Ground Zero's Silent Heroes

Mt. Sinai Study Fails To Enroll Out-Of-State 9/11 Responders
by Lou Angeli

New York, NY (September 6, 2007) -- On the eve of the 6th anniversary of the attacks on America, the Brooklyn Borough Hall will play host to a Congressional Sub-Committee which is scheduled to listen to statements regarding the health of 9/11 responders who reside outside of New York City and State. For those of you who served at Ground Zero, you are well aware that a huge percentage of emergency service volunteers at Ground Zero hailed from other locales.

Last week a plea was issued by the Committee on Government Oversight and Reform -- Urgent: Out Of State 9/11 Responders Needed To Testify. The intent was to listen to statements from non New York responders to determine how to identify out of state responders, and convince them to enroll in the World Trade Center Medical Monitoring Program.

But - wait. Hold the applause.

Today, the committee agenda was altered. The once urgent plea for out of staters was revoked so that constituents of committee members could be heard. I'd buy into that change, had the hearing been held in DC, before Congressmen representing many other of states. But the hearing in Brooklyn will be attended primarily by New York delegation members, which means that there will be more self-serving New York testimony -- and no voice for Ground Zero's Silent Heroes.

Who are the men and women who responded from outside New York City to serve at Ground Zero? And where are they now?

In its report on the World Trade Center attacks, The Disaster Research Center at the University of Delaware noted that volunteer responders, both trained and untrained, were vital to the rescue effort in New York City, especially during the first 72 hours. Excluding FEMA, nearly every agency which has studied the Trade Center disaster makes note of the importance of an organized volunteer response.

The numbers of volunteer workers who responded to Lower Manhattan during the first days following the attacks has been estimated at 40,000, and there are some reports that suggest numbers as high as 70,000.

During the early stages of rescue and recovery, the volunteers who made it to Ground Zero did so on their own. Many were trained emergency professionals, who were never summoned, but rather “self responded” to the site. Because of their expertise, they immediately began to work assisting FDNY search teams. Others “walk-ins” included steel workers, operating engineers, chiropractors, massage therapists, clergy, college students, and housewives.

The vast majority of the men and women who served at Ground Zero were never asked to respond – they did so because of their desire to help. It's what Americans do well -- helping one another during troubled times.

They came from every state and from Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Israel and Italy. Unfortunately, we may never know the names of most of 9/11’s out of state responders, especially those skilled in emergency response – the firefighters, law enforcement officers, paramedics, military and nurses, who served at Ground Zero...then disappeared.

Finding them will be like “finding the needle in a haystack” largely due to FEMA’s ongoing directive to restrict volunteer “self-response” during major disasters. (1) It is a concept that is shared and enforced by many local emergency agencies. In many jurisdictions, especially those that operate as career agencies, such a violation could result in disciplinary action, or even worse -- dismissal.

Following the events of September 11, 2001, FEMA and the US Fire Administration distributed a questionnaire in an attempt to gather statistics regarding the response to the World Trade Center disaster. Many of those who could have answered the questionnaire did not, fearing reprisal.

To make matters worse, published newspaper stories and discussion on “non official” web forums suggested that individuals who had taken it upon themselves to respond, had breeched a crime scene and could possibly face local, state and Federal criminal charges. Out of state responders went off the radar.

According to the 2004 Mount Sinai Study it is estimated that some 70% of all 9/11 responders suffer from illnesses related to the rescue and recovery effort. Like their colleagues in New York City and State, hundreds, if not thousands of out of state first responders are ill as well. After all, they worked under the same horrendous conditions and ingested the same hazardous materials as local emergency personnel. Are they being cared for properly – or are they just biding time?

In a few short years, the Medical Monitoring Program has created an extremely detailed database, which allows healthcare professionals to carefully follow treatment and progress of thousands of World Trade Center responders who reside in New York. Reaching out to responders in other states, who served an extremely important role at Ground Zero, is a very important step.

How to effectuate such a response is determined by two very important criteria: A guarantee to those who enroll that their information will remain confidential. And allowing the screeners to take to the streets to enroll these silent responders in their own hometowns.

Oh -- and there's one more critically important criteria. Having Congressional Committees stick to their published agenda -- not placate their colleagues' constiuents.

(1) FEMA Restricts Volunteers at Disasters

Greek Wildfires: Terrorism or Lack of Firefighting Resources?

Lack of resources and arsonists plague Greek firefighting effort

Greek government declared a countrywide state of emergency to help mobilize resources to fight the far-reaching wildland fires, that are being blamed on arsonist and terrorists. The worst fires are concentrated in the mountains of the Peloponnese Peninsula in southern Greece and on the island of Evia north of Athens.Tuesday morning, firefighters said 89 new fires broke out overnigjht and dozens of others were burning throughout the country unchecked.

The firefight is proving to be very difficult as poorly-equipped municipal firefighters muster citizens to serve on hand-to-hand bucket brigades in some places. France, Italy, Cyprus and Israel have sent firefighters, with aircraft coming from France and Italy, sources reported. As of this writing another 12 countries were sending reinforcements.

Blazes came within inches of destroying the museum at Olympia, housing famous classical sculptures such as Praxiteles' Hermes. But air tankers, helicopters and scores of firefighters beat it back. 60 Firefighters and 6 engines remain on the scene in case the blaze flares up again.

“The destruction is of biblical proportions,” Nicholas Orphanos, a volunteer firefighter in the Peloponnese, told Reuters. “There are villages we want to go to (but) cannot because the roads are blocked. In 30 years, I have never seen such destruction.” (2)

According to conservative estimates, 110 villages have been razed to the ground, six and a half million acres of farmland consumed, and countless acres of pine forest and olive groves reduced to cinders. “Much of Arcadia, in the central Peloponnese, a prime tourist attraction, is reminiscent of moonscape and thousands of rural Greeks fear financial ruin.” reported The Guardian. (3)

On Monday, Prosecutor Dimitris Papangelopoulos ordered an investigation into whether the fires could have been the work of terrorists. 33 people have already been arrested on suspicion of arson, including an elderly woman who was cooking outside her home.

With all of the unrelated, spontaneous outbreaks, one can accept the fact that these fires are arson in nature. But the real problem here isn’t terrorism, it is Greece’s inability to deal with large scale fires of this nature and magnitude. In a country whose landscape is much like that of California, there is no dedicated Forest Firefighting service, no incident command system and nothing even close to hot shot teams. Without the ability to build and maintain firebreaks, these massive blazes simply roll across the landscape, fed by hot, dry winds from the Middle Eastern deserts.

In 2003, the Greek government appropriated 18 million Euros to revamp the Greek Fire Service. There were to be 735 new firefighting vehicles, new protective gear for firefighters, new fire stations, in addition to helicopters and fireboats. The idea was to place the Greek Fire Service on equal footing with the USA, UK, Sweden and Germany. But somehow that procurement came up short, and only 50 apparatus were actually delivered -- all of them to Athens. Some claim that government’s investment was a ruse, simply to impress foreign visitors who attended the 2004 Summer Olympic Games.

In recent months, there have been complaints of inefficiency of the fire service in Greece. Average response times by fire units serving rural areas is 35 minutes – and remember, that’s the average. This is compounded by the fact that Greek government recently prohibited the use helicopters for the firefighting for fear that such operations would create additional power cuts, a common occurrence in rural Greece.

The problem of controlling the huge fires is a general lack of investment in firefighting equipment and personnel, reports the popular UK-based blog EU Referendum. “ In Greece,’ the blog reports, ‘investments happen only after the horse has bolted". (4)

And then there are the politics of natural disasters. In a move reminiscent of FEMA’s response to Katrina, government in Greece has firmly placed the blame on someone else – in this case the unseen terrorist. That’s understandable -- if you’re an idiot. National elections are in 3 weeks, and Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis would prefer to be viewed as a hero – not the one responsible for cutting funding for firefighters and firefighting.

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Resources:

(1) BBC World News

(2) Reuters News Service
(3) The Guardian

(4) EU Referendum

(5) Wired News (sat image)

Remembering Andrew: 15 Years Later

15 years ago today, Mother Nature decided to pay a visit to bustling Dade County, Florida. She actually arrived as a "He" and nearly everyone knew of her intentions, so few were there to greet him.

Hurricane Andrew is the second-most-destructive hurricane in U.S. history, and the last of three Category 5 hurricanes that made U.S. landfall during the 20th century. Andrew caused $26.5 billion in damage ($41.1 billion in 2007 US dollars), with most of that damage cost in South Florida. The hurricane resulted in 65 deaths. (1)

Compared to Katrina, Andrew was small – just 110 miles wide. But as the storm approached the Florida coast, Andrew whipped up fierce winds of 175 miles per hour. That’s when he decided to make landfall, taking aim at one of South Florida's most densely populated areas -- Dade County.

In addition to the unprecedented winds (one gust was clocked at 212 mph) Andrew spawned hundreds of tiny tornadoes called mini-whirls. It was these vortices -- not straight line winds -- that are believed to have caused the major damage.

Residents of South Florida, specifically Dade County, had plenty of time to heed warnings from emergency officials. Evacuation was mandatory and most citizens made their way North into Central Florida to wait out the storm. Only a few teams of emergency personnel remained behind.

Because of its size, Andrew crossed the peninsula and and into the Gulf of Mexico in just a few hours, but destruction that the storm left during such a short period was unimaginable. The swath extended from Miami in the north – to Homestead, Florida and the upper Keys in the south. Virtually all of southern Dade County lay in ruins. Final tally: More than 25,500 homes were destroyed, over 101,000 others damaged and 65 people killed.

Andrew caused so much damage at Homestead Air Force Base, very near the point of landfall, that the base was forced to close and its squadrons relocated to Italy. Metro-Dade Fire and Rescue was on the street in full strength within an hour of Andrew’s passing making a systematic search of neighborhoods. The department was joined by other emergency personnel from throughout the nation as they combed through the ruins searching for trapped victims. And there were plenty of ruins to search.

Even though Katrina eclipsed Andrew, the statistics from the storm still hold considerable weight. Following the storm, the federal government, the state and municipalities considered Andrew’s visit as a wake-up call and soon took the concept of storm preparedness to new levels.

I believe that writer Ken Kaye of Florida’s Sun Sentinel sums it best.

“Today, South Florida in many ways is stronger because of Andrew, considering that the storm prompted a massive rebuilding and resulted in tougher building codes. But before dawn on that Monday, when the winds were screaming, it was one of this region's darkest hours.” (2)


(1) Wikipedia summary
(2) Sun Sentinel

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2 FDNY Firefighters Killed at Ground Zero

Blaze Rekindles The Horror of 9/11/01

by: Lou Angeli
compiled from dispatches

Two New York firefighters perished while fighting a major blaze in the Deutsche Bank building, just 50 yards from Ground Zero. The building was in the process of being dismantled after it was deemed unsafe following the events of 9/11/01.

The deceased firefighters, both assigned to Ladder 5 amd Engine 24 have been identified as Joseph Graffagnino, 34, an 8 year member of FDNY and 23-year veteran Robert Beddia. On 9/11/01 their firehouse in the Soho section of Manhattan lost 11 members.

WNBC likened the scene to 9/11/01. The acrid smell of smoke, which hung over the neighborhood for days after September 11th, returned to lower Manhattan along with the wail of emergency vehicles.

The abandoned building was being dismantled after it was contaminated in the September 11th attacks. On Tuesday of this past week, workers had dismatled the former 40 story high rise to the 26th floor.

According to initial reports, the blaze broke out at 3:30pm (EDT) between the 14th and 15th floors. The attack was delayed when firefighters found that standpipes were not operational, allowing the blaze to free burn. Firefighters bgean the lengthy task of carrying hoses to upper floors, while others were hoisted by rope to the 17th floor, where the fire started. Within two hours, fire commanders escalated the incident to 7 alarms, bringing 270 firefighters and paramedics, and 70 pieces of apparatus to the scene.

Only a few fire service vehicles were actually operating on scene, directly under the building. Those companies included Engine 10 and Ladder 10, both stationed just feet away on Liberty Street. The remaining companies were staged on West Side Highway and along Church Street – familiar names for those who served at Ground Zero.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency had required that polyurethane sheets surround the building to prevent asbestos and other harmful debris from leaking out. But according to New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, those safety barriers hindered the firefighting operation.

The polyurethane in the building "may in fact have made this fire harder to fight," Spitzer said.

Concerns were raised that smoke plumes coming from the burning building contained the same hazardous materials that caused the building to be condemned several years ago. The most dangerous of those toxic materials is asbestos in a building loaded with the banned fire retardant.

At a Saturday evening press conference, Mayor Michael Bloomberg sought to reassure residents that the chemicals in the building did not present a significant health risk, saying officials saw no need to establish a frozen zone. Firefighters on the scene weren’t buying the mayor’s appraisal, recalling promises by former EPA head Christy Todd Whitman, who claimed on September 13, 2001 that the air at Ground Zero was OK to breathe.

"Terrible event, terrible tragedy, and that house being hit again makes it all the more devastating," said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta. At least six other firefighters suffered minor injuries, none seriously.

The Deutsche Bank Building sustained major damage during the events of 9/11/01 and was ultimately deemed unsafe to restore. Deconstruction began in 2005 but work was halted for a week last year when a 22-foot-long section of pipe fell from one of the upper floors and went through the roof of a neighboring firehouse, Fire Station 10.

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resources: WNBC, WCBS, NY1
photos courtesy: Brian Fountain

What Happened in Charleston…And Why?

by Lou Angeli

Charleston, SC (August 18, 2007) -- The tragic fire that snuffed the lives of nine of Charleston’s Bravest is the worst tragedy beset the fire service since 9/11/01. Of course the immediate need following the disaster was to mourn the loss of so many great men, and console their families.

But now -- months following the incident, after reports and critiques are beginning to flow in. In a nutshell, we’re learning that the Charleston Fire Department is operating in the past.

Use of 1” Booster Lines

One of the earliest criticisms came from firefighters around the country. Video and still images showed small, snaking red hoses leading into the building. Is it possible that Charleston made the initial attack using booster lines? The answer is yes – because it’s how they’ve always done it.

These 1” diameter rubber hoses, known as booster lines, were commonplace on fire trucks here in the USA 20 years ago. In most cities they were nicknamed “trash lines” and were used to extinguish small nuisance fires. They have since been phased out in most departments because they proved extremely ineffective during the structural firefight and placed firefighters at risk.

Jamy Cote, a former Charleston firefighter, told the Charleston Post and Courier, “The (booster) is usually the first to be pulled off the truck," he said. "Big fire, small fire, it's so ingrained to pull the booster." Such safety inadequacies convinced Cote to resign from CFD

The water flow of a booster line is often debated but experts agree that 50 gallons per minute is the normal maximum. Compare that to the flow rate of an Inch and ¾ handline, which are also carried on Charleston’s engines., which is 150 gallons per minute. Nationwide, these inch and 3/4 handlines are most often used to extinguish a room and contents fire in a single-family dwelling. Potatoes compared to the job facing Charleston firefighters.

“With the amount of fire showing upon their arrival at the sofa warehouse, Charleston firefighters should have chosen to advance more powerful 2.5 inch lines,” says Battalion Chief Ron Vista of the Charlotte (NC) Fire & Rescue. Monsters yes – but at 350 gallons per minute, deuce and a half hose have 10 times the firefighting potential of a booster line.

Charleston Response SOPS

When a fire is reported, most departments have a pre-planned response that takes into consideration the type and size of the building and its occupancy. For example, if the sofa warehouse fire had taken place in Philadelphia, 4 engines, 2 aerial trucks, a heavy rescue squad and 2 Battalion Chiefs would have responded. Count 31 firefighters on scene.

But during the real-life fire in Charleston, only 2 engines and an aerial ladder were dispatched. Upon arriving at the warehouse at 7:11pm, only 11 firefighters were assembled. Their initial focus was on extinguishing a blaze in the rear loading dock area, with a secondary effort to evacuate civilians and prevent the fire from spreading to the showroom and warehouse.

The Firefight

A narrative of the incident reads, “As time progressed, smoke began to appear in the showroom, and shortly thereafter an exterior door was opened near where the (loading dock) fire was raging.” At that point the fire entered the showroom, feeding on a wealth of fuel – several tons of furniture.

Reports are that only one hoseline was in place to defend against the rapidly moving blaze. At the same time, dispatchers notified companies that they had received 9-1-1 calls from an employee who had become trapped in a closet area.

Firefighters rightfully turned their attention toward the rescue operation, and the firefight took a back seat to the most immediate task. At 7:20pm the trapped victim was freed after firefighters had breeched an outside wall.

Following the rescue, firefighters should have been ordered to evacuate the building. With no further life-safety issues, the firefight should have moved from inside the builidng to an exterior attack. However firefighters remained working in the showroom, many of whom became disoriented in the smoke.

News video shot from the front of the store clearly shows firefighters breaking windows in what would normally be an attempt to vent the interior of the building. However in this case, the tactic was mis-timed and firefighters unknowingly fed the blaze with the oxygen it needed to grow even larger. In a published timeline at 7:25pm the interior of the structure erupted into a massive flashover consuming the buildings contents as well as the firefighters inside. With the store fully engulfed in flames, rescue was impossible and by 7:30pm the structure collapsed onto the bodies of the nine Charleston firefighters.

Early Findings

In recent days, the early findings from the dozen or so federal and local investigations that are taking place confirm that Charleston is a department that has been (and continues to be) operating in the past. Here’s the short list of findings…and they’re saying it nicely.

• Establish Fire Department Safety Officer position
  
• Apply incident command procedures on all incidents (ICS – NIMS procedures)
  
• Rapidly implement personnel accountability system with passports and PAR
  
• Reinforce appropriate use of personal protective clothing and SCBA.
  
• Increase initial structure fire response to three engines and one ladder.
  
• Utilize the third engine as the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT)
  
• Working fire – dispatch 2nd Battalion Chief, 4th engine company and an EMS unit.
  
• Utilize the second-arriving Battalion Chief as the incident safety officer
  
• Communications changes including the use of the 10-code
  
• The use of the tactical radio channel for responses.
  
• Changes in water supply standard operating procedures with near-term transition to large diameter supply hose.
  
• Use of 1-1/2 inch hose, or larger, for interior attack as well as vehicle fires.
  
• Changes to standard nozzle configuration and flow for all handlines
  

Incredibly, the changes suggested here are not new to the fire service. In fact, they are standard procedure for even the smallest of volunteer fire departments in this country. It begs the question, “What the hell was Chief Rusty thinking?”

Some experts say that the department is so far behind current trends that only a major restructuring could possibly solve the problems in order to allow the department to operate more effectively – and safely. The panels can only make recommendations, so the ability to change, if it is to take place at all, lays solidly with the community, the good citizens of Charleston, who deserve much better fire protection.

###

Resources:

(1) Firefighter Hourly Jay Lowry

(2) Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire, Wikipedia

Fire Strikes Italy's Famed Cinecitta Film Studios

complied from reports

ROME - Last week fire struck Italy's legendary Cinnecita Film Studios causing extensive damage. The fire apparently broke out in a warehouse where the sets of the Anglo-American television blockbuster "Rome" were stored before spreading to other buildings in the vast complex on the outskirts of the Italian capital.

"The flames, may have been caused by a short circuit, started in a highly flammable storage area ... and it didn't take much for everything to be reduced to ashes," Rome fire chief Guido Parisi told reporters.

Then the fire spread to a nearby television set, which isn't in use during the holiday period," he said, adding that no one was hurt in the blaze. A little less than 4,000 square metres (40,000 square feet) of the total area of 40 hectares (100 acres) of the complex was consumed by the flames, which reached up to 40 metres high.

The Vigili Del Fuoco (Italian Fire Service) spent days at the scene dousing the smoldering ruins.
In all, 30 fire apparatus and 300 firefighters responded to the call.

Cinecitta (literally "cinema city"), conceived as a rival to Hollywood, was inaugurated on April 28, 1937, by the dictator Benito Mussolini, who saw its potential as a propaganda tool.

In 2002, Italian-American filmmaker Martin Scorsese came here to produce "Gangs of New York", followed two years later by Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" in 2004. "Rome," the TV series which relates the birth of the Roman empire, is the latest mega-contract.

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Firefighters Remain Critical After Parkside Fire

PARKSIDE BORO, PA (August 11, 2007) - Three volunteer firefighters were injured, two critically, after a home partially collapsed during a fire in Delaware County early Saturday morning.

Just after 2am this morning, Delaware County (PA) Firefighters were alerted to 11 Park Valley Lane for a report of a building fire. Police units arrived quickly and radioed a well involved structure fire at Green Tree Village Town Homes on Park Valley Lane in Parkside, Pa

Parkside Fire Company Engine 45 arrived and its crew advanced an inch and 3/4 line with Truck 65 (Garden City) and Rescue 63 (Green Ridge) close behind. As companies entered the building, the 2nd floor collapsed, trapping 3 Parkside firefighters. A mayday call was issued and rescue operations quickly got underway.

Crews from Green Ridge and Parkside removed 2 of the firefighters from the rear of the building, with the 3rd yet accounted for. As the R.I.T. team was already active, Parkside Command called for the full second alarm assignment. Alerted by his PASS device the 3rd firefighter was found under several feet of debris after 15 minutes. Crews from Garden City and Green Ridge removed the injured firefighter to an awaiting ambulance where he was transported to Crozier-Chester Burn Center.

According to police, a homeowner was awakened by the smell of fire inside his home. The blaze reportedly started on the first floor, so the homeowner was forced to jump from a second story window.

Officials said volunteer firefighter Chase Frost, a 21-year-old Widener University student, suffered burns on more than 50 percent of his body. Both he and Firefighter Dan Brees, 20, of Parkside, were being treated at Crozer-Chester Medical Center and were listed in critical condition. Frost’s mother was flying in from California Saturday night.

Minneapolis Bridge Collapse Scene 8/01/07

Minneapolis Bridge Collapse Scene 8/01/07
Originally uploaded by photog37

Rescuers and civilians joined together as First Responders during the collapse of the 35W bridge in Minneapolis. It's this spirit of volunteerism that sets Americans apart from most other countries. The citizens of Minneapolis re-defined the true meaning of the American Spirit during the moments following the collapse. They risked their lives to help save others -- and there is no greater service to mankind than that. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

The First Response Coalition

There are over 2.5 million paramedics, firefighters, and police officers in the United States who routinely answer our calls for help without question or hesitation. Whether large scale disasters or everyday emergencies, first responders serve and protect the communities we live in. Yet there is no national day to honor their commitment to public service.The First Response Coalition (FRC) is working to right this wrong and has launched a campaign to make September 25th National First Responder Appreciation Day.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Red Cross, Salvation Army and National Civic League have joined this campaign. To date, over 5,000 people have signed the FRC’s on-line petition, and hundreds have written to their elected officials in support of this worthwhile cause.

Last month, the Senate passed an FRC-conceived resolution to make September 25th National First Responder Appreciation Day. The bipartisan resolution was cosponsored by 33 senators, including Homeland Security Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, and presidential hopefuls John McCain and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The FRC is now working to replicate our success in the House and I ask you today for your help. Our goal is to attain 25,000 signatures by September 1, 2007, and I hope that you will consider helping us raise the profile of this worthwhile cause by encouraging your readers to sign the FRC’s online petition at www.FirstResponseCoalition.org.

Our first responders embody the very best of the American spirit. With your help, we can give our first responders a national day that recognizes these men and women for their contributions, sacrifices, and dedication to public service.

Thank you,
StevenSteven Jones,
Executive Director
First Response Coalition
919 18th Street N.W., Suite 950
Washington, D.C. 20006
(P) 202.263.2904
(F) 202.263.2960
www.firstresponsecoalition.org

Del Governor Orders Volunteer Department Audits

By: Ron Williams "Delaware Online"

The latest and most explosive issue facing the Delaware fire service has ironically surfaced through an executive order by Gov. Minner, never known as an agitator of firefighters.
But agitated some are, fire service sources tell me, as expected.

Executive Order 99 instructs the state Fire Prevention Commission -- the regulatory body of all fire companies -- to determine the benefit of having the books of each fire company publicly audited. That, of course, is like asking the benefit of the sun rising every morning.

Couched in the traditional whereases and therefores, the governor is saying she wants the fire companies to finally become publicly accountable. Her order even specifically refers to that: "Whereas, volunteer fire companies receive funds from the State of Delaware, county governments and through donations from the citizens of Delaware, and Whereas, periodic examination of financial records are beneficial to any organization... ."

This move by Minner, for those who haven't followed this issue over the past decade, is big time gutsy on her part. The fire service, the third rail of Delaware politics, has for years successfully fended off any interference from "civilian" ranks into their private, non-profit country clubs. They've been able to do this with consistent financial support of candidates favorable to their beliefs and agendas and companies' on-the-street help during campaigns.

Minner, of course, being a lame duck and looking forward to a leisurely retirement in 18 months, apparently said to hell with the third political rail.

She also was prompted by an incident in her own Carlisle Fire Company of Milford. A recently convicted fire company member was apparently voted back into the company. One thing Milford resident Minner is known for is outrage, especially when it embarrasses her or her homestead.

Executive Order 99 also comes on the heels of two very public embezzlement cases involving Cranston Heights and Frederica fire companies -- and who knows how many were not public or even reported. Both treasurers were found guilty. One went to jail.

But the Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association sat back and did nothing -- not so much as a public regret for the embarrassment those companies brought on the fire service.

The executive order calls for the Fire Prevention Commission to make recommendations by Oct. 1 on the frequency in which audits of fire company financial records should be performed (annually would make sense to those of us who are taxpayers and annual contributors), and determine if legislation would be needed.

In a state where publicly supported fire companies like Slaughter Beach -- elevation sea level, no highrises -- buy $1 million ladder trucks, this kind of proposal is not going to sit well with many fire company presidents. This is also a state in which about 30 percent of the fire companies refuse to comply with state law and report their response times to ambulance and fire calls.

Christiana Fire Company is among the few statewide that routinely reports its financial statements to the public. They even hold public meetings to discuss their budget.

With every fire company in the state now an employer of up to 15 full-time firefighters and ambulance attendants, the public should have a full accounting of how their taxes and personal contributions are being used. And because contributions to fire companies are tax deductible, I'd think the IRS would be interested as well.

The issue of Minner's Executive Order 99 is on the Fire Prevention Commission's monthly meeting agenda on Tuesday. It'll be interesting to see to whom the commissioners feel beholden: Minner, who appointed them, or the fire company presidents who boast thatthey have the commission in their pockets.

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Organized Chaos

by: Lou Angeli

Organized chaos. That's how the fire scene is often described. T he adrenaline charged atmosphere feels like a battleground. B ut in this war zone there's no time to develop a battle plan. For the firefight to be successful, action must be immediate. Firefighters have only a few precious minutes to defeat their opponent.

Back in the day, Firefighting was all about racing to the scene, donning a tin helmet and aiming the nozzle at the flames and smoke. And that's pretty much how the general public still perceives the job. But times have changed, and today there’s an art, not to mention a science, to fighting fires.

In terms of extinguishing blazes, today’s firefighters are trained to go face-to-face with the beast, inside the burning building for an "offensive attack." Some fire training experts say that the trick is to tame the fire before extinguishing it, and there are dozens of tactics for doing so. But these strategies often come with extreme risk. Bottom line -- firefighters must make crucial life and death decisions quickly.

For the past 30 years, annual civilian fire deaths have been reduced by 50%. During that same period the number of active firefighters has dropped, some say by 30%. But deaths among firefighters remain the same as they did in 1970, with 112 being lost in the line of duty last year alone.

Even more disturbing are OSHA and the National Fire Protection Association’s predic-tions that fully one-third of the current firefighting force of 1,100,000 will be injured on the job during they year 2007. Of those who will be injured, it is estimated that over half do not have adequate insurance coverage to attend their needs. Is this any way to treat the Bravest?

Maybe Michael Moore's next film should examine how the fire-rescue services do business.

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Hot Fun in the Summertime

SOPs and Protocol for Warm Weather Firefighter Rehab
By Lou Angeli

Nation's Bravest.com

Simply stated Firefighter Rehab is designed to ensure that the physical and mental well being of members operating at the scene of an emergency (or a training exercise) don't deteriorate to the point where it affects the safety of any other members. After all, "stressed out" is not a good thing when you're working at America's most dangerous job.

Back in 1993, the US Coast Guard conducted a study dealing with the effects of interior firefighting on the human body. The results of the study are posted in the Coast Guard's Firefighting Initiative, but in short, researchers noted that our body core temperature (even for short exposures), often reaches 104 degrees (F) during the firefight.

(1) Primary Mission:

The primary mission for fire command is to identify, examine and evaluate the physical and mental status of fire-rescue personnel who have been working during the emergency incident or a training exercise. Following a proper survey (see below), it should be determined what additional treatment, if any, may be required.

According to FEMA, "Any activity/incident that is large in size, long in duration, and/or labor intensive will rapidly deplete the energy and strength of personnel and there merits consideration for rehabilitation."

2. Launching The Rehab Operation

A specially designated Rehab Area, (or Group) remote from the fire or emergency incident, should be established at the discretion of the Incident Commander in consult with the senior Safety Officer. If the Incident Commander determines that Rehab is necessary, qualified EMPT-Ps or EMTs (assigned to the first alarm response) should be assigned to manage the Rehab Sector under the command of a fire or EMS officer or supervisor. Note the emphasis of the "first alarm response."

EMS personnel must be on scene and available to provide treatment to fireground personnel at a moment's notice. If EMS does not respond as part of the initial turnout, consideration should be given to the fact that OSHA will certainly as why they weren't... especially if anyone is injured.

Because they work side by side with the front line troops, company officers play an important role in Rehab. In fact, the federal government suggests that the safety of the fireground rests here, at the supervisor level. If a company member shows signs of fatigue or illness, the company officer will likely be the first to recognize the problem. Anticipate Rehab needs early in the incident. During large-scale operations, Incident Command should consider augmenting existing resources by requesting additional EMS personnel or even another engine company or squad, to assist in the operation of the Rehab Sector.

(3) Locating the Rehab Sector:

It is crucial for Command to establish The Rehab Sector away from any environmental hazards, or by-products of the fire, such as smoke, gases or fumes. During hot months, the ideal location might include a shady, cool area distant from the incident. In winter, a warm, dry area is preferred.

Regardless of the season, the area should be readily accessible to EMS-Rescue personnel and their equipment, so they may restock the sector with supplies, or in the event that emergency transport is required.

Rehab sites can also be established in the lobbies of nearby buildings, parking facilities, or even inside municipal buses.Misting/cooling systems, heating systems, SCBA refilling and canteen service should be stationed in or around this area as well. During large-scale incidents, like multi-alarm fires, Command should consider establishing Multiple Rehab Areas as the situation warrants.

(4) Coordination and Manning:

Command of the Rehab Area should be assigned to a chief or company level officer, who is designated as the Rehab Officer under most Incident Command structures. The incident itself will determine just how many people you'll need to do the job, however a minimum of two trained EMS personnel should initially be assigned to monitor and assist firefighters in the Rehab Sector. Utilize volunteer canteen or auxiliary members to assist EMS personnel in making "working" members as comfortable as possible.

(5) Evaluation of Fire-Rescue Personnel:

It is important for command and company level officers to continually monitor personnel for telltale signs of exhaustion, stress, and or physical injury. Individual members are encouraged to report to the Rehab Sector at any time that he or she feels the need to do so. Symptoms may include weakness, dizziness, chest pain, muscle cramps, nausea, altered mental status, difficulty breathing, and others.

Regardless of physical well being, all fireground personnel should report to the Rehab Sector immediately following:

• Strenuous Activity - Forcible Entry, Advancing Hoselines, Ventilation, etc
• The use and depletion of two SCBA bottles
• Thirty (30) minutes of operation within a hazardous/dangerous environment
• Failure of SCBA
  

(6) Examination of Arriving Personnel

Arriving personnel should be examined by qualified EMS, who should check and evaluate vital signs, and make proper disposition, i.e. return to duty, continued rehabilitation, or transport to medical facility for treatment. The workup should include:.

• Scoring for Glasgow coma trauma scale.
• Checking Pupils
• Checking Vital Signs, such as blood pressure, pulse, breathing rate
• Checking lung sounds
• Administration of a 2-lead EKG, when chest pain or irregular heartbeat is presented
• Skin condition and color
• Body core temperature

Heart rate should be measured as early as possible in the rest period. If the firefighter's heart rate exceeds 110 beats per minute, it is recommended that an oral temperature be taken. If body core temperature exceeds 100.6F, the firefighter should not be permitted to wear protective equipment or re-enter the active work environment, until temperature has been reduced and heart rate decreased. It is recommended that re-examination occur at ten minute intervals. Using standing orders or existing protocol, Rehab Team Members should record examination results on medical evaluation forms as indicated by the local jurisdiction.

(7) Treatment During Rehab:

Upon completing the physical examination, the following steps should be taken to minimize further risk to fire-rescue personnel: Turnout gear, helmets, masks and hoods should be removed immediately. Prior to ingesting anything orally, fluid or solid, it is recommended that the firefighter clean his/her hands and face with water and a cleaning agent, as provided by Rehab Sector personnel.

• The firefighter should rehydrate
• Oral rehydration and nutrition is recommended in the form of 1-2 quarts of fluids
• Body core temperature should be reduced by cooling the body
• Cool body temperatures gradually using misting systems, fans, etc
• Individuals should be offered Oxygen therapy via nasal canulla or O2 mask. (humidified or Nebulized).
• Standing rest before reporting for further assignment
• The firefighter will only report to manpower staging when presentation is deemed normal by the attending EMS personnel.
  
  
  Note: According to FEMA, Water is the best rehydration agent, however some agencies suggest a rehydration solution of 50 / 50 mixture of water and a commercially prepared activity beverage administered at about 40F. Avoid cooling the body using ice packs or hosestreams. Cooling should be gradual, limiting further shock to the body.
  

In the event that presentation appears abnormal, the Firefighter should immediately receive additional treatment, especially if conditions persist following fifteen minutes of rest. As is appropriate in most locales, those complaining of chest pain, difficulty breathing and altered mental status must receive immediate ALS treatment and transport to definitive health care. Follow your local jurisdiction's ALS protocols in this event.

(8). Accountability.

Members reporting to the Rehab Sector / Group should enter and exit the Area as a team. Their company designation, number of personnel, and the times of entry to and exit from the Rehab Area should be documented. This can be done either by the Rehab Officer or his / her designee on a Company Check-In / Out Sheet. Keep crews together, and don't allow overanxious members to freelance the event.

(9) The Vital Importance Of Firefighter Rehab

Very few firefighters who wear the badge are athletes. But, from the moment the alarm is sounded, and that first surge of adrenaline reaches the heart, we're asking our bodies to work triple overtime. Couple that with 55 pounds of business suit, 1200 degree temperatures and another 50 pounds of hand tools and equipment, and the importance of effective rehabilitation at the fire scene becomes crystal clear.

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Originally published in Fire Chief Magazine -- written by Lou Angeli

Working On Dragon's Turf

by: Lou Angeli

(Anytown, USA) -- The fire service here in the USA is extremely fortunate to employ some of the bravest firefighters and most knowledgeable fire officers in the world. But firefighting is inherently a dangerous profession, and things will and do go wroong. When a firefighter loses his or her life in a burning structure it is usually a result of unanticipated or unexpected fire development, not the inadequacies of command or even a firefighter’s skills.

So what’s the problem and how do we fix it? Back in the mid 70's, the fire service modified its approach to firefighting from surround and drown -- to one of adopting an aggressive interior fire attack. This tactic requires that firefighting teams make their way inside the burning structure and remain there under even the most severe conditions. Over the past few years the procedure has become the source of heated debate among instructors and officers because the interior attack assumes that there are victims inside the burning building who need to be rescued.

Since the introduction of superior protective gear (Nomex and PBI) in the late 70’s, virtually every fire-training instructor nationwide has taught their students to conduct an extremely aggressive interior attack, sometimes referred to in the books as Offensive Strategy. The idea is to take an pro-active stance, moving nozzles and hoselines deep inside a building to meet the fire monster on its own turf. But my personal belief is that -- unless a life safety issue exists -- firefighters should never attempt to inhabit the same space as fire. Being there is a lot like snorkeling in shark-infested waters, then poking a Great White in the eye.

Inadequate Staffing

According to a report issued by Captain William R. Mora of the San Antonio Fire Department, many firefighters (often Truck company members) choose to begin search and rescue operations without the assistance of an Engine company and their hoseline. "It's in our blood to rush in." one rookie told me. "Try keeping me out!"

Unfortunately, in far too many situations, the search begins prematurely because of poor staffing (career) and lack of responders (volunteers). The obvious concern in these situations is that teams that have entered won’t have the extinguishing tools to cool a blaze should flashover rear its ugly head. (Ever wonder why FDNY has a "can man.") And with no hose (or lifeline rope) to follow back to safety, firefighters often have no way out!

When the search and rescue effort goes south, a firefighter can easily become disoriented and lost in the blaze. Without a buddy by his or her side, they face the unknown alone. Panic sets in and it’s just a matter of time before they breathe-out their bottle, collapse and succumb to the blaze.

Disorientation

“The root of the disorientation problem in the fire service,’ the San Antonio study reads, ‘is the lack of knowledge about the extreme danger posed by enclosed structures and the disorientation sequence.”

In many communities, especially those protected by volunteer companies, firefighters sometimes ignore the important fact that fighting a structural blaze is a team effort. Rather than wait for next arriving units, the few who have assembled on the fireground often begin search and rescue -- or the hoseline advance -- lacking appropriate support and resources.

Crucial to fire extinguishment is proper vertical ventilation, which we’ve all been taught should take place simultaneously with the hoseline attack below. However, before the chain saw is on the roof, well-meaning hose teams – working alone -- may quickly find the seat of the fire and bravely open the nozzle to dampen the blaze. But with no vent opening to release smoke and hot gases, the team destroys the delicate thermal balance, allowing super-heated air from above to drop down to the floor and bake them like lobsters.

In cases like this, inexperienced firefighters may panic and abandon the line, leaving their partner behind. The team is now separated, company integrity is lost, and it can only go downhill from here. Call in the FAST team!

“Firefighters must be warned of the extreme dangers associated with enclosed structures,” says San Antonio’s Captain Mora. “(They) must be informed that (waging) an aggressive attack immediately on arrival may be ineffective and unsafe in many cases.”

Life Safety Issue

There’s no denying that firefighters must enter flaming structures to conduct search and rescue operations, especially when civilians are reported trapped, or the commanding officer feels that an interior attack is warranted. However, changing the behavior of two generations of firefighters, who have had the term “aggressive interior attack” drilled into their helmets, will be a tough assignment for company officers and training personnel. But change is coming slowly and some more forward thinking administrators have begun to embrace alternate tactics, like large line blitz attacks using portable master stream devices.

A reminder: We’re told that the most important tactic in any type of firefight is size-up. So, the next time your company pulls up in front of a burning building, quickly establish command and learn as much about the situation at hand as you can. I f there is no life-safety issue and no danger to surrounding structures, hold back the hoseteam, by their SCBA straps if you must. Wait for second due companies to arrive, then engage in a coordinated attack. Like they say, “Everyone goes home!"

(1) Mora, W.R., "U.S. Firefighter Disorientation Study, 1979-2001" (2003).

(2) Firefighter Life Safety Initiative - "Everyone Goes Home"
(3) Saving Firefighter Ryan -- Lou Angeli (2004)
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View Firefighting Images on Flickr

The Fickle Public

Volunteers at the mercy of the communities they serve

by: Lou Angeli

Nation's Bravest.com

(New Castle County, DE) -- I became a firefighter on a dare. I lost the bet and have been calling myself a volunteer ever since.

It was 1973, and the smoke from Wilmington’s “King Riots” (Martin not Rodney) had not yet cleared. Even though the rioting had been suppressed in a matter of weeks, the city remained a “police state” for several years, with heavily armed National Guard and State Police patrolling Wilmington's neighborhoods each and every night. Whether the constant military presence was really justified is still being debated in the First State. But one thing’s for sure - the riot patrols were a constant reminder that the city had somehow gone bad.

Civil disorder had ruined a huge section of town, and well populated Irish, Italian, Polish and Hispanic communities surrounding the devastation, were being abandoned for the safety and comfort of the city’s western suburbs. My parents and our family followed the lead.

The same scenario was being repeated up and down the East Coast as cities along the I-95 corridor lost families (and tax base) to suburban communities. In most cases, growth came so quickly to suburbia that government was ill prepared to cope. With the emphasis on providing better roads and a more appropriate infrastructure, Fire-EMS-Rescue protection was the last thing on most legislators’ minds.

“The Volunteers will handle it!”, was the reaction from many county seats and state capitals. But there was an inherent problem with their thinking. Volunteer fire departments were originally designed to protect small rural communities - not extensions of the big city.

Me and Citizen Fritz

Still in college, and a cub journalist for the local newspaper, my editor had assigned me to develop a feature expose’ on Delaware’s volunteer Fire-EMS system for the first-ever edition of Delaware’s first Sunday newspaper.

It seemed that some very vocal residents of a rapidly growing Wilmington suburb, Pike Creek Valley, were complaining that their community was being denied adequate Fire-EMS-Rescue protection. “The Valley” was a no-man’s land, developed on rolling farmland, miles from the nearest stores, churches and volunteer fire station. The community's mouthpiece, “Citizen Fritz” claimed that under the best of conditions, response time to “The Valley” was in “excess of 15 minutes.”

Although I didn't want the story, the editor claimed that I was best suited for the assignment, because I was already a Reserve Firefighter in the Wilmington Fire Department’s CD incubator system. He also knew that as a career advocate, I’d make the story controversial.

While researching the story, the local volunteer department’s President suggested that I join the company as a “probationary member” to get a firsthand look at how the volunteer system worked. But there was a catch to his proposal. If my report was favorable to the volunteers, I’d have to join as a full-blown member.

The Pike Creek Valley community lobbied heavily at the county and state levels to have a career fire station built - the first ever in Delaware, outside the city of Wilmington. Politicans promised quick action, which came in the form of an “outside” study. The results from Princeton, “not enough call volume to warrant a career station...’ but ‘the community is a prime candidate for its own volunteer station.”

At first, County government suggested that the existing volunteer agency relinquish the “valley” section of its district to the local community. And both the county and state agreed to fund the new entity as Delaware’s newest department. But there was just one problem, a big problem, as I reported in that very first edition of the Sunday paper, “...no one in Pike Creek Valley wants to man their proposed new volunteer fire station.”

Since then Delaware’s Mill Creek Fire Company has built, recruited personnel for and manned a well equipped fire station not far from the spot where I first interviewed “Citizen Fritz”, whose complaints of inadequate volunteer service were among the loudest. 25 years later, I’m told that “Fritz” has never stepped foot in the station that he so vehemently demanded.

“Citizen Fritz” is just one of millions of citizens nationwide, who enjoy the tax payer friendly protection of a volunteer system, but who are unwilling to join the “community of givers”, a term coined by Chief Ken Farmer of North Carolina. In most cases, “takers”, like Fritz, are also unwilling to dole out the money needed to support the career system that they believe they deserve.

So the controversial decision as to “what level of protection a

community deserves” is not one that we as firefighters make, but

a choice that falls smack dab on the laps of the citizens we serve.

“Fire, Rescue and EMS volunteers continue to provide a valued and low cost service in many communities, as they have for hundreds of years.” says volunteer activist Jim Wick, who was a member of Mill Creek Fire Co during the Pike Creek controversy. Today, Wick heads the Oregon Governor’s Fire Council and reminds us that “the volunteer service is still a good service, but it’s a changing service.’ He adds, “We need to keep the focus on service and cost to citizens.”

Case Study - America's Fire Station

What would be the cost to citizens of converting their local volunteer agency to a career system? That’s the question that we posed to a half dozen fire service administrators, both career and volunteer. Their answers were remarkably identical, and is best illustrated by using the Pike Creek Fire Station, the one that “Citizen Fritz” demanded, as an example.

The Pike Creek fire station is operated as Mill Creek Fire Company’s Station #2, and serves as a remote sub-station to its main headquarters, which is still located in the heart of the original community, Marshallton, Delaware. The department operates as a corporation and is contracted by the state and county to provide emergency services. When the department was founded 75 years ago, it was a small farming community with less than 1,000 residents living in the district.

Today, the department serves a community of nearly 60,000, covering 17 square miles and a wide variety of risks. Annual call volume for both stations is in the thousands, and increasing each year.

Although the department has 300 members on its books, Station #2 is covered by 24 or so “active” volunteers, who are commanded by two company level officers and an Assistant Chief. During daytime hours, the department employs a core group of “paid” members to man and operate first-out equipment. The members of Station #2 operate a BLS ambulance, quint, rescue pumper and brush rig.

Even though “our administrators” disagreed on manning levels, (some suggested three and even two person engines) for the sake of argument, it was agreed that two firefighter-EMT’s would be assigned to the ambulance, with three other firefighter-EMT’s and and a shift commander assigned to cross-man the fire suppression and rescue rigs, 24x7, 365 days a year.

The committee arrived at the calculations by various methods and formulae, but the final average cost to the community came in loud and clear. Converting Station #2 to a career system would run a little over $840,000 per year, excluding capital expenditures such as training, PPE, tools and equipment, apparatus and building maintenance. Add to that amount projected overtime to cover vacations and sick leaves, a solid benefits package, and of course, a pension program, and the final number is well over $1 million. That’s the cost of running one small volunteer station, as a career job.

The benefits of such a career model are obvious. Immediate response by career professionals, day or night, as opposed to a delayed home response by well trained volunteers. In an ideal world, with no financial restrictions, my choice would be crystal clear.

But the ideal world only exists on paper, and the hard, cold reality is that the general public is not ready to bear the financial burden for the perfect system. At the same time, the chances of persuading John Q to devote a dozen hours each week to what we consider to be a noble profession are slim to none.

Without the level of dedication provided by local community volunteers’, says Chief Rod Carringer of Indiana, ‘fire rescue services in this country would be forced back upon state, local and federal governments.” And the thought of inviting federal management at the local level has many administrators shaking in their boots.

“If the federal government intervenes at the local level,’ notes Chief Michael Perkins, ‘the quality of protection will be based on a community's ability to lobby in Washington, not at the town hall. And that’s where small communities will lose out.”

Forcing The Community To Get Involved

“We have to take stock and the populace must make up its mind, which way they want to turn?’ says John Adams, recently retired LA City Battalion Chief. “If they (the community) want quality fire protection, they’ll have to pay for it one way or another.” He adds, “Money makes the system work, and that is the bottom line.”

“If volunteerism is replaced by a career system, we may have better coverage and quicker response’, says Pennsylvania volunteer Penny D’Ottavio.. “But one thing’s for sure. The local community will finally be forced to get involved -- by paying higher taxes.”

And so the debate over career vs. volunteer is not one in which we, as firefighters, should be engaged in at this time. In a very real sense, the antagonist in this story is not the stubborn volunteer or the head strong career advocate - it is public apathy.

Change is blowin’ in the wind. Will change in the fire service be a breeze, or forced upon us like a gail force wind? Only the general public can determine how hard this wind blows. But one thing's for certain. We can affect the outcome of the approaching storm by taking our message to the street, and allowing the public to decide.

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Images: View my flickr album entitled Volunteer

Why Must Firefighters Die?

by: Lou Angeli
Nation's Bravest.com

More than 1000 American firefighters died in the line of duty during the 11 years up to 2004 (excluding the extra deaths associated with the terrorist attack on 11 September 2001). A close look at the national records showed that nearly 40% (449/1114) of them died of heart disease.

One third of the deaths from heart disease occurred while fighting fires, which takes up only 5% of an average firefighter's time. The odds of dying from heart disease while fighting a fire were 10-100 times higher than those of dying during non-emergency duties. Responding to alarms, returning from alarm calls, and training were also significantly riskier than non-emergency duties, but to a lesser extent than the actual firefight.

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Images: View my flickr album of firefighters at work

According to Dr. Simeon Margolis, “The heart disease risk among firefighters rose to as high as 100 times greater while actively fighting fires, compared to performing administrative duties."

Most firefighters are likely to be healthy and physically fit when first recruited in their 20's. But their ability to serve in a physically demanding and stressful environment appears to decline over the years. And volunteer firefighters, who make up approximately 80 percent of the America's one million firefighters, have less-demanding health requirements at the time of recruitment and are rarely subject to regular physicals and fitness tests.

Margolis comments, “The message is clear: Firefighters and others in similarly demanding occupations must be particularly careful to identify and control heart disease risk factors." Margolis feels that all firefighters, regardless of avocation, must remain physically active not only to control weight but also to maintain a proper level of fitness. And as a firefighters gains more time on the job, regular check-ups become even more important because their age already places them at greater risk for a heart attack.

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Video: See what it's like to work as a Firefighter Inside The Fire

F-16: Super-fighter and Fire Starter

An F-16 training over the Warren Grove Gunnery Range near Atlantic City inadvertently launched a flare, igniting one of the largest Pinelands Fires in New Jersey history. The resulting conflagration burned for 16 days, stopped only by a huge rain system that drenched the mid-Atlantic states.

Photos of the Pine Barrens fire by Kate

New Jersey is one of the few states in the mid-Atlantic that is prepared to do battle with a fiery Mother Nature thanks to the Division of Forestry which operates wildland firefighting teams statewide. During this series of fires, the forestry teams were backed up by nearly a thousand rural and suburban volunteer firefighters, who worked at protecting exposures and providing water supplies via tanker shuttles.

According to retired LAFD Fire Captain "Mike," "I have to say watching the TV coverage I'm taken back by the ferocity of this blaze. Crowning in May on flat terrain in New Jersey has me scratching my head." Mike continues on his blog. "Combined with the fire activity in Georgia and Florida this month I have to believe the California and Western states region are in for it this season."

The fires have been extinguished by the potential for more fires remains extremely high. Hopefully, the USAF has altered the training flight pattern -- perhaps over the Atlantic:)

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A Great Script Loses Its Way In Hollywood

A Review by Lou Angeli

(New York, NY) Jim Powell retired from FDNY just two years ago to pursue a career in writing. But unlike his famous counterpart, Dennis Smith, who used the'novel' as a vehicle (Report From Engine Co. 82), Powell writes 'screenplays' for motion pictures and television. These days, though, Jim Powell understands that fighting a 9-alarm warehouse fire is a helluva lot easier than selling a screenplay to Hollywood.

I was introduced to Jim a year ago by a mutual contact at ParamountPictures. He was looking to assemble a production team, who understoodthe subject matter of his script, Firefighting. The screenplay, entitled"Smokey" deals with a kidnapping scam gone bad. The story, set in the late1960's, involves an FDNY, veteran -- a good Irish Catholic gent, who is a respected Brooklyn firefighter -- and gay!

And who knows firefighting in Brooklyn better than Jim Powell. Until1995, he commanded FDNY Squad-1, one of two Special Operations Units,that operate as 6-man flying squads, using conventional Class-A pumpers.In addition to its own local alarm district, Squad-1 responds to everyworking fire in the borough.

During his 23-year career, Powell received dozens of commendations andhonors, and was twice decorated for bravery. He began his writing careerwhile still an active firefighter, serving as the Commissioner's speechwriter.

I've read "Smokey" three times now, and as a television producer, I notonly find the story engaging, but it has all of the makings for asuccessful motion picture. Powell treats the sexual preference issue wthtaste, and the storyline appeals to a wide range of audiences. As afirefighter, there's no doubt in my mind, that "Smokey" would be assuccessful as "Backdraft". Fact is, the firefighting scenes would makeRon Howard's eyes sting.So why has Jim had such a hard time persuading Hollywood to make his film?

Poor timing for one. Last year, a meeting had been scheduled betweenPowell and a production team headed by Hollywood producer Rich Furey andhis actress/wife, Lee Grant. The couple were shooting a film in Wilmington, Delaware starring Bruce Willis. Just days before the meeting though, Willis went ballistic on the set, and fired Furey and Grant. They flew West, while Jim Powell'shopes went South.

In a New York Post article, published just last week, journalist NealTravis writes, "I read the script and it is excellent. A brave, gayfireman forced into a sham kidnap -- a real change from the formula junkHollywood turns out these days."

But some say the story hits a little too close to home. Not the fireservice home, but Hollyrock. Powell admits that the story is based on a famous true story, the kidnapping scheme, involving millionaire heir-apparent Samuel Bronfman II and his significant other, FDNY firefighter Mel Patrick Lynch.

So what? Homosexuality is no longer an underground lifestyle, andthere are a dozen Gay Firefighters Associations. But, unfortunately forPowell, just last year, Bronfman's younger brother Edgar, Jr. boughtcontrolling interest of Hollywood's most successful movie factory,MCA/Universal. Can you say blackballed?

I like Jim Powell's style. It has the polish of a Dennis Smith, with thegritty edge that only a real firefighter can bring to the desk. "Smokey" puts most other Hollywood scripts to shame, and if it weren't for the politics of the land offruits and nuts, we might be lining up at our local theaters this holiday season to pay tribute to a talented brother firefighter.

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Angels of Mercy

Dade County, Florida

It's dinner time at Miami-Dade's Fire Station-24. As in other North American stations, mealtime is a special time for coming together and sharing good food and fellowship.

As the crew gathers for dinner, a TV airing the local Miami news, brings today's events into focus, and tonight's lead story features another serious shooting, one of hundreds that take place in the Miami metro area each year.

No one knows better than the crew of Station 24, for they are the Miami area's Angels of Mercy. It's their job to "fly" the most critically injured patients aboard Air-Rescue One to Trauma Centers in and around Dade and Monroe Counties in South Florida.

As the crew looks up from their chili to watch the TV report, video of their specially equipped Med-Evac helicopter comes into view. This time it's an undercover "drug-buy" gone bad and the anchorwoman reports that a police informant and DEA agent have been shot.

Flashback: 2 hours ago!

As we make the Landing Zone, gunfire is still being exchanged, and the pilot determines the situation to be too hairy. He instructs our team to remain on board the ship. As I slouch lower in the cabin, I imagine that flying in a Vietnam-era Huey was a lot like this.

Even as the patients are loaded aboard the chopper, the full extent of their injuries become painfully obvious. Body armor has saved the agent's life, but a 9mm round, delivered point blank, has straight-lined the informant and ended his life.

As street violence continues to become increasingly lethal, the difference between life and death often means shaving precious minutes off the trip to the Trauma Center. Unfortunately, In this case, medics will save only the agent's life, as the bullet has ripped away at the informant's chest cavity.

Miami-Dade Fire & Rescue covers a 2500 square mile are with a population of over 2 million. With Air-Rescue-One, the department is able to provide quick response to all South Florida residents, even those in remote areas like the Keys and the Everglades. The cost of operating their Bell-412 chopper is well over $2 million per year, and there will soon be three in the fleet.In more and more communities, MedEvac helicopters are "the" answer to saving lives, by compressing "time" and "space" in the race against the "Golden Hour".

The Importance of Air MedEvac

Over 1100 nautical miles on Interstate-95 lies North America's largest and most advanced MedEvac system. And like many Mid-Atlantic states it's operated not by fire or rescue, but by law enforcement.

It's shift change, and Trooper-Pilot John Gainey of the Maryland State Police is making a pre-flight check of his $5.5 million Dauphine II helicopter. It's one of 11 ships in the Maryland State Police Aviation Unit, a system that costs $33 million per year to operate.

A Multi-Task Emergency Unit

During our three-day fly-along on Labor Day weekend, we fly to a number of emergency incidents. But the first has nothing to do with stretchers or IV's. It's a police call, so as firefighters, we're a little spooked. We're responding with TrooperOne, the Middle River crew, to assist Baltimore County Police on a report of automatic weapons fire.

I ask through the headset, "Could you guys drop us off at the Mall parking lot?" There’s nothing but radio crackle and no one answers. I guess not!

As we approach the area. Gainey places the Dauphine into a 120mph, ¼ mile diamater orbit. He reminds us that the fuel bladder is just under our butts, so he's exposing a less vulnerable side of the chopper. His partner, Medic Sergeant Doug Dodds keys his mic,

"Can you guys see anything through your camera lens?" Centrifugal force has us plastered against the bulkhead, but I manage to bring the camera to my eye.

On the Watchman monitor I see three gents, with a cache of automatics laid out on a beach blanket. They're target shooting -- at a small herd of deer. The monitor shows one of the gentlemen extending us warm regards, as the others cover their weapons. Dodd directs Baltimore County Police ground units into the scene, who move in for questioning, and we return to base.

Search and Rescue

As evening arrives, our camera crew grabs a quick shot of the ship on the tarmac -- nicely framed with the late summer sun setting behind the main rotors. But before we can fold the tripod, Gainey and Dodds come hustling toward us from the hangar. The roar of the turbine means its showtime!

Trooper-One is responding to assist volunteer firefighters and marine patrol personnel in North East, Maryland, where a systematic search for a boater in distress has been initiated in the northern Chesapeake Bay. The report is for a boat out of fuel, and its operator, a diabetic, out of insulin. He's said to be shocky.

The sun has already set behind the Western Maryland mountains, so the crew of Trooper-One bring out the neat hardware. Dodds remotely operates a Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) combing the waters west of Perryville point. During SAR Ops like this one, the FLIR allows the crew to "see" the victim's "heat signature" even in total darkness.

Just a few years ago, this mission would have been likened to finding a needle in a haystack. But within 10 minutes, the crew locates the boater/patient, who's hung his 24 foot "party barge on a sandbar near the mouth of the Susquehanna River. Fire and Rescue marine units are directed in, and the patient is moved to a Delaware State Police Bell-407, which was directed to the scene while returning from Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins University Hospital. Mutual aid in outerspace. . .so very, very cool.

Medics On Patrol

As Gainey swings the ship into a gentle turn toward the southwest, Dodd answers a radio call -- this one for an injured patient near the Pennsylvania State line. A brightly lit football field makes an ideal Landing Zone for the crew of Trooper One.

For the spectators, an unexpected half-time show unfolds as the powerful Aerospatiale "touches down" on the field. It's first down at the 20 yard line as the well-rehearsed MedEvac takes place.

The only surprise is the patient. She's a cheerleader who fell victim to a sideline stunt gone horribly wrong. The 17 year old fell from the top of a human pyramid and has suffered a ghastly compound fracture to her leg. Not the expected patient in this case, but in this business you quickly learn to expect the unexpected.

As we lift off toward Baltimore and definitive health care, the cheerleader is screaming at the top of her lungs. Following protocol, Dodds administers what seems to be an extraordinary dose of morphine, but the teen screams even louder. Dodds lowers his head to her face, and his look of concern is quickly replaced by a full-face grin. He keys his mic.

It's not the pain,' he laughs, 'she's afraid of flying."

Within 15 minutes were landing at University of Maryland Shock-Trauma, where this frightened cheerleader will receive some of the best hospital care in the country. Just another in the several thousand emergency medical sorties that MSP aviation personnel will attend this year.

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