Firefighter Charged For Failure To Stop At Red Light With Lights and Siren Going

Vaughan firefighter fined $500 over fatal crash

View larger image

Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service work to free an injured driver from a vehicle involved in the crash, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010. The driver later died.

ctvtoronto.ca

A Vaughan firefighter has been fined $500 for a February incident in which a fire truck he was driving ran a red light, colliding with a car and leaving that vehicle's driver dead.

According to a news release issued Wednesday by York Regional Police, Gianmarco Solimena, 30, entered a guilty plea before a justice of the peace to one count of "disobey red light -- fail to stop."

At about 10:35 a.m. on Feb. 2, a Vaughan Fire and Rescue Services pumper truck with emergency equipment turned on was heading to a call, eastbound on Major Mackenzie Drive West.

It struck a northbound Toyota that had exited from the northbound lanes of Highway 400 and was turning left onto Major Mackenzie. The light had turned green for the Toyota's driver.

"The impact caused the Toyota to spin and then strike a light standard," police said.

Paramedics took the Toyota's driver, who was the only occupant of his vehicle, to hospital. Doctors there pronounced him dead.

The collision also left four firefighters with minor injuries.

After the collision occurred, the firefighters immediately went to work trying to extricate the Toyota's driver from the vehicle.

Police said at the time that emergency vehicles do not have the right-of-way and can only enter intersections if it is safe to do so.

York Police said the Toyota driver was the 11th of 23 people to die on the region's roadways so far in 2010.

My Opinion

This is yet another story of what we in our department have been told every time we take our emergency driving course, which is minimum once a year. Just because we have lights and siren running, doesn't mean that we are given the right-of-way. We are asking for the right-of-way to make it to an emergency, but we CANNOT take it. A red light or stop sign still means to stop and CLEAR the intersection before proceeding. This obviously wasn't done. We, as first responders, need to do our part and help, not hurt the situation. Watch your rate-of-closure, speed, and clear intersections properly. This act alone will reduce traffic accidents involving fire apparatus, ambulances, and police vehicles dramatically if we could ALL do it. We know there's an emergency, but we have to remember it's not ours, let's not make it our emergency.

Brad MacMillan

4 Firefighters Hurt In Fire Truck Rollover In San Antonio

4 Texas firefighters hurt in fire truck rolloverOne firefighter was pinned inside fire engine for more than an hour

WOAI-TV

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Emergency crews worked for over an hour to free a firefighter who was pinned inside the fire engine after it rolled over on the way to an emergency call. It happened on the access road of southbound Loop 410 near Culebra Road.

Officials say the crew from Fire Station #35 was responding to an emergency call just after 6:00 p.m. Sunday when the driver lost control and rolled the truck onto its side.

Crews worked to cut through the truck and rescue the firefighter, who was trapped in the backseat.

Chief Charles Hood with the San Antonio Fire Department commended the rescuers saying, "They were very professional, the same way as if it had been a civilian or one of their own.

"After the fact they may go back to the station and look at the devastation to the fire truck and then I think it may hit them."

Four firefighters were transported to University Hospital with bumps and bruises. The Chief couldn't say if the crew was speeding, but said there would be an investigation.

San Antonio Firefighters Injured; Ladder Truck Rolls Over During Response

SAN ANTONIO - Four San Antonio firefighters have been hurt in a ladder truck wreck when the vehicle ended up on its side while making a turn.

Related

• Four Firefighters Injured When Truck Flips
• Fire Truck Rolls Over Trapping Firefighter

Fire Chief Charles Hood says the accident happened Sunday night as the crew helped respond to a structure fire.

Hood says the four firefighters suffered bumps and bruises. All were transported to a hospital. Names of the firefighters and further details on their conditions were not immediately released.

Hood says one firefighter had to be cut from the ladder truck.

The accident is under investigation by the fire department and San Antonio police.












Fire Truck Rolls Over, Trapping Firefighters

SAN ANTONIO -- A 36,000 pound fire truck rolls over trapping a San Antonio firefighter inside.

The crew had been on their way to a fire when suddenly the massive truck flipped onto its side trapping one firefighter and sending three other firefighters to the hospital.

There were more than one hundred fire crews out trying to help their brothers after the truck rolled near a very busy intersection on the west side of the city Sunday evening. Crews were out all night long working to prop up the truck, which is a total loss, and eventually have it towed.

This all went on while traffic was shut down at Culebra Road and Loop-410 heading south. San Antonio Fire Department officials said Fire Ladder truck No. 35 was responding to a structure fire on Pinn Road just after 6:00 pm Sunday.

Fire officials said as the 36,000 pound truck was heading westbound on Culebra, it attempted to turn left onto the access road of Loop-410 when it rolled on its side.

Four firefighters, whose names have not been released at this time, were inside the truck. Three were able to get out relatively quickly; they sustained minor injuries. However, the fourth one was trapped inside for about an hour because his foot was pinned. He sustained a leg injury and was taken to University Hospital with the other three firefighters. Fire officials said all four firefighters will fortunately be okay.

Authorities believe the firefighters were all wearing seat belts at the time of the accident and are grateful they made it out alive.

"The thing about a truck like this is that there are air bottles, radios, clip-boards; all kinds of projectiles flying through the air when something rolls like this so there is a chance for things to hit you. So we are very blessed that these injuries weren't more significant tonight,” San Antonio Fire Department Chief Charles Hood said.

Both the San Antonio Fire and Police Departments are both investigating the cause of the truck rolling over.

Firefighter Struck By Unlicensed Driver

Firefighter struck, killed in crash at SC fire sceneAnother firefighter was in critical condition after two oncoming vehicles collided and were sent in the direction of the firefighters

Editor's note: Reports from multiple sources say the van Ortega was driving rear-ended a car, sending it into the median on the interstate. The car then hit two fire trucks, before striking firefighters Chance Zobel and Larry Irvin while they were tending to the brush fire.

WLTX

Expert Analysis Another tragic loss of a firefighter along our nation's roadways By Adam K. Thiel I think about roadway safety a lot; even more so on those occasions where I stop to help stranded motorists or arrive first on scene to a vehicle-related incident. While I always wear my traffic vest, carry a handlight when it's dark, do my best to position where I block the scene and place flares to provide advance warning, I know it's one of the most risky activities in the fire and emergency services. A great resource for learning how to protect ourselves along the highways and byways of the U.S. is the Responder Safety website sponsored by the Emergency Responder Safety Institute and Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association.

RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. — The driver that Highway Patrol troopers say was responsible for a fatal accident that killed a firefighter and left another in critical condition Saturday has been charged.

Troopers with the South Carolina Highway Patrol charged 34-year-old Neida Ortega of Sumter with driving too fast for conditions.

Sgt. Kelley Hughes said the investigation will continue, though troopers completed an accident reconstruction Saturday.

Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins said Firefighter Chance Hyatt Zobel, 23, was killed Saturday as he responded to a brush fire at 2:15 p.m. near mile marker 81 on Interstate 20.

Another firefighter, Larry Irvin, was also injured in the crash, and remains stable in critical condition at the hospital.

Officials say emergency vehicles were parked on the inside lane on the eastbound side of I-20.

Troopers say two vehicles were approaching the scene from behind, when a van driven by Ortega collided with another driven by a person from North Carolina.

Jenkins said flags will continue to fly at half-staff at all fire stations.

He asked that the community to pray for the familes as well as the Columbia-Richland Fire Department.

Zobel became a firefighter in 2007 and was a three-year veteran of Engine Company 4 and worked out of the firehouse on Spears Creek Church Road.

Jenkins says Irvin has been with the Fire Department for more than three years and was with Engine Company 4 and also stationed at Spears Creek Church Road

My opinion

This story further exemplifies the NEED for traffic control, and proper scene safety. Including setting up a shadow to protect the scene. This can also be used on grass fires, not just MVC's and medical calls. Don't forget to set up and block not just the lane the incident is in, but at least the lane next to it as well. Set your cones in an angle so that driver's don't just hit a wall and have time to merge over. Giving drivers advanced warning with signage, lights, traffic control, traffic vests for everyone on scene so they can be seen, and traffic wands for the firefighters controlling traffic. We happen to have a vehicle made especially for traffic with a construction style sign to direct traffic, and has an absorbent amount of traffic cones, both of our halls have a 4'X4' fluorescent pink sign reading EMERGENCY SCENE AHEAD that we set up. We use blocking techniques with our apparatus, and when working on or beside the highway we all use high-vis vests. We, thankfully, haven't had any incidents involving injured firefighters.

Training Fit For A Firefighter

A training regimen fit for a firefighter Nov. 16, 2010 - The Firefighter Health Evaluation and Training Workout Manual is the only health and fitness manual developed exclusively for firefighters. This specialized workout takes into account both the cardiovascular strength that firefighters need to respond quickly and the stabilization provided by improved muscle strength to keep firefighters injury-free. The manual is a comprehensive twelve-month health and fitness regimen. Each month the exercises build in complexity and difficultly, so after twelve months of this regimen, you will be at the peak of your physical performance. This is a great resource for new recruits or established veterans. For more information, or to purchase the manual, visit the Annex Bookstore.

Man and Woman Charged After Kids Padlocked In Trailer

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Greenville police have charged a man and a woman with unlawful neglect of a child after investigators say they locked three children in a mobile home that caught on fire.

Related

• Deputies: Parents Charged After Padlocking Children In Mobile Home
• Three youths padlocked inside burning home, deputies say
• Mother, boyfriend charged after children escape locked burning house
• Deputies: Children Found Locked Inside Burning Home
• Retired Firefighter Radioes For Help, Saves Lives

The Greenville County Sheriff's Office said 31-year-old Angel Gilliland and 42-year-old Alberto Rodriquez-Carrera were arrested Tuesday.

Arrest warrants say Gilliland is the mother of a 9-year-old, 13-year-old and 16-year-old who were padlocked inside the mobile home.

Deputies say the children broke out a window to escape the fire and suffered minor injuries. All three were taken to a hospital for treatment and are in the custody of the Department of Social Services.

Firefighters had to use bolt cutters to get into the home and extinguish the fire that started near the kitchen stove.


My Opinion
My goodness what are people thinking these days!? If you don't think you can care for your kids, there are services out there that can take them. There are also services out there to help you if you're strapped for cash, and I'm sure you have friends that can take them for the day if you need a day off. You don't padlock them in the trailer when you notice it's on fire! I know some of the facts are missing here, but why would you need to padlock your trailer with kids in it at all? Period. This story is horrific, and shows how common sense really is lost nowadays. These parents have horrible morals and ethics, and should be psychologically tested for stupidity.

Brad MacMillan

Can You Open This Door?

Not all doors are created equal. Take a look at this door and decide how you would attack it’s integrity to force it open. There is a lot that the characteristics of a door can tell you about how it is hung and secured.

Although this seems like a very simple skill and knowledge that everyone should know, I am continually surprised by how many don’t really understand how to use forcible entry tools. I’m sure you have seen the guy just beating a door to death but not getting anywhere because he is attacking the door the wrong way.

Share your thoughts, experiences and techniques with all of us on how you would attack this door. If you have photos, post them or send them and we will post them for you.

Stay safe and train hard.

Posted by dc802 on October 30, 2010 on http://firefightersenemy.com/2010/10/attack-this-door/ Go there to find some great ideas on how to attack this door.