Feb. 17, 2023 Battalion Chief Derek Hullender said the building built in 1869 was untenable.

By David Aaro, John Spink Source The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (TNS) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

A fire caused significant damage to a nearly 155-year-old historic building in southwest Atlanta on Thursday morning, officials said.

Crews with Atlanta fire responded around 7:15 a.m. to a reported structure fire at the former Morris Brown College dormitory in the 600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, according to Battalion Chief Derek Hullender. No injuries were reported.

The building, formerly called Gaines Hall, was designed by architect William Parkins and built in 1869, four years after the Civil War, according to the Atlanta Preservation Center. The brick structure is located within the Atlanta University Center Historic District and was Atlanta University’s first building. It later became a dormitory for Morris Brown and was returned to Clark Atlanta University after a 2017 court ruling.

A two-alarm fire previously caused damage to the building in 2015. At the time, fire investigators said the structure needed to be demolished due to the damage that left it unstable. On Thursday, conditions of the building forced fire crews to set up a defensive operation, Hullender said.

“Just concerns with building collapse,” he added. “The structure was untenable and we could not enter.”

Hullender said initially the fire appeared to be contained to one floor, but because firefighters weren’t able to make an interior attack, it was able to spread.

“It did extend to all three floors and there was collapse,” he said. “There were some additional roof collapse and partial wall collapses.”

He said three fire engines and three trucks responded to the blaze. Two additional engines were later added for “water supply.”

“Hydrants were fine, we just relay pumped because we were a little bit uphill and the length of the lay,” Hullender noted.

Hullender said the building would likely not be used going forward after the fire.

“Probably at this point they’re not going to be able to do anything else with it,” he added. “But that’ll be up for Clark Atlanta to determine.”

Feb. 17, 2023 Lynn firefighters had a tough time venting the structure and called for a second alarm.

By Anthony Cammalleri Source Daily Item, Lynn, Mass. (TNS) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Feb. 16—LYNN — After a roughly three and a half hour battle, firefighters knocked down a two-alarm fire at 56 Sachem St. Thursday afternoon.

Police and firefighters blocked off three blocks of Sachem Street around noon as five fire engines and trucks rushed to extinguish the fire in the six-unit condominium building.

At 11:43 a.m., Lynn Fire responded to reports of smoke detectors going off at the building, District Fire Chief Joseph Zukas said.

Smoke flowed through the three-story complex’s roof at 12:02 p.m. as approximately seven firefighters stood on the roof of the complex with axes, attempting to vent the building.

As of 12:30 p.m., flames extended through the right side of the building. Firefighters broke the windows on the building’s third floor, continuing their efforts to vent it.

By 12:52 p.m., flames spread to the building’s front right corner. Around this time firefighters evacuated the building as it became too dangerous to fight the fire from inside with the roof beginning to collapse entirely, leaving the job to exterior operations only, Zukas said.

Lynn Fire Chief Daniel Sullivan said that while there are believed to have been four individuals in the apartment at the time the fire started, all of them had evacuated.

“I believe there were four home at the time,” Sullivan said. “I don’t know if they got out because of us, or if they all self-evacuated. I believe they self-evacuated.”

Sullivan added that he did not, as of 1:25 p.m., know where the fire started, though firefighters initially saw fire in the attic space upon arrival.

“When they got here, they found fire up in the attic space, but I don’t know where it started,” he said. “We’re still early in our investigation.”

The fire was difficult to put out, Sullivan noted, because it had gone underneath the roof, and the roofing material kept water from reaching the fire.

Second-story resident Michael Cordy, whose cat was rescued from the building, said that he was leaving to go to work when he heard the alarms. He said he thought it was a false alarm and took his time leaving, before he saw smoke from the back of the building.

“I was leaving for work and, every so often, the alarm goes off in this building,” Cordy said. “Usually firefighters come and shut it off — I thought it was going to be another routine thing. I actually stayed a minute just to open the door for them [firefighters]. They asked me to open the back door and then that’s where the smoke was.”

Along with Cordy’s cat, two birds belonging to another resident were also rescued. No injuries to residents or first responders were reported.

The Daily Item will provide updates as details arise.

Feb. 17, 2023 Iowa Homeland Security will pay $600,000 to 20 departments that responded to the Marengo blast.

Source Firehouse.com News

Firefighter turnout gear and equipment damaged or destroyed at an explosion in Marengo will be replaced by Iowa Homeland Security. 

The agency will spend about $600,000 to replace gear for more than 20 departments that responded to the blast at the plant operated by C6-Zero, The Gazette reported.

Some of the turnout gear has diesel fuel as well as a solvent of unknown nature that was stored in the facility.

“We’re very appreciative to get the fire departments back in operation,” said Josh Humphrey, Iowa County Emergency Management Agency coordinator. He added that relying on older gear is dangerous. 

The petroleum-based solvent left a tar-like coating on firefighters’ clothing that professional cleaning did not remove, Mark Swift, treasurer of the Marengo Fire Department, said in December.

The explosion injured a dozen employees, caused an evacuation of nearby houses and polluted soil and water because of chemicals stored at the site, where C6-Zero was attempting to dissolve used shingles into oil, sand and fiberglass.

Officials said in a letter to company officials that state law holds those “having control over a hazardous substance” liable to the state or other government body for “reasonable cleanup costs.”

Firefighters used thousands of gallons of foam to quell the flames. 

Feb. 16, 2023 The Central Berkeley Fire and EMS husband-and-wife team and the delivery person who fell at their doorstep are now like family.

Source Firehouse.com News

A trip and a fall may have ruined dinner for a South Carolina family recently, but it was life-changing for everyone involved.

Barbara Gillespie, 72, lost her balance as she stepped onto the porch with the pasta and salad, flinging them and sending her into a chair. And, the mishap was caught on a security camera, according to Newsweek.

The Dominos delivery person picked the perfect porch to fall on as the residents were Lacey Klein, an EMT and her husband, Kevin Keighron, a firefighter/medic with Central Berkeley Fire and EMS in Summerville, SC.

Kevin said when he opened the door, she was still on the porch floor. He kept asking if she was OK and if she was hurt.

“I ruined your food,” she replied.

Later, she would jokingly explain to a reporter: “I fell on their pasta.”

The couple was more concerned about her than their dinner. They came up with a plan to help after hearing she was working at Dominos for the past five years because she needs the money.

Klein uploaded footage of the incident to TikTok and set up the GoFundMe minutes later, hoping to get some money for her.

“I thought, even if only a couple people donate, maybe she could take a couple days off to recover and relax,” she said adding that she never imagined the response it would get. 

To date, people have donated more than $250,000. And, Barbara has turned in her apron. 

“It’s nice to know that there are people in this world who care,” she said.

While she may have dropped their dinner, she’s gained a new family. The couple’s five children now fondly call her ‘Grandma Barbara.’

Feb. 16, 2023 Although the structure was boarded up, there was evidence people lived there.

Source Firehouse.com News

A two-alarm fire in a boarded-up building proved challenging for San Antonio firefighters.

Although it was boarded-up, there was an indication that people may have be living in the structure. No injuries were reported, KSAT reported.

Heavy fire was encountered when crews approached the area north of downtown about 1 a.m. Wednesday.

Holes in the bottom floor made fighting the fire from the inside extremely dangerous, so crews evacuated, and launched an aerial attack, according to Joe Arrington, fire department PIO.

Firefighters said the fire likely started in the lower portion of the building, and that the people living inside were mostly on the upper portion. 

The cause remains under investigation. 

Feb. 16, 2023 Osceola County crews found thousands of plastic pots and pallets burning.

Source Firehouse.com News

Florida firefighters are battling a massive fire involving pallets and plastic pots.

Firefighters in Osceola County found at least two acres of thousands of burning plastic pots and pallets, according to CBS News. 

Residents with breathing issues have been encouraged to stay indoors. The Orange County hazmat team is monitoring the air in the vacinity.

Crews remain on the scene. 

Feb. 16, 2023 Gresham Firefighter Brandon Norbury collapsed while training earlier this month.

Source firehouse.com News

An Oregon community paused Wednesday to honor a former U.S. Navy Seal who also wore Gresham firefighter turnout gear.

Firefighter Brandon Norbury suffered cardiac arrest Feb. 3 at the fire department’s training grounds, KGW reported. 

Despite immediate care from colleagues, Norbury did not survive.

“It gives closure, I think, to the fire service folks,” said Fire Marshal for Lake Oswego and spokesperson for the memorial Gert Zoutendijk. “Obviously the family always want closure, we want to all pay our respects and find that closure.”

Karen Javernick came all the way from Canyon City, Colorado to pay her respects.

“Brandon is from Canyon City, Colorado. We have known his family since he was a tiny little boy. We grew up with him, he knows our kids.”

Even though she hasn’t seen him in years, it was still very important to be at the ceremony. 

“We just kind of lost contact but when we saw this we just felt that we had to do it,” Javernick said.

Norbury had been a Navy Seal, then a Gresham Police Officer for seven years, and had been with the Gresham Fire Department for 15 years. 

Retired Portland Fire & Rescue Captain Mike Glenn recalled:  “His soul and his spirit connected when he joked with you, that was his way, those who were close to him understood that.”

Feb. 16, 2023 Body cam footage of the Colorado Springs incident shows the victim becoming unresponsive.

By Elise Schmelzer Source The Denver Post (TNS) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

An unarmed Colorado man who was experiencing a mental health crisis last November died after being handcuffed and held on the ground by a police team dedicated to responding to mental health calls — a death that has since been ruled a homicide.

Kevin Dizmang, 63, died Nov. 15 after being contacted by a Colorado Springs community response team comprised of a police officer, a fire department paramedic and a mental health clinician. The team was dispatched after receiving a call about a man experiencing a crisis and destroying the home where he lived.

The El Paso County Coroner’s Office determined Dizmang died of a heart attack, but ruled his death a homicide because of how he was restrained. Methamphetamine intoxication, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an enlarged heart and other health conditions contributed to his death, the coroner found.

Dizmang’s family hopes local authorities will hold the paramedic and police officer responsible for Dizmang’s death, attorney Harry Daniels said Wednesday.

“The family wants justice,” he said.

The Colorado Springs Police Department has not released the names of the community response team members.

Body camera footage released Wednesday by Daniels shows Dizmang walking in the middle of Mount View Lane in Colorado Springs and speaking unintelligibly as the police officer arrived on scene. The officer told Dizmang to put his hands behind his back and said he wasn’t under arrest.

Dizmang didn’t comply but the officer was able to guide him to the side of the road. The officer, growing increasingly frustrated, continued to tell Dizmang to put his hands behind his back and grabbed Dizmang’s arms as he tried to handcuff him, the video shows.

Once out of the road, the paramedic took Dizmang to the ground. The officer and the paramedic then held Dizmang to the ground, with the paramedic draping his body across Dizmang’s prone body, the video shows.

“We’re here to help you,” the paramedic said.

Dizmang remained prone for about a minute before the officer and paramedic rolled him over to his side. Dizmang stopped responding to officers while prone. After they moved Dizmang to a sitting position, a bystander can be heard on the video telling Dizmang to breathe. Dizmang stopped responding to people speaking to him.

Paramedics started CPR after they placed Dizmang on a stretcher and in an ambulance. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The officer and paramedic were placed on paid administrative leave while Dizmang’s death was investigated by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, according to a news release issued by the sheriff’s office on Nov. 16.

The investigation has since been turned over to the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Colorado Springs police spokesman Robert Tornabene said.

Feb. 16, 2023 Dewayne Smoots is deputy chief of operations while his wife, Sharon, is assistant chief of support.

Source Firehouse.com News

Two of the highest-ranking chiefs in the Milwaukee Fire Department have the same last name.

That’s because Sharon and Dewayne Smoots are husband and wife, WISN reported.

Dewayne is the deputy chief of operations while Sharon is assistant chief of support. 

The deputy chief joined the fire department 35 years ago after a career with the state’s justice department. “When I came on, we didn’t have any Black teams at all…”

He noted that he’s proud that the three assistant chiefs are African-Americans. And, that his wife is one of them makes it sweeter.

Sharon has been moving up through the ranks over the past 20 years. She had no aspirations of being a firefighter but took the test anyway to see where it would lead. 

“It let me know and show others that this is possible,” she said, adding that the community has improved over the years. 

Dewayne says the couple tries to leave their work in the firehouse.