April 2008

Santa Anita Fire 93 percent contained

April 30, 2008

SIERRA MADRE – Firefighters for a second day made major progress overnight in their quest to battle the Santa Anita Fire, officials said Wednesday morning. The burn area was 93 percent contained as of Wednesday evening, officials said. “It’s going real good right now,” said Nathan Judy, a spokesman for Southern California Interagency Incident Management [...]

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Hollywood and Vine “Basque’s” in Morning Glow

April 30, 2008

On Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 5:31 AM, 23 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 6 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 2 Arson Units, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units, 1 Rehab Unit, 2 CERT Coordinators, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 4 EMS Battalion Captains, 7 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Teams, Emergency Air [...]

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Torrance Trench Rescue

April 30, 2008

A trench collapse in Torrance has fire department units busy working to free at least two construction workers. Live news footage from KCAL sky 9 gives the impression that the victims are fairly accessible but are well trapped. It is reported that the two men are waist-deep since the rescue began at 6:30 p.m. at [...]

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City expected to increase Sacramento firefighter salaries

April 30, 2008

Despite facing major deficits and worker layoffs, the city of Sacramento is on the verge of approving nearly $15 million in additional pay for firefighters and paramedics over the next two years. The proposed labor contracts – approved by the firefighters union last week – is expected to be approved without opposition at City Council [...]

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Firefighters get upper hand – Chantry Fire

April 30, 2008

As displaced hillside residents began trickling back to their homes Tuesday, fast and significant progress by firefighters battling the Santa Anita Fire seemed to mark the beginning of the end of the 580-plus-acre blaze. Cooler temperatures and high humidity overnight Monday into Tuesday allowed more than 1,000 firefighters from departments throughout the San Gabriel Valley [...]

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2-Alarm Fire Heavily Damages Two Homes on Las Vegas’ Eastside

April 29, 2008

Fire started in the rear yard behind 429 Galveston and was blown by high winds to the house and then extended northward to house at 433 Galveston. What started the fire was not determined. Yard had several air compressor tanks in it which exploded during the fire, which is normal when a pressurized tank is [...]

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Fire destroys San Jose garage and outbuildings

April 29, 2008

Flames tore through a detached garage, several outbuildings, and at least one vehicle during an early morning fire in San Jose’s Burbank district on April 20, 2008. Just after 6:00 am units of the San Jose Fire Department responded to multiple calls reporting fire to the rear of 108 Cleveland Avenue. While en route first-due [...]

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2002 oily fire still injures Boston firefighters

April 29, 2008

Nearly six years after an explosion ignited a nine-alarm blaze at a power station in South Boston, the first responders who fought the fire are suffering from chronic respiratory, sinus and digestive troubles, the Herald has learned. In interviews with the Herald, Boston firefighters who were saturated with lubricating oil while battling the Oct. 1, [...]

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Vehicle left running in garage sickens Seattle Firefighters and Residents

April 29, 2008

Thirteen people were hospitalized today after a vehicle left running in a covered garage of a Lake City apartment building left several people sick. Seattle Fire Department Lt. Sue Stangl said that seven people from the building and six firefighters have been taken to local hospitals for carbon monoxide poisoning. She said that none of [...]

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Fire department hit with second EEOC complaint

April 29, 2008

A second Columbus firefighter has filed an U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against the city, alleging gender discrimination. Columbus Fire and Emergency Medical Services Capt. Mary Simonton said she filed the complaint late last week. Simonton, a 30-year employee with the department, was one of five people to apply for a deputy chief’s position [...]

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