JM15

PAUL PELUSO Firehouse.Com News For more than three years, Dr. Burton A. Clark has written columns, led seminars and taught classes on apparatus seat belt safety. The fire services veteran and National Fire Academy instructor took an ambitious step this year when he created the "Brian Hunton: National Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge." Despite Clark's efforts, however, his initial goal of 1.2 million signatures -- the estimated number of firefighters in the U.S. -- is still far from a reality. As of July 7, only 1,473 firefighters had signed and submitted the pledge. "Maybe people just don't know about it, maybe they're apathetic, but we need to do better," he said. "If they don't know about it they can't sign it. That goes along with how we go about getting the message out (about seat belt safety) in the fire service." Burton's idea for the pledge came a week after his June 21, 2005 column "Leadership: We Killed Firefighter Brian Hunton" was published on Firehouse.Com. The column was in response to the death of Hunton, a member of the Amarillo Texas Fire Department who lost his life after falling out of his fire truck while responding to a call April 25. He was not wearing a seat belt. During that year, 13 out of the 87 firefighter deaths reported by the National Fire Prevention Association were road-vehicle related. Of those fatalities, five of the victims were not wearing seatbelts and four were wearing seatbelts. Seat belt use was not reported in the other four crashes. Creating the pledge Clark saw the tragedy a wake up call and an opportunity to greatly reduce the number of unnecessary deaths. "I thought, 'My goodness, I've got to do something. What else did I need to do?,' " he said. He thought of how when people in a group raise their hand in favor to do something, they are more inclined to do it. He then thought about how much more of a promise people make when they sign a document. Out of this came a pledge that he began distributing that July to students at the National Fire Academy. He said the pledge was well received by the firefighters in training and that over 90 percent of the students he asked, signed. "When you actually need to sign your name to something it's like a family promise," he said, comparing the pledge to the Declaration of Independence. "It has that type of foundation to it." This year Clark decided to take the concept to a more national stage, making the pledge available through one his columns posted in early June in order to coincide with that month's second annual National Fire Safety Stand Down, which stressed apparatus safety. "It fit perfectly with the whole concept," Clark said. He plans to present the collected signatures to the parents of Hunton at this year's Firehouse Expo, scheduled for late-July in Baltimore. Although the pledge has brought in small numbers so far, Clark said we would continue to distribute the pledge past the July 21 deadline he set for the final submissions. "If this thing doesn't eventually get close to a million people, I'm not going to be satisfied," he said. "I think once people know about it, a majority of them will sign it." The need for seat belt safety Atlantic City Fire Department Battalion Chief Bob Palamaro has been helping Clark spread his message of seat belt safety over the last several years, accompanying him for seminars and enforcing seat belt compliance at his own department. "Our culture is such that we are not compliant 100 percent of the time," Palamaro said. "Part of it is the image that we are somewhat invincible. We ride around on a very big truck that isn't involved in a lot of crashes. The second thing is a lack of leadership; this is something that needs to be led from the top. "It's not going to change until you make them accountable," he said. "When I'm riding in the street I pay attention" to who's wearing a seat belt, he said. "But the problem is that I'm not on the street that often. The best accountability is your company officer." Ron Siarnicki, Executive Director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, said it is unfortunate that the fire service's focus on vehicle safety hasn't evolved with the rest of society. "I think the biggest issue is that over the years the firefighter culture has not embraced seat belt safety as much as it should," he said. "With the use of three-point harnesses, there are concerns about designs and space, but the reality is that the most important thing is getting the firefighters there in one piece. "A lot of firefighters need to get out of that mindset," Siarnicki said. "I've heard people say the belts are too restrictive, but the reality is you have to stay strapped in to withstand the impact of a crash." Changing the mindset For Clark, this was not the first time he has stressed the importance of seat belt use by firefighters, as he been writing columns on the subject since October 2003. His initial inspiration for writing about seat belt safety came while he was in Ohio to teach a class for the Washington Township Fire Department earlier that year. "I was invited to eat dinner with the firefighters on the shift and join them on any calls," he said. Shortly after, a call was made for a stuck elevator. "I went with them on the call and I was the only one with a seat belt on. I was thinking 'What is my responsibility here?' I didn't want to be a tattletale." "No one was wearing seat belts going to or coming from the call. I was having this internal battle with myself. Should I say something or shouldn't I?" In his October 1, 2003 column "To Be or Not to Be a Tattletale," Clark wrote: "The Fire Chief (Allan Woo) picks me up after dinner for the ride to the airport. Do I tell him that the seatbelt policy is not being enforced? Does he already know? Will he think I am a tattletale? The crew treated me to dinner they are great guys. I'm not a squealer. I do not have any official authority or responsibly to address this issue. The 20-minute trip to the airport is long. I say nothing." Clark said he eventually found out that the captain of that shift was head of their safety committee. "That's what started it all and it sort of snowballed form there." Clark said when he finally worked up the courage to tell Woo about the experience, the department's attitude toward seat belt safety changed for the better. "I'm only one guy," he said. "The only thing I can do is draw people's attention to itâ€Â¦ There has to be a lot of people out there that see the light and have the commitment to do this." Clark said in order for more firefighters take the seat belt pledge -- and ultimately wear them to and from calls -- there would have to be a change in culture. "I'd like to see the crew in 'Rescue Me' wear seatbelts," he said, noting that the way firefighters are portrayed and Hollywood can set a positive or negative example and steer firefighter trends. "A lot of it has to do with peer pressure," he said. "If you get 50 percent of a department to sign the pledge and they convince the other 50 percent to sign it, then that would be a major accomplishment." Here is the link to the Pledge: PLEDGE FORM

I thought that having an accountability system was mandated by either NFPA or ICS protocols. I may be wrong though

that is pretty funny, I wonder what they said when they saw it for the first time.

i was just thinking that why would they need sirens or lights

Spain Stinks So does the U.S

I like the Ridin Dirty slogan

do they just drive all the time or do they rotate?

I have called a number for the home one but I still get the occasional sales call at my house

I another way to get it. Shoutcast type in Westchester in the search box then it should come up.

I would love to see that if it doesnt put a burden on X635 or cost any money

It's the new 80-B-1, similar to B-2 and B-3. Rumor has it the current white Horton is going to be used as a new scuba unit.

does anyone have any idea as to how much one of those would cost?

Three Pennsylvania Firefighters Suspected In Arsons AMANDA CHRISTMAN Courtesy of the Standard-Speaker One Kidder Township firefighter was charged Tuesday night for his alleged involvement in two arson fires in the township that occurred between the end of May and the beginning of June. John Kehler, 26, of White Haven was charged by state police at Hazleton and Kidder Township police Tuesday. He was arraigned in front of District Judge Joseph Homanko in Weatherly just after 10:30 p.m. for his alleged involvement in two fires ruled arson by state police Fire Marshal Trooper David Klitsch. He was also charged for his alleged involvement in two attempts at setting brush fires on state game lands. Kehler was charged with four counts of arson/endangering persons, a first-degree felony; two counts of endangering property, a second-degree felony; three counts of criminal conspiracy, a second-degree felony; two counts of reckless burning or exploding, a third-degree felony; four counts possession of explosive or incendiary materials or devices, felony three; two counts of risking a catastrophe, felony three; two counts of criminal mischief, felony three; and two counts of loitering and prowling at night time, a third-degree misdemeanor. He was remanded to Carbon County Correctional Facility, in lieu of $100,000 straight bail. "These charges are very serious and I don’t want to say anymore until the preliminary hearing," Homanko told Kehler during the hearing. Homanko said the preliminary hearing would be at a later date. Klitsch said two other firefighters would be charged later this week for their alleged involvement in the fires. In an affidavit of probable cause, Klitsch and Kidder Township police Cpl. Matthew Kuzma wrote that on or about May 21, two attempts were made to start brush fires on state Game Lands No. 40, along state Route 534. During the attempts, Kehler and two others conspired to fill gas into a plastic container and stuffed a rag into the top of it to use as a wick, the affidavit states. Klitsch explained that the incendiary device was similar to a Molotov cocktail. One firefighter who has not been charged yet tried to start the fire, but the fire burned itself out. "A short time later," the firefighters again attempted and were unsuccessful, the affidavit states. On May 23 at about 12:46 a.m., a fire occurred at a vacant building on state Route 940, about two miles east of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Kidder Township. The building was owned by Louis Pugh and the building was completely destroyed. Kehler admitted to police that he was driven to the scene by a firefighter who has yet to be charged, dropped off and then placed the container of ignited liquid on the ground next the rear of the porch and fled the scene. He was picked up by the same firefighter and both drove to the fire station and then responded to the scene with the fire department. Then on June 7, about 11:19 p.m., a fire occurred in a vacant three-story building commonly referred to as Bear Necessities on state Route 940 at Meckes Road, the affidavit states. The fire required the response of fire companies from three counties. Klitsch conducted the fire investigation into the May and June blazes and determined both were intentionally set. An investigation revealed that two other firefighters not yet charged and Kehler conspired to commit this crime while at the Kidder Township fire station. Police said Kehler admitted to preparing two containers of ignitable liquid while still at the firehouse and said that the gas and oil mixture was taken from a red plastic fuel container that was in a compartment of a pumper truck. Kehler then told police that the red shop rags that were placed in the containers were also taken from the firehouse. Kehler told police that he was dropped off at the scene of the June fire. Kehler told police that he dropped one of the two containers and could not find it, but ignited the second container with a lighter to start the fire. Kehler was again picked up by a conspiring firefighter and went to the Hickory Run Stop on state Route 534. Police said one of the firefighters not yet charged called Carbon County 911 to report the fire, then went to the fire station. When police executed a search warrant Tuesday at the Kidder Township Volunteer Fire Co. on state Route 534, evidence – including shop rags, containers of ignitable liquid and a red plastic gas container from a pumper truck – were seized. A search of the game lands was also conducted Tuesday with Klitsch, Trooper Michael Ruhf and his accelerant detection dog. During the search, soil containing ignitable liquid and the remains of a road flare used to ignite one container of gas and a melted plastic container were found. Police said all involved admitted to talking with each other on the telephone regarding "fire setting behavior" in coded conversation in attempt to avoid detection.

I love Rescue Me but there is too much drama this season (unlinke the first) They could use some more action in it

wow that is interesting I have never heard that before, does anyone else know anything about this

Does it have a cascade setup on it?

those are some sick cars, does anyone know how many that they got

the Grateful Dead theme is sweet, I want to see some picutres of this. I like one of Verplanck's engines it is Green with the Notre Dame Fighting IRish decal

The parade was awesome, unfortunately the weather could have been a little bit better. But it was still a good time. Congrats to the winners

It was definately #6 Posada said that it was Torre's jersey, remember you can't beleieve everything you read in the news.

Forget the steaks that would look good on my wall

And we are complaining of gas prices, imagine what this guys spending on gas!

Thanks for the info. Is there a reason why they dont have a dedicated Brush fire unit?

That is one nice looking rig

Does Lake Mohegan have a mini-attack or any other brush fire unit? There is nothing like that on their website. Any info. would be greatly appreciated