A man is under arrest after barricading himself inside his ex-girlfriend's RV and then setting it on fire Tuesday morning in Seattle's SoDo district, police said. Officers responded to the scene, in the 800 block of South Dakota Street, at about 4:30 a.m. after a 44-year-old woman called 911 to report that her ex-boyfriend was there in violation of a no-contact order, said Detective Patrick Michaud of the Seattle police.
- PUB DATE: 8/7/2018 2:13:54 PM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

By Alan M. Petrillo

The Yuma (AZ) Fire Department covers 124 square miles in southwestern Arizona in the Sonoran desert along the east bank of the Colorado River, with 117 firefighters operating from six stations housing seven engines, an aerial ladder, an aerial platform, two reserve engines, a water tender, seven ambulances, special operations and technical rescue trailers, two UTVs, a Zodiac, and two jet skis for water rescue. When the department needed to replace an existing station and also build a new station to serve an expanded run area, it turned to Breckenridge Group to design the stations.

Steve Irr, Yuma's chief, says the new Station 3 was placed in an existing residential neighborhood a quarter mile from the prior firehouse. "We had an older station servicing an area where the community grew, and our needs grew," Irr observes. "We needed a bigger house to handle more firefighters, separate men's and women's restrooms, separate dorm rooms, and more apparatus bay space. We also wanted access to a larger main road, and the new site is one building away from a big intersection that allows us better response time."

Klindt Breckenridge, principal at Breckenridge Group, says that the station had to be built "on a relatively small suburban site that's very flat. The fire department didn't want too much of an institutional look and didn't want to overwhelm the neighbors, which mainly were low buildings constructed in typical desert fashion." Breckenridge notes that with Station 3 his group had to get the building sited properly in order to provide the optimum space to make a turn and have enough clearance to get into the first bay of the new station's three apparatus bays."

Irr points out that the department felt the design needed quick access from the dorm rooms to the apparatus bays, a training room, decon space, turnout gear storage space, and air conditioning of the apparatus bays to allow firefighters to train inside the station—especially when Yuma's temperature hits 120°F in the summer.

Breckenridge says the completed Station 3 is 9,475 square feet, has three drive-through 1½-deep apparatus bays, and houses eight firefighters. Individual dorms include a captain's quarters and seven firefighter dorms, each with a pedestal bed having three drawers underneath, three lockers, a desk, and a chair. The dorms are located along two outer walls of the station, so each room has a window and immediate access to a corridor leading directly to the apparatus bays. Gang men's and women's bathrooms are located between the two corridors in the center of the station, as are three individual shower rooms.

Station 3's kitchen, dining area, and day room are situated in an open concept with a viewing window into the apparatus bays. The station also houses a watch room, police room off the lobby, exercise room, communications room, EMS storage room, and a janitorial area. Off the apparatus bays are a decon facility, turnout gear storage room, hose storage room, and a work project room.

Irr says that Station 6 was built in a new neighborhood and new run area, so it's not as large as Station 3. "It's what we consider a small-size station, compared to a midsize station like Station 3," he says. "Station 6 is 8,000 square feet, can house six firefighters, and has two drive-through 1&fra

DALLAS, TX—The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation, announced the winners of the 2018 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year awards. Volunteer Fire Chief, Herbert Leusch, of the Glen Echo Fire Department, Bethesda, Maryland, and career  Chief, Joanne Hayes-White, of the San Francisco (CA) Fire Department are this year’s honorees. 

A selection committee appointed by the IAFC reviewed nominations for active chiefs of departments that have shown exemplary contributions in the areas of leadership, innovation, professional development, service to the public, and contributions to the fire service community as a whole. Sponsored by Pierce, the 2018 Fire Chief of the Year award recipients will be recognized during a presentation taking place on Thursday, August 9.

“I look forward to the captivating moment each year when we share the nominations for the two Fire Chief of the Year award honorees,” said Jim Johnson, president of Pierce Manufacturing. “Chief Leusch and Chief Hayes-White have had distinguished careers. These two leaders have shown how to lead with grace, professionalism, and devotion that inspires others. On behalf of the Pierce Manufacturing team, we’d like to share heartfelt congratulations to Chiefs Leusch and Hayes-White.”

Volunteer Fire Chief Honoree - Herbert Leusch, Glen Echo (Bethesda, Md.) Fire Department

Over the last 25 years, Chief Herbert Leusch has exhibited the highest standard for volunteer fire-rescue through extraordinary dedication. During his career, his competency and outstanding achievements have led him up the ranks from Firefighter to Deputy Chief, to his current position of Fire Chief which he took on nearly a decade ago with the Glen Echo Fire Department. In his current role, Chief Leusch is responsible for all operational aspects of a combination fire department made up of 70 personnel, responding to over 2,200 calls a year. Chief Leusch has maintained the highest level of commitment to service throughout his distinguished career and has been an inspirational role model for others. Some of his most notable accomplishments include successfully establishing a bicycle emergency response team, developing a heavy apparatus driver training program, building Advanced Life Support capabilities, and co-leading a firefighting task force in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Chief Leusch’s exceptional leadership is evident not only through his actions, but also the recognition he’s received including a high-level citation for “Dedication and Heroic Service” in Maryland from Congressman Chris Van Hollen, an official citation from the Maryland General Assembly for “Distinguished Service,” and multiple top-responder awards. Not only is Chief Leusch a highly decorated and respected volunteer fire-rescuer, he has accomplished these achievements while excelling in his day job as Senior Principal at General Dynamics Information Systems. While juggling both his fire-rescue and professional career, Chief Leusch has made his family and continuing education top priorities. In conjunction with earning multiple graduate degrees and educating others in various areas of fire-rescue service, Chief Leusch is wholeheartedly committed to be a devoted husband and father. He genuinely epitomizes what it means to be a great volunteer fire chief. Chief Leusch is a clear representation of the highest ideals demonstrated by a Fire Chief of the Year.

Career Fire Chief Honoree - Joanne Hayes-White, San Francisco Fire Department

Chief Joanne Hayes-White began her career with the San Francisco Fire Department 28 years ago as she embarked on

By Michael N. Ciampo

The Village of Oswego is located 50 miles southwest of Chicago, Illinois, in the northeast portion of Kendall County. The word Oswego comes from the Mohawk Indian name meaning mouth of the stream, since it located on the Fox River and mouth of Waubonsie Creek. The area was once known for its rural farmland but had a famous drag strip that featured muscle car races from 1955 to 1979. In the 1950s the area began to see significant growth to a suburban community with Caterpillar and Western Electric plants built nearby. The Oswego (IL) Volunteer Fire Protection District was originally formed in 1893 after a large church fire occurred, and its first hose cart was purchased in 1895. The fire district was formed in 1936 by voter referendum, and in 1986, ALS ambulances were in service. In 2008, the district hired full time firefighter paramedics, and now they operate out of four stations with a full time staff of 70 with some additional part-time firefighters. The area has a large mix of residential dwellings, from single-family homes to townhomes and condominiums, commercial strip malls, factories, and light industrial. It has three state and two U.S. highways as well as two railroad lines that run through its district.

Owego’s Engine Company 3 is the proud owner of a 2016 E-ONE Typhoon pumper. Its raised roof cab is painted white over red with the rear body having roll-up compartment doors painted red. The rig has three reflective stripes running low along the cab, then running diagonally upward on the first compartment door, and then running horizontally on the upper section of the body to the rear of the rig. The front cab doors boast the Oswego Fire Protection District signage in gold leaf while the crew cab doors have gold leaf and a large “3” embedded on them. The large “3” is unique because when looking closer you’ll notice its diamond plate design. On the smaller roll-up compartment on the crew cab, the unit’s logo is attached—Engine 3 is known as the Pride of the Westside. This logo is also on the upper section of the hosebed’s back wall. The front grill has a decorative design with the American flag painted on the grill. Just above the grill, Oswego is written in gold leaf. The rear of the apparatus has the safety chevron pattern on it and large reflective “E-3” graphics on the rear compartment.

The apparatus is powered by a Detroit engine and Allison transmission. It has a 1,500-gpm Hale pump and a 750-gallon booster tank. The pump panel has large chrome handles for opening the discharge valves. The extended front bumper has a large-diameter intake that stands out due to it being chrome. On the front of the cab, mounted above the front windshield, are two LED scene lights that provide sufficient lighting at nighttime incidents. The cab has seating for six firefighters—two in the cab and four in the crew cab. The rear of the rig has a low hosebed consisting of four separate storage spaces, and one bed is equipped with the RAM by Elkhart Brass for a quick fire or “blitz” attack line. The rear compartment has storage for the unit’s AMKUS hydraulic extrication tools, which are stored on a pull-out tray.

On the officer’s side of the apparatus, the crew has quick access to their hand tools and extinguishers when deploying from the crew cab. The first compartment behind