© 2010, Fire Service News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

All articles are available to license for use Here.

Also On Fire Service News...

1. LODD: Bridgeport Firefighters Killed During Afternoon Fire BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Two firefighters died while battling a house...
2. First Bridgeport Firefighter Autopsy Complete The Associated Press BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – The Connecticut medical examiner’s...
3. Firefighters Participate In Crash Drill St. Augustine, FL – Firefighters from the St. Johns County...

Source – Associated Press

Los Angeles, Ca – An industrial building with a tampered gas line exploded Friday, killing a man who was hurled into the street and another who was electrocuted by a downed power line, officials said. The blast turned the front of the wooden building in South Los Angeles into a mass of downed, shattered wooden beams. The building caught fire and 100 firefighters doused the blaze in about 25 minutes, fire spokesman Erik Scott said.

One of the victims died as he tried to move his stake-bed truck away from the building and was jolted by a downed 34,500-volt power line, fire Capt. Stephen Ruda said.

Daniel Ibarra, who works at the building, said he was taking out the trash when the blast hit. The 27-year-old man appeared in shock as he leaned against a wall with a bruised leg surveying the damage.

“I was very lucky,” said Ibarra, whose thick black hair was singed on top.

An urban search-and-rescue team shored up beams and sent in dogs to search for another person after hearing reports that someone might be trapped in the debris. Ruda said the dogs detected nothing, but heavy equipment would be brought in to move the debris and continue the search.

The cause of the blast remained under investigation, but Ruda said it was suspected that natural gas or an industrial gas may have been leaking and collected overnight in the building then ignited when operations resumed in the morning.

The gas meter at the building was shut off Thursday, and someone installed an illegal line to the meter that allowed natural gas from a street line to enter at excessively high pressure, said Denise King, a spokeswoman for Southern California Gas Co.

The gas line bypassed the meter’s shut-off valve and its regulator, which was designed to reduce pressure to safe levels, King said. She did not know why the meter had been shut off.

The business, J.L. Spray, has four employees and makes metal security fences, doors, windows and gates, said Elizabeth Alvarado, a secretary for the business.

She was not at the site when the blast occurred but said the owner, Jaime Lara, arrived every morning to start a propane furnace that is used to heat-cure a paint-like powder coating that is used on the metal.

Jonathan Apol, 20, a welder who works in a building next door, said he was putting on his work coveralls when he heard the explosion.

“I thought it was like an earthquake or something,” he said.

He heard a bang followed by two more a few seconds later. He raced into the street in his boxer shorts and saw two dazed men standing in front of a burning building.

One man was shouting: “Jaime! Jaime!” Apol said.

Hours after the explosion, workers from neighboring businesses were still gathered outside the building where blackened wood beams had collapsed inward. Debris was strewn along the block, and some nearby cars had shattered windows.

© 2010, Fire Service News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

All articles are available to license for use Here.

Also On Fire Service News...

1. Fire Damages The Reef Restaurant On A1A; Rapid Response Saves Building Saint Augustine, Fl – Shortly before 2 am on Tuesday...
2. Jacksonville Fire Responds To Natural Gas Leak Jacksonville, FL – Ladder 10, Engine 10, Fire 5 and...

Source – The Charlotte Observer

Charlotte, NC – Three local fires kept firefighters busy in the early hours of Friday morning. Firefighters responded to a house fire on Royston Road, shortly before 1:30 a.m. Firefighters had the fire under control after 11 minutes, said Charlotte Fire Department spokesman Capt. Rob Brisley. Heavy smoke and fire brought firefighters to another home in North Charlotte early this morning, according to Charlotte fire Capt. Mark Basnight. The fire was reported around 2 a.m. on W. Sugar Creek Road, near W.T. Harris Boulevard.

It took almost 40 firefighters around 11 minutes to get the fire under control. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters battled a third early morning fire in an apartment building in the 1500 block of Seigle Avenue, according to Capt. Basnight. The fire was reported around 4 a.m. Nearly 30 firefighters worked to put out the flames. Firefighters were able to get the fire under control in 14 minutes and no injuries were reported.

Firefighters are still investigating the cause of the fires.

© 2010, Fire Service News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

All articles are available to license for use Here.

Also On Fire Service News...

1. Lightning Strike Blamed For House Fire In Orange Park Chris Dilley for Fire Service NewsOrange Park, FL – On...
2. 60 Firefighters Battle Apex House Fire Source – The News and Observer Fairview, NC – 60...
3. St. Augustine Duplex Damaged In Early Morning Fire Christopher Kimball for Fire Service NewsSt. Augustine, FL – An...

Source – The News and Observer

Fairview, NC – 60 firefighters from seven North Carolina fire departments worked late last night into early this morning to prevent an Apex residence from burning down. Fairview Fire Department Chief Ed Brinson said his station received a report of a large structural fire at a house on Gum Leaf Drive in Apex around 11:45 p.m. Upon arriving at the scene, he said the fire raged in the 3,000 sq. ft. building’s attic and second floor.

Brinson’s Fairview department teamed with firefighters from the Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina and Morrisville departments in fighting the blaze. He said 9 tankers and 11 engine companies helped contain the flames after an hour of fighting. The property has since returned to its owners, none of whom were injured being away from the house. No fire fighters were injured either.

Brinson declined to state the address of the house. He said the probable cause of the fire was a lightning strike.

© 2010, Fire Service News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

All articles are available to license for use Here.

Also On Fire Service News...

1. Clay County Firefighters Battle House Fire In Orange Park Orange Park, FL – Fire Service News Clay County correspondent...
2. Firefighters Work House Fire St. Johns County Fire Fighters as captured at a house...
3. LODD: Bridgeport Firefighters Killed During Afternoon Fire BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Two firefighters died while battling a house...

St. Johns County, FL – As the time nears for cost of living increases, St. Johns County Firefighters are once again going toe to toe with county administrators. The firefighters maintain that they have a contract in place and the county is not honoring it.

The county has asked that firefighters fore go cost of living increases for the second time in two years, citing budgetary constraints and the poor economy. Firefighters went without a cost of living increase last year, with the cost of living percent figured at -.4%, firefighters that were not due step increases and only eligible for the cost of living increase took a loss in their pay as a result. This years increase on average would be 2.7% increase in income.

The county has voiced their intention to IAFF Local 3865 officers to not give those increases this year. While this is a decision that was made to withhold those increases for all county employees, the contract that the county administrator agreed to contains an article that addresses this increase as well as other pay concerns. County administrators requested that the union lock this article out during contract negotiations to not allow modification by either side. The union maintains that this denial of cost of living increases is a modification of the contract by the county.

With the contract between St. Johns County and the IAFF Local 3865 coming to an end this year, union officers and firefighters alike fear that this is just the start of an up hill battle when negotiations begin for the new contract.

This decision by administrations comes on the heals of a statement by Doug Timms, director of the Office of Management and Budget, “Too many local governments are draining their reserves right now,” Timms said. “We’re not doing that.”

The county boasts reserves of nearly $137 million that they call a “rainy day fund” yet they feel the 2.7% cost of living increase for firefighters who risk their lives daily is not warranted. One has to wonder what county administrators feel would warrant the increase.

We will be following this and the contract negotiations and will bring you the news as it becomes available. In the meantime, if you know or run into any of the administrators in St. Johns County, why not give them your opinion of the situation and remind them how they got their job.

© 2010, Fire Service News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

All articles are available to license for use Here.

Also On Fire Service News...

1. St. Johns County Announces Promotions St. Johns County, Fl – Fire Service News would like...
2. St. Johns County Fire Rescue FF and Paramedic of the Year Honored St. Johns County, Fl - Fire Service News would like...
3. St Johns County Fire Fighters Support A Brother In Need Justin Estes stands in front of the blood mobile greeting...

St. Johns County Fire Fighters as captured at a house fire that took the life of three family pets. The fire was put out quickly and the home saved.

Christopher Kimball for Fire Service News

© 2010, Fire Service News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

All articles are available to license for use Here.

Also On Fire Service News...

1. 60 Firefighters Battle Apex House Fire Source – The News and Observer Fairview, NC – 60...
2. Clay County Firefighters Battle House Fire In Orange Park Orange Park, FL – Fire Service News Clay County correspondent...
3. Lightning Strike Blamed For House Fire In Orange Park Chris Dilley for Fire Service NewsOrange Park, FL – On...

Chris Dilley for Fire Service News

This event is heavily supported by units of the Florida Army National Guard, including displays by a  HH-60M Blackhawk and a M1097 HMMWV Avenger. The Blackhawk, flown from Cecil Commerce Center by the 111th Aviation Regiment, performed a airborne capability demonstration and exposed these cadets to the world of Army Aviation.

The St Johns County Sheriffs Office also participated in the event with displays for the SWAT and Dive teams. The Sheriff’s office also flew out their OH-58 helicopter, a veteran itself of the US Army.

The Civil Air Patrol has three components to their program, Cadet Programs, Aerospace Education, and Emergency Services. These present day cadets are the public safety providers and military service members of tomorrow. For more information on the Civil Air Patrol please go to www.cap.gov

© 2010, Fire Service News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

All articles are available to license for use Here.

Also On Fire Service News...

1. St. Augustine Livesaving Association Hosts Point to Point 2010 St. Augustine, FL – Resolve, endurance and perseverance all showed...
2. Florida National Guard Maritime Operations Clay County, FL – The Florida National Guard has created...
3. St. Johns Sheriff’s Office Wins 2010 Camaro NEWS RELEASE: Members of the St. Johns Sheriff’s Office...

Chris Dilley for Fire Service News

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team recently practiced and refined this water entry technique. July 29th, 2010 found the dive team at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center.

The dive team was inserted from a Bell OH-58 helicopter, known in the department as Air 1. Several rotations of jumper/divers were made into Kingsley Lake by the dive team.

Camp Blanding is a ideal training  location for public safety professionals. Numerous helicopter landing zones can be found throughout the base, urban training buildings, rubble piles, shooting ranges, and the large spring fed Kingsley Lake are just a few of the benefits provided by training at the National Guard base.

© 2010, Fire Service News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

All articles are available to license for use Here.

Also On Fire Service News...

1. St. Johns County Firefighters At Odds With County St. Johns County, FL – As the time nears for...
2. St. Johns County Fire Rescue FF and Paramedic of the Year Honored St. Johns County, Fl - Fire Service News would like...
3. St. Johns County Announces Promotions St. Johns County, Fl – Fire Service News would like...

St. Johns County Fire Rescue Junior Lifeguards joined junior guards from around the region in an annual competition held in Jacksonville Beach this past Saturday.  Jr. Guards from Nassau County, Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville Beach and Flagler County competed as individuals and as teams in this event that showcases many different skills that lifeguards use as training to improve their rescue skills in the aquatic environment.

The team from St. Johns County was made up of several Jr. Lifeguards that had just completed our annual Jr. Lifeguard camp.  The camp was held during the first three weeks of July and focuses on teaching campers the importance of safety in the water, rescue techniques and many other skills the lifeguards use on a daily basis to protect our beaches.  As part of the camp sessions, students trained for the competition events in an effort to prepare them for the regional competition skills challenges.

The SJCFR competition team consisted of seven junior guards, one photographer and three coaches.  The competitors participated in seven challenges with medals awarded for the top three finishers in each division.  The divisions were broken up into three age brackets: 9-11, 12-13 and 14-15.  At the conclusion of the competition, the SJCFR team brought home a total of 26 individual and team medals with the breakdown as follows: 8 Gold, 11 Silver and 7 Bronze medals.

Individual SJCFR results are as follows:

Distance Beach Run: Joey Corrado (15) – Silver, Kristen Dagher (14) – Gold

Distance Ocean Swim: Joey Corrado (15) – Gold, Walter Kennedy (15) – Silver, Nick Kelley (11) Bronze, Cassidy Smith (15) Gold, Emily Puttick (15) Silver,                       Kristen Dagher (14) Bronze

Paddleboard Race: Walter Kennedy (15) Gold, Joey Corrado (15) Silver, Emily Puttick (15) Gold, Kristen Dagher (14) Silver, Harrison Dagher (12) Bronze

Buoy Rescue Race: Joey Corrado (15) and Walter Kennedy (15) Gold, Cassidy Smith (15) and Alec Yeoman (14) Silver, Harrison Dagher (12) and Nick Kelley (11) Bronze

Run – Swim – Run: Joey Corrado (15) Gold, Walter Kennedy (15) Silver, Emily Puttick (15) Gold, Kristen Dagher (14) Silver, Nick Kelley (11) Bronze

Swim Relay Race: Silver medal team of – Joey Corrado, Walter Kennedy, Cassidy Smith, Emily Puttick and Kristen Dagher

Beach Flags: Walter Kennedy (15) Bronze, Emily Puttick (15) Gold, Cassidy Smith (15) Silver, Kristen Dagher (14) Bronze

© 2010, Fire Service News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

All articles are available to license for use Here.

Also On Fire Service News...

1. St Johns County Divers Practice Heli-Casting Chris Dilley for Fire Service NewsHeli-casting is defined as a...
2. Boater Declares Emergency On St. Johns River Boater Declares Emergency On St. Johns River...
3. St. Johns County Announces Promotions St. Johns County, Fl – Fire Service News would like...

Correspondent Chris Dilley captured two St. Johns County Sheriff’s divers jumping from a helicopter at Camp Blanding today.

Chris Dilley

© 2010, Fire Service News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

All articles are available to license for use Here.

Also On Fire Service News...

1. SJSO Killed In Early Morning Crash St. Johns County, Fl - A Deputy from the St....
2. SJCFR Crews Participate In Large Animal Rescue Training St. Johns County, Fl. – Crews from St. Johns County...
3. USAR Training Helps Hone Fire Fighters Skills USAR Training Helps Hone Fire Fighters Skills...