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

 

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

 

June 2007

 

June 21

This anonymous poem was placed at the memorial in front of the charred building where firefighters perished.

Your day started out well,
And ended very bad.
It's ok to be upset,
It's alright to be sad.

You lost your brothers,
Sons, fathers and friends.
There's no one to blame,
But the fire, in the end.

We all have been changed
We will never be the same.
Let us NEVER forget,
Those 9 lives, faces, and names.

So let us all remember:

You firemen are special,
You're definitely one of a kind.
The rest of us know,
Danger's never far from your mind.

But when you get that next call
And, jump out of bed
Know you're not alone
You have nine angels instead

Everyone be safe!

 

June 20

Charleston LODD Memorial Service Transportation Plan for Friday June 22, 2007.  .

 

GMAG in conjunction with GAFC & GSFFA is planning to take the GMAG bus to the Charleston LODD Memorial Service on Friday.  Those departments traveling on their own or taking apparatus are invited to travel with the GMAG convoy.  Memorial Service: 10:00 AM Friday June 22, 2007 North Charleston Coliseum 5100 Coliseum Drive North Charleston, SC 29418.

Units from the entire state will be staging to enter the North Charleston Coliseum together @ 08:30 AM. Rest Area on I-26 Just South of College Park Road. Anyone wishing to ride the bus PLEASE Call Dennis Thayer @ 678-787-2635 so an accurate head count can be obtained.

 

June 20

For agencies sending VEHICLES AND APPARATUS to Charleston on Friday to participate in the memorial procession, the following information applies:

-Staging location: the corner of Concord & Washington in downtown Charleston.

-Staging Time: 0500

-Staging Officer: B/C Robbie Williams-St. Johns FD. Staging Contact (Fri. Morning): 843-200-6798

(Please only call if you have a problem, get lost etc...otherwise proceed to the above location starting at 0500 hours)

 

For agencies that wish to send FLOWERS, CARDS and other remembrances, send them to:

 

City of Charleston Fire Department

"In Memory of the CFD 9 Firefighters"

46-1/2 Wentworth Street

Charleston, SC 29401

 

June 20

UPDATED INFORMATION:

The memorial service for the "Charleston 9" will be held Friday at 1000 hours at the North Charleston Coliseum. If you or your department are planning on attending, make your travel arrangements now. Some of the closest hotels will be in the area of the airport. When calling, advise the hotel folks why you are in town and some may be providing special rates.

 

(Please scroll down for updated video and photos related to the fire)

 

  Here is a link for directions: http://www.coliseumpac.com <http://www.coliseumpac.com/parking.php>

 

The above is one joint memorial service for the 9 Fallen Charleston Firefighters. Each will also have an individual funeral in       the days following Friday. When that information if firmed up, we will provide it.

 

 CHARLESTON LODD Related Graphic, Video and Photo Links:  

 http://www.charleston.net <http://www.charleston.net/videos/2007/jun/19/49/ (raw video)

 

 http://www.charleston.net/photos/2007/jun/19/1087/  (Collapse & Scene Graphics)

  

  http://www.charleston.net <http://www.charleston.net/photos/2007/jun/19/1087/> /(Photos)

 

  http://www.charleston.net <http://www.charleston.net/photos/galleries/2007/jun/19/fire_reader_submitted_photo_gallery/470/>  (Photos)

 

June 19

Please take a moment and say a prayer for the families of the 9 City of Charleston (SC) firefighters that gave the ultimate sacrifice last night. 

 

 Fire Captain William "Billy" Hutchinson-Age: 48-Years with department: 30 
 Fire Captain Mike Benke-Age: 49 -Years with department: 29 years 
 Fire Captain Louis Mulkey -Age: 34 -Years with department: 11 1/2 years 
 Fire Engineer Mark Kelsey -Age: 40 Years with department: 12 1/2 years 
 Fire Engineer Bradford "Brad" Baity, Age: 37 -Years with department: 9 
 Fire Assistant Engineer Michael French-Age: 27-Years with department: 1 1/2 years 
 Firefighter James "Earl" Drayton-Age: 56-Years with department: 32 years 
 Firefighter Brandon Thompson-Age: 27-Years with department: Four years 
 Firefighter Melven Champaign-Age: 46-Years with department: Two years 

 

June 17

New Jersey Line of Duty Death of Fire Chief/Paramedic Joseph Murawski. Joe died in the line of duty in his job as a medic while treating a trauma patient from a multi-patient MVA on the NJ Turnpike on 6/17/07.  Viewing: Flynn and Son Funeral Home, 23 Ford Ave, Fords, NJ  08863 Wednesday 6/20/07-1400 - 1600 & 1900 - 2100  hours Funeral: Thursday 6/21/07 0800 hrs (Mass to follow at  Our Lady of Peace RC Church in Fords. Flynn and Son Funeral Home-23 Ford  Ave, Fords, NJ 08863. E-mail:  rbmc1200@yahoo.com for info. 

 

June 16

Carl Russell Martin, 42, of Lula, passed away Thursday, June 14, 2007 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center following a long, hard battle with cancer.  Mr. Martin was a Hall County Fire Fighter who worked at Station # 6 in Lula. 

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM Friday, June 15, 2007. A Prayer Service will follow at 8:30 PM Friday, June 15, 2007 in the Memorial Park Chapel with Fire Marshall Scott Cagle presiding.

Hall County Fire Services Honor Guard will lead transport of Russell from Memorial Park Funeral Home to Pine Knot Funeral Home, Pine Knot, Kentucky, where services with full firefighter honors will be conducted.

The family will receive friends Sunday, June 17, 2007 from 12:00 PM until 1:30 PM at the Pine Knot Funeral Home with funeral services starting at 2:00 PM in the Chapel. Burial will follow in Wright Cemetery, Parkes Lake, Kentucky. Reverend William Kilby will officiate.

 

Please keep the family and extended family of Russell in your thoughts and prayers during this hard time.

 

June 8

We had two separate incidents in Metro Atlanta yesterday where there were firefighter injuries.  The first one yesterday morning in Riverdale, not only was a family of five killed but three fire fighters were injured.  The Riverdale firefighters were not admitted to the hospital but treated and released.  We are waiting on a call from Chief Billy Hayes from Riverdale Fire for further information.  The second incident was in Johns Creek again Fulton 8’s first due where last week we lost a brother.  Two Fulton firefighter’s Troy Bowman and Steve Williams were injured in a roof collapse transported to North Fulton and released hours later.  As we receive the information on the firefighters from Riverdale we will pass it on.

 

June 7

Six people, including three firefighters, were injured in the three-alarm fire at the Budget Inn on King Road near Ga. 85 in Riverdale (Clayton County) Georgia.  Two injured firefighters were taken to Southern Regional Medical Center, one with minor burns to his hands, and the other suffering from heat exhaustion. Oxendine identified the firefighters as Sterling Poole, who suffered the burns, and Patrick Lynn.

The identity of a third injured firefighter was not immediately released.

 

June 4

Mitch Partello, who works with Metro Atlanta Ambulance Service, was involved in a motorcycle accident today. Mitch was transported to Kennestone. A supervisor for Metro Atlanta said that Mitch was talking and joking but was in a lot of pain. They were just taking him to CT and he said that he would let us know when more info became available. Please keep Mitch and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

 

June 1

The Fire Emerald Society Duty Officer for tomorrow (Saturday 6/2/07) will be Eric Mayer. He can be contacted at 678-283-2392. He will be the senior FESMA person at the funeral. All FESMA questions or concerns should be directed to Eric.

Any FESMA members who can wear the kilt to the funeral, please call Eric as soon as possible. The FESMA dress uniform is your white FD uniform shirt with the kilt and other appropriate kilt accessories. NO JACKET. This is because not all FESMA member departments have a dress coat. If we can't at least have 4-6 members in kilts, no one will be wearing kilt. We want to be respectful, but not a distraction.

Emerald Green FESMA Honor Cords will be available at the funeral. They are to be worn on the left shoulder. Atlanta members: The honor cord is approved to be worn with the Atlanta Class A uniform. They are $12 if you want to keep the cord.

Please at least wear your FESMA membership pin.

FESMA Members:

FESMA has been very active in this situation and as a member, I believe you should be aware of what your organization has been able to accomplish in this tragic situation.

1. Provided immediate support to both the Roberts and Gilliard families in cash on Monday morning through the Fulton   County F.D.
2. Arranged for transportation through AirTran for family members with no cost to the family member.
3. Arranged for accommodations at four Atlanta hotels for family members at no cost to the family member.
4. Arranged for the "adoption" of out of town family members by their local fire companies to make sure that their needs are met at home. 
5. Arranged for police escorts through Atlanta Airport for family members arriving for the funeral. They will not even see the inside of the airport.
6. Arranged for the notification of one family member who could not be reached by normal means.
7. Opened an account for donations for the family to be received for the family at any local Wachovia branch.

I am not bragging. I just wanted you to know that your organization has been
very busy. Your organization is in need of your help, especially in
fundraising to support these type of programs to take care of our fallen
brothers. We are doing what we formed this organization for...