Firefighter and teen killed in Grand County avalanche

Denver Weather Examiner: Firefighter and teen killed in Grand County avalanche

Colorado’s avalanche season claimed two more lives Saturday, killing a South Metro firefighter and a teen. The two were part of a party of four snowmobiling near Grand Lake in the bowl between Gravel and Little Gravel Mountains in Arapaho National Forest.

Brian Kopp, a 38-year-old South Metro Fire Rescue firefighter from Larkspur and 19-year-old Mark Goetz were killed in the slide. 59-year-old Chuck Goetz and 32-year-old Harry Than were also in the party but were uninjured.

The Grand County Sheriff’s Office said Mark Goetz and Brian Kopp rode their snowmobiles up the side of Gravel Mountain in an attempt to ‘high-mark,’ a popular activity by snowmobilers where the operator tries to ride as far up a steep mountain slope as possible. The younger Goetz apparently got stuck and when Kopp went to assist, he got stuck as well. Chuck Goetz, Mark’s father, rode up the slope to assist them when he triggered the avalanche sweeping all three down the mountain.

When Kopp and Goetz were dug out of the snow, CPR was performed, but both men died at the scene, according to deputies. Neither of the riders was wearing an avalanche beacon although it isn’t clear at this time if that would have made a difference.

Kopp is survived by his wife, Jennifer and twin children, son, Alan, 11 and daughter Elli, 11.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center reports that while the avalanche danger has eased in recent days, the danger is still considerable across much of the high country. Two other notable incidents were reported in recent days including an incident near Vail Pass when a snowmobiler triggered a slide (with no fatalities thankfully) and a slide on Loveland Pass that closed the pass from Saturday until this morning.

We recently wrote about the dangerous avalanche conditions in the mountains and this serves as a sad reminder that no place is safe. Extreme caution should be exercised and those traveling in the high country should take appropriate precautions.


* See our slideshow of the avalanche including a map and what the area looked like after the event.

Bad recycling: Pay stub used as bank robbery note - Yahoo! News

Bad recycling: Pay stub used as bank robbery note - Yahoo! News

CHICAGO – The robber's threatening note made a Chicago bank job easy to solve: The FBI says the suspect wrote it on his pay stub. An FBI affidavit said the man walked into a Fifth Third Bank on Friday and handed a teller a note that read "Be Quick Be Quit (sic). Give your cash or I'll shoot."

The robber got about $400 but left half of his note. Investigators found the other half outside the bank's front doors. Authorities say that part of the man's October pay stub had his name and address.

The suspect was arrested at his Cary home. A judge ordered him held without bond Monday. If convicted of bank robbery, he faces 20 years in prison.

There is something to be said for attention to detail!

Britians Dumbest Criminal - Watch the top videos of the week here
Here is another stupid robber...expecting to find panic hardware where there wasn't any!

Discomfort over L.A. Fire Department's tattoo policy is more than skin-deep - Los Angeles Times

Discomfort over L.A. Fire Department's tattoo policy is more than skin-deep - Los Angeles Times

In June, I wrote about a new Los Angeles Fire Department policy requiring firefighters on duty to cover their tattoos, whether they're out on a call or in the station.

Department brass called it a simple "grooming" issue -- a way to restore public confidence in the professionalism of a department battered by harassment allegations.

But now the policy is shaping up as a test of the department's zero-tolerance stance toward harassment, and whether it applies to guys who are decorated like comic book characters.

Dan Stark has a web of tattoos on his arms, chest, neck and head. He's an eight-year veteran, the son of a firefighter, "with nothing in my file but commendations," who suddenly finds himself odd man out.

The day the policy took effect in April, he said someone left a copy of the edict on his station's kitchen table, next to a photo of a group of shrouded Muslim women, labeled with the names of five firefighters -- including him -- who are heavily tattooed.

Then he found his station locker covered with copies of the policy, he said. That meant someone had broken into it, or used the spare key kept in the captain's dorm. Later that day, he said, someone drew a picture of a mummy and captioned it "Stark's new uniform."

When he complained about the ribbing, one captain told him to quit griping and be a team player, he said. Another suggested he get some tattoos removed, as a sort of goodwill gesture. Another official said he risked ruining his career if he kept complaining. None apparently forwarded his complaints up the chain of command.

Stark shared with me his journal -- a meticulous recollection of jokes, insults and offhand comments that he said made him feel a pariah. "Why don't these members put themselves in my shoes," he wrote July 7. "All I want to do is go to work and do my job like before.

"What happened to zero tolerance? I guess that is not written for the tattooed firefighter."

That's a question being asked more and more as complaints trickle out of fire stations.

Most of the hundreds of tattooed firefighters find it easy to comply. Their uniform shirts cover their arms and chest. But about 50 are forced to wear turtlenecks, gloves and bandages.

"These guys feel helpless," Capt. Carlos Caceres said. "Some are totally surprised. They don't want to sue, they don't want money. They just want the hypocrisy to stop."

Caceres, the only captain with a body full of tattoos, has filed grievances challenging the policy and funneled firefighter complaints to investigators. "But it looks like business as usual," he said. As in, "We don't care unless you sue us."

At its heart, this isn't about tattoos, any more than the Tennie Pierce case was about a few bites of dog food.

It's about a broken discipline system and a continuing pattern of harassment and retaliation. It's about making "outsiders" uncomfortable in the fire station.

Pierce won a million dollars in his lawsuit not because he didn't like Alpo, but because he couldn't stomach the teasing and humiliation that followed, and because the department did nothing to stop it.

And his was one of several cases. The department -- and that means Los Angeles taxpayers -- has spent $16 million in the last few years paying off claims for hazing, discrimination and retaliation.

Last year, Douglas Barry was named chief to change all that. And firefighters I spoke with believe he's trying. He's visited every fire station, made his 97-page Discrimination Prevention Policy Handbook required reading, provided more training to station captains and tried to standardize the disciplinary process.

"He's very serious about this," Fire Commissioner Genethia Hayes said. "Every firefighter deserves to be in a work site where they can be comfortable. . . . . And that includes these guys with tattoos.

"They were hired, went through the drill tower, didn't get any breaks. We accepted them, and they're here and they shouldn't be subjected to harassment in the station."

If only we could hear Barry say that.

I don't know if Chief Barry is aware of the trouble brewing. None of the harassment complaints have yet made their way to the top. I tried to get Barry's views about it all this week, but his handlers wouldn't let me through. His chief of staff didn't return several calls. And Capt. Armando Hogan, the department's public information officer, said Barry was too busy attending community meetings and giving speeches to talk.

However, Barry did manage to find time Friday to hold a news conference at a fire station near the Van Nuys Airport to show off new firefighting aircraft. By the time I got there, the cameras were gone and Barry was hunkered down with Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman. A firefighter -- with no visible tattoos -- went to let Barry know that I wanted to see him.

But suddenly, the chief was gone. The firefighter shrugged. "Somebody said they think they just saw him leave."

Maybe I shouldn't be surprised that Barry's ducking me. He won't talk to firefighter union leaders either; they filed an unfair labor practice complaint last week over the department's continued refusal to meet over problems with the tattoo policy.

But I am surprised.

Barry was brought in, after all, to bust up the department's "code of silence" culture and restore fire station dignity.

Will it take a letter from a lawyer to make him listen?

sandy.banks@latimes.com

This was written in September but I thought it was interesting and so I posted it. Below are links to other stories about tattoo policies and professionalism.

For those looking for advice, I think doughesson had the best suggestions in the Firehouse Forum:

If it is allowed to have a tattoo on your future department,I'd say go for it,but you really need to consider several items that I think are important before getting inked.If visible tattos are not allowed,then plan on not showing them at school visits(especially not the dream girl you had done while in Subic,sailor)or do not get one where it cannot be covered.
For myself,I have 4 basic rules concerning my tats that serve me well.
#1.It should be placed on a body part that can be placed on polite public display,even if it is a "covert"job.
#2.It has to mean what inspired you to get in 20 years from now,so think before getting it done.
#3.It cannot be someone's name.What if you break up and then take up with someone whose name is different?Don't need that kind of trouble.
#4.It has to be something that you can show Mom.

Other stories:
Brad Pitt Protests Los Angeles Fire Department Tattoo Policy
The Fire Department, the Mayor and Fallout over the "No Show" Tattoo Policy
Army Changes Tattoo Policy
Too Tattooed to Work?
Discussion and advice for future firefighters
9-11 Memorial Tattoos
Thoughts? Comments?

Jumbo snow globes + sunlight = consumer hazard - Yahoo! News

Jumbo snow globes + sunlight = consumer hazard - Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Some 7,000 jumbo-sized snow globes were recalled by Hallmark Cards Inc. because the holiday decorations can act as a magnifying glass when exposed to sunlight and ignite nearby combustible materials, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Tuesday.

The snowman-shaped snow globes were sold in October and November at Hallmark Gold Crown stores nationwide for about $100 each.

The consumer agency said Hallmark has received two reports of the snow globes igniting nearby materials but no injuries have been reported.

Consumers who bought the snow globes, which measure 11 by 12 by 17 inches (28 by 30 by 43cm), should immediately remove them from exposure to sunlight and return to a Hallmark Gold Crown store for a full refund.

Details about the recall were posted at the government agency's web site at: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09073.html.

(Reporting by Julie Vorman; Editing by Bill Trott)

Quick! Better get Frosty out of the sun!

Oops: Homeowner starts fire while clearing cobwebs with blowtorch - On Deadline - USATODAY.com

Oops: Homeowner starts fire while clearing cobwebs with blowtorch - On Deadline - USATODAY.com

Today's tip: Don't use a blowtorch to remove cobwebs from your house.

That advice comes from Coweta Fire Investigator James Gantt, who spoke with The Times-Herald after a Georgia man set his house on fire while using an open flame to clear spiders' webs from the exterior eaves.

"This was an unfortunate accident," Gantt tells the paper. "Nobody was hurt, but it could have been a lot worse."

Cobwebs, can, in fact, be beautiful. Check out the informative video below.

Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School | Brain Rules |

Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School | Brain Rules |
This is really a great book! Check out the website for video and more discussion.

Here is why you should hang up and drive!


Male and female brains are different, especially when dealing with trauma...what are the implications of this on a fire, rescue or ems call?


Why you can't multi-task:


Did you know that you have a Jennifer Aniston neuron in your brain? True dat!Check it out! lol

Create Your Communications Experience: Transformational Election - Transformational Speech!

What makes a good speech?
Read the discussion below on President-Elect Obama's acceptance speech. (Click the title above to go directly to the website.) Which of these factors can you incorporate into your next speech?

Create Your Communications Experience: Transformational Election - Transformational Speech!

A rare moment of opportunity and execution came together in the Presidential Election and the victory speech. The election itself was transformational - that's not for this blog to expound as there are enough others talking, blogging and twittering over that major event.

Barack Obama gave a once in a decade speech in accepting the Presidency. He has an incredible ability to move people with oratory in both his behavior and content - and he took advantage of that when he had his most important audience of perhaps hundreds of millions of people across the world.

* Presidential: He looked and spoke like a President. Whether you voted for him or not, if you weren't impressed you were not looking and listening. He did all the right things, under pressure.

* All About You: He talked about the people of his campaign, the people of his country, and the people who did not vote for him. He did not gloat, but he spoke as one who wanted to unite. This speech was not about him.

* On Point: He had a Point Of View, and stayed on message - just as his campaign did. It was all about change. Change from a country of slavery to a country where a black man could be elected President. Change from a broken country to a healing country. It was a disciplined speech, just as he ran a disciplined campaign.

* Story: He used his usual picturesque language, and had a great story of Ann Nixon Cooper, a 106 year old woman from Atlanta who waited to vote for 4 hours. She was born a generation from slavery, and when women couldn't vote, couldn't drive and couldn't fly. Powerful contrasts to today, and the task at hand.

* Likability: This is one of the most important factors in communicating - and determines most elections by influencing the undecideds. Barack Obama has the unique quality of being both Presidential and likable. He is measured (actually professorial), easy going yet energetic. He smiles, has an open face and appears thoughtful (a listener). His personality and ability to connect with eyes, gesture and voice is impressive, and certainly helped him influence the vote in his favor. And those behaviors all came to the fore in this memorable speech.

There is more, and there are some things he could do better. But that's for another time. Tonight is President-elect Obama's night - and he took advantage of the opportunity to bring others along with him. That's what a great speech does.

Where croissants come from!

Firefighter's stand saves homes of former neighbors

Los Angeles County Fire Capt. David Yonan arrived at the Oakridge Mobile Home Park to find it mostly destroyed. His perseverance helped save 131 homes.

Read Capt Yonan's story by clicking the title above. This story made me think of The Starfish Story printed below. Capt. Yonan's actions made the difference.

What difference will YOU- or do you- make in your career? What difference can you make today?

The Starfish Story
adapted from The Star Thrower
by Loren Eiseley (1907 - 1977)

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

5 years old and she dribbles...better then you!

This has nothing to do with fire prevention. But OMG watch this little girl do her thing...and then realize, you are probably not worthy! lol. Enjoy!

Gunpowder blast shrouds Tokyo in smoke - Telegraph

Gunpowder blast shrouds Tokyo in smoke - Telegraph
Teams of firemen battled to get the blaze under control after it destroyed two buildings and left four other people injured, officials at the Tokyo Fire Department said.

Shinichi Yokoyama, 60, who was among the injured, said the blast occurred when he was mixing gunpowder, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported.

His company supplies explosives for gunfire scenes in film and television productions and stores its product in quantity at its business premises in downtown Tokyo.

About 60 fire engines and more than 100 firemen rushed to the scene to fight back the flames and hose down the smoking buildings, the fire department said.

Plumes of smoke could be seen from several miles away some time after the accident.

Explosions at gunpowder and fireworks factories are not common in Japan, but in China - where manufacturing standards are not as stringent - there have been dozens of incidents in recent years. They have often resulted in a high number of deaths.

SAC Fire Tech Club

Check out the website for our NEW Fire Tech club at www.sacfiretechclub.blogspot.com

WTC 102 Minutes that Changed America

This interactive map presents unfiltered video captured by nine
different eyewitnesses from 10 locations around the World Trade
Center on the morning of September 11th.

Special Premiere
Thu. 9/11 @ 9pm/8C

In this commercial-free special, discover rarely seen and heard archives that document the 102 minutes between the first attack on the World Trade Center to the collapse of the second tower.

>> Watch a preview

Listen to radio broadcasts from regional radio stations as the events occurred on that tragic day.
Fire chief, Richard Picciotto, shares his amazing story of rescue and survival.
What is the master plan for Ground Zero? Hear what Daniel Libeskind envisions for the site.

President Martinez needs to be alarmed about fire system - Views

President Martinez needs to be alarmed about fire system - Views
As classes started last week, Santa Ana College still did not have a fully functional alarm system. Once again our students and faculty study and work in a facility where there is a potential for disaster.
Since last year when el Don brought the problem to the public’s attention, steps have been taken to fix the dilapidated system, and progress has been made. However, in July, a contractor was hired to bring SAC up to code and into the 21st century was fired before completing the job.
We now have an alarm system that will sound locally in all buildings except for the library, which is again on fire watch.
Nealley Library — housing an abundance of texts, periodicals and valuable documents that assist students in enriching their education — is susceptible to destruction. The fire watch system is dependent on an on duty observer to be present if a fire were to ignite.
Moreover, the now functioning alarms are not connected to campus safety or to the local fire department. In a situation where every second counts we are losing those moments to on some Johnny- on-the-spot to alert higher-ups of a serious problem.
In a year where more than 30,000 students are enrolled and have entrusted their future and safety to this institution, most are unaware of its structural inadequacies. So now we wait and hope for the best.
A project scheduled for completion this summer is now up for bid again. So, we just might have a new contractor by October, work just might begin two weeks later and it could be finished by April 2009. That, however, is a lot of ifs and buts.
We attend this place of higher learning for an education and hope of a better future. All we ask of our president and her staff is to make SAC a safe place. After all, we have been told that SAC is a family.
We urge President Martinez to complete the job quickly and properly as if it were
her own home and her own family were occupying it.
As long as all goes well and the fire alarm system is in place then this administration might be remembered for more than fire alarms. If the unthinkable were to happen they could be branded by a far worse moniker.

Former Redondo Beach fire chief dies - The Daily Breeze

Former Redondo Beach fire chief dies - The Daily Breeze

Richard Bridges, who served as fire chief in Redondo Beach for five years, died Monday. He was 64.

Bridges, a Redondo Beach resident who held the city's top fire job from 1989 to 1994, most recently served as associate dean of public safety and fire technology at Santa Ana College, running the school's fire academy.

"He was an inspiration to a lot of people here at the college and we are all better people for having known him," academy commander Ken Soltis said.

Bridges' death resulted from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said.

His wife, Alice, said he had been diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor 14 months ago.

Alice Bridges summoned fire officials Monday when she found her husband.

Bridges was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

"He gave it the good fight and I think had gotten to the point where he just had enough," Alice Bridges said.

"What has sustained him over the last 14 months is his undying faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He just really had a strong belief in God and that people need to know the truth about the Bible. He led his life that way."

Bridges was fire chief in National City from 1979 to 1983 and in Daly City before he was hired to run the Redondo Beach department in 1989.

Bridges took the fire chief job in Santa Monica in 1994.

Bridges moved on to Santa Ana College in 1997, running the program that trained students to become firefighters and other positions in the fire services.

Bridges underwent surgery and chemotherapy and recently had some surgeries because of complications from medication, his wife said.

He worked through the beginning of the summer, Soltis said.

"Excellent, excellent man," Soltis said. "You just can't say enough about someone like him. He was definitely a quality individual."

Bridges was married to his wife for 28 years. They had two daughters and four granddaughters.

"He was a wonderful man and had so many people loving him and praying for him all around the world," his wife said.

"I think that's why we have sustained the journey for so long. He was quite a man."

RIP Jefe. It was an honor to work for you, and with you. You will be sorely missed, but your lessons will always be remembered. Thank you. SF

A celebration memorial service for Richard Bridges in the main sanctuary will be held on this Friday, September 5th at 3:00 p.m.to 4:00 p.m. at Rolling Hills Covenant Church.

2222 Palos Verdes Dr. N., Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274

Church Telephone Number: 310-519-9406. (mapquest)

There is a website that you can go to: www.LAfuneral.com.

There is a ice cream sundae buffet to follow which is downstairs in Carlson Hall.

Please continue to spread the word.

Please note Alice has requested that dress be business casual.

2008 Darwin Award Nominee: Chemistry went to her head!

2 February 2008, Bulgaria) It was a cold but sunny February afternoon. Lidia, a biology teacher from Sofia, was driving two friends home from a memorial service. Suddenly the vehicle stopped. Bystanders saw all three occupants dash from the car to a nearby manhole, and start pouring down liquids and powders from various bottles and jars.
Apparently, the biology teacher had been performing chemistry experiments in her free time, and had some leftover noxious chemicals. It is still not entirely clear what the chemicals were, but two of the bottles were labelled diethyl ether and methanol, both highly flammable substances. The former is also used as a sedative, so one explanation for their actions is that they felt dizzy from the ether vapors and thought it was a good idea to pour them in the sewer.

As it turns out, a good idea it definitely was not. The cocktail of flammable substances in the enclosed space of the sewer caused an explosion so powerful that it launched the manhole cover into the air, decapitating the (briefly) surprised Lidia. Left without a head on her shoulders, she decided it was time to kick the bucket.

The other two people were not left unharmed, but were alive. They were taken to the hospital with burns on their faces. They may not regain their eyesight, but hopefully will be able to speak clearly enough to tell their children that tossing random chemicals down the drain is not as wise as it might at first appear.

Do something good for yourself & someone else today...

Check out www.freerice.com. Improve your brain and feed the world. Then share it with a friend!

Concert Car Pool

Things aren't always what they seem...the following Ameriquest commercials are a good reminder. Each runs :30. Enjoy!

Have you ever planned...and cooked a romantic meal? Remember....things aren't always as they appear! Another Ameriquest commercial.

The Plane Ride

You think you saw what? Don't you hate it when this happens?