The City of El Cajon is looking to improve it medical services by diverting low priority medical calls to nurses instead of sending EMS crews.
On average El Cajon handles around 16,000 emergency calls per year, approximately a third are not considered true emergencies requiring a typical ambulance and fire apparatus response.
Steve Swaney, Heartland Fire-Rescue chief, told Newsradio 600 KOGO, “We’ve done the same thing for 40 years: Someone calls 911 and we send everybody. It’s not sustainable.”
With the current EMS system, dispatchers code call severity and send EMS crews where the call is critical or not. The new program gives dispatchers the option of transferring callers to a 24/7 nurse call center.
The nurses would triage calls and provide resources to the callers including assisting them in finding non-emergency care and transportation if immediate care is not needed.
The new program has a few additional steps that require approval before it would go into operation this summer. City leaders estimate the program could reduce responses by approximately 5,000 calls.
A massive pile-up during a snow squall on Interstate-81 in Foster Township sparked a large fire and claimed five lives.
By Frank Andruscavage – Source The Citizens’ Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (TNS)
Five people are confirmed dead after a multi-vehicle accident in the northbound lanes of Interstate 81 in Foster Twp. during a snow squall Monday morning.
The sudden onset of heavy snow coupled with fog in the area proved a dangerous combination as tractor-trailers, trucks and passenger vehicles slammed into one another. The impact caused at least one tractor-trailer to catch fire; another truck carrying acetylene cylinders was near the blaze.
The crash occurred around 10:30 a.m. just north of the Minersville exit, Exit 116.
Emergency personnel said that as many as 40 vehicles may have been involved.
Authorities reported that, as of 3:50 p.m., five people were known to be dead, and workers continued to search vehicles for other victims.
As several firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, others walked from crushed vehicle to crushed vehicle, checking on occupants and treating the injured.
A mass casualty center was set up on the property of the Wegmans Distribution Center near the crash site.
State police are beginning the complicated investigation as to what caused the crash, which is believed to be weather-related.
The American Red Cross, Greater Pennsylvania Region, Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter, Allentown, responded to provide resources and assistance to affected motorists.
Red Cross Disaster Team members, in coordination with local officials and emergency responders, established a reception center to provide a safe and warm central hub for motorists and their families to receive information, blankets, food and drinks.
Firefighters originally shut down the northbound lanes at the Hegins exit, mile marker 112, but later moved the closure south, shutting the highway at the Tremont exit, mile marker 107.
Southbound traffic was brought to a standstill at the Highridge exit, mile marker 119, and later pushed back to the Frackville exit, mile marker 124. Southbound lanes reopened about 5 p.m.
Also closed at some point was Keystone Boulevard in the Highridge Industrial Park, Gordon Mountain Road and Route 901 in both directions, toward Minersville and into Barry Twp. As of 3:45 p.m. Gordon Mountain Road was open.
The northbound lanes of the interstate are expected to be closed for an indefinite amount of time.
On Feb. 19, a crash involving around 40 vehicles shut down a 3-mile stretch of I-81 in the northbound lanes some 20 miles north, near mile marker 139, between Exit 138 ( McAdoo/ Tamaqua) and Exit 141 ( Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce Beltway). Five people suffered minor injuries, authorities reported at the time.
That crash also occurred during a snow squall that caused whiteout conditions.
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New Orleans firefighters battled a three-alarm apartment fire on the 2100 block of Westbend Parkway that left one resident homeless.
Firefighters were called to a reported apartment fire in the Westbank neighborhood on Monday afternoon. The first arriving company reported heavy fire engulfing much of the building and requested a second-alarm, according to the New Orleans Fire Department.
Crews initiated primary searches of the building removing all residents while they conducted suppression operations to control and stop the spread of fire. The fire escalated to three-alarms to provide relief crews operating at the scene.
Twenty-seven fire department units and fifty-eight firefighters responded to the scene, no firefighters were injured.
Baton Rouge firefighters battled an apartment fire that damaged multiple units, injuring one occupant.
Source: Firehouse.com
Baton Rouge firefighters battled heavy flames at an apartment fire that injured one occupant who was cooking.
Firefighters were called to the apartment fire around 9:00 p.m., Sunday and arrived to heavy smoke pushing from a unit in the building.
“The occupant stated that they were about to fry some fish when the grease splashed onto the burner and caught fire,” the Baton Rouge Fire Department told BRProud.com.
Firefighters stretched handlines to control the blaze and had it under control within 20 minutes of the initial call. The occupant of the fire unit sustained a minor burn to their hand.
BPRoud.com reported a total of nine units were affected by the fire and were being assisted by the Red Cross.
EMS providers treated the firefighter on site, and crews from multiple counties assisted in putting out the fire
By: Leila Merrill – FireRescue1
Maryland Line Volunteer Fire Company firefighters and surrounding agencies battled a house fire in Parkton that resulted in a mayday when a firefighter fell through the floor.
Firefighters were called to the 19600 block of Graystone Road in Parkton around 9:20 p.m., Sunday evening for a reported dwelling fire.
Crews arrived to a working fire in a single-family dwelling. Firefighters from Maryland Line and Hereford stretched lines into the structure for fire control, but had to withdrawal due to changing conditions, according to a post on Maryland Line Volunteer Fire Company’s Facebook page.
Once firefighters got a bulk of the fire knocked down, crews had re-entered the structure when the mayday was called after a firefighter fell through the floor. Firefighters were able to quickly locate and extricate the firefighter.
The firefighter was evaluated by paramedics. Firefighters from Baltimore County, Harford County, and York County in Pennsylvania assisted with operations.
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Eight children are among the 12 people killed following a fire at two apartment units owned by the Philadelphia Housing Authority in the city’s Fairmount neighborhood Wednesday morning. The Philadelphia Fire Department arrived to heavy flames at the building on the 800 block of North 23rd Street just after 6:30 a.m.
“It was terrible, most of, I’ve been around for 30, 35 years now and this is probably one of the worst fires I’ve ever been to,” Philadelphia Deputy Fire Commissioner Craig Murphy said during a press conference.
Murphy says the number of victims is “dynamic because there is still an ongoing recovery effort.”
Eight people evacuated the building and two additional people were transported to CHOP and Temple University Hospital.
“We’re getting multiple calls, reported people inside,” was heard on dispatch audio.
Dispatch audio and cellphone video take you into the moments the row home went up in flames. The multi-unit was home to at least 26 people.
“We got heavy fire filling the second floor, heavily smoke third floor, prepare for rescue,” was heard on dispatch audio.
From the moment they arrived, fire crews attacked this blaze aggressively.
Fire officials say there was heavy fire in the second-floor kitchen area.
Crews got the fire under control by 7:31 a.m.
Murphy says the building was divided into two apartments. The first-floor unit reportedly had eight occupants and the second and third-floor unit had 18 people living in it.
The multi-unit building had a described “odd layout,” possibly preventing a safe escape.
“Other than front door and rear entrance, because of the odd configuration of the house, all I know of is two exits,” Murphy said.
Officials say Licenses and Inspections will determine if it was OK for that many people to live inside each unit.
The home is owned by the Philadelphia Housing Authority. According to the PHA, there are seven smoke detectors and three carbon monoxide detectors in Unit A and six smoke detectors and three carbon monoxide detectors in Unit B. This makes a total of 13 smoke and six carbon monoxide detectors in the building that did not operate.
“Most recent inspection on B unit was May 5, 2021, and at that time, we had six smoke detectors and three carbon monoxide detectors working,” Indala said. “We had to replace two batteries in two smoke detectors, all replaced. On a previous inspection, 9/28/2019, we also had to replace smoke detectors again in the same unit. On A unit, the latest inspection on 4/23 and two smoke detectors were installed and there were seven smoke detectors and three carbon monoxide detectors present and they were signed by the tenant as a part of the smoke detector response form.”
Indala says PHA was not aware that 26 people were living inside the unit.
“No, we were not,” Indala said. “We are cooperating with fire department and everyone else in the investigation right now. It’s L&I stuff. All the family hasn’t been notified yet so we don’t want to comment on who and what. The count for the number of people on that property is too high.”
The PHA does inspections annually and the last was in May 2021. Indala adds that it’s the holidays and it’s unclear if “they have people coming and visiting.”
Murphy says the fire is not considered suspicious at this time, but the Philadelphia Fire Department’s Fire Marshal’s Office is leading the investigation because of the loss of life.
As the investigation continues, an emotional Mayor Jim Kenney asked the public to reserve judgment as the city mourns an unspeakable tragedy.
“This is undoubtedly one of the most tragic days in our city,” Kenney said.
The destructive blaze is being thoroughly investigated by multiple agencies. With the fire department’s deputy commissioner saying this is one of the worst fires he’s seen in his 30-plus year career.
“We are working with the Fire Marshal’s Office, we plan and intend on getting a cause for the fire, making sure this tremendous loss of life didn’t happen in vain,” Murphy said.
ATF agents also responded to the scene to assist.
There are reports this fire may have been started by a Christmas tree. However, investigators are still going through evidence and haven’t released an official cause.
The NFPA says that the Philadelphia rowhome fire that claimed the lives of 12 people, including eight children, tied for the sixth deadliest fire since 1980.
The loss of 12 people, including eight children, tied for the sixth deadliest fire since 1980, according to data collected by the NFPA.
Officials said the rowhome, owned by the city’s Public Housing Authority, had four smoke detectors but none were working in their investigation after the fire.
According to the most recent NFPA Smoke Alarms in the US Home Fires report, almost three out of five home fire deaths occurred in properties with no smoke alarms or smoke alarms that failed to operate.
The report showed that 25 percent of the smoke alarm failures were due to dead batteries, with disconnected or non-working power sources accounting for the bulk of the non-working detectors.
Below is a breakdown of the top nine deadliest home fires in the U.S. since 1980, according to NFPA data.
Thronwood firefighter Sean Carroll – who comes from a firefighting family – died in a fire that started in the basement of his home.
November 27, 2021 – Source Firehouse.com News
A family committed to public safety lost a firefighter-son in a tragic early morning fire at their Thornwood home on Thanksgiving Day.
Thornwood firefighters were called to the home on Kensico Road and Warren Avenue shortly after 5 a.m. and reported no signs of a fire from the exterior.
Firefighters knocked on the door of the home to alert four occupants of the home to the fire, according to News 12.
Thronwood Fire Chief James Gedris told the television station that the fire started in the basement and became visible shortly after they arrived.
A 26-year-old man was perished in the fire.
According to a post on the Thornwood Fire Department Facebook page, firefighter Sean Carroll is the man who died. He was an eight-year member of the department and served as the department’s recording secretary.
In a post on FundtheFirst.com, it states Carroll’s father, Richard, and brother, Matt, are also Thornwood firefighters. Rich is a police officer with Rye Brook Police Department and Matt is an FDNY firefighter.
Sean Carroll, 26, a Thornwood firefighter, died in a house fire that displaced his brother, an FDNY firefighter and his father, a Rye Brook police officer.
Firefighters from seven departments responded to the scene and the fire was placed under control in an hour.
Officials told News 12 that the fire is believed to have been accidental and electric-related.
Viewing hours will be Sunday with a funeral mass Sunday morning.
Fire at the home owned by the dad of the Avett Brothers band destroyed dozens of guitars and an art collection.
November 27, 2021 – Source Firehouse.com News
A fire on Friday destroyed 60 guitars and up to 100 paintings at the Concord home of Jim Avett, father of Scott and Seth Avett of the Avett Brothers band.
“The fire started from a golf cart,” Jim Avett posted on Facebook late Friday. “Half the house is totally beyond repair.”
As they rushed to the scene just before 1 p.m., firefighters saw “a smoke column from a distance,” according to a Facebook post by the Allen Volunteer Fire Department.
Firefighters on the first engine to arrive noticed “heavy fire from the garage,” fire officials said in the post. They entered the house to keep the flames from spreading.
Firefighters from four other fire departments arrived with more water and helped attack the fire, according to the Allen Fire Department post.
Today at 12:53PM, AVFD was dispatched to a possible structure fire. While enroute, units could see a smoke column from a distance. Allen Engine 3 arrived on scene to find heavy fire coming from the garage. Allen personnel started fire attack and entered the residence to prevent extension throughout the entire home. Homeowners on scene were not injured. Two K9’s were rescued. Over 60 guitars were removed from the residence. Mutual aid companies arrived on scen…See more
No one was hurt, fire officials said.
“Great team work by all involved!” the fire department posted.
Jim Avett said a cat is missing.
He said the guitars “were almost a total loss” and all of the art was destroyed.
His sons’ band, The Avett Brothers, is the nationally touring, N.C.-based Americana/country-rock/country-folk/folk-rock band.
“While we are saddened by this setback it is not a knockout punch,” Avett posted on Facebook. “We have the strength, attitude, faith and abilities to move forward. And we will!”
He thanked everyone “for your most gracious and kind words. They mean the world to this family.”
East Providence firefighters battled a labor intensive fire in a three unit home leaving all three families without a place to live.
November 27, 2021 – Firehouse.com news
Three families are homeless after a fire in a second floor unit spread, causing damage to all three units in the East Providence building.
A nearby neighbor who noticed the fire called 9-1-1 summoning the fire department to the three-story building.
East Providence Fire Chief Glenn Quick told WPRI 12 News, “upon arrival, firefighters found heavy fire on the second floor and made and aggressive interior attack.”
Firefighters were able to control the fire in about 20 minutes. The Providence Fire Department was called to assist with this labor intensive fire.
