path.
This second video is meant to drive home the fact that air is an accelerant. Combustion requires a mixture of fuel and air. None of us would grab a can of gasoline and toss it on a small kitchen or bedroom fire, yet day in and day out firefighters across the country force air into structures without a second thought. I am not here to say that the tactic is wrong for all I will say that the lack of understanding is wrong for all. Air is an equal part with fuel in feeding fires and we must be acutely aware of this.
I could go on about mechanical ventilation and positive pressure attack but I think the details should be left for another time so that we don’t lose the importance of the greater message today. Please be careful and most importantly conscious of the application of positive pressure. Here are just a few of the key considerations prior to positive pressure use from two of the most qualified experts on the subject.
Click on the image to view clearly
Buena Vista Fire Engine Involved in Wreck
on Aug 31 in Apparatus, News, Wrecks tagged Buena Vista Fire Department, Rhett Fleitz, VAFireNews.com, Virginia Fire News by Webteam
Photo via Robert Foresman, Rockbridge Co. Emergency Services Mgr.
A Buena Vista Fire Engine was involved in a single vehicle accident today. Two firefighters were on the apparatus when the wreck occurred on Route 501 north of Glasgow. The unit was heading to a fire alarm in Glasgow. Neither of the firefighters were injured. The engine involved in the accident is 107
