From the monthly archives:

May 2008

LAUGHLIN, Nev. — The Nevada Highway Patrol said an 18-wheel car hauler hit two cars before falling into the Colorado River.NHP Trooper Kevin Honea said the hauler lost its brakes at about 3 p.m. on State Route 163 at Casino Drive in Laughlin.

rivercrash1.jpg

It was not known if the hauler was carrying any cars at the time.Honea said the two drivers of the cars the hauler hit were transported to the hospital in unknown conditions.He said the driver of the truck was fished out of the river and is doing fine.

Fuel from the truck leaked into the river, but the extent of the spill is not yet known.

rivercrash2.jpg

The Laughlin bridge over the river has been closed until further notice. All travelers in and out of Laughlin from Bullhead City/Fort Mojave are advised to use the Avi Bridge as an alternate route.

West Coast 911 firefighting news info and photos by Larry Tunforss, Bullhead City Fire PIO

{ 0 comments }

At 4:30 pm May 30, 2008, 7 units from San Bernardino City Fire Department as well as one unit from San Manuel Indian Reservation responded to a structure fire in a vacant building in the 1300 block of E. Highland Avenue. Due to the amount of fire involvement a second alarm was dispatched with an additional 6 units.

me226.jpg

The fire also involved a pile of telephone poles to the rear of the structure which created a toxic environment for firefighters fighting the fire from the exterior. The majority of the fire was extinguished within a half an hour with mop up still occurring an hour after the fire started.

me226.jpg commandpost1.jpg

A city backhoe was used to separate piles of debris including a cork like substance and telephone poles so that firefighters could extinguish smoldering fire within that debris. The cause of the fire is still currently under investigation

Written and Submitted by PIO Mike Arvizo

West Coast 911 Firefighter News and Information

{ 0 comments }

50 Cent’s Home Goes up in Flames

May 31, 2008

A multi-million dollar home at the center of a bitter dispute between 50 Cent and the mother of his son was destroyed by a suspicious fire early Friday.Six people, including 50’s ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins and their 10-year-old son, Marquise, were taken to a hospital after suffering smoke inhalation and later released. A firefighter also suffered [...]

Read the full article →

Plane crashes in Murrieta field – 2 People dead

May 31, 2008

A single-engine two-seat plane crashed in a field near French Valley Airport in Murrieta this morning, killing the two people on board, fire officials said.
A farmer who lives nearby spotted the small white plane just before it crashed into a field next to Winchester Road north of Benton Road about 11:50 a.m.
“It looked like it [...]

Read the full article →

LAFD Battles House Fire and Rescue Dogs

May 31, 2008

On Friday, May 30, 2008 at 9:04 PM, 4 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Battalion Chief Millage Peaks responded to a Structure Fire at 3946 S. Bledsoe Ave. in the Mar Vista, Del Rey area.
Firefighters arrived to [...]

Read the full article →

Another Crane Collapses into a Manhattan Building

May 30, 2008

A construction crane has collapsed on New York’s Upper East Side, damaging the top floor of a nearby high-rise apartment building at 91st and 1st. The Fire Department says it has pulled people out of the wreckage.

Related article on crane collapse earlier this year.

Read the full article →

Helicopter crashes into Michigan hospital

May 30, 2008

Grand Rapids, Mich. – A helicopter practicing approaches crashed on the roof of a hospital Thursday, catching fire moments after the two people on board escaped with minor injuries, a fire official said.

The crash around 11 a.m. at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital sent thick, black smoke over downtown and forced the evacuation of patients.
The two [...]

Read the full article →

Massive fire hits apartment complex near Boston

May 30, 2008

PEABODY, Mass. — A massive fire destroyed the roof of the four-story apartment building Thursday and the thick black smoke that poured from the fire could be seen from Boston, about 12 miles south.
Fire Chief Steven Pasdon said officials were investigating whether the fire was caused by a gas leak. No injuries were reported.
The [...]

Read the full article →

Sean McCarthy, FDNY Firefighter, Dies at 35

May 30, 2008

Sean Michael McCarthy, one of five brothers who followed their father into the New York City Fire Department, died Tuesday of complications related to cancer. He was 35 years old and a lifelong resident of Bellmore.
One of McCarthy’s 11 siblings, FDNY Lt. James McCarthy, remembered his brother yesterday as a natural teacher in his passions: [...]

Read the full article →

Cause of Pomona fire under investigation

May 29, 2008

POMONA – A fire that caused $500,000 worth of damage to an industrial building Wednesday evening was determined to not have been arson despite initial reports, authorities said.
“It’s an undetermined cause,” said Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Sam Padilla on Thursday.
Los Angeles County firefighters responded to the fire at an abandoned building at 7:15 [...]

Read the full article →