Fire Service News

Fire Destroys Mobile Home

Christopher Kimball — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 02:02:46 +0000

HASTINGS, FL – Firefighters from St. Johns County Fire Rescue responded to the 9900 block of Dillon Avenue around noon on Sunday, March 7, 2010 for a reported mobile home fire.

When firefighters arrived, they found a mobile home, several vehicles and the woods around them burning.

The mobile home was already down and the bulk of the fire was in the wooded area around the home. With a heavy fuel load on the property, the decision was made to let the underbrush burn off and the Florida Division of Forestry would help cut lines around the property.

A bulldozer from DOF was brought to the scene and fire fighters operated lines around the perimeter while the fire burned through the remaining brush. Units from Station 8 revisited the site several times through the evening for reported hot spots in the heavy brush that remained on the scene.

Responding SJCFR units included Rescue 8, Engine 8, Tender 14, Tanker 4, Engine 6, Tower 20 and Battalion 2. St. John’s Sheriff’s Office also responded to assist with traffic.

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Woman Arrested After Early Morning Fire

Christopher Kimball — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:40:19 +0000

St. Augustine, Fl - An early morning fire in a residence on Bruen Street in St. Augustine resulted in the arrest of Lovi Parker, 30 of 1042 Bruen Street on charges of 1st degree arson. Fire fighters from St. Johns County Fire Rescue responded to the home after a call from a male resident reporting the home was full of smoke. Minutes later fire department dispatchers received another call saying he had extinguished the fire.

Engine 14 arrived shortly after the second call to find the fire still burning inside the home and in several spots. The male resident said he thought a candle had started the fire but after questioning by SJSO Detectives it was determined that a female had left the home after an argument just moments before the fire. Ms. Parker was questioned at the Sheriff’s Office and charges were brought against her for intentionally starting the fire before leaving the home.

SJCFR E14, E12, T4, R12 and at least one city engine responded to the scene. There were no injuries reported fire service or civilian stemming from the fire.

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Fire Fighters Save Dog

Christopher Kimball — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:58:07 +0000

St. Augustine Shores - Fire fighters from St. Johns County Fire Rescue were called to a home in St. Augustine Shores around 4:15 pm this afternoon by a neighbor who reported seeing smoke coming from the back of the home next door. When fire fighters arrived, they found light smoke issuing from the back of the home. There was no one in the residence at the time.

Fire fighters made entry into the building and found a fire in the rear bedroom of the home. It was quickly knocked down and the home was opened up to be ventilated. Fire fighters also rescue the family dog, “Smoochie” from the smoke filled home. The dog was visibly shaken but unharmed.

Smoochie the dog was rescued from the smoke filled home by St. Johns County Fire Fighters.

Units from Station 11, 5, 14, 12 and Battalion 2 responded to the fire along with units from St Johns County Sheriff’s Office. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by SJCFR investigators at this time. There were no injuries, civilian or fire service during the incident.

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Rollover Sends One To Local Hospital

Christopher Kimball — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:57:39 +0000

St. Augustine, Fl – A local driver was transported to Flagler Hospital on Tuesday after the vehicle he was driving rolled over on US Route 1 and landed on its roof in a ditch filled with water. Fire fighters from St. Johns County Fire Rescue Engine and Rescue 11 responded to the scene along with a unit from St. Johns County Sheriff’s office and a trooper from Florida Highway Patrol.

The accident remains under investigation at the time of this article.

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Pilot Makes Emergency Landing On US 1

Christopher Kimball — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:45:01 +0000

St. Augustine, Fl - A pilot was forced to land his Cessna on US Route 1 in the southbound lane after he ran out of fuel around 1:30 pm this afternoon.

The pilot, Tom Shappell, 71, of Reading, Pa told Fire Service News that the plane developed a fuel leak and he was attempting to land his 1967 Cessna at the St. Augustine Airport to fuel it up, when it ran out completely and he was force to “put the plane down between cars” on US 1.

Mr Shappell was not injured and was able to land the plane then guide it off the side of the road and into some brush where it sat for about 2 hours. Traffic was backed up in the southbound lane for several hours as fire fighters from St. Johns County Fire Rescue and St. Augustine Airports fire department worked to ensure the plane was secure and didn’t pose a fire risk.

Units from St. Johns County Sheriffs Office were on hand to handle traffic and investigate the incident and several units from the Florida Highway Patrol arrived late in the incident to assist.

Visit http://sefirephoto.smugmug.com for more images from the incident.

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New Site Design

Christopher Kimball — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 02:52:24 +0000

If you are a current reader of Fire Service News you may be scratching your head right now and thinking..”What happened to the site?” the rest of you on the other hand might not know it but the site has a whole new look. We felt that as 2010 came in, we needed an update so we spent a little time cleaning up the mess and while we are still working out the bugs and sorting out a few details, here is the NEW Fire Service News. We hope you enjoy it and hope you will pass the site along to your friends.

Chris

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SJSO Killed In Early Morning Crash

Christopher Kimball — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 02:30:00 +0000

St. Johns County, Fl - A Deputy from the St. Johns County Sheriffs Office has died after being involved in an early morning crash that involved another vehicle on Route 9A in Duval county. The Deputy was reportedly driving into work around 3 am when a vehicle traveling the wrong direction in his lane hit him head on. The Deputy was air lifted to Shands Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fl in critical condition after the accident.

Deputy James Louis Anderson Jr. was traveling on Route 9A on his way to morning roll call from his home when the accident occurred. He was pronounced dead this morning at Shands from injuries sustained in the accident. Deputy Anderson was a 20 year veteran of the US Marines and a former Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputy before coming to St. Johns County in 2007.

Anderson is survived by a wife and 4 children; Anderson was 44 years old.

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Fire Destroys Island Home

Christopher Kimball — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:52:51 +0000

St. Augustine, Fl – Shortly after 7:30 pm on Wednesday evening, fire fighters from St. Johns County Fire Rescue where called to a home on Marshview Drive in St. Augustine. Neighbors reported seeing flames coming from the home that was reportly vacant at the time of the fire. Fire fighters arrived to find fire coming from the roof and soon after the fire had broken through the roof of the home.

SJCFR PIO Jeremy Robshaw said “..The roof is primarily burned through, but the interior sections, there are still walls standing.” The home may be listed as a total loss but the cause of the fire and the final damage estimates won’t be available until investigators from SJCFR and the State Fire Marshall’s office complete their investigation.

The fire was easily seen from Route A1A and burned for several hours while crews worked both inside and out to bring thr fire under control. One neighbor told Fire Service News “..the house is empty. No one is living there right now.” He also stated “..I heard a noise and looked out my window to see flames coming from the house.”

SJC Fire fighters battle a fire on Marshview road just after 8:00pm on Wednesday evening.

Crowds of curious neighbors stood by and watched as fire fighters worked to extinguish the blaze. No injuries, either fire service or civilian, were reported.

Images provided and copyrighted by South East Fire Photo

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St. Johns County Fire Rescue FF and Paramedic of the Year Honored

Christopher Kimball — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:26:52 +0000

St. Johns County, Fl - Fire Service News would like to congratulate this years ST. Johns County Fire Rescue fire fighter of the year Patrick Taaffe and Paramedic of the year Peter Accotti. In a release this morning from SJCFR PIO Jeremy Robshaw, the department announced thier selections. Below is an except from the press release that outlines the process and reasons both men where choosen. Great jopb guys and thanks for your dedication to the county and the residents here!!

Press Release:

St. Johns County Fire Rescue (SJCFR) is pleased to announce the following two fire rescue personnel as the 2009 Firefighter and 2009 Paramedic of the year. They were both selected based on nominations received from their peers, with the final decision being made by a department appointed awards committee. Firefighter Paramedic Peter Accorti was selected by the committee for Paramedic of the Year.

FF/Paramedic Accorti has consistently performed at the highest levels as both a paramedic and a firefighter. While performing his duties on Rescue 7, Peter has been confronted with many challenges and has consistently, calmly and confidently overseen the treatment of his patients. In addition to his duties as a responder, Peter has spent many hours mentoring and assisting other members of the department with their paramedic certification studies. Many of these members attribute a large portion of their success to his unselfish efforts. Peter is a great example of what a professional should be both through his conduct and interaction with his peers and the public we serve. While having only been a paramedic for a short time, his passion and professionalism have made the difference for many citizens and visitors to St. Johns County.

Firefighter Patrick Taaffe was selected by the committee for Firefighter of the Year. In his relatively short time as a member of St. Johns County Fire Rescue, Firefighter Taaffe has shown himself to be a conscientious, dependable and hard working asset to the department. Patrick has used his previous work experience as a tool to help mentor and educate his co-workers and has proven himself a great asset to the Department and his company officer. Patrick has been a leading member in the participation and implementation of the departments Marine Rescue training program and has proven to be very effective as a responder in this area.

Specifically, on August 29, 2009, he responded on foot from Station 9 when a frantic parent ran up to the station stating her child was in the water and in distress. He ran across A1A with the stations water rescue board, made water entry, rescued the victim and brought them safely back to shore without any injuries. In a separate incident in early September, he performed a water rescue of an adult swimmer caught in a rip current on the north side of the St. Augustine Inlet. Firefighter Taaffe has shown in both general working conditions and specific acts of valor that he is a firefighter that goes above and beyond what is expected. Patrick acts in the highest traditions of the fire service and the St. Johns County Fire Rescue Department and has proven a valuable asset to this community through his service.

Both of these individuals will be formally recognized during a department recognition ceremony scheduled for 1500 hours on January 29, 2010 in the St. Johns County Administration Auditorium located at 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine FL.

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SR207 Accident Sends One To Flager For Evaluation

Christopher Kimball — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:53:22 +0000

St. Augustine, Fl – Two vehicle stood idle in the road with heavy front end damage and a driver was transported to Flagler Hospital on Thursday afternoon with what was describe as “..non-life threatening injuries” after a collision that closed the intersection of SR207 and Holmes Road and snarled traffic as far back as the overpass on SR312. The accident occurred after a car and a pickup truck collided in the intersection while the car was turning onto Holmes Road.

Several units from St. Johns County Sheriff’s Department, an officer from the Florida Highway Patrol and fire fighters from St. Johns County Fire Rescue responded to the scene.

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