Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Xargos on June 19, 2007, 08:31:35 AM
-
"Nine brave, heroic, courageous firefighters of the city of Charleston have perished fighting fire in a most courageous and fearless manner, carrying out their duties," Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley said at a morning news conference. "To all of their loved ones, our heart goes out to them."
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3292916
P.S. Only 36 Fire Departments in the U.S. have a rating as high as Charlestons.
-
Those open truss roof systems that you see in the big box retailers (Wal-mart, lowes, home depot...) are ridiculously dangerous in fires. The sprinkler spacing is too far apart, there are too few vents, AND THERE IS NO ****ING FIRE PROOFING MATERIAL ON ANY OF THE STEEL.
It's a recipe for disaster. I've been flatly told that some fire fighters refuse to enter those buildings (when it's on fire) for that reason alone.
-
:(
-
Exactly what I think everytime I go in one laser and look up.
-
and RIP. :(
Thoughts and prayers for the families of the men who lost their lives going in harms way.
-
I used to be a firefighter and have a degree in fire science. If there was one thing that was hammered into us in school, it was building collapse assessment and recognizing when not to enter a building or when to pull out. Many firefighters, officers and even entire departments are too willing to risk life over property. The biggest tragedy is that this probably never should have to happened; command screwed up.
-
Just found out that one of them was a member of my church.
-
Originally posted by eskimo2
I used to be a firefighter and have a degree in fire science. If there was one thing that was hammered into us in school, it was building collapse assessment and recognizing when not to enter a building or when to pull out. Many firefighters, officers and even entire departments are too willing to risk life over property. The biggest tragedy is that this probably never should have to happened; command screwed up.
Maybe not. From reading the article, I understand that they had just rescued a few people when it collapsed. But maybe I'm interpreting it wrong.
-
:(
-
Why does a city that size (100 000) have 230+ firefighters, when my town (size 80 000) have ~50?
What is the huge difference here that I am unaware of?
-
Originally posted by Hortlund
Why does a city that size (100 000) have 230+ firefighters, when my town (size 80 000) have ~50?
What is the huge difference here that I am unaware of?
U.S. fear of mass conflagration.
-
the dead and peace to those they leave behind
Eskimo, I thought the same thing .. why? let the freaking building burn down ..
-
Originally posted by Hortlund
Why does a city that size (100 000) have 230+ firefighters, when my town (size 80 000) have ~50?
What is the huge difference here that I am unaware of?
It may have more to do with Area (square miles/km) of the town rather than population density. Our ESD (emergency service district) has 3 volunteer fire stations about 10 miles apart with approximately 1 tanker, 1 pumper, 2 brush trucks and about 15 - 20 guys(including a couple of first responders). There are plans to add a 4th station. They cover about 400 square miles of our part of the county, a couple of thousand homes spread out here and there, farms and ranches plus grass and tree covered acerage. The bordering ESD's help cover each other's areas.
-
The Firemen that died where from five different stations. There are many chemical plants and other such industries here, we need the few Firefighters we have.
-
Originally posted by Xargos
Just found out that one of them was a member of my church.
I'm sorry to hear that Xargos
-
Originally posted by Airscrew
It may have more to do with Area (square miles/km) of the town rather than population density. Our ESD (emergency service district) has 3 volunteer fire stations about 10 miles apart with approximately 1 tanker, 1 pumper, 2 brush trucks and about 15 - 20 guys(including a couple of first responders). There are plans to add a 4th station. They cover about 400 square miles of our part of the county, a couple of thousand homes spread out here and there, farms and ranches plus grass and tree covered acerage. The bordering ESD's help cover each other's areas.
True.
Also the amount of wildland/civilization interface and the types of natural fuels can influence needs. Where I lived in Alaska there was a huge risk for big fires that could consume thousands of acres and homes. I now live in the moist-leafy state of Ohio where the natural environment is unlikely to burn out of control.
-
Originally posted by Hortlund
Why does a city that size (100 000) have 230+ firefighters, when my town (size 80 000) have ~50?
What is the huge difference here that I am unaware of?
A lot has to do with OSHA and NFPA standards. I am a firefighter/paramedic for a suburb of Chicago. We run three people on a fire engine and fire truck and two on an ambulance. We have 2 fire trucks 2 fire engines and 2 ambulances. We jump from vehicles. That about 6 to 9 people working on a shift depending on staffing. Now if you go to Chicago they have 4 people on an engine, 4 to 6 on a fire truck, and 6 on a squad, and 2 on an ambulance. This is all to keep up with the standards, and they would like to have one firefighter per 1,000 people.
Also there was no reason to have those guys in there. I didnt see the whole thing just bits and pieces but that building looked like that fire was going pretty good. With the fire load and roof it looked to me there should have been no one in there. Once again I wasnt there or saw all aspects of what was going on but they should have just drowned the building and kept everyone out. But I dont want to arm chair this fire. It is just a sad day when any firefighter get hurt or killed doing what they love to do.
to all firefighters
-
As a past volunteer firefighter, I find that very sad to read :(
-
Capt. William "Billy" Hutchinson
Age: 48
Years with department: 30
Capt. Mike Benke
Age: 49
Years with department: 29 years
Capt. Louis Mulkey
Age: 34
Years with department: 11 1/2 years
Engineer Mark Kelsey
Age: 40
Years with department: 12 1/2 years
Engineer Bradford "Brad" Baity, Nine years
Age: 37
Years with department: 9
Assistant Engineer Michael French
Age: 27
Years with department: 1 1/2 years
Firefighter James "Earl" Drayton
Age: 56
Years with department: 32 years
Firefighter Brandon Thompson
Age: 27
Years with department: Four years
Firefighter Melven Champaign
Age: 46
Years with department: Two years
You're right Jebus, we shouldn't arm chair but its damn hard not too. I understood they had to rescue two employees from the start. I wonder if they were told more were in there?
-
http://cms.firehouse.com/web/online/Charleston-SC-Tragedy/Reports-Say-9-Firefighters-Killed-in-South-Carolina-Sofa-Store-Blaze/56$55139
-
Well if there were people trapped. The fire chief was right by saying they were doing what they were trained to do.
Just sucks.
-
Yes it does.
-
Rest in peace Charleston 9 <
>
http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?id=55162§ionId=56
FDNY lost a firefighter yesterday as well.