Showing posts with label fire department. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fire department. Show all posts

Monday, February 16, 2009

Last Days In Yellowknife



My final days in Yellowknife were prety good. I ended up teaching Aquafit five nights in a row and think that I might try some classes in Niagara. I finished all my lessons and took care of the paperwork. As I left City Hall, two RCMP officers were blocking 50th street. Looking down the street I could see a lot of smoke and just saw Engine 8 (a Quint) pull up to the parking lot of the Pre-Cambrian building. A car had caught fire because it had a space heater, block heater and battery blanket all plugged into an inferior extension cord. It was great to see the YKFD put out the fire. I took a walk downtown and then spent rest of Friday packing as was Saturday morning.







Saturday afternoon I arranged to go dog sledding with Beck's Kennels 




I took the two hour tour and was paired up with Helen Hu from Calgary and five dogs. I was told to stand on the skis and use the brake if I needed too. Then we were off... (Jenelle and Devin - from Buffalo Airways were also out that day with the film crew)



We headed onto Kam Lake and then onto Grace Lake. We went for about 40 minutes then arrived at a framed tent with a wood stove to warm up for about 30 minutes then changed positions as I became the passenger and Helen the driver.



I came back to Ian's cold but having had probably a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity.

Ian and Michele had Gord and Nadia over for dinner (the guys cooked steaks) and then we played a game of Risk before heading to bed.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Audio from FDNY from the Hudson River plane crash



Some of you will remember that before moving up here to Yellowknife I applied to two different dispatching jobs in Niagara, one with the Parks Police the other with the NF Fire Department. 

Here is the audio from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) for the plane crash into the Hudson River.


As Chief Billy Goldfetter says, "Dispatchers are the "first responders"...often well aware of "what we have" before we know we are even going out the door." And, like firefighters, hiring the right folks, training them and providing them with support and supervision can make or break an incident. Sometimes it can make headlines. A Fire dispatch center (or a "911" dispatch center that provides fire dispatch services along with PD and EMS) without strong leadership and aggressive initial and on-going training can be the weakest link. The training of, or the failure to properly train and supervise dispatchers is a critical factor in the entire scope of a FD providing service.
 
Firefighters also have to have a true understanding of what "the dispatchers" go thru...we can't do that just by listening - some time spent at the dispatch center can be a huge help in understanding. Equally, some time by dispatchers responding on runs in the field with FD units is equally a big deal. Both "sides' training on what "the other" goes thru can pay off big time.



Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Easy day for police, DCFD rises to occasion, Big Becky

We got about four new inches of snow yesterday night and more today. I liked it better when it didn't snow past minus 10 in Niagara. So much for being too cold to snow...

This will make you laugh --- Does it get any easier for the police...

Dad's grow-op busted after baby dials 9-1-1
January 21, 2009
THE CANADIAN PRESS

WHITE ROCK–A B.C. man probably wishes he had given his 11-month-old son a set of keys to play with instead of a phone, after the infant accidentally dialled 9-1-1 and brought police to dad's marijuana grow operation.

Mounties say a 9-1-1 call came in from a White Rock, B.C. residence Friday morning but whoever was on the other end of the line hung up.

Officers arrived at the residence and after numerous knocks on the door went unanswered, they entered the home.

"The gentleman was quite surprised," said White Rock RCMP Const. Janelle Canning.

She said the 29-year-old male, startled by the sudden sight of police, insisted he hadn't made the call.

When it was suggested a child might have dialled, the father objected and said his son was far too young.

That's when police spotted the baby boy, phone in hand.

"We saw him playing with the cordless phone and just pressing all the buttons, so evidently he had called 9-1-1," Canning said.

With that mystery solved, officers began inspecting the residence and soon discovered a 500-plant marijuana grow operation.

The father was arrested and will appear in court in early April on charges of production of a controlled substance and mischief.

The boy was removed from the home by the Ministry of Children and Family Development, though he was later released into his mother's custody.

The mother does not live in the residence and Canning says she had no idea what was going on at the home.


WASHINGTON, D.C.

FIRERESCE1.com Did an article on the DC Fire-EMS service


For anyone who watched part of the Inauguration yesterday in Washington D.C., you might be asking yourself "logistically how did they handle the emergencies" Well, as expected, DC Fire-EMS did rose to the challenge. They even attended to a VIP Sen. Ted Kennedy. Most people who were treated had cold-weather issues. As Ryan pointed out (if you checked out his blog) Mr. Obama's daughter and even he himself were not wearing hats. Bush the Elder had a nice warm hat on. 

BIG BECKY
Has anyone heard any more news about Big Becky (OPG/STRABAG's Tunnel Boring Machine) It is slowly making it's way along under the city I suspect. But if you want to see what it looks like the Niagara Falls Review has an online photo gallery of it.



Sunday, January 11, 2009

Not too much happens in a week up here






Since my last post not too much has happened up here in Yellowknife. The house-trailers across the street almost caught on fire because some one's snowmobile they were fixing caught the garage on fire. My sister-in-law looked out the window and said "that house is on fire" we called the fire department, I put on my coat and headed out into minus forty to see if everyone was out of the two trailers. Thankfully they were and then I helped the arriving quint (ladder truck) hook to the hydrant and stretch the 65mm (4 inch) supply line. The fire crew knocked down the fire pretty quickly and then went about overhaul on the garage and one of the trailers. The flames at one point were about thirty feet in the air. Because it was so cold, once they shut down the lines, the firefighters had to put the hose into the bed of a pickup truck to take back to the station to thaw out and get back into service. I was pretty impressed by the composite response. They sent two quints, a rescue, an engine, an ambulance and two cars (a utility pick-up truck and a chiefs van) The city runs one unit with paid guys and an ambulance and staffs the rest with paid-on-call. 


At work, this past week I started teaching some lessons, I have six sets of private/semi-private lessons and two group lessons. I've been doing a lot of cleaning, guarding, and chemical addition to the pool here. The pool is well used and we are going to extend the hours starting at the end of the month. Right now I am on afternoons from 1pm to 10pm. I am teaching Sunday lessons for at least eight weeks (into March) 

I've been noticing that the days are getting a bit longer (3 minutes in the morning and afternoon) each day. It is still dark most of the day but most of the day I am inside. I still need to get out and do some exploring and picture taking. The weather is supposed to be getting much warmer by the weekend so that might be a good opportunity to get out. 

If you like poetry my friend Jim Slominski has created a website of his poetry. http://niagarapoet.ca
 Jim is an award winning poet and his writing is inspiring. I worked with Jim at JVK  in St.Catharines. Give it a look if you have a minute, you'll be glad you did. 

In other news, a friend from Brock University Allson Forbes (now at uOttawa) made headlines when she took her GEE-GEE's (what's a gee-gee you ask that question will never be answered and who really wants to know it is uOttawa anyways) from trailing 68-67 to Ryerson (is that really a university anyways  thought it was a Poly technical Institute) and ran the ball coast-to-coast scoring the winning bucket with 5.7 seconds left on the clock. I remember her last playoff game as a Badger when Dr. Lowenberger and I went up to MacMaster to watch them play. It is great that she has made her way back onto the court.  

DRIVING FORBES SEALS GEE-GEES WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VICTORY 


A friend of mine had this up on her blog this link shows where jobs line up for Best/Worst according to their critera. (Thanks for posting this Marilynn)
 
Have a look at 198, 196 and 182.
 
From the worst list, I have been a taxi driver and a firefighter. Chauffeur actually comes in at 162 on the same list. I onder where Yellowknife Lifeguard would fit in?



 
The study, released Tuesday from CareerCast.com, a new job site, evaluates 200 professions to determine the best and worst according to five criteria inherent to every job: environment, income, employment outlook, physical demands and stress.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Reason to Celebrate - Delaware comes to its senses


THAT’S BETTER: 1ST DEGREE MURDER CHARGES IN DELAWARE


Remember a few days ago I told you abou the driver in Delaware where the driver was using a stick to press the gas and brake pedals and drove into an accident scene killing a Michelle Smith of The Delaware City FD. Well it seems like the police have come to thier senses and maybe even the Judge too. $37,000 was the original bial se now Mr. Taye is in JAIL awaiting where he should be based on his past awaiting trial.

Be safe on the roads this New Year's Eve. Take a taxi or use a Designated Driver. 

And if you are going to raise a toast this year please do so with Sparkling VQA Wine from Niagara. In this time more than ever buy LOCAL VQA wine. Forget France or Spain for you bubbly. Have you ever tried Peller's Ice Cuvee? Look into it if you are still shopping if you are lucky enough to be in NOTL this new years eve head down to the winery there it is a Sparking cut with Ice wine.



http://www.peller.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14&products_id=86


THAT’S BETTER: 1ST DEGREE MURDER CHARGES IN DELAWARE (THE SECRET LIST)
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Troopers from the Collision Reconstruction Unit at Troop 2 formally charged Joseph Taye, 28, of Bear approximately one hour ago with Murder in the first degree.  This charge was upgraded from Manslaughter due to Michelle Smith of the Delaware City (DE) Fire Company losing her life while performing her duties.  Mr. Taye's charge of Assault 2nd was changed to Assault 1st due to the severity of Edward Reiss' injuries (the motorcyclist she was treating).  The charges of Driving while Revoked, Leaving the Scene of a Crash and Failure to Report a Crash remained the same.
 
Mr. Taye was committed to Howard Young Correctional Institute without bail.
 
This case is still very much active. Investigators are seeking to identify the operator of the Honda as well as locating that particular vehicle that fled the scene of the crash with Taye in the car.  
 
At the time of this release, Mr.Reiss is still in Christiana Hospital in stable but serious condition.

Take care-BE CAREFUL 
BillyG
The Secret List 12-30-08 / 2030 hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com 

Saturday, December 27, 2008

If you live in Delaware STAY OFF THE ROADS!


If you live in Delaware STAY OFF THE ROADS!

Thanks Judge! The people of Delaware will remember you at your re-election. I hope that you realize what you have done. 

At an Oct. 17 court hearing, the state couldn't prove that Taye was driving the car and stayed the case, Pulgini said.

"We have been fighting this for a year," Pulgini said. "I told them, 'What are you waiting for, for him to kill somebody? Then it's going to be too late.' "

Calls to Cecil County Deputy State's Attorney Michael Halter or to Taye's defense attorney, Edward Rollins III, were not returned Tuesday.Delaware state police continue searching for a light-colored Honda Accord seen pulling up at the scene minutes after the crash, Whitmarsh said. The Honda driver helped Taye into his car and took off, leaving the BMW at the crash scene. Police are asking anyone with information on the driver's identity to call detectives at Troop 2 at 834-2620, ext. 0, or Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333.

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081224/NEWS01/812240351


This is from FIREFIGHTER CLOSE CALLS by 
Chief Billy Goldfeder

Hey...
Just when you thought the circumstances related to the horrific hit and run Line of Duty Death of Delaware City (DE) Firefighter Michelle Smith couldn't get any worse...it does. This isn't the first time that career criminal Joseph Taye was involved in a hit and run....why, just one year ago, the paraplegic Taye...yeah, paraplegic... (Taye was paralyzed from the waist down in July 2005 when he was shot outside a bar) was involved in another previous hit and run crash in Maryland that left two women injured, one seriously. When police found the wrecked silver 2004 BMW after that late-night crash Nov. 30, 2007, they discovered a 4 foot wood stick in the rear seat area.
 
Incredibly but I guess, not surprisingly for a career criminal, Delaware State Police found a stick just like the other "I drive because I WANT to -- stick" last Saturday, inside the same BMW, after that crash that killed Firefighter Smith in the Line of Duty. In both crashes, the cops think that career criminal Taye was using that stick to operate the brake and gas pedals...the BMW was not even equipped with handicapped devices that would allow a person, career criminal or not, whose legs are paralyzed, to drive. Even one with a suspended license.
 
You see...Criminal Taye blew off the law and drove anyway-because he must have simply "wanted to"..even though his driver's license had been revoked.
But he really didn't care.
He had places to go.
People to see.
And a Firefighter to kill.
Well, not intentionally some might say. Well if he didn't intentionally obey the law, then he intentionally broke it. Sounds like we are being too rough?
He could have killed you.
Your family.
Your kid.
More Firefighters.
He killed a kids Mom who happened to be a Firefighter.
Get the picture?
Being too rough? Criminal Taye roughly shot his middle finger up at anyone who obeys law.

Cops say there was only one person in that BMW last Saturday night, which was abandoned at the crash scene after Criminal Taye ran down FF Smith....and they found a wooden stick by the open right front passenger door. And now, this one will shock you: they also found booze bottles in the front seat and a wheelchair was in the back seat. And believe it or not, Criminal Tayes fingerprints were found in the car! How did he get away? He can't walk. Well...someone in a Honda pulled up and drove Criminal Taye away.
From the scene.
With a critically injured Firefighter laying there.
Someone just picked up criminal Taye and drove away.
Just like that.
 
On Monday, Taye was charged with manslaughter, second-degree assault, driving while his license was revoked, leaving the scene of a crash and failure to report a crash in the Saturday night accident that killed FF Smith and left 30-year-old biker Edward Reiss in critical condition.
 
Very unfortunately, Taye was then released from Delaware's Young Correctional Institution on Tuesday after posting a measly $37,000 bail, just in time for Christmas. Did we mention that career Criminal Taye has a criminal record dating way back to 1998, which includes charges of assault, resisting arrest, marijuana possession, possession of a firearm, resisting arrest and traffic violations? Yep...he follows the rules all right-...no real obvious in-your-face reasons that HE should remain behind bars after killing a Firefighter, are there?
 
Like it or not, Criminal Taye has his freedom for now. Think he could very potentially find a new stick and get someone to help him go cruising on the highways again? What are the odds of THAT happening...again? It would probably be wise for everyone to stay of the roads in Delaware for a while. Why didn't the judge think of what Criminal Taye might do to repeat history, again? Who will be Criminal Tayes next victim as he flips off the law and goes stick-cruiz'n. The judge should have thought of that. Some judge.
 
Who will be Criminal Tayes next victim? While Criminal Taye decides where and how he wants to travel next, the remains of the late Firefighter Michelle Smith awaits the members of her family and the Delaware City Fire Company to prepare for her burial.
Some trade off.
Take Care-BE CAREFUL.
BillyG
The Secret List 12-26-08 / 1400 hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com  




DELAWARE CITY (DE) FIRE COMPANY MEMBER DIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY
FireFighterCloseCalls.com - The Secret List
 
It is with deep regret that we advise you of the Line of Duty Death of Delaware City Fire Company
www.dcfc15.com (DE) Member Michelle Smith, age 29. As you know, Smith was operating at the scene of a motorcycle crash Saturday evening when she was struck and critically injured. Her injuries were too severe and she has now tragically died in the Line of Duty.
 
The Delaware City Fire Company was providing ambulance coverage for the Wilmington Manor Fire Company that evening. Upon arrival at the crash, and initial assessment of the patient, FD Ambulance Driver Michelle Smith, 29, was assisting the EMT on scene with patient care. A County Police Officer stopped to assist with traffic control, as rescue and fire police units from Wilmington Manor began to arrive. A vehicle that attempted to avoid the incident scene struck the County Police vehicle and then swerved around the Delaware City BLS unit, striking Ms. Smith. The driver of the vehicle then fled the scene. Ms. Smith was treated on scene by New Castle County Paramedics and EMT's from Wilmington Manor and Goodwill Fire Companies. She was transported with extensive traumatic injuries and has now succumbed to those injuries. Police are narrowing in on the suspects in this hit and run...and now, potential murder.
 
Our most sincere condolences to the members of the Delaware City Fire Company but especially the young Daughter, her family and friends of Michelle Smith. Here is their home page: www.dcfc15.com
Take Care-BE CAREFUL.
BillyG
The Secret List 12-22-08 / 1200 hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com