All,

Yesterday, a 29-year veteran of Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue died after he was hit by a car while changing a tire on Interstate 95 in Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, FL.

Fort Lauderdale Fire Lt. Kevin Johns was on his way to work, and stopped to take care of a flat tire around 0730 - when two cars were involved in a crash near the Yamato Road exit. One of the cars hit the other and after the initial impact, the car continued off the road and hit Johns. The Lieutenant was taken to Delray Medical Center after Boca Raton Fire-Medics did their best to save his life. He leaves behind his wife Brenda, three children and a huge firefighting family.

WHILE not a Line of Duty death-Lt. John's tragic death is a reminder of the constant dangers of highways and interstate roadways...be it off duty-or on duty.

Our condolences to all affected-RIP.

===REMEMBERING THE CATLETT, VIRGINIA FIREFIGHTERS KILLED IN TRAIN VS APPARATUS CRASH.

On September 28, 1989, we remember the radio traffic like it was yesterday-when a train struck a responding fire apparatus in the county south of us. We were operating at a pipeline leak when the mutual aid hazmat truck radio from Faquier County "exploded" with urgent transmissions.

Killed in the Line of Duty were Catlett (VA) Firefighters Mark Miller and Matt Smith when they responded to a vehicle fire on Route 28 around 1930 hours on September 28, 1989.

SOME DETAILS WORTH READING------ "STRESS WHILE RESPONDING":

Catlett (Virginia, oustide of Washington, DC) Volunteer Firefighters Miller and Smith were two of the five firefighters aboard Wagon 7 as it turned out to a vehicle fire on Route 28 south of Catlett just before 1930 on September 28, 1989. Less than 10 minutes after the alarm, Miller and Smith were dead, the three other firefighters seriously injured, the engine was destroyed, an Amtrak passenger train with 2 locomotives and 16 cars had derailed, 57 of the 399 passengers were hurt and there was fire on the railroad tracks.

Wagon 7 (an engine company) was struck at the unprotected grade crossing as the engine was trying to get back to a driveway it had overshot on the way to the vehicle fire. The train was going 77 mph.

The engineer stated that he observed the fire apparatus and believed that Wagon 7 was going to stop at the crossing. When the engine entered the crossing, the engineer applied the brakes on "emergency" and sounded the horn.

The engineer reported that the firefighter riding in the front passenger seat of Wagon 7 never looked at the train before the collision.

The driver of Wagon 7 was a 24-year-old member of the department who had several years of experience in operating large vehicles.

The actions of the driver of Wagon 7 indicated he was undoubtedly experiencing added stress for several reasons.

First, the engine left the station without an officer on board, contrary to department policy. The chief's radio transmissions asking "who is in charge" and the indirect response from the crew of Wagon 7 would indicate that the driver was under added stress from the initial moments of the response. Wagon 7 radioed the chief to request that any additional apparatus be held in the station until they arrived at the scene to verify the nature of the call.

Another contributing factor, which may have been affected by the first, was the fact that Wagon 7 missed the turn for the driveway leading to the fire and traveled approximately 1.5 miles past the fire before asking for directions from communications. It is likely that the crew of Wagon 7 focused their attention on "redeeming themselves" by performing satisfactorily in reaching and extinguishing the fire. The tanker and the engine approached the scene at the same time. Tanker 7 stopped to allow Wagon 7 to enter the driveway first. The heightened level of stress on the driver of Wagon 7 is indicated by the fact that as he approached the driveway leading to the location of the fire call, he overshot the turn and had to back the vehicle to make the turn into the driveway.

At this point, the car fire was visible to the driver of Wagon 7 and the crew probably focused all their attention on reaching the fire.

This is reinforced by the statements of the Amtrak engineer, who stated that the placed the train's brakes on emergency and sounded the horn when he realized that the vehicle was not going to stop. As the train headed toward the pumper, the engineer stated that the front seat passenger never looked at the train, although the passengers in the rear jump seats did observe the approaching train.

"Although some level of stress can enhance human performance, excessive stress can lead to substandard performance.

When a person's arousal level is unduly increased by stressors, the focus of attention is narrowed to performance of the task perceived to be the most important, while the quality of the performance of any peripheral task(s) deteriorates."

HERE is the entire report and photos:

http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr-048.pdf

===REMEMBERING THE TRUMBULL STREET FIRE IN BOSTON WHERE FIVE FIREFIGHTERS WERE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

On the night of October 1, 1964, a passerby spotted a fire on Trumbull Street and pulled Box 1671 located at Shawmut Ave. and West Brookline Street. Boston Fire Alarm transmitted the box at 1232 hours.

Five members would die in the Line of Duty that night. Fire Lieut. John McCorkle, Engine Co. 24; Fire Lieut. John Geswell, Ladder Co. 26, detailed to Ladder Co. 4; FF. Francis Murphy, Engine Co. 24. FF. James Sheedy, Ladder Co. 4 and FF. Robert Clougherty, Engine Co. 3.

At around 1245, without any warning the first collapse occurred. Men were knocked from ladders and the balcony fire escapes, other men on the ground were buried and burned. Also killed was a civilian, a freelance photographer and "fire buff/spark". His name was Andy Sheehan and he often sparked at the quarters of Engine Co. 3 and Ladder Co. 3. He had graduated from Cathedral High School a few years before and had become friends with some of the members. He died several hours after being brought into Boston City Hospital - he was 25 years old.

A very large funeral was held for the five members killed at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross ' the South End on 5 October 1964. A large delegation from other fire departments attended. A separate funeral was held that same day in Milton for Andy Sheehan of which firefighters attended as well. The 12 injured members were taken to Boston City Hospital. Some were very seriously injured.

This turned out to be an arson fire. The cause of the collapse was the "rapid deterioration of the roof rafters due to the heavy burn and being termite ridden for years". This left little support for the main steel "I" beam, which lead to the collapse of the front walls. The report also states that after further investigation the original mortar had lost some of it's bonding and had deteriorated. From outside observation the wall appeared sound. The report also states that the operations of the fire department did not induce or contribute to the collapse of the wall.

The fire had been burning for a while as the person that pulled the box told investigators that he had smelled smoke in the area for several hours, but he could not locate the source.

TAKE TIME TO READ THE REPORT AND VIEW THE PHOTOS IN THESE LINKS:

http://www.cityofboston.gov/fire/reports_publications/trumbull_st_fire.asp

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/09/30/survivors-recall-tragic-toy-factory-fire-years-ago-that-killed-five-boston-firefighters-and-civilian/5N0oy9XwZQQxNZJHKI950I/story.html?event=event25

Take Care. Be Careful. Pass It On.

We look forward to seeing many of you at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, MD on Saturday October 11 and Sunday October 12.

http://www.firehero.org/events/memorial-weekend/

BillyG

The Secret List 10-1-2014-1008 Hours