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Firefighter Makes Daring Rescue of Suicidal Woman

Boston Herald — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:27:00 -0700

By Dave Wedge, Boston Herald

Sept. 03--In a scene right out of a Hollywood action flick, a Boston firefighter hooked into a harness, rappelled off the roof of a Commonwealth Avenue building and swung into a sixth-floor window to rescue an apparently suicidal woman wielding a scalpel.

The drama unfolded at about 9 p.m. Monday when the 24-year-old woman threatened to jump while hanging off scaffolding near Boston College. Firefighters from Engine 3 "bounced" an SUV out of the way by hand and inflated a massive air bag in case the woman jumped.

Meanwhile, the crew from Rescue 1, led by Lt. Sandy Lasa and Chief Ronald Marston, set up on the roof. Working in darkness, the firefighters secured ropes to a stairwell railing and a chimney and tied the other ends to a harness worn by eight-year veteran Phil Cetrino.

Boston police negotiators tried to keep the woman calm while guiding her into a safe spot where Cetrino could swoop in and save her -- a death-defying move called a "pick-off." Chief Joe Finn stood below on the street alongside a priest, who prayed the rosary in hopes of a safe outcome.

Lasa described the tense moments before sending Cetrino off the roof:

"We were listening to the radio and looking over the edge. We were keeping an eye on her. She was moving back and forth along the windows. We just waited for the opportunity. We wanted her as close to the window as possible.

"We had one shot to get Phil over the side. As he went over, he landed in a perfect spot. He was right there at the ledge."

Surrounded by the jakes who held his lifeline during the dangerous rescue, Cetrino, 39, told the Herald his harrowing tale yesterday at the Purchase Street fire headquarters, saying his training kicked in.

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"I just transferred here in October and since then, we've been doing a lot of training on this kind of stuff," he said. "Being hooked up into the harness was the easy part. I had total confidence that these guys had everything tied up right. They had it perfectly set up.

"I just waited for the word. They had the rope tied off and when they said to go, I went over," he said.

"She was standing on a desk chair and hanging onto the cord for the blinds. She had her back toward me and I came in and just blocked her from going out the window and harming herself. I just whacked her and got her horizontal and let the police know I was in.

"I just knocked her down. She was very surprised. She had a scalpel in her hand and she started to scratch herself with it. She had some superficial wounds. I just wanted to make sure she didn't go out that window. The police were right in there quickly and restrained her and took her into custody.

"I was nervous, but I was confident because of all the training. I was relieved that everything went well. Better than well. I'd say perfect, actually."

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Wall of Hope for Missing Boy to be Installed Outside Fire Station

The Oregonian — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:25:00 -0700

By Michael Russell, The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.

Sept. 03--Volunteers will install the Wall of Hope, a tribute to missing 7-year-old Kyron Horman, in front of a fire station near his school next Tuesday.

Kyron was last seen June 4 by his stepmother, Terri Moulton Horman, who took pictures of the beaming, bespectacled boy standing in front of his science fair project on the red-eyed tree frog inside Skyline School.

Balloons, flowers, teddy bears, letters, candles and rubber frogs soon appeared along a chain link fence in front of the school.

But school officials asked that the tribute be moved before the start of the new school year.

So more than 75 volunteers pried the impromptu tribute loose from the ground and carried it to Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue's Fire Station 368 -- about 100 yards down Skyline Boulevard from the school -- last Sunday.

The tribute will be kept behind closed doors until 10 a.m. Tuesday, when volunteers will return and install it in front of the station, 11646 N.W. Skyline Blvd.

Visitors are asked not to park in front of the fire station's driveway, as firefighters might have to come and go on calls.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office tip line at 503-261-2847. For sightings of Kyron, call 9-1-1.

Watch a video on the Wall of Hope's Sunday move:

-- Michael Russell

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S.C. City Drops Plan to Alter How It Pays on Holidays

Charleston Daily Mail — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:25:00 -0700

By Ashley B. Craig, Charleston Daily Mail, W.Va.

Sept. 03--A proposed change in the city of South Charleston's holiday pay ordinance for police and firefighters was dropped after city officials decided holiday pay could be managed without the revision.

Mayor Frank Mullens asked during Thursday's meeting of city council that the proposed new ordinance be rescinded. It had passed through the first-reading phase at an Aug. 19 meeting.

He said under the existing policy a police officer or firefighter who works a holiday is paid time and a half for the shift and also receives a day off with pay.

That can leave the departments in a bind to cover shifts, and sometimes the departments have resorted to calling in employees on overtime.

"I wasn't crazy about that because essentially we were paying two people to work the same shift," Mullens said. "We were paying one to cover your shift and you're at home."

The revised ordinance would have given employees a full day's pay -- rather than a paid day off -- plus time and a half when they worked a holiday.

Mullens said he had spoken with union representatives, Fire Chief Greg Petry, Police Chief Brad Rinehart, City Manager Carlton Lee and Treasurer Hanna Pettit since the August meeting. He determined the matter could be handled without changing the law.

He said the administration's new stance would be that employees may have a paid day off after working a holiday as long as they don't leave their department short-handed. Departments are not to fall below minimum staffing levels.

Mullens said the chiefs agreed that employees would not be allowed to take days off for working holidays on the same days that other workers already had planned to be off.

"We'll look at it for the next year and see how it goes, but I think it'll work out just fine," Mullens said. "We'll revisit it monthly."

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In other business, council members approved the purchase of a tract of land on Kentucky Street to provide more parking for downtown businesses. The city bought the land for $35,000.

City officials also accepted bids for rock salt and asphalt.

Compass Minerals, a subsidiary of North American Salt Co., submitted the low bid of $62.77 per ton for a total of $157,000 for the city's order of just over 2,500 tons of salt.

West Virginia Paving offered asphalt at $77.78 per ton, bringing the total to $284,000 for about 3,600 tons. City officials said the paving schedule was being finalized.

Council members also approved a bid of $35,000 from Harris Brothers Roofing to install a new roof at Fire Station No. 4 on Jefferson Road.

Contact writer Ashley B. Craig at ashley.craig@dailymail.com or 304-348-4850.

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Residents Help 'Fill the Boot' During Local MDA Drive

Foster's Daily Democrat, Dover, N.H. — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:24:00 -0700

By Kyle Stucker, Foster's Daily Democrat, Dover, N.H.

Sept. 03--DOVER -- Residents put their money where their socks usually are on Saturday as a part of the Fire Department's annual "Fill The Boot" campaign to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

With firefighter boots in hand, off-duty firefighters and their families turned the intersection of Central Avenue and Oak Street into a voluntary toll booth of sorts from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drivers could pass through without donating money for MD care and research, although the majority of passing vehicles stuffed anywhere from a little pocket change to $20 bills in the boots.

Fire Lt. Chris Jacques said the Dover event, organized by the Firefighters Local 1312 and Fire Officers Local 2909, is part of an annual campaign with the International Association of Firefighters and state unions. He said the groups have been running the drives for about 60 years, and in total the program has raised more than $400 million for the MDA.

Every penny placed in the Dover boots goes toward local muscular dystrophy care, research and supplies in the area, according to Jacques. He has been in charge of the boot drive for the last 15 years, and he said the Dover unions have raised more than $70,000 in that time.

He estimated Saturday's event would net at least $6,000 for the cause, and he said about 20 firefighters and family members would be on hand throughout the day to collect money just because "it's a great cause."

"There's no incentive other than helping kids and helping people with MD," he said. "It's a terrible disease. I believe in it -- it's a great cause."

Ali Xenos, the 15-year-old daughter of Firefighter Nick Xenos, said she made sure to make it out Saturday for the fourth year in a row because the cause is something she believes in.

"Kids like these need help," she said. "They can't do it on their own. It's good to know the money is going toward this."

Xenos said the group was on a good pace just a half-hour in, and she expected Saturday's boot drive to be one of the biggest ones the department has ever had, despite the economy.

The total amount raised wasn't available Saturday afternoon, although Firefighter Matt Michaud said the total "doesn't matter" as much as the fact that something is going to provide support for the MDA.

The volunteers were greeted with numerous honks, waves, thumbs up and other gestures as drivers passed the intersection. Some residents said they like to give each year, while others said the event was the first time they've ever seen something like the boot drive.

One driver said he didn't have the ability "to give too much," although he donated a dollar anyway because he said "it's a good cause." Generosity like this, said firefighter George Kramlinger, doesn't go unnoticed and is the reason why the department's initiative is successful each year.

"These people have been very generous," he said. "We couldn't do it without them. It's easy for us to stand here and hold a boot. The hard part is for them to stop, and most of them do. The donations that are offered are truly a reflection of the community. We do well in the end, but it's the generosity of the citizens who truly make a difference."

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W.Va. Turning Stations Into Public Computer Labs

The Charleston Gazette — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:23:00 -0700

By Rick Steelhammer, The Charleston Gazette, W.Va.

Sept. 03--LOGAN, W.Va. -- The Logan Fire Department on Thursday became the first of 60 fire stations across West Virginia to operate a public computer lab offering free broadband access and basic computer skills training to anyone.

Ten computers and workstations, each equipped with webcams and connected to a printer, will be installed in each of the 60 fire stations. A laptop and big-screen LED also will be standard components in each lab. Trained mentors will be on hand to help those who are new to personal computing learn how to navigate the Internet.

Twenty of the computer labs are scheduled to open by the end of this year, mostly in Southern West Virginia, with the remaining 40 labs to be added during the following two years.

A $4.4 million federal stimulus grant for the program was awarded to the Future Generations Graduate School in Pendleton County through the U.S. Department of Commerce's Broadband Technology Opportunities Program.

"Among hundreds of applications, this one quickly rose to the top," said Anthony Wilhelm, director of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, who was on hand for Thursday's opening ceremony. Housing the computer labs in fire halls and training mentors from the community to help broadband newcomers learn how to use them "was an innovative approach," Wilhelm said. "In the years to come, this program should make a lasting difference."

State Fire Marshal Sterling Lewis said the computer labs "will help us return to the days when the fire department was the hub of a community." He said the labs also will help firefighters and rescue squad personnel take part in remote training programs now being developed by the state, saving thousands of dollars in travel costs to receive certification.

"The location of these computer labs will make them a success," said Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., who also took part in Thursday's opening ceremony. "Everyone knows where their fire department is. It's a place people feel comfortable going to. . . . Getting training from mentors from the community will also make this program work."

Rahall said the program would help tear down "the digital divide that separates the quality of Internet service urban and rural areas."

A recent Future Generations Graduate School survey of households in 26 communities to be served by the new program during its first year showed that 49.5 percent of households subscribe to a broadband provider, compared with the national average of 63 percent.

The program is designed to train more than 37,000 people and add more than 12,700 households and businesses to broadband during the life of the project.

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Another component of the program involves the refurbishing of surplus computers from government agencies and other sources and selling them at low cost. Refurbishing centers are planned at Huntington and at the former Circleville High School building in Pendleton County.

Charleston-based Tltek LLC is installing the computer labs. Its president, Timothy Tyler, said American-made components are used whenever possible.

Fire departments in which the computer labs will be installed include Logan, Cora and Buffalo Creek in Logan County; Mabscott, Bradley-Prosperity and Ghent, Raleigh County; Meadow Bridge and Mount Hope, Fayette County; Mullens and Upper Laurel, Wyoming County; Gary, McDowell County; Williamson, Matewan and Gilbert, Mingo County; Madison and Wharton-Barrett, Boone County; Morrisvale, Lincoln County; Bartow-Durbin-Frank and Cass, Pocahontas County; Upper Tract, South Fork, Franklin and Circleville, Pendleton County; Maysville, Grant County; Moorefield and Mathias-Baker, Hardy County; Flatwoods, Braxton County; and the Gilmer County Volunteer Fire Department in Glenville.

Reach Rick Steelhammer at rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5169.

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Children of Fallen Heroes May Get Extra Points in Hiring

Connecticut Post — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:16:00 -0700

By Keila Torres, Connecticut Post, Bridgeport

Sept. 03--BRIDGEPORT -- Following the deaths of two city firefighters in July, the city's Civil Service Commission is working on changing its hiring process for patrol officers and firefighters to grant extra points to children of city public safety officers who die in the line of duty.

Acting Personnel Director David Dunn introduced the change to the commission at its August meeting. "The (fire) union has broached this subject with us before," Dunn said, "they did so on behalf of the son of former firefighter Walter Flyntz."

Walter Flyntz, who suffered a fatal heart attack while working on a fire in Bridgeport's West End on March 17, 1999, was the last firefighter to lose his life battling a blaze in the city before the July 24 deaths of Lt. Steven Velasquez and Firefighter Michel Baik in a house fire on Elmwood Avenue.

Flyntz is survived by two adult children. Baik is survived by his three teenage children and Velasquez is survived by his two small children.

Fire Chief Brian Rooney, who supports a legacy clause, recalled that Flyntz's son, David, took the last fire exam given by the city about six years ago. The city plans to begin recruiting new firefighters again later this year.

Dunn said, similar to the city's ordinance granting a tax abatement to the spouses of fallen firefighters and police officers, only children of public safety officers who die on the job and "under adverse conditions" would be granted the additional points.

Dunn said the additional points would account for 10 percent of the individual's passing score, meaning the applicant would first have to pass all requirements and examinations before being granted the points.

Bridgeport residents applying for entry-level police and firefighter positions already get 10 percent of their passing score added to their total, while veterans are allotted an additional five points to their passing score and disabled veterans receive 10 additional points.

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The issue is now before the City Attorney's Office and is expected to be reviewed by the Civil Service Commission at its September meeting. Fire officials said cities in New York and Massachusetts have similar legacy clauses.

Fire union President Robert Whitbread said he is glad the city is taking action to ensure that the children of fallen public safety officers receive recognition for deciding to follow in the footsteps of a parent who loses his or her life in their public service role.

Both Whitbread and City Council member Robert Walsh, whose father served as a city firefighter nearly 40 years ago, agreed, however, that the additional points should serve as a guarantee of acceptance to the job.

Eleanor Guedes, president of the Civil Service Commission, predicted that the issue would not only unanimously pass through the Civil Service Commission, but said she expects the City Council to unanimously embrace the change as well.

"There wasn't anyone on the commission who wasn't entirely in favor of giving the extra bonus," Guedes said. "People who have given above and beyond, this is a way of paying forward their commitment to us. I don't see any chance of this not getting approved."

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Offshore Oil Rig Explodes

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:45:43 -0700

Sick Whale Euthanized with Explosives in Australia

Associated Press — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:03:00 -0700

PERTH, Australia--A terminally sick humpback whale that became stranded on a beach in Western Australia two weeks ago was euthanized Thursday with an explosive charge.

After attempts to return the juvenile whale to the sea failed, the state Department of Environment and Conservation had intended to let the 31-foot (9.5-meter) creature die naturally. The whale was stranded on a beach in Albany, about 240 miles (390 kilometers) southwest of Perth, the state capital.

But the department's district manager, Mike Shepherd, said in a statement that the whale moved into a position on a sandbar in which it could be stabilized and euthanized.

Explosives were used because officials believed the whale was too large to shoot. The International Whaling Commission recommends the use of explosives to euthanize beached whales longer than 26 feet (eight meters).

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Ferrari Recalls 458 Italia Supercars After Fires

Associated Press/AP Online — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:02:00 -0700

ROME - Ferrari says it is recalling 1,248 of its 458 Italia supercars after reports of fires breaking out in five of the luxury vehicles in several countries.

The Italian carmaker said Thursday it wants to replace an adhesive that in some circumstances can melt due to overheating and possibly ignite.

Fires in the car that sells for euro197,000 ($253,000) have been reported in California, Switzerland, China and France.

Ferrari spokesman Stefano Lai says the company will be asking the owners of 1,248 cars produced before July 2010 to bring them in to have the glue replaced with mechanical fasteners.

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Fire Company Thief Given House Arrest

The Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:02:00 -0700

By Sheena Delazio, The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Sept. 02--WILKES-BARRE -- A former treasurer of the Dupont Volunteer Fire Department was sentenced Wednesday to 14 months in the county's Intermediate Punishment Program for stealing more than $66,000 from the hose company.

John Thomas Lyons, 31, of Main Street, Avoca, was sentenced by county Judge Tina Polachek Gartley on charges of theft by unlawful taking and forgery. The judge ordered him to serve the first six months of his sentence on house arrest with an electronic monitor and gave him an additional eight years probation.

He pleaded guilty in July.

Lyons' attorney, Charles Witaconis said his client had a gambling addiction and has attended and completed Gamblers Anonymous and has signed himself up for the Pennsylvania Gambling Control Board self-exclusion program.

"He truly is a good and decent man who made a ... mistake," Witaconis said.

Judith Ellen Cocco, a fire company officer, spoke on Lyons' behalf Wednesday, stating that 12 of the 13 board members didn't want to see Lyons go to jail and that there are positive sides to Lyons that have helped the fire company collect money to pay for equipment and other needs.

"You were in a position of good trust. The (fire) company is a big part of (Dupont)," Polachek Gartley said. "It was an incredible breech of community trust. ... $66,000 is no small amount of money."

Polachek Gartley said had Cocco not spoken on Lyons' behalf, she would have imprisoned Lyons instead of sentencing him to the IPP program. She ordered Lyons to repay the more than $66,000 and to prohibit his contact with any fire company for the time of his sentence.

The judge also ordered Lyons to undergo a drug-and-alcohol and mental-health evaluation, and complete 75 hours of community service.

A company officer, whose allegedly forged signatures appeared on checks made out to Lyons, said Lyons told her the thefts began after he won a jackpot of around $1,600 at the Mohegan Sun casino and an additional $700 more while gambling.

Authorities say Lyons stole $68,237 from the Dupont Volunteer Hose Co. No. 1 Relief Association while he was treasurer of the hose company from March 2008 until August 2009.

Police said Lyons, a hose company volunteer since 1996, told them he was a gambler and lost approximately $250,000. He said he had been employed by Bank of America and was terminated because corporate security was notified of returned checks in his personal bank account.

Sheena Delazio, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7235.

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Durham Firefighters Train for Possible Earl Response

The Herald-Sun — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:54:00 -0700

By Keith Upchurch, The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.C.

Sept. 02--DURHAM -- Durham firefighters trained in search and rescue operations are on alert today and Friday in case emergency officials at the Outer Banks, which is expected to be hit by tropical force winds from Hurricane Earl, need their help.

Durham Fire Chief Bruce Pagan said his firefighters have all the equipment needed if they're called, and remain "on standby mode."

And although Durham isn't expected to see effects of the hurricane, the Durham Fire Department is preparing for the worst here, making sure its emergency generators are in good shape, chain saws are ready for use and fire trucks are topped off with fuel, Pagan said.

"We're keeping a close watch on Hurricane Earl," Pagan said. He said all his battalion chiefs are monitoring the forecast in case they have to take emergency action.

Meanwhile, Durham is only likely to see clouds today "and no extraordinary breeze" or rain, according to Brandon Locklear, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service at N.C. State University in Raleigh.

He said today's high should be in the upper 80s.

"Really, all the impact is going to be along Ocracoke Island on the extreme Outer Banks areas," he said.

Locklear said property owners there stand a 78 percent chance of seeing tropical force winds of 35 to 60 miles per hour, with hurricane force winds expected to remain offshore.

At 60 mph, he said, "you start to experience some damage."

Except for the Outer Banks, the North Carolina coast isn't in the line of danger, Locklear said, with only rain expected tonight and maybe Friday.

"By the time people wake up Friday morning, the system's going to be out of the way," he said. "The weekend is going to be nice," with sunny skies and highs in the 80s through Labor Day.

Linda Grissom of Durham, who owns a trailer at Carolina Beach three blocks from the ocean, plans to hit the beach today for the Labor Day weekend, and doesn't expect to see more than rain. She's heard about the dangers of rip currents, however, and plans to stay out of the water.

Beth Freeman of Carrboro, whose parents own a home at North Myrtle Beach, also has no plans to cancel her beach trip, which she's made for the past 30 years.

"It seems like [the hurricane] won't hit there, so I can't pass up a long weekend," she said.

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Propane Fire Forces Evacuations

United Press International — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:53:00 -0700

A fire that began with a propane explosion forced the evacuation Wednesday of a neighborhood in a Philadelphia suburb, authorities said.

Fire officials said the five-alarm blaze at Scully Welding Supply Co. in Collingdale was started when an employee dropped a propane tank shortly before 1 p.m. EDT, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Small propane tanks exploded but firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to two large tanks.

"Metal was flying all over," Mayor Frank Kelly said. "People were running in the streets."

Getting the fire under control took more than 3 hours and the residents were not able to begin returning home until 7 p.m.

While flames soared two stories into the air and a cloud of dark smoke could be seen for miles, only three people, all Scully employees, were reported injured, one seriously. Some firefighters suffered problems related to heat exhaustion on a day when temperatures were over 90.

Kelly said the fire was the biggest in Collingdale since a lumberyard burned down in 1969.

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Tire Fire Erupts At Fla. Recycling Facility

resaw — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:04:13 -0700

Tire Fire Erupts Fla. Recycling Facility

Story by wpbf.com

Posted: Wed, 09/01/2010 - 02:33am

Updated: Wed, 09/01/2010 - 02:33am

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.

-- Firefighters are battling a large tire fire at a Port St. Lucie recycling facility.

The fire erupted about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Florida Tire Recycling on Ridge Line Road.

About two dozen firefighters were battling the flames, which was consuming about a half acre of the recycling facility.

"We're dealing with a very hot fire," St. Lucie County Fire District spokeswoman Catherine Chaney said.

Chaney said the fire isn't in danger of spreading, but it will take several hours to contain the flames.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

House Fire Spreads To Church In Pa.

resaw — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:02:28 -0700

House Fire Spreads to Church in Pa.

Story by thepittsburghchannel.com

Posted: Wed, 09/01/2010 - 02:35am

Updated: Wed, 09/01/2010 - 02:35am

PITTSBURGH

A fire at a home in Pittsburgh's Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood spread to a nearby church on Tuesday afternoon.

Sky 4 flew over the home in the 7100 block of Vassar Street as smoke billowed into the air.

Channel 4 Action News' Shannon Perrine reported that the homeowner and his children made it out of the house safely.

"I heard a noise upstairs. I looked and I saw flames. I hurried up and got my children out of the house. I tried to go back in upstairs to stop it and it was just too much glass, too much smoke. I couldn't stop it," said homeowner Ronald Fuller.

Fuller said that he suspects there was an electrical problem with an air conditioner in his daughter's bedroom.

The flames from the home spread next door to the roof of Bethel Church of Christ, Perrine reported.

At least one firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Tenn. FF's Save Man Trapped In Silo

resaw — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:01:04 -0700

Tenn. FFs Save Man Trapped in Silo

Story by wsmv.com

Posted: Wed, 09/01/2010 - 02:38am

Updated: Wed, 09/01/2010 - 02:38am

COLUMBIA, Tenn.

Rescue teams pulled off a tricky and dangerous rescue. But after they saved a man from a grain silo, he disappeared.

Emergency workers spent more than an hour Monday at the silo on Hayes Denton Road in Columbia. They had to lower a harness into the silo, and with a firefighter in there to help, the man was pulled to safety.

But as soon as he was on the ground, he took off.

Authorities didn't get his name and don't know how he became trapped.

Plane Crash Lands On Fla. Interstate

resaw — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:59:18 -0700

Plane Crash Lands on Fla. Interstate

Story by clickorlando.com

Posted: Wed, 09/01/2010 - 02:41am

Updated: Wed, 09/01/2010 - 02:41am

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.

A twin-engine aircraft made an emergency landing Tuesday morning along Interstate 10, avoiding vehicles on the crowded highway, but snarling traffic for hours.

The pilot and a passenger were able to walk away after the 8:15 a.m. crash landing. There was a small leak of fuel from the aircraft, Local 6 news partner WJXT reported.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the plane had taken off from Herlong Airport when the pilot reported losing one engine. The pilot said as he turned the plane to return to the airport, the other engine went out, so he put the plane down on the westbound lanes of I-10 at mile marker 353 -- near the Publix warehouse.

Witnesses said the plane flew under some power lines and over at least one one vehicle to touch down.

"Because of his speed, he was coming up on other traffic rapidly, so he veered to the right, went up onto the shoulder," FHP Lt. Bill Leeper said. "His right wing struck several trees -- sheared it off."

Witnesses said the pilot leapfrogged over moving cars and managed to avoid hitting any of them.

"I grabbed a Mento out of my bag and into my rear-view mirror here comes a plane behind me, literally," driver Angel Centeno said. "I stepped on the gas and left -- tried to get away from the semi that I almost hit."

The FHP identified the pilot as 47-year-old William Montgomery, of Jacksonville, and the passenger as Kacper Gradzki, 27, of Orange Park.

Jacksonville Fire-Rescue spokesman Tom Francis said the pilot had 30 years of flight experience and credited him with avoiding disaster on a busy highway.

"Something that could have been tragic and certainly cataclysmic for all involved turned out to be the feel-good story of the day," Francis said.

The plane was identified as a 1957 Aero Commander, which, depending on configuration, can carry between four and seven people. The aircraft was headed to Craig Airport for radio maintenance when it went down.

Dozens of fire trucks and other emergency vehicles were sent to the scene the scene. Traffic was backed up for several miles until about 10 a.m, when most of the emergency vehicles left.

Cali. FF's Battle To Be Paramedics

resaw — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:57:58 -0700

Calif. FFs Battle to Be Paramedics

Story by kcra.com

Posted: Wed, 09/01/2010 - 02:44am

Updated: Wed, 09/01/2010 - 02:44am

STOCKTON, Calif.

Stockton firefighters are no longer able to perform paramedic services on the public.

Wednesday at 7 a.m., more than 40 firefighters certified as paramedics will have to take their paramedic equipment off of their fire engines.

“I am just worried that the public is going to be at risk,” Stockton’s Fire Chief Ron Hittle said.

The move is the result of a four-year legal battle between the city and the county.

“It’s totally asinine that the city and the county should be fighting at each other in court,” County Supervisor Larry Ruhstaller said.

The city wants to keep their firefighters working as paramedics, but the county has contracted with American Medical Response, a private company, for paramedic service.

To make matters worse, the fight gets bigger. The county wants AMR to run 911 dispatch instead of having the city do it.

The battle of emergency dispatch and paramedics is far from over.

“We’ve just run out of time and patience. We just want to resolve this issue. If this is how we bring everybody to the table, then that’s what we’ll do,” Ruhstaller said.

For now, firefighters can no longer be paramedics in Stockton.

“We are not going to be able to provide it tomorrow (Wednesday). That’s the tough part. You don’t sleep well and you worry about every instance the bell hits if it going to be one of those calls,” Hittle said.

The reason for the Sept. 1 deadline is the end of a two-month extension the county gave the city after the court said the issue had to be resolved.

The city is appealing it.

Detroit Fire Truck Collides With Car

resaw — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:56:26 -0700

Detroit Fire Truck Collides With Car

Story by clickondetroit.com

Posted: Wed, 09/01/2010 - 02:46am

Updated: Wed, 09/01/2010 - 08:52am

DETROIT

A Detroit fire truck and a car crashed Tuesday afternoon on the city's east side.

The crash happened around 1:30 p.m. on the corner of Edsel Ford and Van Dyke Avenue.

Officials confirmed there were injuries but did not specify if it was civilians or firefighters -- or how serious the injuries were.

Responding Ohio Engine & Car Collide

resaw — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:51:13 -0700

Responding Ohio Engine, Car Collide

BY TYREL LINKHORN

The Lima News, Ohio

Posted: Wed, 09/01/2010 - 09:57am

Updated: Wed, 09/01/2010 - 11:31am

LIMA, Ohio -- A city fire truck responding to a garage fire crashed into a Buick sedan Tuesday afternoon, sending the car's driver to the hospital.

The crash happened a little after 3 p.m. at South Metcalf Street and North Shore Drive. Police Officer Dustin Brotherwood said the Fire Department's Engine No. 6 was northbound on South Metcalf Street. The Buick Century, driven by Ricky G. Goodin, 61, was eastbound on North Shore drive. Brotherwood said Goodin had a green light at the time of the crash.

Goodin was taken by ambulance to St. Rita's Medical Center. A nursing supervisor there said he was listed in good condition late Tuesday.

Fire officials identified the driver of the fire engine as David L. Short. No firefighters were hurt in the crash. Goodin was the only person in the car.

Chief Mark Hefner said Short told him he tried to stop for the red light but the brakes failed.

"He attempted to brake, and the brakes just faded," Hefner said. "He said he pushed it to the ground, and there was just no braking power."

The engine, a 1985 Sutphen custom pumper, hit the car on the passenger side between the wheels, caving in a portion of both doors.

Hefner said the engine would be temporarily taken out of service.

"We're going to take it out, have it evaluated to make sure it was a mechanical issue," he said.

No citation was issued at the scene. Brotherwood said the accident report would be forwarded on to police supervisors, the city law director and the city prosecutor's office.

Fire department policy required the driver of the fire truck to be drug and alcohol tested, Hefner said. The truck's siren was activated, Hefner said.

The garage fire was at 429 Elmwood Place, about three blocks from where the crash happened.

Platoon Chief Richard Stewart said the cause of the fire was under investigation. A neighbor told investigators they saw two children running from the detached garage shortly before the fire broke out.

Conn. Investigator Charged With Arson

resaw — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:47:36 -0700

Conn. Investigator Charged With Arson

BY DANIEL TEPFER

Connecticut Post, Bridgeport

Posted: Wed, 09/01/2010 - 01:05pm

Updated: Wed, 09/01/2010 - 01:05pm

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- The city's top arson investigator has been arrested for allegedly hiring a man to torch her Mercedes for the insurance money.

Kimberly Biehn, 41, a veteran police detective who is also a member of the Police Department's Identification Unit, was arrested by Waterbury police and charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree arson, fraud and insurance fraud.

She is free after posting bond.

Biehn's lawyer, John R. Gulash, declined comment on the arrest.

Elaine Ficarra, spokeswoman for Mayor Bill Finch, said Biehn has been suspended without pay pending an investigation by the city's Office of Internal Affairs.

As a member of the identification unit, Biehn has been actively involved in several major crime investigations, including murder cases.

One of her duties on the unit is fingerprint analysis.

Law enforcement officials, who asked not to be identified because the case is pending, said her arrest could have a serious affect both on pending cases she has been involved with and previously disposed cases she testified in.

Noted criminal defense lawyer Edward Gavin said that he believes Biehn's arrest will compromise her ability to testify in pending cases, but he said it will probably have no effect on cases already adjudicated.

"I'm sure most of her work can be verified so I doubt her arrest will cause any investigation to fold," he said.

According to Waterbury Police Capt. Christopher Corbett, in December 2008 Biehn reported her 2003 Mercedes Benz sedan stolen in Bridgeport.

That car was subsequently found burning in Waterbury, he said. The car was totaled by the fire.

He said Biehn, who owed $17,000 on the car, reported the theft to her insurance company, which compensated her for the loss.

During the investigation of the burned-out car, Corbett said police located a DNA sample that was later determined to match the DNA of 35-year-old Samuel Encarnacion who, court records show, has a history of criminal convictions, including third-degree assault, violation of a protective order and violation of probation.

He said after questioning Encarnacion, Corbett said they were able to determine that he had set fire to the car at the behest of Biehn so that she could collect on her insurance.

He would not say whether Biehn paid Encarnacion to torch her car.

Corbett said Biehn agreed to surrender after being told there was a warrant for her arrest. He said Encarnacion is being charged with first-degree arson.