KANSAS FIREFIGHTER DIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY FOLLOWING TRAINING

The Secret List www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

We regret to pass on that Firefighter Ronnie W. Peek, 49, died in the Line of Duty last evening. Firefighter Peek fell ill while participating in fire department mandated air management training. He was subsequently transported to the hospital where he suffered a heart attack and passed away. Our condolences to all affected. RIP.

==FIRE APPARATUS VS FIRE APPARATUS CRASH

Remember that crash in California last April with the two responding apparatus? Well, the cops claim that unsafe driving caused the Alhambra FD rig to collide with a Monterey Park rig last spring, injuring 15 people. Despite placing fault with the Alhambra apparatus driver, no charges are being filed in connection to the April 16, 2014, incident....however-numerous law suits are pending.

The two fire apparatus, which were both responding to a fire at a Monterey Park home, collided about 1500 hours. The Alhambra rig had its lights and sirens on as it headed southbound on Garfield Avenue at 15 mph----at the same time the Monterey Park apparatus was driving 20 to 25 mph eastbound on Emerson Avenue, also with its lights and sirens.

As both trucks arrived at Garfield and Emerson avenues, the Monterey Park truck had a green traffic light, while Alhambra's truck had a red light. Simply put-the Alhambra fire apparatus failed to ensure the intersection was clear to enter against the red light....and generally the only way to do that is to stop.

Alhambra's truck struck the front of the Monterey Park rig, which kept moving and smashed into a person and a street pole before ramming into a restaurant. Five restaurant patrons and four pedestrians were injured. Six firefighters were also injured.

Obviously this could have been a lot worse-thankfully it wasn't. There have been some hellacious fatal apparatus vs apparatus crashes over the years and alway=always it is because one of the rigs drivers chose to not stop when they were required to-or should have, based upon conditions.

You never know who is on the roads. It could be your Mom, Dad, Wife, Partner, Husband ...it could be your Daughter, your Son, your Grandkids - someone you know. A few years ago, in Ohio, a Firefighter driving apparatus to a car fire killed her own relatives...TWO relatives...in a proven avoidable crash.

If you think this is "lame" of not, trust us on this-LOOK at the history-when you have a red light-STOP to INSURE it is clear, When you have a stop sign, STOP-to make sure it is clear. Besides, it's not your fire apparatus. Someone decided, for whatever reason, to give you the privilege of driving it. And while cops aren't charging the apparatus driver-the lawsuits are looming.

We all wanna make it to the fire or emergency-we wanna get there "five minutes ago" and many times we are NEEDED FIVE MINUTES AGO. Make up time by being apparatus ready, hustle getting out of quarters and stuff like that-but DON'T blow red lights or stop signs-it can change you life forever-not to mention those we may strike.

We have posted some pics on our home page. BELOW are some related reports of similar crashes:

APPARATUS VS APPARATUS CRASH KILLS FIREFIGHTER:

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200443.html

http://www.fsi.illinois.edu/content/library/iflodd/search/Firefighter.cfm?ID=286

==BLACK SUNDAY REMEMBERED:

January 23, 2005 was "Black Sunday" in New York when FDNY Lt. Curtis W. Meyran (covering Ladder 27 that day) and FF John G. Bellew (Ladder 27) died in the Line of Duty at an apartment fire in the Bronx. Four other FF's were injured: Jeffrey Cool (Rescue 3) the late Lt. Joseph DiBernardo-Rrescue 3 (whose later death is Line of Duty) Brendan Cawley (Ladder 27) and Eugene Stolowski (Ladder 27).

All 6 FF's were forced to jump from the 4th floor of the apartment building as they were trapped by the fire. And, as you'll also remember, at a separate incident in Brooklyn that day, just 3 hours after the Bronx fire, Brooklyn FF Richard T. Sclafani (Ladder 103) was killed in the Line of Duty after getting trapped in the basement while operating at a residential fire.

HERE are links to reports, videos and articles as we remember those who were injured and killed that day.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200503.html
(NIOSH Report-BRONX FIRE)

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200504.html (NIOSH Report-BROOKLYN FIRE)

http://nymag.com/news/features/26574/index3.html
(EXCELLENT NY Magazine Article Bronx Fire Double LODD)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvxtBC2gQ1g&sns=em (IAFF Presentation-FDNY FF Jeff Cool)

http://community.fireengineering.com/video/video/show?id=1219672%3AVideo%3A591291 (Fire Engineering; FDNY FF Jeff Cool)

==CHIEF D CONTINUES TO SAVE LIVES:

Here is a piece from yesterday about the late Joey D's Dad, retired FDNY "Chief D"-and his untiring efforts to save firefighters lives-ALL Firefighters:

CHECK THIS OUT:

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/hamill-fdny-dad-save-firefighters-article-1.2087647

DO NOT MISS THIS YEARS TRAINING SEMINAR-WELL WORTH YOUR TIME AND TRAVEL TO LONG ISLAND:

http://www.joeydfoundation.org/seminars/2015-seminar/

==EINSTEIN, HUGE FIRES & FIREFIGHTERS?

This morning in Homestead PA and earlier this week in Edgewater, NJ-huge fires kept Firefighters busy. Amongst those incidents, there have been some commentaries that if those fire departments had career Firefighters, the fires might have not gotten so large.

Huh? The light weight wood truss non-sprinklered building had nothing to do with it?

Hmmm.

There are numerous arguments on both sides, but the bottom line is that when the public dials 9-1-1, or wait....when YOU dial 9-1-1 for a FIRE....you and they want help now, and the help needs to be trained and qualified-and plenty of it. We have seen well staffed, well lead and well qualified departments on the career and the volunteer side.

We have also seen poorly trained, poorly staffed and poorly lead departments on both sides. Being career doesn't always mean the best-but being volunteer doesn't always mean that serving the community for free is what's best for that community. When there is a fire, people-and your family too, want a timely response with lots of qualified Firefighters to get all the tasks done as quickly, as humanly possible-any sane person understands that.

Obviously the FACTS are not out yet on what caused the fires to get so large-but one thing is for sure-if the buildings were MASONRY and were FULLY SPRINKLERED, there would NOT have been large fires.

HERE is one persons opinion on Career and Volunteer Firefighters...a former FDNY Commissioner:

http://7online.com/news/former-fdny-commissioner-on-volunteer-firefighters-in-new-jersey/487108/

One resident (below) said it was "deja vue" all over again...since this complex burned 15 years ago. Albert Einstein said "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" and when buildings continue to be built this way, they will burn down the same as they did the first time. Duh.

Edgewater Fire:

http://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2015/01/it_was_like_deja_vu_15_years_apart_edgewater_fires.html

http://pix11.com/2015/01/22/devastating-edgewater-apartment-complex-fire-accidentally-started-by-plumbers-officials/

Homestead Fire:

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2015/01/23/breaking-news-crews-on-scene-of-5-alarm-fire-in-homestead/

Final Word:

HOPEFULLY you have seen this video that we posted last week-if not, check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsYOTERciOU

Take Care. Be Careful. Pass It On.

BillyG

The Secret List 1/23/2015-1030 Hours