TXCHIEF

Unfortunately, several emergency responders and West residents have died as a result from the West plant explosion earlier this evening. As this time, there is an evacuation zone around the plant. 15+ medical helicopters have been called from all over Texas, including all CareFlite helicopters, as well as additional units from Fort Hood (about 40 miles south). The state has mobilized to assist and coordinate mutual aid resources and personnel. Severly injured are being flown to trauma centers south (Austin and Temple) and North to Dallas and Fort Worth

Arrangments have been made for Rich.. Wake will be held at Balsamo Cordavano in Lake Carmel Thursday and Friday the 27th and 28th of December both days 2-4 and 7-9... The funeral will be Saturday the 29th at 11am at the Holy Communion Church in Mahopac.

It is with deep regret to announce the passing of my brother Richard "Rich" Stiller past chief of the Lake Carmel fire department, a former volunteer member of the Mt. Vernon fire dept and many of you also knew him through his work with the Westchester County Dept. of Transportation. As funeral details become available I will post

RIP FF Townes. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family and fellow Fire Fighters

In Fort Worth, MedStar who is the EMS provider has a similar program which was started in 2009 and was geared towards those individuals identified as high system users and developed individual care plans for each of those patients. As part of that care plan, the enrolled patient receives regularly scheduled home visits by one of their Advanced Practice Paramedics. During those home visits the paramedic provides a medical assessment, ensures the patient is taking their prescribed medications and is following up with an assigned primary care provider. They also provide some often much-needed social interaction for these patients The goal of the Community Health Program is to reduce the unneeded 9-1-1 calls and EMS transports

Capt, Gov Perry did cancel campaigning and returned to TX and is making requests as needed from the TX EOC. Attached is briefing from this morning and I believe on page 30 shows deployment within state of Fedral and State Forest Service Teams. This does not include the deployment of various FD and military teams which are also engaged TX Forest Service 090611 Briefing.pdf

Thoughts and prayers to his family and to the members of the Department Link to Dallas Morning News http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20110814-firefighter-dies-after-battling-blaze-at-southwest-dallas-apartment-building.ece

By law in TX the revenues are placed in the General fund for the City. But in looking at Burnet's budget they in turn allocate the revenue ( 2011 est $1.7M) right back to the FD, as well as funding received for their county coverage, etc. So in short the coity council puts that funding at this time right back into the FD to provide emergency services

Here is Haltom City, TX station 3. It was built in 1983.

Alabama activated 2000 Wednesday and they were on the ground working yesterday morning, with additional units being called up. 1700 deployed in Arkansas and about 600 in Missouri numerous air assets as well are deployed. Also you have numerous Texas units deployed working on the wildfires . So I think the Sates are mobilizing their assets as they need them

FEMA started the ball rolling on the 27th with activation and deployment of their resources and Maxwell AB in Alabama is being utilized as their incident support base. In addition as mentioned above National Guard resources in all states affected have been called up as required by the Governors. Also some of you may or may not be aware Ft Rucker AL is the US Armys Aviation center and has lots of resources to deploy... All coordination is being performed between appropriate State Agencies

It has been great seeing a lot of these units in use out here as part of the TIFMAS Program activation for the wildland fires out of west of here. Now only if the rains would come to help

Units first focused on rescuing the driver who was in the cab dangling over the bridge and they repelled from one of the ladders on the scene to get him out first, prior to performing extrication on the persons in the car pinned underneath the water tanker.

X635 In Texas... Civil Service protection for PD & FD must first be voted in by the citizens of the municipality and in addition although the employees may join or form a union , again citizens must vote on allowing them to negotiate contracts with the municipality... commonly refereed to here on the ballot, as granting Meet & Confer

We are getting rolling brownouts here in Fort Worth , I had one earlier this morning for about 20 minutes but nothing since. Still calls for Upper-50's for kick-off time on Sunday. As they say down here wait a hour and the weather will change.