"News" in the world of Public Safety...

 

If you have any  "news" to add email dennis@offdutynetwork.com

 

August 2007

 

August 30

Here is an update on last nights fire that tragically killed 2 Boston Firefighters and injuring others. Initially, there were reports of 2 other Firefighters on life support, but all surviving injured members are now reported to be non life threatening.

 

The Firefighters who gave their lives in the Line of Duty last night are Paul Cahill (55) and Warren Payne (53), who were assigned at Engine 30 and Ladder 25. Numerous other Firefighters were transported with non-life-threatening injuries. Boston Fire Chief Kevin MacCurtain said several firefighters from the first due crew that arrived on scene entered the building to attack the fire. Civilians were all out of the building but the heavy smoke and fire conditions in the initial stages of operations caused the members to become disoriented. "When they arrived they had heavy fire in the Thai restaurant with heavy smoke conditions on the block," MacCurtain said. "They advanced their lines into the store, and they became trapped and they were disoriented and they couldn't find their way out." Chief MacCurtain also said that a 3-ton air conditioning unit partially crashed through the roof of the restaurant but that it was unclear what role this played in the firefighter deaths and injuries. He said the first crews of firefighters quickly became trapped and disoriented. Other crews found the trapped firefighters and pulled them out.

 

FF Payne was the father of two and FF Cahill was the married father of two. Both had 25 years on the job. Five Boston firefighters have died during or after fires since 1994. They include David Milton, who died earlier this year when he got home from a shift at a firehouse; David Packard, who died of a heart attack after a fire in 1999, Dick Murphy, died of a heart attack after a fire, also in 1999; James Ellis, who died from injuries after he fell down a fire pole when responding to a fire call in 1996 and Steve Minehan, who was killed in a warehouse fire in Charlestown (Boston) in 1994. Steve was killed following a search for other missing Firefighters in that fire.

 

We are closely monitoring the conditions of the 2 Firefighters who are in critically condition and will update as applicable here and on our home page. Our deepest sympathies go out to all effected but especially the Payne and Cahill families and the members of the BFD E-30/L-25.

 

August 29

2 Boston Firefighters were killed in the Line of Duty this evening at a commercial building fire. The fire went to four-alarms in West Roxbury. It started around 2100 in the Hi Ho Chinese Restaurant and spread to nearby stores. Initial reports indicate that firefighters were inside the building when there was a collapse that involved a roof air conditioner unit. The Firefighters were from E-30 and L-25.

 

August 23

Angie Roach is out of the Burn Unit ICU and has been moved out on the general burn floor. She has all her monitors removed and all the IVs are gone with the exception of a central line. She is walking and her mobility is good.
 
She goes to hydro therapy everyday to help with the healing. She is having a little problem with some resistant bacteria in her bloodstream but the Doctors are optimistic.
 
John seems to be in good spirits and states that Angie has had enough of the hospital and ready to be somewhere else.
 
Their daughter who was scheduled to start kindergarten started school in style. Hall County Fire picked her up in the engine and took her to school. The event was video taped and sent to Angie.
 
John states that they have no needs at the present time and all is going well!

 

August 18

It is with deep regret that we advise you that 2 Firefighters were killed late this afternoon in Manhattan. Additional Firefighters have suffered a range of other injuries. The Firefighters are reported to be from E-24 / L-5...a house that previously suffered the loss of numerous members on 9/11 and at prior incidents.  This fire is in the Deutsche Bank building on Liberty Street at the WTC which was in the process of being demolished.  Additional details will follow.

 

August 15

I would like to get the word out about our Metro Atlanta Fire Lacrosse team. We have a good program and want to get more Metro Atlanta Fire participation. For more information about the program give me a call.

Chris Sobieski (Cobb Fire) 770-337-1351

 

August 15

Angie went in for surgery at 4 PM and at 8 PM tonight she made it out of surgery.  She is doing well and in post-op recovery.  The burns were deeper than anticipated but the doctor was able to take care of it.  At this time, they are just going to let her heal and then discuss the possibility of more surgery.

 

Thanks again for all your continued support,

John Roach

 

August 8

Angie went in for surgery this morning at 10 to have grafts done on the front half of her body.  Following the surgery she will have a 4-5 day recovery period and then have surgery on some places on her back.  I will keep everyone posted on how the surgery goes.

 

Thanks again for all you calls, prayers, and support.

John Roach

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Angie was taken in for surgery at about 10:00 this morning to have skin grafts placed on the front of her body. The burns were a bit deeper than the doctors had first thought, so the surgery took a bit longer than expected. She is now out of surgery and John says she is doing well in post-op. After a 4-5 day recovery period they are expecting to repeat the grafts for the burns on her back.

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After an out pouring of concern from the community, a recovery fund for Hall County Firefighter Angie Roach has been established. Angie sustained second and third degree burns to over 35% of  her body while fighting a house fire that occurred Saturday in Buford. 

 

This was a work related injury however her road to recovery will be long and taxing on the small family. Angie will be out of work for an extended period of time and her husband (also a firefighter) will be out of work while at her side. As most of you know firefighters work two sometimes three jobs to make ends meet. Besides hospital bills Angie’s husband will be looking at food, lodging (while in Atlanta), childcare and school related expenses. The Roach’s have two children one of which starts Kindergarten this Thursday. 

 

If you would like to contribute to support the family of this injured firefighter you can do so at any Wachovia Bank under the name “Angie Roach Recovery Fund”. Checks can be made payable to Angie Roach or Angie Roach Recovery Fund. 

 

We thank you for you generosity and your continued prayers, If you have any questions please call me at 404-597-0076.

 

Capt. Scott Cagle

Fire Marshal / PIO

Hall County Fire Services

PO Box 907730

Gainesville, GA 30501

(770) 531-6838 - Office

(770) 531-6845 - Fax

"Smoke Alarms Save Lives

 

August 6

First of all I would like to thank everyone for visiting, your phone calls, and your thoughts and prayers.  There has been such an out pouring of support from friends, family, and public safety and for this I am very grateful.  I just left the hospital and am now at a friend's house in Atlanta where I have a place to sleep and shower everyday (thanks Savannah ).  Thanks Atlanta 4, 6, and 15 for your offers to house me but I should get more sleep without the tones going off every few minutes. 

 

Angie has a total of 35% second and third degree burns to the right leg, right arm, abdomen, back, and some small burns to the face.  She has three spots that that are third degree burns that total 10% that will need skin grafts which should take place on Tuesday.  A nasal gastric tube was inserted early Sunday morning. She is being treated with antibiotics and medications for pain management via a central line.  Angie never loss consciousness and has a good memory of the events leading up to, during, after the accident. We have been told to except to be in the hospital for 30-35 days.   

 

Hall County Fire is keeping someone at the hospital 24 hours a day to help with any need that may arise.  Angie loves you guys and wants to thank you guys for everything that you have done and are doing. 

 

Many are asking what they can do to help.  Right now we are most in need of your support, thoughts, and prayers.  In the long run we may be in need of other things and we will let you know as they arise. 

 

Thank you my brothers and sisters,

John Roach

 

August 5

Hall County Fire Medic Angie Roach was severely burned Saturday afternoon while battling a house fire.  FM Roach was airlifted to Grady with second and third degree burns of more than 40% of her body.  FM Roach is an eight year veteran with Hall County FD.  She was operating on the first floor when she fell into the basement (the bulk of the fire) following a collapse, but her crew stayed with her, deluging water on her, until she was rescued by other firefighters.  The entire time she was trapped her SCBA kept intact and there were NO respiratory burns or injuries.

 

Angie’s husband John is a FF in Alpharetta and Roswell, working in Roswell when he got the call.  Roswell Battalion 1 took John to the hospital and was briefed by the doctors on her condition. Doctors are saying that it will take a few days to see exactly how bad the burns really are.  Grady has been administering fluids which in turn may cause more swelling but she is being sedated and may have to be placed on a ventilator.  Angie will require multiple surgeries and will be in the burn unit for several weeks.

 

As of this morning, Angie is conscious and alert and is reportedly in good spirits.  She is only allowed to see immediate family members right now due to the risk of infection.  John is reporting this morning that she has second degree burns to 35% and third degree to 20% of her body. Her respiratory function is doing well, but the biggest concern right now is infection. The outlook is good but the doctors are thinking that she will be in the burn unit for approximately 4 weeks.

 

Please keep Angie, John and their family in your thoughts and prayers while they go through this difficult time.  Angie and John have 2 young children which are with family members at this time.

 

August 4

There are early reports that Hall County Fire medic Angie Roach was severely burned this afternoon in a house fire. She was air-lifted to Grady Memorial Hospital.
There will be further updates as they become available. In the mean time our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and to all of the Hall County Fire Department.

 

BUFORD - A Hall County firefighter was injured while fighting a house fire Saturday afternoon.
The fire broke out sometime after two o'clock at a home on Chimney Springs Road in Buford.
Hall County Fire Marshall Scott Cagle says the firefighter was trapped for a time in the basement of the house. She was transported by air ambulance to the hospital.

 

Fire-medic Angie Roach was is currently at Grady Hospital's burn unit. She has reported 60% burns to legs, arms, and chest.