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Post by Matt Russell on Feb 12, 2004 18:57:20 GMT -5
At approximately 10:39 on 02/11/04 Department 16 / Western EMS were dispatched to a reported working structure fire on Railroad Street in Troy Borough. MICU 1 arrived on scene and reported smoke showing side Charlie with possible entrapment due to bystanders reporting the occupants still in the structure. EMS crew from MICU 1 along with 2 Firefighters from D-16 made entry through the front doorway and found 2 irrate occupants initially refusing to leave the structure reporting the fire to be "almost out and under control". Finally upon convincing / coaxing / nothing short of dragging - the occupants found refuge on the neighbors porch. Light smoke conditions noted on the first floor with copious amounts of water pouring down from the second floor. Flowing garden hose noted on the steps. Fire apparatus enroute yet to arrive on scene. Western 16 ascended the steps to the second floor advancing the 3/4" monster "green line" (I admit not the smartest thing I ever did). Making the top of the steps revealed heavier smoke conditions, charing to the common hallway / room with visible extension into adjacent rooms. Small amount of fire noted on the floor in the corner amongst a pile of for a lack of better words "stuff". Chief Vargson arrived and took over garden hose operations - whew was I tired. If you read the Daily review you know the end result. If you haven't here it is: www.thedailyreview.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10955793&BRD=2276&PAG=461&dept_id=465049&rfi=6Engine 1 arrived placing an 1 3/4 hadline into operation to the second floor. Basically a "mop-up" was all that was needed. Water supply established with a 3" nursing from the Tanker to Engine 1. No additional resources needed. While I use a bit of humor here I think there a lesson to be learned: He who refuses to leave and gets irrate probably has something to hide - be SUSPICIOUS! I ask what will it take before law enforcement advises Fire / EMS of "suspicious" places. I understand keeping some things low key but lets face it here who is at danger? YOU AND ME! I say it's time to be more public with this information. BE SAFE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS! Remember the very life you save may be that of your own!
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Post by Chris VanDruff on Feb 12, 2004 22:32:45 GMT -5
hey matt nice jpb. Not very smart but hey we do what we do. Time to really start thinking befor we attempt to save "stuff" rather than lives
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Post by canton1 on Feb 13, 2004 1:35:52 GMT -5
OMG---- I did not think that Western 16 had it in him to handle that big of a hose. I am sure that is the first in a long time for him to "WORK" a fire. But I see he had to do it. Hey Matt, Did you have a radio with you? Troy 1 and myself discussed this in detail and agree that it is a real shame that PD will not atleast tell us we should be carefull at a certain house. I/We are not asking for details, we just want our guys safe.
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Post by Chris VanDruff on Feb 13, 2004 7:29:29 GMT -5
Good point Kim you would think if there was suspicion they could at least give a heads up. They do it for eachother. "hey guys little caution" thats all it takes
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Post by Matt Russell on Feb 13, 2004 16:34:50 GMT -5
Ah the plot thickens: Troy fire yields arrests By C.J. Marshall 02/13/2004 TROY -- A husband and wife were formally charged in district court on Wednesday in connection with a house fire that authorities believe was started by a methamphetamine laboratory. According to information filed with District Justice Jonathan Wilcox, James K. Johnson Jr., 43, and Valerie A. Johnson, 38, both of 120 Railroad Street, Troy, have each been charged in a joint investigation overseen by the Pennsylvania State Police and Chief Greg Hostettler of Troy Borough police, with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and receiving stolen property. In addition, according to reports, James Johnson has also been charged by the authorities with three counts of arson and related offenses, risking a catastrophe, and illegal possession of a firearm; while Valerie Johnson is facing additional charges of criminal conspiracy to commit arson and related offenses, and criminal conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance. State police and Troy police reported that the incident occurred on Feb. 11, around 10:41 a.m. when Bradford County Communications received information about a fire at 120 Railroad Street. When fire and EMS personnel arrived at the scene, according to the report, they called for assistance from Troy police as well as Trooper Timothy Young, the state police fire marshal. When Young investigated the scene for the origin of the fire, the papers continued, he reported that -- in his opinion -- the fire was started as a result of the illegal manufacturing of methamphetamine on the premises. Young reported that evidence at the scene to support his opinion consisted of an electric hotplate located on top of a coffee table with window fans blowing fumes out of a second story window. Further evidence at the scene consisted of several cans of vehicle starting fluid, used coffee filters with the smell of ether, and several ounces of a white powdery substance strewn on the floor in room adjacent to the origin of the fire, according to the report. The report continued by saying that both James and Valerie Johnson made several attempts to keep fire personnel from entering the residence while the blaze was occurring, and both were unruly and uncooperative to fire and police personnel. A search of the entire residence was conducted by Young as well as several members of the Troop P Towanda Vice Unit, which yielded several articles of narcotics paraphernalia - including two glass plates and a steel mirror, all with a white powder residue. Authorities also reported seizing two plastic film canisters containing marijuana, as well as a Kel-Tec 9mm assault rifle which was determined to have been stolen. James and Valerie Johnson were arraigned before Judge Wilcox, who ordered the two incarcerated in Bradford County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail apiece. Both are scheduled to appear for their preliminary hearings on Feb. 17. Hey Kim, YES I can "work" a fire I traded my WHITE HELMET for a yellow one! ;D ;D
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Post by chief322 on Feb 13, 2004 17:25:23 GMT -5
Matt the yellow hat: Don't you really mean you are now going to become a "leever pullin', gear-jammin' cowboy!" ;D Tim and thats Lieutenant to you, Mister!
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Post by Matt Russell on Feb 13, 2004 18:00:16 GMT -5
Lieutenant Flynn, It is with regret that I must inform you that you are not the first to call me a cowboy, that's why I work at Western EMS and DAMN PROUD OF IT! ;D ;D Actually because of adding a third child to my family in 2003 I didn't have eneough money to buy the votes needed to sway the popularity contest and requested a consolation prize. They tried to get me into a blue helmet but, it's really not my color and through all my training (what very little I have) I have been told "blue is bad". Signed, The 'leever pullin, gear-jammin, hose rollin, firefighter wanna-be COWBOY! ;D
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Post by MonroetonTwo on Feb 14, 2004 7:52:51 GMT -5
Western16....Glad someone else saw right through Mr. G.B. Flynn!! He loves his new "BLUE" helmet. Heard he even wears it to bed. He's waited for this honor for years and now his dream has come true!!! Next time you see him (in his blue helmet of course) Tell him he's your favorite LT!!
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SPD22
New Member
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Post by SPD22 on Feb 15, 2004 22:33:45 GMT -5
Telecommunicator 6 (Excuse me.... Chief Jennings) In regards to your post, here's your heads up.......... I think it is rather smart if you are careful at ANY house that you are called to, besides any certain house! ;D As usual, another score for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by canton1 on Feb 16, 2004 0:19:05 GMT -5
Telecommunicator 6 (Excuse me.... Chief Jennings) In regards to your post, here's your heads up.......... I think it is rather smart if you are careful at ANY house that you are called to, besides any certain house! ;D As usual, another score for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, Mr. Flynn (and no not Timmy) you are right. You got one up on me , if you agree (rather in the POLICE SUIT or not) that knowing that the building you are "LETTING" firefighters go into is a TRAP for them by some not a very nice person scum of the earth METH maker. Somehow I guess that I can't see anything good by that, But must be you can!!!!! Just pry that a Fireman would never (or I would hope not) not tell you if some slimball had a gun or bomb and just let you walk right in to the scene. So, If that is the case please let me know.
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SPD22
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Post by SPD22 on Feb 16, 2004 2:23:55 GMT -5
Kim, OUCH!!!! That was a punch below the belt. Let me start by saying that you had better keep your job as a telecommunicator, as I don't think you would make a very good psychic. You say that I must be able to see something good out of this? ? Please explain, as I don't quite find anything that could be good. I am glad that in your reply, you use the word, "knowing." That is the key word here. I don't have all the facts, nor do I wish to second guess anyones decision. As you know from your job, many departments throughout the county, whether it be police, fire, or ems, do things differently than others. But for the life of me I can't think of any agency who, "knowing," that there is a meth lab inside, would allow any emergency service personnel to go inside. If, "knowing," where all these labs are at, here in Bradford County, then I'm sure we wouldn't have the problem that we have today. Progress is being made with the meth problem, and all the agencies are doing a hell of a job, but "knowing," and "not knowing," are two totally different things. So therefore.....in my opinion, until this comes to a halt everyone needs to be more alert, careful, and suspicious when responding to any call. Lastly........ I do pray that the fireman tells me, seeing as the dispatcher (telecommunicator 6) probably failed to get that information from the beginning!!!!!! ;D Once again Kim...... another score!!!!!!!
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Post by canton1 on Feb 17, 2004 1:47:25 GMT -5
Flynn, I am thinking that a score to you is pretty simple as I have not seen one yet .... I never said that anyone would knowingly send us in but, What happens when you are busy (doing that COPPER) thing or there is no officer on duty. Maybe that is not a issue in the VALLEY but there is parts of the county that we do not have officers on 24/7. So, knowing that how do you tell us not to go in? ? In my opinion we are already careful, but, to me we need to help each other out. I can tell you this.... There is already a example int he county of a Police Officer not telling a fire unit what they are dealing in. If I was you, I would not start about doing my job as a dispatcher. Might be a long day for you -- hahahahaha
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Post by Chris VanDruff on Feb 17, 2004 10:01:14 GMT -5
Ok Mr point maker First of all I think attacking people is pretty unprofessional. As far as being careful on every call we are. we take a calculated risk every time we leave our house, as do you and your collegues. Now being an ex cop myself I know full well that if you knew your police officer buds were responding to a call at a known meth lab. even though they are professional and use caution on "every call" you and the rest of your people would either tell them heads up use caution or wait for back up. Its a proffesional courtesy that we all deserve. I think thats the only point trying to be made here.
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SPD22
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Post by SPD22 on Feb 17, 2004 14:55:06 GMT -5
Chris,
Wait a second here. I think you, and maybe other readers here are getting me wrong. I am in NO WAY attacking Chief Jennings. If you knew me like Mr. Jennings does, you would know that I was busting on, "the good ole boy from Canton." I have been reading this board for awhile now, and at times I call Mr. Jennings at work, to bust him about what he had put. This simply started as a busting on Kim, and in NO WAY am I attacking him. Now, the point of, "knowing." What I was referring to was that ..... We (police, fire, ems) don't always know where exactly these meth labs may be. Yes, it is very possible to respond to a call where you discover one, in which case no one had any idea. Could have this been the case in Troy? Mr. Russell pointed out a very good example, when he stated that he who refuses to leave, or becomes irate should raise suspicion to you. This man obviously had a real good reason as to why he didn't want anyone there. Therefore I'm trying to get the point that until this meth problem comes to a halt, we need to be aware of everything when responding to a call.
Chris, I've always agreed with the professional courtesy, however I just don't want to see people getting upset with the PD in these circumstances, if even the PD didn't "know" about these labs.
Thanks for the input, but please know that I tend to bust on members of this board, just like these same members bust on me.........usually at other times other than this board!!!!!
Sean
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Post by Chris VanDruff on Feb 17, 2004 15:18:14 GMT -5
Well if misunderstood you I will be the first to apologize. I like to that when im wrong. I think bustin chops is really what alot of this board is about. I think generally we are all here for the same purpose and the other main reason im here is because there are so many different opinions on how to do things hopefully we will all work togethere when it comes down to it.I know I dont want to see anybody get hurt especially us emergency personell. Once again I appologize for misunderstanding your comments.
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