Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Breakfast to honor Bob Layton

Bob LaytonFile photo / The Outlook
Bob Layton, 71, has been everything from driver to chief at the Corbett fire station. He will be recognized as the honored guest at the annual firefighters breakfast at the Corbett fire hall, 36930 S.E. Historic Columbia River Highway.

Corbett firefighters will fire up their grills and cook flapjacks beginning at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, June 2, at the Corbett fire hall, 36930 S.E. Historic Columbia River Highway.

The annual breakfast, which raises scholarships for local students who want to be firefighters or paramedics, will continue until 11:30 a.m.

The honored guest for the day will be longtime Corbett volunteer Bob Layton, who got his first taste of the job in 1952, when he was pulled from his high school classroom to help fight a brush fire. He joined District 14 in 1957, served as chief from 1976 to 1980, and has twice been recognized as Oregon’s volunteer of the year.

“He just keeps giving and giving to the department,” says former chief Dennis Bryson. “Today he still carries on at the same pace as he did in earlier years.”

Layton responded to 393 calls in 2005, despite some health problems that included heart surgery 25 years ago.

“Just a few years ago I observed him operating a water tender at a house fire while on crutches,” Bryson said.

Saturday’s annual breakfast will be an opportunity to congratulate Layton. The event also will include fire engines, door prizes, balloons, old cars and Sparky the Fire Dog. Cost is $4.50 for adults and $2.75 for children younger than 10.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Justin Vela

Justin Vela: "Some demonstrators tried to flee while others surged forward pulled apart the barricade.

The police pulled the barricade back and a water truck rolled forward, firing into the crowd.

Everyone fell back as tear gas and rubber bullets were fired.

The demonstrators threw rocks and beer bottles at the police.

The nozzle of the water truck was turned 75 degrees to blast a group of cameramen who where filming on top of a truck.

Tear gas and rubber bullets were fired on the stone throwing demonstrators for about fifteen minutes before things calmed down and demonstrators again gathered around the barricades."

Bombeiro Water tanker - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Fire Fighting Vehicles

Bombeiro Water tanker - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Fire Fighting Vehicle: "

"Bombeiro Water tanker - Sao Paulo, Brazil"

Featured Waymark in Fire Fighting Vehicles
Bombeiro Water tanker - Sao Paulo, Brazil
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member saopaulo1
S 23° 32.316 W 046° 38.184
23K E 332955 N 7395901
Quick Description: Water truck of Sao Paulo's fire department. Parked outside a fire station.
Location: Brazil
Date Posted: 5/28/2007 11:52:37 AM

Monday, May 28, 2007

Wind fans wildfire 7 miles N.E. of Sisters

.: Albany Democrat-Herald: Local News: "Wind fans wildfire 7 miles N.E. of Sisters

SISTERS n High winds have challenged firefighters battling a wildfire burning approximately 7 miles northeast of Sisters. The fire was reported at 2:05 p.m. on Sunday, and was being pushed east of Stevens Canyon toward Fremont Canyon by up to 20 mile per hour winds.

The fire is burning primarily in grass and brush, and is believed to be between 50 and 100 acres. The fire initially threatened structures, but shifted and began moving northeast away from homes. No evacuations had been ordered as of 7 p.m. Sunday.

Firefighters were expected to get a break Sunday evening, with winds decreasing to 5 to 10 mph by midnight. Temperatures were also expected to drop into the upper 20s and lower 30s.

The fire is believed to be human caused, but is still under investigation.

The fire was being staffed by 7 engines, 2 smokejumpers, 1 dozer and a water tender. Resources are being provided by Oregon Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service."

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Water truck tumbles down embankment

North State Briefs: May 26, 2007 :

"LAKE SHASTA -- The driver of a water tender assigned to help fight the Bolli Fire went down an approximately 200-foot embankment Friday, and reportedly suffered minor injuries, said a spokesman for the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

The water tender did not roll into Lake Shasta as had been feared, he said.

Forest Service spokesman Mike Odle said the contracted driver, who worked for Alan's Water of Cottonwood, went off a Forest Service road north of Whitegate and rolled about 200 feet before stopping. The driver was going to be taken to a Redding hospital for observation."

Friday, May 25, 2007

Maine Firefighter Killed in Tanker Rollover - Firehouse.com In The Line Of Duty

Maine Firefighter Killed in Tanker Rollover - Firehouse.com In The Line Of Duty: "

SPRINGFIELD, Maine-- A volunteer firefighter answering a call for assistance at a Prentiss sawmill was killed instantly when the firetruck he was driving overturned on Route 169 at about noon Monday.

Firefighter Peter Beebe-Lawson, 50, of Springfield was coming out of a fairly sharp curve on his way to the fire when he apparently lost control of the 3,500-gallon Freightliner tanker truck at about 11:45 a.m., Trooper Jarod Stedman said.

The tanker went off the right side of the road before veering into pine trees on the road's left side. The tanker absorbed heavy front-end and roof damage and landed on its passenger side.

The truck's sole occupant, Beebe-Lawson was pronounced dead at the scene, Stedman said. The body was taken to Clay's Funeral Home in Lincoln.

A tiny town centered between Lincoln and Topsfield along Route 169 on the eastern edge of Penobscot County, Springfield was hit hard by the loss of Beebe-Lawson, a devout Roman Catholic with several foster children who friends said was planning to open a private school with his wife, Selby.

"It's a horrible loss for our community. Our hearts go out to his family," Selectwoman Lorna Thompson said Monday as she gathered Fire Department insurance information and other data that might help Beebe-Lawson's family.

"We really don't know what happened, and until we do, there's really not much I think we're going to be willing to say," Thompson added. "Everybody knows everybody in a small town like this."

She refused further comment.

"I haven't known him for a long time," Tax Collector Kay Thompson said, "but you could tell he cared about people. He tried to help a lot of people ... he'd try to take care of them, talk with them if they wanted help."

The fire destroyed the sawmill, Cole's Shingle Mill located on Mud Pond Road, said Stephen McCausland, Maine State Police spokesman. An overheated gasoline engine that powered a saw caused the fire at the one-story business, which made cedar shingles. Springfield and Kingman volunteer firefighters fought the blaze.

Beebe-Lawson's death drew condolences from Gov. John Baldacci, who was "deeply saddened by this terrible accident."

"Peter Beebe-Lawson gave his life in the line of duty," Baldacci said in a press release. "Firefighters risk their lives every day protecting the rest of us. They deserve our deepest gratitude and respect."

Firefighters, including Springfield Fire Chief John Krapf, visited the fire scene several times during the day as Troopers Stedman, Trevor Snow, Angela Porter and Marc Poulin worked to reconstruct how the accident occurred.

Krapf and his brother Steve, who is also a Springfield fire volunteer, described Beebe-Lawson as an ardent community participant, eager to help others, despite moving to Springfield only about three years ago.

"He was a very outgoing, friendly person," said Steve Krapf, who met the Beebe-Lawsons at St. James Church, which they attended regularly. "He would talk to anybody. He was always really interested in other people."

Beebe-Lawson was a fully qualified truck driver and the truck regularly passed monthly inspections, John Krapf said. The reconditioned Irving tanker truck, which Krapf described as a 1989 model but state police pegged as a 1973, had no mechanical problems.

"We just had it repainted and we were going to have it re-lettered," Krapf said of the truck.

Beebe-Lawson's was the first accident involving a firetruck, John Krapf said, on that stretch of Route 169, which is sharply crested in the center, has worn but intact blacktop and little emergency lane space on either side.

"We've had logging trucks roll over around here, but that's usually a bit further along the road [toward Prentiss]," Krapf said.

Krapf promised that Springfield firefighters would hold a memorial, perhaps a fundraising supper, in honor of their fallen comrade and to aid his family.

Republished with permission of the Bangor Daily News.


"

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System

Whiner of the year award goes to...Here's your sign award...
National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System:

Synopsis
Inexperienced driver nearly knocks over crew when he opens tank dump.
Event Description
During monthly apparatus checks, an inexperienced driver was in the cab of a 3000 gallon water tender. He inadvertently pulled the actuator knob for the rear tank dump. The outflow of water narrowly missed other firefighters working the area, narrowly avoiding injury.
Lessons Learned
Standard procedure during training should be that non-familiar operators are only allowed in the cab when accompanied by a trained operator. The actuator knob should be clearly marked and perhaps painted a bright warning color or covered with a manual locking mechanism.
Demographics
Department type: Combination, Mostly volunteer
Job or rank: Captain
Department shift: Straight days (8 hour)
Age: 52 - 60
Years of fire service experience: 11 - 13
Region: FEMA Region X
Event type: On-duty activities: apparatus and station maintenance, meetings, tours, etc.
Event date and time: 05/15/2006 19:30
Hours into the shift: 0 - 4
Event participation: Told of event, but neither involved nor witnessed event
Weather at time of event:
Do you think this will happen again? No
What were the contributing factors?
  • Task Allocation
  • Training Issue
  • SOP / SOG
  • Human Error
What do you believe is the loss potential?
  • Property damage
  • Minor injury

My Dream Truck - Model M923A1 water truck, water tender

Model M923A1 water truck, water tender
Model M923A1 water truck, water tenderEditors note:
Anyone want to make the editor real happy?
Any investors out there?
I would love to set this one up for Wildland fire fighting! From the limited info this seems like a great base truck to build out for fire fighting support... I drive you buy!

M923A1 water truck


United Truck & Equipment:
http://www.watertrucks.com/truck_details.asp?id=4
"1986 AM General M923A1 4000 Gallon Hyd Sys 5-Valve
Unit Number TRAMGN
Year 1986
Make AM General
Model M923A1
Sale Price $52900; 1986 AM General (Three Units for Production); UnitedBuilt 4000 Gallon 5-Valve Hydraulic System w/Self-loading; Cummins Diesel Engine 250hp; Allison MT654 Automatic Transmission; 18000# Front Axle; 38000# Rear Axle"

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Salt-water truck overturns leaving driver and sole occupant dead

The Shreveport Times:

"Louisiana state police are looking into what caused a salt-water truck to overturn in Claiborne Parish today, leaving its driver and sole occupant dead.

Charles L. McVay’s 2003 Mack salt water truck was headed north on the Pattontown Road a little more than 5 miles south of state Highway 2 when it topped a hill, a report from Troop G says.

The truck ran off the right side of the road at around 12:45 p.m., toppling onto its side after skidding about 250 feet, the report said.

McVay, 58 and from Homer, was dead at the scene, the report said, adding he was wearing his seat belt and shoulder harness, and alcohol use is not believed to have been involved."

Thursday, May 17, 2007

This company obviously has pride in its equipment


Editors note: Alotta H2O water truck service obviously has pride in its equipment, Found the website for this Southern California company and just love the pride shown in operations an equipment. Check it out here



Alotta H2O water truck service has been servicing Southern California for the past 16 years. Our fleet of trucks are well maintained, street licensed, fully equipped and insured and run 24/7 or as needed. We have done 100’s of movies and/or commercial productions.
Our Services Include:
Grading / Excavating
Dust Control / Parking Lot Cleaning
Fire Protection / CDF Certified
Motion Picture / Film / Production


..Water Trucks and Water Tenders

Propeller may have injured pair of wayward whales - CNN.com

Propeller may have injured pair of wayward whales

POSTED: 8:31 a.m. EDT, May 17, 2007

Story Highlights

NEW: Injuries on whales near Sacramento, California, typical of propeller wounds
• Humpback mother, calf made 90-mile river journey from San Francisco
• Whales probably won't need treatment if they can be returned to seawater
• Biologists to play whale sounds to lure pair toward San Francisco Bay

WEST SACRAMENTO, California (AP) -- Two humpback whales that made a 90-mile river journey from San Francisco to the outskirts of Sacramento have injuries that appear to have come from a propeller, marine experts said Wednesday.

The condition of the whales, believed to be a mother and her calf, was diagnosed by researchers from the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California, using photos taken Wednesday in the Port of Sacramento and enlarged on computer screens.

"The injury on the female is about 2 feet long, 6 inches deep, and has sharp edges typical of a propeller wound. We don't think it's life-threatening," said Frances Gulland, director of veterinary science at the center, the group that has taken the lead on the attempted rescue of the whales. "The calf has a wound that looks a little bit more severe than the female."

The calf's wound was difficult to assess because it is on the animal's underside, below the water line, Gulland said.

Although the injuries appear to be growing, the whales will probably not need treatment if they can be returned to their natural seawater habitat, researchers said. The salty ocean water is cleaner than the fresh water in the port, helping to heal such cuts in the mammals.

Biologists planned to play the familiar sounds of humpback whales underwater Thursday to lure the whales out of the basin and toward San Francisco Bay, Gulland said. They will play the sounds from a boat as the tide goes out.

Shipping and small boat traffic were halted in the canal, which is 30 feet deep and 200 feet wide. One freighter remained docked at the port, known primarily as an export terminal for California rice.

The next ship was not expected to dock until May 23, giving authorities time to try to escort the whales back to the Pacific, said Teresa Bledsoe, administrative clerk at the Port of Sacramento.

Biologists had feared the larger whale was entangled in fishing gear, but what appeared to be an object wrapped around it is actually blubber, Gulland said.

The wounds, which were likely suffered as the whales made their way up the Sacramento River, appear to go only as deep as their blubber, rather than their muscle.

Mount Shasta Herald, Weed Press, Dunsmuir News - Mt. Shasta News - News

Mount Shasta Herald, Weed Press, Dunsmuir News - Mt. Shasta News - News:

Prescribed burn goes as planned in McCloud

By Gene Eagle

Photo of the recent prescribed burn at the former landfill site in McCloud by Gene Eagle

Five large piles of wood at the former landfill site in McCloud were consumed by fire during a scheduled prescribed burn Friday evening.

The burn was conducted by the McCloud Fire Department, in conjunction Mount Shasta Fire Protection District and McCloud CDF.

Twenty firefighters were involved, and a water tender from John Ingram Trucking was used.


McCloud Fire Chief Craig Young said the wood that was burned could be moved to the Mount Shasta transfer center.

“We had five large piles that were about 50 by 50 feet each, with 150 feet clearance around them,” Young said.

The water tender skirted the outer perimeter of the burn area throughout the evening, spraying water onto the wildland area to keep trees, brush and other vegetation wet.



“We also had three firefighters in the brush keeping a lookout for any spot fires that might occur,” said Young.

Over 2,000 feet of hoses lay at the ready around the outside perimeter.

Young reported no problems, saying the humidity was high and the wind never got over two miles per hour.



He said Auto Aid engines from CDF and Mount Shasta Fire Protection District were released at about 11 p.m., leaving three firefighters on watch throughout the night with the portable 4,000 gallon pond, floating pump and hoses in place in case the wind picked up.

“I want to thank McCloud CDF, Mount Shasta Fire District firefighters, Chief Chris Baker, John Ingram and McCloud Community Service District employees for their help getting this burn done safely,” said Chief Young. “It was good training for everyone involved.”

Young encourages anyone interested in joining the McCloud Volunteer Fire Department to call



964-2422.



Over 2,000 feet of hoses lay at the ready around the outside perimeter.

Young reported no problems, saying the humidity was hi"

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Beautiful Kenworth / Pierce elliptical tank water tender


Tankers - Elliptical Tanker:


Elliptical Tanker
With its low center of gravity, a Pierce elliptical tanker will give you smoother, easier handling as well as increased vehicle stability. The design is a proven performer, having survived our grueling 'twist test' in which opposite front and rear wheels are raised 9' to identify and eliminate potential stress points.

Highlights/Features

* Stainless steel tank with exclusive Pierce full head baffling system and brushed finish. 20-year warranty.
* Corrosion-free, lightweight, lifetime-warranty polypropylene tank with polished wrap and insulation
* Multiple body designs and rear axle locations for optimum weight distribution.
* Several tank bulkhead sizes available/used to optimize the tank configuration for the lowest center of gravity, overall height, and best weight distribution.
* Maximum storage space.

Typical Specifications Models

* Mini-pumper, compliant with NFPA 1901.
* Mini-pumper featuring a rear-mounted portable pump, compliant with NFPA 1906.
* Mini-pumper with cross-mount pump, compliant with NFPA 1906.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

The View From North Central Idaho - Boomershoot 2007 cleanup

The View From North Central Idaho - Boomershoot 2007 cleanup:

In some ways the camera motion in this picture adds to the realism of the event:

There were 50 to 75 people shooting at 150 or so high explosive targets from 25 yards away. The rapid detonations at such close range gave my chest a real pounding.

It was all over within a minute or two. But then there was the fire...

Notice the burning flare just right of center in the picture above? That was one of four used to ignite the gasoline from the fireball targets.

The fire required two fire extinguishers and several gallons of water to extinguish. Even though there was no smoke or detectable hot spots two hours later I wasn't satisfied and persuaded my brother Doug to bring out the water truck and we put another 100 to 200 gallons of water on the stump and ashes. We turned the area into a muddy, ugly, soup.

Boomershoot 2007 cleanup--It was work for me but it was fun for others.