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Multi-Agency Rescue Effort Frees Man from Trench in Pennsylvania

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A group of 5 men set out to help install a french drain at a Pennsylvania home, when one of them became trapped in the trench they dug.  A wall of dirt gave way trapping the man to his chest in the 6 foot deep by 4 foot wide trench.  Numerous fire, EMS, and police agencies from across Allegancy county worked together to fee the man.

Photo from baldwinems.com

Photo by baldwinems.com

According to the PittsburgChannel.com: Alvin Henderson, assistant chief for Allegheny County Emergency Services, said crush syndrome was a concern because it can set in almost immediately as the weight of the dirt cuts off circulation to the legs and lower extremities.

Click Here to See the News Video

More Incident photos are posted on Badlwin EMS’s homepage

Parking Garages Collapses in NJ, 1 Person Initially Thought to be Trapped

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New Jersey’s robust US&R System was called into action when a 3 level under ground parking garage in Hackensack, NJ suffered a pancake collapse.  The collapse may have been triggered when a  glass atrium attached to an adjacent highrise fell on the garage.  No word on what may have caused glass atrium to come down.

NBC New York reports:

“A dangerous search-and-rescue operation took a turn for the better this morning when officials said they do not believe anyone is trapped inside a three-story parking garage that collapsed in New Jersey on Friday.

Deputy Fire Chief Steve Kalman told reporters Saturday morning that rescuers dug through debris to reach the cars feared to contain occupants, but no one was inside.

Previously, officials feared at least one person was trapped in the rubble and deployed rescuers and dogs to try to reach the victim. Using a remote camera and a robot, rescuers had earlier reported seeing a person in a car on the first level down. Kalman didn’t immediately explain the discrepancy.

Officials say the search for potential victims isn’t officially over, but crews are scaling back their efforts. None of the residents who live in the adjacent building have been reported missing.”

Truck Rolls and Leaks Hydrogen Peroxide.

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A semi truck rolled over on the freeway in Romulus, Michigan.  The truck was carrying an assortment of chemicals, including several totes of hydrogen peroxide; at least one of which leaked. The Western Wayne County Hazmat Team responded to the incident.

If your team uses the HazMatIQ System for size up and rapid research, click more to review how to size up Hydrogen Peroxide using the HazMatIQ System.  (more…)

House Collapse Caught on Camera in Poland

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When large pieces of a structure begin to slough off, total collapse may be imminent.

1 Person Critical after Iodine Pentaflouride spill. 4 Firefighters treated for Exposure at “EMS” Call

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Photo by wivb.com

Workers were attempting to clean out tank truck when one persons was severely burned by chemical on the arms and chest.  Firefighters, responding to an EMS call, entered the building and encountered a chemical vapor cloud.   They were able to remove the victim and other employees in the area.  Nine people, including four firefighters were transported to the hospital.   Click more to read the full story and see the video. (more…)

Hazards of Nitrogen Asphyxiation

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Nitrogen is suspected in a recent incident in Ohio that took the life of a city maintenance worker and proved to be a close call for (3) Middleton firefighters.  The Chemical Safety Board previously released an excellent video on the hazards of nitrogen asphyxiation.

Many responders do not realize that nitrogen gas poses a danger to responders OUTSIDE a tank or confined space.

Fire Department and Coast Guard Helo Rescue Four Surfers from “Devils Punch Bowl”

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The Associated Press Reports:

OTTER ROCK, Ore. (AP) – A Coast Guard helicopter has hoisted four surfers to safety near Otter Rock, Ore., after they got caught by a rip current and then swept into a wave-lashed cove.

Depoe Bay Fire District Lt. Dennis Knudson said three men and one woman – all from the Salem area – were rescued Thursday afternoon from heavy surf near the Devil’s Punch Bowl.

You’ve heard of a chinese fire drill, check out a chinese confined space rescue

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Sky News Photo

Sky News Photo

Sky News reported the confined space rescue went something like this:

“The first rescue attempt involved hoisting the thinnest member of the group down the pipe to try to attach a harness around him. But the boy was too far down to reach and the rescuer could not get his shoulders into the narrow pipe.”
“A group of firemen then lowered a makeshift harness down and encouraged the boy to grab it, and eventually hauled him out. The boy emerged shocked but otherwise uninjured.”

Here’s the the video, sorry no subtitles available…

312 Overturns Spilling Hydrochloric Acid

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Photo by  KTRK Houston, Texas

Photo by KTRK Houston, Texas

A tank truck turning out of a chemical plant overturned in Harris Count, Texas.  The roll over caused an unknown amount of hydrochloric acid to spill onto the roadway and ground.   The Harris County Hazmat Team responded and spent most of the day assisting with mitigating the incident.

Video: Intoxicated Man Falls/Jumps and is hit by responding fire truck

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No information was included on the date or circumstances.

Hazmat Called after Ammonia Leak at Iowa food plant sends 15 to area hospitals

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Photo by John Richard

Photo by John Richard

Photo by John Richards

Photo by John Richard

Firefighters found four victims on the ground when they arrived at the West Liberty Foods plant.  A total of 16 people were transported to area hospitals and clinics, most with respiratory irritation.   Plant officials believe the leak occurred at a valve near the ammonia storage tank on the roof.  The plants HVAC pulled the ammonia vapors inside.  Click here to read the story or more to see the news broadcast. (more…)

South Bend Tactical Rescue Team called to collapse scene after SUV drives into building

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Photo by Gene Kaiser / South Bend Tribune

Photo by Gene Kaiser / South Bend Tribune

According to the South Bend Tribune, the story goes like this:

“Three people remained in Memorial Hospital Saturday afternoon after the car in which they were riding ran into a vacant building on South Chapin Street on Saturday morning, partially collapsing the building.
Anthony Hutchinson, 22, of South Bend, was listed in critical condition.

Police said Hutchinson, who was a passenger in the car, was trapped in the 1998 Ford Explorer for about an hour while members of the South Bend Fire Department Tactical Rescue team shored up the building enough to get him out.”

Click more to see a close up of the trapped vehicle and some raw video of the incident scene. (more…)

Chemical Suicide Trend Continues, This time no warning sign was posted

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Chemcial Suicide NC

Photo by Stacy Davis / Capitol Broadcasting Company

The North Carolina Regional Regional Response (hazmat) Team, staffed by the Raleigh Fire Department, was called in to assist with a chemical suicide.  A 35 year old elementary school teacher was found dead in her car, with chemicals in a bucket on the passenger seat.

Unlike many previous chemical suicides, no warning signs were posted on the car.  Several law enforcement officers were exposed before hazmat was called.

Media reports did not include the chemicals involved.  Below is a short video of the news broadcast.

Baltimore Hazmat 1 called to test powder at City Hall. What does “Test” mean to your team

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White powders have become the automatic fire alarm of hazmat.  Just like fire alarms, they almost always turn out to be a false alarm.  The real challenge is taking them seriously and not becoming complacent.   Just like fire alarms, if you don’t fully investigate them, you risk having it blow up in your face.

What does it really mean when a hazmat team, “tested” a substance. Across the country, hazmat teams have each developed their own set of rules on how they handle a white powder.  In these homegrown systems, a few buzz words get tossed around, often with different meanings.   (more…)

Asleep at the wheel ?

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I gave my crack staff at FireSpecialOps.com the day off yesterday, so we missed a couple of great stories.

I gave my crack staff at FireSpecialOps.com the day off yesterday, so we missed a couple of great stories.

The video of  a car striking some boulders got my attention when I caught a glimpse of it on the news.  Unfortunately the firefighter running the TV remote yesterday switched channels before I heard the details.  My first thought was, where are the cones, barricades tape, or blinking lights?  It took the driver so long to react, I considered maybe the driver was dosing off.

After reading the story, I learned the driver wasn’t sleeping, just driving with his head up his @$$.  Imagine if a fire apparatus had been parked there, he probably would have hit that too.  You could have all the reflective chevrons or arrow sticks you want on the back of your truck, if drivers aren’t looking ahead, it doesn’t do any good.

Speaking of sleeping at the wheel.  I must have been nappin’ to miss the story of the fisherman who wouldn’t go along with the program during a water rescue.  Statter dug that story up also, you can see it here. (I don’t think Dave Statter sleeps..)

Amazing Rescue in Long Beach – Divers pull women from SUV after it plunges off bridge

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long beach SUV

Photo by LATimes.com

An SUV, possibly trying to avoid an accident on the bridge, smashed through the guardrail and plunged off the bridge.  The suburban, sank into the Los Angelus River below, where the water is about 15-17 feet deep.

Firefighters from Long Beach, including their US&R company, responded along with several rescue boats.  Approximately 10 public safety divers were deployed in the water.  The divers were able to locate and free the victim from the car.   CPR was started onboard the rescue boat as the victim was brought ashore.  The victim, a female in her twenties, was transported in critical condition.  Her submersion time is estimated to be around 20 minutes.

Divers, operating only by feel, located a car seat in the vehicle, continuing searching for other possible victims.  Contact was made by phone with family; they confirmed she was the only occupant of the vehicle.

LA County Fire Department’s Heavy Rescue / Wrecker was brought in to remove the car from the river.

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Driver Killed in Gasoline Tanker Fire in Nashville. See Pics and Videos

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Photo from NewsChannel5.com

Photo from NewsChannel5.com

The Tennessean is reporting the the fire, which happened at a RaceWay gas station in Nashville, has been ruled accidental. The driver was moving fuel between two underground tanks. Witnesses said they saw fuel spewing into the air before the fire started.  The driver was was burned over 60% of his body.  He later died at the hospital.

Photo from NewsChannel5.com

Photo from NewsChannel5.com

The tanker itself appeared to be empty during the incident.  Click the MORE tab to see additional photos and early home video of the fire before the Nashville Fire arrives on scene.   (more…)

Workers Trapped When a Bridge Suddenly Raises in Florida

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While I was out playing hazmat, Dave Statter was doing his reporter thing, combing the earth for fire & ems news.  He gave me the heads up on this story.

ABCActionNews.com reports that Four Broward County Department of Transportation employees found themselves hanging on for life Wednesday morning when the drawbridge they were working on suddenly raised and became stuck in the up position.  Firefighter used a ladder  truck to bring the workers down.

Got Dome Clamps? Tanker Rolls and Spills 1800 Gallons of Product.

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Photo by Donnie Roberts / The Dispatch

Photo by Donnie Roberts / The Dispatch

A tanker left the roadway in North Carolina, coming to rest in a ditch along side highway 150.  The five compartment MC 306/DOT 406 was carrying multiple products including Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Toluene, Ethanol, and Ethyl Acetate. Responders used a combination of offensive and defensive tactics to mitigate the incident.

When a tanker over turns, dome clamps are an excellent leak control option.  Lets take a few minutes to review ‘em…

(more…)

Risky Water Rescue in Indiana – Strength of Current Catches Firefighters by Surprise

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A tale of two planes: A river landing in oklahoma and a crash landing in Florida

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Not exactly the miracle on the Hudson, but still nice to see everyone was ok.

A flight instructor and student were not as lucky when they crash landed their plane in a florida sub-division.  The aircraft struck a large tree, creating a fuel leak, and trapping them inside.   Members of the Indian River County Fire Department worked for about 90 minutes to extricate the men.  Both were transported to the trauma center. Video and photo below.

Photo by Sam Wolfe, The Palm Beach Post

Photo by Sam Wolfe, The Palm Beach Post

Police Dash Cam Captures Swift Water Rescue in Texas

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Conroe TX Water Rescue

The Conroe Fire, Texas Department was dispatched to a swift water rescue in Alligator Creek Monday morning. On arrival they found a 33 year old man wedged  up-against a bridge pillar, clinging to a rope to him thrown to him by a by-stander.

Conroe FD lowered a firefighter down to the victim, using their ladder truck as an overhead anchor.  

Goldola Rescue Training in Spokane, an Ice Rescue Outside Indy, and a Tanker Leak in Tennessee

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Firefighters in Spokane, Washington practiced their rope rescue techniques in case an area attraction stalls out at the worst possible time.  They faced this exact situation a few years ago.  Read the story, and see the video below.

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Firefighters from the Fishers Fire Department, located about 20 miles Northeast of Indianapolis, made an ice rescue. A pair firefighters from FFD plucked the fisherman out of an icy reservoir after a neighbor heard him calling for help.  More information is available on Fishers FD webpage .

Fishers Ice Rescue

I-65 in Tennessee was closed when a tanker sprung a leak after striking a car.  The tanker was hauling 38,000 gallons of four different chemicals.  Read the news story here.

LA County Rescues & Airlifts Two After Car Plunges Over Cliff

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The driver swerving to avoid an animal, drove his car off a cliff, and fell to the bottom of a ravine about 200 feet below. The incident occured in an unincorporated area between Calabasas and Malibu. 

LA County Fire medics made their way to the victims by foot to treat and package them.  Both victims were hauled up in stokes and loaded in a ground ambulance for transport to a nearby landing zone, then flown to UCLA trauma center.

Chile USAR Response: Hurry Up and Wait

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Both CA-TF2 and VA-TF1 remain on stand-by, awaiting word if they will actually go wheels up…or if the search & rescue mission to Chile will be scrubbed.

Below is some helicopter video of CA-TF2 staging their cache and personal gear at their US&R facility in Pacoima, California. Statter911 has some up close and personal footage of VA-TF1 checking our their equipment, in his video side bar.