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2011 Year in Review: The Best of 2011 for VAFireNews.com

Webteam — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:48:21 +0000

VAFireNews.com has continued to grow this year. The site continues to feed off of content sent in by the readers and firefighters of the great State of Virginia. Please continue sending in your photos, videos, press releases, news, and information. VAFireNews.com has been built by those people who send information in to be shared.

Whether you have a news story, link, video, photo, or other information to share, we have created a site that is contingent upon sharing information.

Be sure to connect with us on Facebook and on Twitter @VAFireNews

We will offer more in the future as needed! Keep sending in information. Our email address is editor@vafirenews.com. Put us on your list!

Here is our year in review:

Facebook Fans : 2792
Twitter Followers: 817

Most popular read stories:

Our friend Captain Willie Wines Jr. is the firefighter behind the popular blog "IronFiremen.com". He is a Captain in Roanoke, VA.

Top Referring Web Sites:

Subscribe for Great Deals Through Daily911Deals

Webteam — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 02:11:30 +0000

Daily911Deals.com is a collective buying site geared towards the fire service, emergency medical services, and law enforcement. Read on below for the full press release.

All you have to do is subscribe here to get email notification of great deals!

If you are a business, visit the business site to find out more about featuring your product!

Email Subscription – Facebook Fan Page - Twitter

The press release is below

Download the full color brochure and press release

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – Offensive Attack, Inc. is launching www.Daily911Deals.com during FirehouseExpo®, which is being held in Baltimore, Maryland, July 19-23, 2011.

Daily911Deals.com is a web-based collective buying site focusing on three markets: the fire service, emergency medical services and law enforcement. Products and services that will appeal to these public safety markets will be featured at significant discounts and for a limited amount of time.

A stand alone web site has been developed to explain the concept to potential businesses and merchants who may have a product or service that they wish to feature. A significant attribute to a merchant is that they pay nothing to have a product featured. Daily911Deals.com processes all purchased vouchers and send the proceeds directly to the merchant. Order fulfillment takes place on the merchant’s or distributor’s web site, which increases their exposure and the opportunity to sell additional products. Full details are available at www.business.daily911deals.com.

Visitors to the site subscribe to alerts when new deals are being offered. All deals will have a minimum number of required purchases to “activate” a deal. Daily911Deals.com will increase the reach and brand awareness of the merchant’s products through pervasive social networking outlets. Daily911Deals.com is operated by Offensive Attack, Inc. and is proud to be the first collective buying site dedicated to public safety workers.

Offensive Attack, Inc.
www.offensiveattack.com

Two Virginia Fire Bloggers Write about 2 Alarm Fire in Roanoke

Webteam — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 01:00:50 +0000

by VAFireNews.com Editor Rhett Fleitz

On Tuesday, Roanoke (City) firefighters responded to a structure fire in the NW area of the City. The building was a large single family dwelling that had been re-purposed as a recreation center. However, the building had been sitting vacant for a couple of years.

Villa Heights Recreation Center as it was known was mostly empty inside and was built in 1925 with 12-14 foot ceilings.

What was interesting about this fire was that two notable fire service bloggers were on scene, Captain Willie Wines Jr. of IronFiremen.com and myself (Rhett Fleitz) of FireCritic.com.

We weren’t there to watch, we were there on the job. Captain Wines was riding the car (he is a Captain and was Acting Battalion Chief of the Northside, BC2). I was working for a friend for 24 hours. The fire was on C-shift, which Captain Wines works. I am on A-shift. I was riding the seat of the first in engine and on the first nozzle through the door…Captain Wines was in Command.

It was neat…Captain Wines and I are great friends and we used to work on the same shift at neighboring stations. Now we rarely get the opportunity to fight fire together.

Read Captain Wines view of the fire here:
2ND ALARM IN THE “NOKE”… 1ST ARRIVING PICS AND MORE.

Read my view of the fire here:
I CAUGHT A JOB THE FIRE CRITIC AND IRONFIREMEN.COM ON SCENE!

Photo by Captain Willie Wines Jr. as companies enter the structure.

More coverage:

Virginia Task Force 1 is Mobilizing for Potential Deployment to Japan

Webteam — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 23:37:41 +0000

Virginia Task Force 1 Mobilized

Virginia Task Force 1 (VATF-1), Fairfax County’s urban search and rescue team was mobilized by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Friday, March 11, 2011, with potential to deploy to Japan to assist in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that struck early this morning.

A heavy task force is comprised of 72 personnel, search and rescue canines, physicians, paramedics, structural engineers, technical search and rescue specialists, and other support personnel have started to mobilize.

The team was last activated in January of 2010 following the devastating earthquake near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. VATF-1 has deployed overseas to both natural and man-made disasters for 25 years, including Kenya, Taiwan, Armenia, and Turkey.

Additionally, as a part of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, the team maintains constant operational readiness, and is a local resource for the residents of Fairfax County.

Source: Fairfax County Fire-Rescue Department

Dave Statter also has coverage here

New Delivery: Dooms VFC Brush Truck

Webteam — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:24:00 +0000

The Dooms Vol. Fire Company of Waynesboro, Va. recently took delivery of their new Slagle “MidshipBrushmaster” unit. The fire department supplied 2011 Ford F550 Extended cab and chassis is powered by the new PowerStroke diesel engine. The fire pump is a Hale HP200 series with driver side pump panel controls for added operator safety. To supplement the fire pump, there is a Hale Class-A foam ejection system as well as an electric primer system for drafting. The water tank capacity is 300 gallons plus an additional 10 gallons for Class-A foam concentrate. The unit has two electric rewind hose reels located at the rear of the unit, one for up to 300 feet of 1” booster hose and one for storage of up to 1000 feet of collapsible forestry hose. There are 2-1/2” discharges and inlets both at the driver side pump panel as well as at the rear of the body for added flexibility in operations. For mop up and field fires, there are below bumper mounted low gallonage spray nozzles individually controlled from the driver’s position.

For warning devices, a Whelen LED system is provided on the upper and lower zones of the vehicle as well as a Whelen 200 watt electronic siren with twin 100 watt bumper mounted speakers. For added scene safety, two Fire Research 12 volt 16,000 lumen LED telescoping flood lights are provided as well as a high intensity Whelen M9 series LED light at the rear of the unit. Amdor H20 LED strip lights are provided for ground lighting at the cab door entrances, along each side, and at the rear.

The custom built body features enclosed compartments each side with roll-up and hinged doors for storage of brush gear. There is also pull out storage trays located below the water tank as well as an additional long storage area beneath the center rear of the body.

A Warn 9000 pound transportable winch is provided along with both front and rear receivers for off road requirements.

The unit is finished with genuine 22 carat gold leaf lettering, scotchlite cab and body striping and Chevron striping on the rear for added safety as well as a custom fire department logo seal.

Photos: House Fire in Roanoke City

Webteam — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 14:38:09 +0000

Sunday, January 31, Roanoke City Firefighters responded to a house fire on Tillet Drive in Southwest.

Off-duty Firefighter Drew Abel captured these photos.

Ladder 7, Ladder 1, Engine 1, Engine 4, Medic 7, Support 2, BC 1, and BC 2 responded to the fire.

New Early Video: Watch Flashover Occur at Two Alarm Fire in Fairfax County. 4 Firefighters Injured

Webteam — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 17:48:07 +0000

Accidental Two-Alarm Springfield Townhouse Fire

screenshot from video below

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded to a townhouse fire, Saturday, January 22, 2011, at approximately 7:55 a.m. in the Springfield area of Fairfax County. The townhouse is located at 6827 Clowser Court. Firefighters saw heavy smoke and fire coming from the rear of the two-story, end unit townhouse upon arrival. As several firefighters entered the front door to attack the seat of the fire, the crew reported a flashover of fire in front and behind them. Backup exterior crews quickly entered the front of the home and assisted the surrounded firefighters to safety. The occupants were inside the home and were able to escape prior to firefighters arriving. The Incident Commander struck a second alarm, bringing approximately 60 firefighters to the scene. It took firefighters approximately 15 minutes to bring the fire under control. The fire started in the kitchen, however, the fire spread and resulted in residual damage throughout both floors of the home. Smoke alarms were present in the home, but did not activate. A total of three adults, and one youth have been displaced. Red Cross is assisting the displaced occupants. One adult female occupant was medevaced to the Washington Hospital Burn Center for life-threatening injuries. Two other adults were treated at the scene but were not transported. Four firefighters were transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Damage is estimated at approximately $200,000. According to fire investigators, the fire was accidental. Food left unattended on the stove caused the fire.

Previous Video below from STATter911.com

Charlottesville Firefighters Battle Vehicle Fire at ACOB

Webteam — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:24:35 +0000

These photos are from a vehicle fire at the Albemarle County Office Building (ACOB) this morning.

From Charlottesville Fire Chief Charles L. Werner:

The fire involved gasoline and the exact cause and circumstances are being investigated.

Firefighters first used water to knock down the fire then switched to foam to blanket the gasoline. The fire was extremely intense and difficult to extinguish.

Guns N Hoses Charity Hockey Game January 8th in Roanoke

Webteam — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:57:00 +0000

This Saturday is the 8th annual Guns & Hoses Charity Hockey Game in Roanoke. For the first time in many years, I will be unable to attend. My son is bummed as well.

The game is at 6pm at the Roanoke Civic Center January 8th.The event is fun for the entire family! Come on out and support your Firefighters and Police Officers while they have some fun raising money for charity!

Visit the Guns & Hoses Hockey web site here

See previous articles on VAFireNews.com:

Previous scores:

2010 – Guns 6, Hoses 0
2009 – Hoses 6, Guns 2
2008 – Guns 4, Hoses 3 (shootout)
2007 – Guns 4, Hoses 3 (shootout)
2006 – Guns 7, Hoses 6 (shootout)
2005 – Guns 3, Hoses 2 (shootout)
2004 – Guns 7, Hoses 6 (shootout)

Needless to say, the Cops have dominated the game 6-1.

FireGround Audio: Fire Strikes Storage Facility in Fairfax County

Webteam — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 23:52:01 +0000

Photo Karen McCoy. For more photos click on the picture.

Shortly before noon on Sunday several storage units at the Public Storage facility at 2921 Centreville Road in Herndon caught on fire. No injuries have been reported.

Continue Reading…(source) Fire Strikes Storage Facility – Herndon, VA Patch.

Former Waynesboro fire chief jailed on child porn charges

Webteam — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 20:36:10 +0000

WAYNESBORO — Former Waynesboro Fire Chief Harvey L. Kelley is due in court today in a case stemming from a child pornography investigation out of New Jersey.

The city’s longtime chief asked an Internet investigator posing as a mom to have sex with her daughter and sent lewd pictures of underage girls over the Internet, according to the Bergen County, N.J., prosecutor’s office.

A Virginia State Police agent arrested the 78-year-old Kelley this week at his home on Isle Avenue in Waynesboro. He is charged in New Jersey with transmitting child pornography and conspiracy to commit aggravated sexual assault, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Continue Reading…(source) Former Waynesboro fire chief jailed on child porn charges | newsleader.com | The News Leader.

Manassas fire and rescue chief quits

Webteam — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:53:58 +0000

Photo from previous story by the Washington Post on Chief Mike Wood. Link here

InsideNova.com:

MANASSAS, Va. –

It just wasn’t working.

The first City of Manassas combined fire and rescue chief/emergency management coordinator is quitting.

Mike Wood sent the resignation letter to the city council Friday. The resignation is effective Jan. 1.

During much of his 25-month tenure, Wood was caught up in an effort to first combine the Manassas Fire and Rescue Department, the Greater Manassas Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company, and then to make the new organization work.

Continue Reading….(source) Manassas fire and rescue chief quits | InsideNova.

Port Royal VFD and other Departments make donation to Nicol VFD of Tuscaloosa Alabama

Webteam — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:36:45 +0000

The Port Royal Volunteer Fire Department (Caroline County) is donating an ambulance to the Nicol VFD in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Several other departments are donating items as well.

If you have equipment to donate, please call Billy Sullivan at 540/735-7865 cell 804/742-5505 firehouse

Port Royal Firefighters will be driving the ambulance to Alabama to deliver it in a couple of weeks.

There was a story in the news recently about the donation. Read it here: PRVFD.com

Billy Sullivan sent this to VAFireNews.com:

The Port Royal VFD has decided to make a donation to a needy department. The Nicol VFD of Tuscaloossa Alabama is underfunded and in need of equipment. We are donating several sets of older turnout gear that we are no longer able to use along with the recently retired Rescue-3. Even though we are no longer able to use it, the gear is still in excellent shape. It has passed it’s age limit for our department’s standards. It is very common place for needy departments to take and use old retired equipment. For many years Port Royal depended upon this very same system. Old Rescue-3: a 1991 Ford Econoline van-type ambulance will be donated also. Along with the donation of the gear and equipment we are having the gear washed and cleaned and the ambulance will be lettered and striped for the Nicol VFD. We have also arranged for a complete service/tune up through another donation by a local business. We are confident enough the ambulance is in such good shape, we will prove it by driving this unit to Tuscaloossa sometime in November or December. We have also been contacted by other departments nearby wanting to make donations of equipment as well. Chief Gaston Wilson of the Nicol VFD said he plans on putting old R-3 in service as a first response/equipment unit.It looks as though we can send it down very close to being fully equiupped. We will be leaving all of the emergency lights and siren in place. Any departments or individuals wishing to make donations contact myself or any member for information. The Officers and members of the Port Royal VFD are extremely happy to be in a position to be able to help another department. For many years the PRVFD had to make do with donations from other places and would have never survived without their help. We wish the Nicol VFD good luck and are sure their community will benefit from these donations.

Please call Billy if you have something to donate. They are asking for other departments to assist in donating any equipment that can be spared.

Billy Sullivan

540/735-7865 cell

804/742-5505 firehouse

As I researched this story, I found a lot more information on the Nicol VFD from our friend FireGeezer.This isn’t the first donated vehicle the Nicol VFD has acquired. They actually got an engine through the Terry Farrell fund here.

You might also remember the Nicol VFD from the Dalmation Chicken Prank as explained in an article about the death of their first Chief and co-founder Allen Sullivan.

FireGeezer wrote about the Nicol VFD here and here

Unfortunately, Port Royal VFD has very small images on their web site so I was not able to link to any to show you the apparatus. Nor was I able to locate a web site for the Nicol VFD (although they are on facebook).

Why national and local fire departments are seeing fewer volunteers

Webteam — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 04:33:26 +0000

Fewer people are volunteering at fire stations. It’s a problem not just locally but nationwide.

This week, Virginia’s Fire Chiefs Association reported the lack of volunteers as the number one issue facing departments today.

Here in Roanoke County, the fire department has also seen the number of volunteers decline over the years. That means hiring more paid full time firefighters.

via Firefighters: Why national and local fire departments are seeing fewer volunteers. – wdbj7.com.

http://firecritic.com/2010/11/plenty-of-fire-to-go-around-check-out-these-recent-videos-of-fires-around-the-us-including-new-york-city-prince-georges-county-boston-west-virginia-california/

Richmond FD Promotes Six to Battalion Chief Including the First Female’s

Webteam — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 04:44:04 +0000

On November 4, Richmond Fire and Emergency Services held promotions for six Captains that were promoted to Battalion Chief. For the first time in the department’s history, we have promoted two females who have come thru the ranks. The following have been promoted: Battalion Chief Robert Baumgardner, Jr, Battalion Chief John Harkness, Battalion Chief Clarence Lewis, III, Battalion Chief Orlando Morris, Battalion Chief Christine Richardson and Battalion Chief Tina Watkins. These individuals will serve in operations.

Lt. Shawn L. Jones, CFO
City of Richmond Fire & Emergency Services

Firefighter set to retire

Webteam — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:00:26 +0000

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

Flames were shooting a hundred feet into the air when Ray Richardson Jr. arrived at Fairview Road around 2:16 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 2, 1999. Maneuvering the Wytheville Fire Department pumper truck through the snow to the natural gas substation, which had just exploded, he braced against the freezing cold for a major battle with fire and ice.

“That was the worst fire I ever worked,” noted Richardson, who is retiring at the end of July after 30 years as a paid firefighter with the town of Wytheville. “That and anytime there was a fatality. We’re fortunate there’s not been a fire-related death since I guess back in the late 90s.”

The January 1999 fire destroyed Hilltop Cycles and a rental house. Thousands of natural gas customers were without heat for a couple of days and Appalachian Power Co. customers had no electricity.

“That was scary,” Richardson stated.

The Fort Chiswell area native’s career began when late Sheriff Buford Shockley hired him as a deputy/jailer. After 19 months, he joined the Wytheville Fire Department as a paid firefighter on July 14, 1980.

Continue reading… Firefighter set to retire.

Early morning fire spread fast, survivor says – News – Progress-Index

Webteam — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:23:54 +0000

MCKENNEY – A family lost nearly everything but each other after taking the time to ensure their neighbors escaped the flames of a motel fire yesterday.

James Earl Gay and Rachael D. Curtis went door to door after smelling smoke and spotting flames only doors down at the Economy Inn on Boydton Plank Road.

According to a news release by the American Red Cross, a total of 40 people were displaced because of the fire. At least 35 of them received immediate assistance from the Red Cross in the form of food, clothing and other emergency needs.

Continue reading… Early morning fire spread fast, survivor says – News – Progress-Index.

Former Mathews Co. Volunteer F.D. treasurer admits in court to embezzling $200,000 from the organization – wtvr

Webteam — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:21:41 +0000

MATHEWS – A circuit court judge stunned a crowded courtroom Monday and ordered Paul Reardon jailed after the former treasurer for the Mathews County Volunteer Fire Department admitted he embezzled more than $200,000 from the organization.

Judge R. Bruce Long said it would “send the wrong message” to let Reardon go home before his sentencing in September.

“He's stolen $200,000 in the course of two years while holding a position of public trust,” Long said. “If I let him remain on bond, the message that sends is that it is OK to steal $200,000, come in plead guilty, be found guilty, and go back home that afternoon. That's not going to happen.”

Continue reading… Former Mathews Co. Volunteer F.D. treasurer admits in court to embezzling $200,000 from the organization – wtvr.

Electrical Wiring Blamed for Late Night Fire

Webteam — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:24:51 +0000

July 19, 2010 (ROANOKE COUNTY) — Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Department was dispatched to the 4800 block of Goodman Road at 10:10 last night for a reported structure fire.
When the first crews arrived, they found heavy flames coming from an early 1900s single-story house. Fire crews initially entered the structure searching for occupants along with the seat of the fire, but were soon evacuated after learning no one lived in the home and fire conditions were too unsafe. It took volunteer and career firefighters from the Mount Pleasant, Clearbrook and Vinton stations more than three hours to get the flames under control in part due to the solid construction of this older home.
Fire Investigators have determined the fire was accidental and started from the electrical wiring of a stand-alone freezer that was kept on the back porch. The house is considered a total loss and damages are estimated to be $120,000 for the house and its contents.
The woman who had lived in the home had passed away earlier this year.
Two firefighters were transported to a local hospital for minor injuries and have been released.

Home Town Heroes in Richmond at the Diamond

Webteam — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:51:29 +0000

This event is being held at the Richmond Diamond. Home of the Flying Squirrels.

The deadline for the tickets is the 26^th. They would like some firefighters in uniform for a parade of hero’s around the field.

Home Town Hero – click for more information