[Home]  [Locals]  [Apparatus]  [Stations]  [Archives]  [HC Chiefs]  [Agencies]  [Other]  [Trainings]  [Social]  [Gallery]  [Links]  [Off-Duty]  [Employment]

 

67's RESPOND TO AMMONIA LEAK AT THE KEEBLER CO.

3/29/06: At 1022 hours E67 & M67 responded to 1 Trade St for a chemical leak. Anhydrous Ammonia was leaking from a high pressure pipe. Factory Employees immediately shut off the valve to stop the leak. Multiple employees were exposed to the chemical. Command requested additional Fire and EMS companies to assist. Greater Cincinnati Haz-Mat Response Unit was sent to the scene for air monitoring. Approximately 18 employees were treated at the scene for exposure to the chemical. None required evaluation at the hospital. On-scene companies confirmed Lock Out/Tag Out on the valve and started ventilating the area. Companies cleared the detail in 2 hours & 18 minutes.

(Copyright photo: wcpo.com)

Units: Engines 66, 67  Ladder 67, Medic 65, 66, 67, 100  Special Call GCHMRU

Command: 6702 (Morgan)

HOUSE ON FIRE NEAR NEWTOWN STATION

3/24/06: Investigators say a fireplace likely caused a house fire Newtown. The fire destroyed the house in the 3600 block of Church Street. A mother and her three young children, ages two to five, managed to get out safely. Firefighters say the family was using the fireplace to heat the home. The house was just two doors down from the fire department.

(copyright: wkrc.com)

Units:

Command:

No Photo available at this time.

FATAL CRASH ON RR HWY IN NORTH COLLEGE HILL

3/23/06: A fatal wreck closed all westbound lanes of the Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway for the second time in two days. The crash occurred near Hamilton Avenue shortly before 2 p.m., but North College Hill police asked Springfield Township officers to close the highway near the Winton Road-Galbraith Road exit to prevent more traffic backup. It appears that a black SUV went off the road and hit a pole. Officials said one person was killed in the accident.
The highway was closed until about 3:45 p.m., when all lanes reopened to traffic. Another wreck on Wednesday afternoon closed the highway in the same area during the evening rush hour.

(copyright: channelcincinnati.com)

Units: Engine 78  Squad 78

Command:

FIRE ALARM ACTIVATION TURNS INTO 2 ALARM FIRE AT HOTEL IN HARRISON

3/22/06: Around 2330 hours E103 & Q53 were sent to a fire alarm activation at the Quality Inn on New Haven Rd (Harrison units were committed to 2 other details at the time). Harrison Duty Officer on scene requested a 2nd alarm for smoke in the hallways of the first and second floors. Immediate evacuations of tenants started with several of them overcome with smoke and burns. Q-57 cleared its other detail and arrived first taking a position at the rear of the hotel. Q-57 and Q-53 crews extinguished the fire and the remaining companies completed the search. 1 firefighter was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

Units: Engines 28, 56, 57, 69, 103  Ladders 25, 53, 57  Rescue 56              Medics 26, 56, 105   Squads 16, 22, 57, 69, 105, 861(Bright)

Command: 56 (Montavon)

 

42's FIRST DUE ON A SUSPICIOUS HOUSE FIRE IN G SECTION OF FOREST PARK

3/20/06: At 2354 hours Station 42, 48, 90, & 96 were dispatched to 919 Glasgow in Forest Park G-Section neighborhood for structure fire. 42's arrived on scene confirming heavy fire through the roof with possible entrapment. Immediate search of the dwelling was negative. Firefighters made an interior attack and extinguished the fire at 0031 hours. Fire Investigator Jim Smith is investigating the highly suspicious fire. The fire loss was $85,000. No injuries were reported.

Units: Engines 42, 48, 96  Ladder 42  RIT 90  Medic 96

Command:  4801 (Spaeth)

(Photos: L. White)

 

10,000 HITS TO THIS WEBSITE - THANK YOU

3/14/06: I just wanted to thank you all for visiting this website. In less than 2 weeks, this website has had 11,187 requests (hits). I hope you enjoy the contents of this website. I am hoping that you will send me stories, incidents, and events happening in your department. I would prefer to hear the story and pictures of your incidents from you rather than getting it from the news websites.

I have had a lot of requests from our friends in Warren and Clermont county about being displayed on this website. The general purpose is mainly for Hamilton County FD's, however since several Hamilton County FD's respond Mutual Aid into other counties I will have a section on this site for the other counties that surround us coming soon. Before I go, go to the links page and click on the Station 97 (Wyoming) link. They have done a great job on their website and they have some great photos of their incidents. Once again, thank you. (Weedbeater42)

 

 

LOVELAND SYMMES FD IN NEW QUARTERS

3/14/06: For two weeks, units with the Loveland-Symmes Fire Department have been working out of a brand new fire station. The $5 million station is a state of the art facility that's able to store more equipment and house more firefighters.

The station comes with a new design in sleeping quarters. Firefighters will sleep in separate rooms which researchers say make for a better rested firefighter. Symmes Township will hold a grand opening for the public on May 21.

(Copyright - wcpo.com)

This is Station 61 which is located in or near Governor's Hill.

 

 

DELHI FIRST DUE FOR A HOUSE FIRE ON ANDERSON FERRY RD

3/08/06: A Tri-state family is still looking for its cat tonight after a fire tore through their Delhi Township home. Firefighters say the fire started on the second floor of the home located on Anderson Ferry road. Everyone got out safely but they couldn't find the family cat. Fire investigators are still trying to determine the cause.

(copyright wcpo.com)

Units: Engines 107, 30, 68, 54, 95, 50, 24, 22, Station 70

Command: 3307 (Braun)

 

REMEMBERING BROTHER BILL ELLISON

3/8/06: On this date in 2001, Firefighter/Paramedic Bill Ellison and the Miami Twp FD were battling a house fire on Jordan Rd. Several rescue attempts to find a handicap woman who lived in the residence were unsuccessful (It was reported later she was not home at the time of the fire), Firefighter Ellison fell through the burning floor into the basement. Fellow firefighters had to battle the blaze to reach Bill. By the time they pulled him from the fire, he had suffered third degree burns over 58% of his body, with his head, arms, and back the worst. Bill was airlifted to University Hospital. 12 days later on March 20th, Bill passed away. (taken from expage.com/billellison)

Bill worked for Anderson Twp FD (full-time) and Miami Twp FD (part-time) and WestJAD Paramedics (part-time).

 

58's FIRST DUE ON HOUSE FIRE ON LINDY AVE

3/07/06: A three year old boy saved his mom and brother when their house caught on fire in Lincoln Heights Tuesday morning. Around 11:15 a.m., the three safely escaped their burning home in the 900 hundred block of Lindy Avenue. Sonya Dunnigan, the young mother, says she was asleep when her three year old son woke her up. "I think he just knew. He felt the heat and seen the smoke. He knew something was wrong and tried to wake me up," she said. "When I sat up it was smoke everywhere and when we got through the front door I seen the flames coming towards the living room grabbed them and left."

There were flames and smoke already filling the home when she grabbed her three year old and her two year old sons and ran out. "I'm very lucky for me and my kids to be alive. Very lucky," Dunnigan told 9News, who watched in tears as crews worked to put out the fire that tore through her home. The fire quickly spread throughout the home. ARTIMIS cameras captured flames and black smoke which could be seen for miles. Firefighters from Lincoln Heights, Lockland, Wyoming and Evendale had the fire out within fifteen minutes.

"We have an idea from where the fire was when we arrived what was the area of origin but no cause as far as that's concerned. We're investigating it from that point," said Chief Robert Rielage of Wyoming Fire. They believe the fire started in the front of the home not far from where Sonya and her two young sons were sleeping. A fire investigator spent the afternoon at the scene trying to determine a cause. "I'm still kind of in shock cause its the first time I went through something like this. I'm glad me and my kids made it out. Everyone's okay, thank the Lord," she said. The Red Cross and relatives are assisting the family.

(copyright wcpo.com)

Units: Engines: 58, 40, 97   Ladders: T40, Q97   EMS: S58, M97    Special: E59 (RIT)

Command: 9701 (Rielage)

 

WELCOME BACK ENGINE 30 & MEDIC 30

3/06/06: A local fire house is back in business. Fire Station number 30 on Rapid Run Road in Delhi Township reopened its doors Monday. The fire house and number 36 on Greenwell Road were closed after voters turned down a tax levy to support police and fire services in 2004. Voters later passed a reduced tax levy last May which paved the way for both fire houses to reopen. Also beginning Monday, the fire department will get four full-time firefighters which would bring the total number on duty per shift to 13. The Rapid Run fire station will house one fire truck and one ambulance.

(copyright: wkrc.com)

 

MOTORCYCLE RALLY IN MAY. HOSTED BY THE 56's MC CLUB

3/6/06: Firefighters from the 56's will be hosting the first annual National Rally in Harrison in May. Most of the events are member only, however they will have bike rides everyday that are open to the public. The event runs from May 22nd through May 27th. The big event will be on Saturday at Dearborn County Fairgrounds (near Argosy Casino) with benefits going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Click on the Fire & Iron MC Club logo for registration and more information. Thanks Brian & Steve for the info.

 

27's ANNUAL FISH FRY

3/3/06: Crosby Twp's Station 27 members are holding their annual Fish Fry. The fish fry is held every Friday through Lent. The proceeds are used to help purchase equipment. In the past they raised money for a Thermal Imaging Camera and this year they are upgrading their SCBA's. They are also promoting their upcoming Fire Levy in May. The levy will generate enough funding to staff the 27's around the clock. If you would like to support the cause and enjoy some of Chef Lloyd's fish. It is held on Friday's from 4 pm until 7pm at the Crosby Twp Senior Center on Willey Rd just outside of New Haven.

Members in the Photo (L to R): Chief Bruce Downard, FF Lee Fischer, Captain Jim Lloyd, & Asst. Chief Glen Buckley

 

THE LATEST ON THE SHARONVILLE FIREFIGHTERS OVERPAYMENT

Chief takes most responsibility

Sharonville firefighters overpaid $500,000 in last 4 years

3/03/06: The chief who has led the Fire Department for 16 years and continues to work every day at age 68 will bear most of the responsibility for the overpayment of firefighters that cost the city $500,000. Mayor Virgil Lovitt said Thursday that Chief Dale Duermit, who has been with the department half a century, took responsibility. The problem mounted over the last four years as the city mistakenly paid 39 firefighters an extra four hours every week.

Lovitt said Duermit was reprimanded and lost the 3.25 percent raise given all city employees this year. That will make a dent in his pension when he retires, expected to be in the next year or so. "He's a good man with a family," Lovitt said of the chief. "I'm not going to take the whole package he has given to the city and reduce it to this. He is a product of us, he serves us." Duermit could not be reached for comment.

Also reprimanded were two assistant fire chiefs who helped report payroll. They will lose part of their 2006 raise. Three other finance officials also should be held responsible, Lovitt said, but the city can't punish them - they've left the city for other jobs. The overpayment was missed because firefighters' paychecks fluctuate, depending upon how many hours they work in a biweekly pay period - sometimes as few as 72 hours, sometimes as many as 120. They work 24-hour shifts, with 48 hours off in between, plus some additional days.

Firefighters knew about the four hours' extra pay, but thought it was part of what the city calls "automatic overtime." The problem was detected several weeks ago by the new city finance director. City officials initially considered asking the firefighters to repay the money. But on Feb. 9, council voted unanimously to forgive the overpayments. Still, questions persisted, so Lovitt addressed the issue again this week.

He said he isn't trying to trivialize the error, but said the best thing to do was learn from it by revising the system. Lovitt said he would welcome more information about the overpayments. He said he doesn't think anyone acted criminally. "As far as I'm concerned," he said, "if the facts don't change, it's over."

BY JANE PRENDERGAST | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

(copyright - Enquirer.com)
Explanation of the overpayment
This is the full text of Sharonville Mayor Virgil Lovitt's explanation of how the overpayment of firefighters went undetected for four years until it totaled $500,000:
Firefighters work a 24/48 schedule. This means:
They work a 24-hour shift and have 48 hours off. In a bi-weekly pay period, they often work 96 hours (4 shifts), but sometimes they have as much as 120 hours or as few as 72 hours. According to the Fair Labor Standards Act, any employee that works over 212 hours in a 28-day window must be paid overtime on the excess. Therefore, any time their rotation would cause them to work more than nine shifts in 28 days they are required to take a day off without pay. This is called a "Kelly Day" and avoids the federally mandated requirement of overtime.
Sharonville Fire Department pays straight time based on a 48 hour week, which is 2,496 hours per year. However, firefighters are scheduled to work 2,704 hours per year, which is an average of 52 hours per week. This is only an average, as no firefighter actually works 52 hours in any one week.
Additionally, if their schedule would cause them to work more than the 2,704 hours, they are required to take more days off without pay. These are called "Floating Kelly's." Firefighters are allowed to choose these days off, which reduce their annual hours to the 2,704. So, their schedule works them 208 hours above straight time on an annual basis. Sharonville's model, therefore, averages this in to four hours every week. Bi-weekly, we pay the first eight hours worked as "automatic overtime" (or scheduled overtime). The rest of their worked hours are paid as straight time. By year end, we will have paid them the 2,704 hours, (2,496 straight and 208 overtime). If they are asked to work any other hours above their schedule, they are paid overtime on this as well, and it is tracked in a different category.
As you can imagine, the paychecks that firefighters receive fluctuate dramatically. How did the overpayment of fire officers occur? The payroll system accurately paid firefighters their automatic overtime as presented above. However, those hours are to be a part of their worked hours. Instead, the City paid all of their worked hours as straight time. So, each firefighter received eight hours more of straight time each pay that was earned. This mistake was repeated 26 pay periods per year for four years, and applied to all firefighters that worked a 24/48 schedule.
The payroll system has already been corrected to match the model. There are many more changes being implemented in the payroll process, as well.

 

92's RESPOND TO A CAR INTO A BUILDING IN KENWOOD

3/02/06: An out of control car smashed through a bank Thursday afternoon, injuring an employee inside. The incident happened at the U.S. Bank at 7763 Montgomery Road in Sycamore Township around 2 p.m. A man in his late 70s had just completed a transaction at the drive-through when he pulled away and lost control in a turn, getting his foot tangled between the gas and brake pedals, police said.

The car slammed through the back of the bank, hitting a woman in her 20s sitting at a desk. She suffered arm injuries, 9News learned, and crews took her to the hospital. Police say the victim is lucky she wasn't seriously hurt. The crash did not injure the car's driver.

(copyright - WCPO.com)

Units:

Command:

 

ANDERSON FIRE AND EMS GETTING THE BAD GUYS OFF THE STREETS

3/02/06: Police arrested a 35-year-old man Thursday afternoon in connection with a heist at a suburban drugstore earlier in the day. Scott D. Wheat has been charged with aggravated robbery. Deputies were sent to the Walgreens at 7135 Beechmont Ave. just after 3:30 a.m. The pharmacist said a man entered the store and walked to the pharmacy. The man asked the pharmacist if he had hydromorphone. When the pharmacist responded that he did, he said the man said, "Give it to me," displayed a black semiautomatic handgun and repeated his demand.

The pharmacist said he gave the man two bottles of the narcotic and the man then left the store on foot. It was the third time in five weeks that the store has been robbed. Investigators got a tip a few hours later from the Anderson Township Fire Department that an emergency crew had taken a man matching the robber's description to a local hospital for a perceived medical condition. Officers got a warrant to search Wheat's home and arrested him at about 3:30 p.m.

(copyright - Channelcincinnati.com)