Some More Car into House Pics

From FF/EMT Chris Dotter

Ped Hit in NJ

My brother, Chris, got this pic in NJ of a car that hit a ped. The article from the local paper follows.



Woman dies after being hit by cop


RIVERDALE -- Authorities are investigating a fatal accident in which an off-duty borough police officer on his way to work struck and killed a female pedestrian.
Riverdale Patrolman John R. Barone, 24, was driving south on Newark Pompton Turnpike on Thursday around 6:35 p.m. when his 1989 Toyota struck a woman as she ran into the street near Oak Street, a witness told police.
The woman was taken to Chilton Memorial Hospital in Pequannock and pronounced dead at 7:09 p.m. Thursday.
Morris County Prosecutor Michael M. Rubbinaccio said Friday the woman had yet to be identified. "Efforts are being made by law enforcement to identify her and notify her next of kin," Rubbinaccio said.
A witness told investigators Barone's vehicle had its headlights on and appeared to be traveling at the speed limit when the incident occurred. The witness, who was traveling north, saw what she described as a "black object" enter the roadway from the east side of the street and run west.
There is no crosswalk at the site.
Barone, who has been on the 17-member borough police force for about two years, is assigned to one of four patrol squads in the borough. No charges have been filed against Barone and no disciplinary action has been taken, the Prosecutor's Office said.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is asked to contact the Morris County Prosecutor's Office major crimes unit at (973) 285-6200.

www.northjersey.com

Another MVA

1/28/2006
Station 43 and Station 8 BLS were dispatched to an MVA on route 209 near Mr. Z's. Units on scene found a rear end type accident with minor injuries.
Thanks to FF/EMT Joe Coddington for the pictures. These were taken with a camera phone so the quality isnt the best.

Industrial Accident

Here is the article on the industrial accident from www.mcall.com

Lehighton Man Hurt In Industrial Accident
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP
A Lehighton man was hurt when his leg became trapped in a machine Friday morning at Rock Hill Materials Co. in Hamilton Township, a company spokesman said.
The accident happened about 9:45 a.m. while Karl Frable, 52, was standing on top of a conveyor belt above the ground, said company President Glenn Buskirk.The conveyor belt started and Frable's leg got caught, Buskirk said.Frable was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, where he was in satisfactory condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.Buskirk said Frable, who works as a truck driver and a mixer, was placing weights on part of the machine to verify the accuracy of the scales when the accident happened. The conveyor belt machine is used to move rock to be weighed and loaded onto trucks.

Greg Dorn gets an Award

Plowman honored for saving trapped driver
Catherine Rodriguez
January 27, 2006

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation plow driver who rescued a man from his burning car in December was given an award at Thursday's Safe80 Task Force meeting.State Rep. Mario Scavello, R-176, presented the award to Gregory Dorn to acknowledge his actions early in the morning of Dec. 3.Dorn was driving a PennDOT plow truck on Route 715 in Chestnuthill Township at 3:35 a.m. when his progress was stopped by a fallen tree blocking the road. He thought he noticed flames on the roadway possibly caused by a fallen wire. As he took a closer look, he realized it was an overturned car on fire.


Dorn grabbed his fire extinguisher, ran to the car and heard the driver screaming. Realizing that the extinguisher was useless, he tried to get into the car but couldn't."I didn't think — I had no protective gear with me, not even my work gloves — I just kicked the windshield in and grabbed the guy and pulled him out," said Dorn.The driver, Thomas O'Reilly, was taken to the hospital and treated for broken ribs and minor burns. Dorn had some cuts to his hands from pulling O'Reilly through the smashed windshield after he kicked it in."It must have happened right before I got there," said Dorn. "The car wasn't burning too bad. The flames weren't very big."Dorn has been a firefighter with the West End Fire Company for 15 years."We train for stuff like this all the time," he said. "The difference is that we train in pairs and groups. I never thought I'd be doing something like this all alone.""Its nice to get an award," he added. "But I'd do it again in a minute."
from www.poconorecord.com

Car into House

1/28/2006
Station 43 was dispatched to a reported car into a house on Route 209. Units on scene found exactly that, an SUV into a house.
They do say that Jeeps can go anywhere. This brings new meaning to the word offroad. This was actaully a model home for Titan Homes. Guess they wanted the side entry garage door.
Photos supplied by FF/EMT Joe Coddington.

Missed Calls

Over the last couple of days we had a call for a person stuck in a machine and a car into a house. I will work on getting some more info and maybe some pictures.

Updated Call Log

1/23/06
Structure Fire- Burger King
Auto Alarm- Jackson Township

1/24/06
Medical - Pleasant Valley Drive
Structure Fire- Cherry Valley Vineyard
MVA- Pennyl Road
Medical

1/25/06
Medical
Auto Alarm- Adams Drive

1/26/06
Auto Alarm- Happy Family Restuarant

1/27/06
Unknown type fire- near Burger King
Industrial Accident-
Dwelling Fire- Rollingwood Dr.

1/28/06
MVA- Route 209
Medical- Harvest Hill Road
MVA Route 209
Auto Alarm- Sierra View

Year to Date: 95

Burger King Fire

A little before 0200 hours on 1/23/2006 Station 43 was dispatched to reported smoke coming from the top of Burger King on route 209 in Brodheadsville. The call was quickly upgraded to flames showing. Stations 35 (Polk Township), 28 (Kunkletown, and 39 (Sun Valley) were added to the assignment. Units on scene found fire through the roof on the D side. First in 43-1-1 arrived first on scene and began an exterior attack with a 2.5" line. It was thought there may have been an employee inside as their car was still in the parking lot. Additional units arrived on scene and put numerous handlines in service. There was heavy fire throughout the kitchen area. Station 28 arrived with their "aerial devise" and began aerial ops. Water supply was an issue as well as slippery roads with the snow and freezing rain. Stations 23 (Blue Ridge), 27 (Jackson Township), 34 (Pocono Township) were added to the Tanker task Force. After several hours it was determined that the employee was not in the building at the time of the fire. Units finally cleared at 0730. A great job was done by all on this job as we had to deal with tough weather conditions. We need to stop getting fires everytime it snows.

Units arriving on scene


Drive Thru Area

Updated Call Log

1/20/2006
Medical- Sherwood Forrest
Brush- Mountain Road
Dwelling- Whispering Woods

1/21/2006
Wires Down- Hillcrest Drive
Medical- Deer Trail Drive
Medical- Starry Lane

1/22/06
MVA - Jonas Road
Chimney Fire- Sky View Terrace
Medical- Toll Road

Year to Date 79

1/22/2006- MVA With Entrapment

Station 43 along with Station 8 ALS and BLS were dispatched to a reported MVA with possible entrapment on Jonas Road and Galaxy Way. Units on scene confirmed entrapment times 2. One Patient was flown via Medevac 2. I will try to get more info and pictures of this call as I was not there.

Why we need to wear seat belts

These type of things can happen here.

Stroud firefighters shaken after crash
Catherine RodriguezPocono Record Writer
January 19, 2006
Three firefighters were injured Tuesday evening when their fire truck collided with a pickup truck that pulled into its path.The Stroud Township Fire Department was dispatched to a call of an automatic alarm at a residence in Blue Mountain Lake Estates at 5:35 p.m. The truck, a Pierce Pumper, had just exited the North Fifth Street fire station and was heading north at about 25 miles per hour with its lights and siren activated when a Ford F-150 driven by 37-year-old Patrick Trunzo of Stroudsburg pulled out of Shook Avenue intending to go south on North Fifth Street.Trunzo stopped in the northbound lane in the path of the pumper and then accelerated into the south lane just as the pumper swerved to avoid the pickup, hitting the Ford and shearing off a utility pole.


Stunned and shaken firefighters from Stroud Township responded to the scene and helped to strip the pumper so that it could be towed.Stroud Township Chief Dave Smalley said that it could have been much worse."The three guys on the truck are badly shaken up and bruised, but they're OK," he said. "This is something that all firefighters dread."The three injured firefighters — driver Lee Phillips, Rich Banks and Russ Daniels — were all taken to Pocono Medical Center for treatment of bruises. They were all released Tuesday night. Trunzo was arrested on DUI charges and also taken to Pocono Medical Center where he submitted to a blood-alcohol test. He was treated for minor injuries and released.Both the pickup and the fire truck were severely damaged and were towed from the scene. The pumper was stripped of its equipment before being towed and will be out of service for "an extended time," according to Smalley."The damage wasn't as bad as it looked," he said. "There was a lot of body damage. There is a question about the cab, though. It was pretty badly creased."The fire truck will be stored at the firehouse until arrangements are made for its repair. Most of the equipment that was taken off the pumper was put on the department's spare truck that was scheduled to be sold this year. It will be put into service until the battered pumper is back in service."But the truck isn't the main thing. It can be fixed," said Smalley. "What's important is that the guys are OK."

MVA 1/19/2006

Station 43 was dispatched to an MVA on Evergreen Hollow Road. Units on scene found a two car head on mva. Appears one driver crossed over the center line and struck the van. One patient was transported by West End Station 8 BLS.

Chimney Fire- 1/18/2006

Station 43 was dispatched along with Station 35 for a reported Chimeny fire off Mertz Drive in Polk Township. Appears the homeowner put some cardboard in the fireplace and some of it got stuck in the chimney. A thermal imaging camera was used and found no fire.

Members of Station 35 take down their ladder


FF John Debell ready for action


Here come the troops led by our fearless leader, Chief Snyder

Update Call Log

I have some pictures to post as well- will get them up as soon as possible.

1/18/2006
Medical Birch Hollow Estates
Medical- Chestnut Hill Manor
Chimney Fire- Mertz Road
MVA- Sugar Hollow Road and State Road

1/19/2006
MVA- Evergreen Hollow Road
Auto Alarm- Cherry Valley Road
5 Medical Calls- Unknown Locations
Total to Date- 70

Video of WEALS Responding

This short clip was sent to me by Duane as well. ALS responding to the MVA on Old Route 115 on the 16th.

West End Responds to Vehicle Accident

Article and pictures by By DUANE WELLIVER
MONROE COUNTY, PA - The West End Ambulance responded to motor vehicle accident on Route 115 in Monroe County. At least 4 injuries, one being MedEvaced. Central Pocono Ambulance, Blue Ridge Fire Department and West End Fire Department were also called for assistence.

Updated Call Log

1/14/2006
MVA Route 209 and 115
Medical
Auto Alarm- Birch Brier
Transformer Fire- Assist Station 35
MVA Route 534- Assist Station 35
Tree into House- Assist Station 35
Route 209 Wires down- Assist Station 35
MVA- Merwinsburg Road- assist Station 35
Dwelling Fire- Mt Laurel Road
Tree Into a House- Hill Street
Wires Down- Route 209 near turkey Hill
Wires Down- 115 and Heckmans Orchard
Transformer Fire- Mt Laurel
Wires Down- Evergreen Hollow Road

1/15/2006
Medical- Roberts Road
Wires Dwon- Route 715
Wires Down Sierra View
Wires Down Hillside Drive
Wires Down - Kennel Road

1/16/2006
Auto Alrm- Indian Mountain Lakes
Medical Birches West
Medevac Landing- Assist Station 23
Transformer fire- Cedar Lane
Total to Date: 59

43 Firefighter Chat Room

I am trying something new here. At the bottom of the first page there is a link for a chat room. Just click on the link- nothing to load to your computer. Feel free to stop in the room and see what other users are saying.
Let me know what you think about it.

43 Firefighter

Black Ice Strikes the West End

The morning of 1/12/2006 was eventful as it brought out cold temperatures which froze the melting snow in the streets from the day before. The morning commute brought us two MVA's.
The first on Gilbert Road which had an SUV strike a pole and sheering off the top. Noone was injured except for my pride when I fell on my ass on the ice. Now not too worry I am A OK.
West End Fire Company would like to thank PennDOT for the 5 cones they were able to supply to help close down the road.





While keeping Gilbert Road closed we were toned out to another MVA on Route 209 near the Meadowbrook Diner. This call had a car rear end an SUV then hit a pole. Both drivers were transported by West End ALS.

Update Call Log

1/9/2006
Medical - Sun Valley
Medical- Winter Court
Auto Alarm- Route 115 and Weir Lake


1/10/2006
Brush Fire- Wanrer Road

1/11/2006
CO Alarm- Harvest Hill Road

1/12/2006
MVA- Gilbert Road
MVA- 209 and Meadowbrook Diner
Dwelling Fire- Pleasant Valley Estates
MVA - Five Springs Road

1/13/2006
Car Fire- Route 209

Year to Date- 35
(again these are only calls I am aware of- this number may change)

NJ MVA

To liven things up a bit I am going to start posting some photos of crashes my brother Chris is on in NJ. Hope you like them.
This one is on the Boulevard near Sherman Ave. in Pompton Plains, NJ

NJ Airplane Emergency Landing

My brother in NJ got a pic of a small plane that appears to have missed the runway. Landed in a nursery parking lot.

An Interesting Book

Here is an article on a new book that is out. Written by a FF in Canada. Check it out. You can order it thru the email in the article. I will be picking up my copy soon.

Ex-firefighter's words red hot

Retired fire captain Jimmy Allen's poignant book provides an inside look at what makes firefighters do their job, writes Earl McRae

Jimmy Allen is in the Merivale Mall being Jimmy Allen. Which is to say he's defending his world record for most topics covered by a human being in 10 seconds of rapid-fire monologue, and a stooped little old lady stops at the kiosk to look at the creative crafts Jimmy's selling for his wife, Sharon, who made them.
"Hello, DARLIN'. You look LOVELY. What are you, 20, 25? If I wasn't workin', we'd go DANCIN'. Don't be scared, I'm HARMLESS. My dear wife Sharon is the LOVE of my life. Can I interest you in my BOOK? My LIFE story. That's ME on the cover. Your HAIRSTYLE. It's PERFECT. It SUITS you."
She buys a piece of jewelry, she buys his book, he gives her a bear hug, she beams, and Jimmy Allen bolts to the front of the kiosk to adjust the display of his book, This Firefighter's Life, that he says is the only autobiography by a firefighter in North America.
If it's not, it's surely the best: A rollicking, roisterous, raw, rough, tender, profane, poignant, romp through Jimmy's 65 years of life with rounders, bounders, saints, sinners, 39 of those years as one tough sunuvabitch firefighter's firefighter in Ottawa before he retired as a captain -- all told in his inimitable style, no-holds barred, no sacred cows, and you come away from his book understanding like never before firefighters, their job, the special people they are.
From his book: "I can't write like Mickey Spillane, J.D. Salinger or John Steinbeck, but neither could they possibly invent the pathos and comedy of a firefighter's life. They didn't walk the walk or climb the ladders."
Nor could those guys write like Jimmy Allen, and he gives major credit to his buddy, Sun columnist Pat MacAdam. Jimmy, as a personal journal, had been scribbling his firefighting memories in longhand, to be typed out by Sharon, and one day he showed some of his stuff to MacAdam.
"Pat told me it was visceral, and that I should write a book. I asked him what visceral meant? I told him I don't know how to write. He said just write it in my firefighter's voice. The story that really got to Pat was the one on the little boy on the freezing winter night."
BOY WAS DEAD
From his book: "There was a little boy on the stairwell. His eyes were open, and he seemed to be looking straight at me. I took off my fire coat, wrapped him in it, and started to cry. I carried the little boy outside, and sat under a tree with him, not even feeling the cold.
"Warner Bradley came over to talk to me. He said: 'Jimmy, you know he's dead, eh?'
"'Yes, I know,' I answered. 'I couldn't get to him in time.' Warner said, 'It's not your fault.' The coroner, Dr. Tom Kendall, arrived. I surrendered the child to him. He had just been on the scene at another fatality. A 74-year-old man had put a double-barrelled shotgun in his mouth. Tom Kendall cried, too. We went back to the station and I washed away the chunks of burned skin that had stuck to the inside of my fire coat. I hung it in the tower to dry. Life is so precious, yet so fragile."
PUBLISHED IT HIMSELF
Jimmy Allen sent his manuscript to several top publishing houses and ran into The Canadian Curse. "They said it was interesting, but passed on it. One wanted me to take out the swear words, which I wouldn't, and another said it was 'too active,' whatever the hell that meant."
So, Jimmy paid to have it published himself. And a handsome $19.95 book it is; the photo on its red glossy cover of Jimmy kneeling in prayer over the body of a 72-year-old woman he'd covered in a tarpaulin after her car was struck by a train at a level crossing.
The morgue attendants wanted to drop the woman's body over a fence nearer to their vehicle. Referring to them as "flunkies," Jimmy writes: "I called them every name in the book and told them to handle her remains with dignity. I had two of my men carry her down the track to the body-removal truck. I was afraid I might strangle the two insensitive jerks."
Jimmy Allen's book is in the stores, but if you can't find it, ask the store to get it. Or you can buy it by e-mailing Jimmy: psallen1@rogers.com and he'll autograph it for you.
"YOU, sir. Lookin' for something for the LADY of your life? You've come to the RIGHT place. I LIKE your beard. Looks SMART. Those are earrings, she'll LOVE 'em. You're no DUMMY, it'll be a HOT time in the ol' bed tonight."
He buys the earrings. And Jimmy's book.

Call Log Updated

Again this is calls I know about- if someone reading this knows of something I missed let me know.

1/5/06
Ems Assist- Forced entry- Mt. Effort Drive
Medical Call- Bunny lane
School bus Fire- Sierra View
Medevac Landing- stabbing call at Station 8
EMS Assist-lifting
1/7/08
MVA- Sun Valley
CO Alarm
Medical- Rsp. - Merwinsburg Road
MVA- 209 in area of Dollar General
MVA- Gilbert Road
1/8/05
Medical- cardiac symptoms- McMichaels
MVA 115 and Brookmont Drive
Medical Bushes Lane
Medical Cardiac Symptoms- McMichales Estates
Total calls year to date: 25

Articles on Robin Hood Lakes Fire

1/5/2006
From www.poconorecord.com


Boy, 12, accused of arson-murderCharged as an adult in death of his cousin, 11, in Robin Hood Lakes
Catherine RodriguezBy Susan KoomarPocono Record WriterJanuary 05, 2006SNYDERSVILLE — A 12-year-old boy is being held in Monroe County Correctional Facility after being charged as an adult Wednesday in the Polk Township arson fire that killed his 11-year-old cousin.Djinn Oakstar Rayn Buckingham was arraigned before District Judge JoLana Krawitz in Snydersville and charged with one count of criminal homicide, one count of arson and related offenses, six counts of aggravated assault, and six counts of recklessly endangering another person in connection with the fire on Dec. 9 that gutted the house he shared with his mother, aunt, two sisters and three cousins. His cousin, Sierra Caranzza, died in the fire.According to court reports, Buckingham confessed to setting the fire by spilling Tiki Torch fluid on the carpet from the bathroom down the hall past the victim's room and out into the living room, lighting two matches and setting a bedsheet in the living room on fire.continued below

The burned home of Sierra Carranza in Polk Township Wednesday. Police have arrested 12-year-old Dijinn Oakster Rayn Buckingham on charges of criminal homicide and arson in the death of Carranza, who was his cousin. The affidavit goes on to say that Buckingham saw flames erupt and "thought" he had put the fire out and went downstairs until he heard Sierra screaming. He said that he then went back upstairs and saw the fire in the living room involving the carpet and moving down the hallway towards the bathroom. He said that he fled the second floor and alerted the other family members that were in the house.Sierra's body was found on the first floor of the house among debris that collapsed from the second floor. An autopsy performed the day after the fire established the cause of Sierra's death to be severe burns.

A teddy bear and flowers lie outside the home of 11-year-old Sierra Pallina Carranza in Polk Township Wednesday. Police have arrested 12-year-old Dijinn Oakster Rayn Buckingham on charges of criminal homicide and arson in the death of Carranza, who was his cousin. Sierra's mother, Amber Buckingham, moved with her family to the Poconos from Arizona in July 2005. She, her sister Rainbow Buckingham and their combined six children lived in the seven-bedroom house on Lake Drive in the Robin Hood Lakes development near Jonas. Sierra was a fifth-grade honor student at Pleasant Valley Intermediate School.It is not known where the family is living at present, or if Djinn Buckingham has retained an attorney.District Attorney David Christine would not comment for the record.Christine said that the next step in the process is a preliminary hearing, which will be scheduled within the next 10 days. At that time, it is up to the defense attorney to try to move the case to juvenile court.


Neighbors feared something bad would happen sooner or later
Pocono Record News Editor
JONAS — Tragedy was inevitable at 8864 Lake Drive, say angry neighbors. The big brown house was known for trouble.Neighbors say they heard children screaming as if being beaten, saw a parade of unfamiliar cars in and out of the driveway, heard all-night partying and arguing, and saw barefoot kids roaming the dirt roads of Robin Hood Lakes development in rural Polk Township."Once a month there was a cop car there for some disturbance," said Mark Raymond. Raymond and his family live a few yards from the house where Sierra Carranza, 11, died in a fire Dec. 9.Her 12-year-old cousin, Djinn Buckingham, was charged Wednesday with setting the fire.Sierra and Djinn, along with three siblings ages 3 to 15, lived in the house that is now charred and crumbling. Sierra's mother and Djinn's mother are sisters. Neighbors say Monroe County Children and Youth Services had placed the kids in foster care multiple times over the past year."You could always tell when Children and Youth was coming because there'd be 40 garbage bags outside. They'd clean the house," said Donna Raymond.She has one painful memory of seeing Sienna outside barefoot and wearing pajamas at about 6:30 a.m. last summer."She said she was afraid to walk up the road home because there were dogs up there," said Donna Raymond.A chain-link cage that once held two pit bulls still sits outside the destroyed house.Just hours after the fire, Mark Raymond said he saw Djinn throwing snowballs."He was smiling and playing," said Raymond.The Raymonds and another neighbor believe Djinn vandalized their cars by smearing them with ketchup, horseradish, cole slaw and barbecue sauce.Robert Rainier called police at least three times since May because of commotion at the brown house next door."It's a sin what happened over there," said Rainier, who moved to Robin Hood Lakes from Levittown in May.Rainier, seeking country life for his wife and two kids, was shocked to find that Polk Township had no local police force. State police told him they don't have enough troopers to cover their extensive territory in fast-growing Monroe County."They need to get their own police force here," said Rainier. "It bothers me so much that this little girl died. It just eats at me. I'm outraged."Sierra, 11, wanted to play with Rainier's 5-year-old daughter despite their big difference in age."She was the nicest girl, and she walked around so alone," said Rainier's wife, Rhonda.Rainier, a trucker, was on the road the night of the fire, but Rhonda heard screams and saw flames shooting 20 feet above the treeline."The house was totally engulfed in flames. It was like a giant bonfire," she said.To her, the fatal blaze was sad but not shocking."All of us neighbors saw it as a matter of time before something happened. We just didn't think it would be this soon or take a life," she said.

Call Logs

I am going to try something new here. I am going to try and keep an updated list of all of our calls with a year to date call total. This figure may change as I do not know about all calls and usually do not hear the medical calls. Let me know what you think.
I will try to update this every few days, depending on how busy we are.

1/1/06
MVA Weir Lake Road
Auto Alarm
Dumpster fire- Sun Valley

1/2/06
MVA 715 & Effort Neaol Road
MVA Sugar Hollow Road and white chursh Road
MVA 115 and Russel Court

1/3/06
MVA Jonas Road
Auto Alarm - assist Polk Township

1/4/06
Car Fire- Hilltop market
Alarm- Happy Family Restaurant
RIT Response- Carbon County

Year to date Calls: 11

Car Fire 1/4/06

Station 43 and 35 were toned out to a reported car fire in the parking lot of the Hilltop Market on Route 115. FF/EMT Joe Coddington was first on scene and found an engine compartment fire that had been knocked down with an extinguisher. Station 35 was cancelled. 43-1-1 rolled into the scene and colled down the engine a little more.


Here we see FF/Emt joe Coddington in what does not appear to be NFPA approved PPE.