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Posted: Apr 14, 2016

Maple Valley firefighter reflects on how it feels when victims are kids

He was one of nearly two-dozen first responders at the scene of a horrific Thursday morning crash that injured seven children at a Maple Valley bus stop. Lt. Drew Erickson of the Maple Valley Fire Department was in charge of an engine company from station 81 when the call came in that a pickup truck had struck a group of children waiting for their school bus.
- PUB DATE: 4/14/2016 7:44:17 PM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000
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Posted: Apr 14, 2016

Maple Valley firefighter reflects on how it feels when victims are kids

He was one of nearly two-dozen first responders at the scene of a horrific Thursday morning crash that injured seven children at a Maple Valley bus stop. Lt. Drew Erickson of the Maple Valley Fire Department was in charge of an engine company from station 81 when the call came in that a pickup truck had struck a group of children waiting for their school bus.
- PUB DATE: 4/14/2016 7:44:17 PM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000
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Posted: Apr 14, 2016

Valparaiso (CA) to Dedicate Fire Station to Former Chief Nondorf

The city will dedicate its downtown fire station to former Fire Chief David Nondorf in a short ceremony at 5 p.m. Friday at the station at 205 Indiana Ave. The city will place a memorial plaque on the building, recognizing Nondorf's name, fire department number and more than 25 years of service to the department.
The city will place a memorial plaque on the building, recognizing Nondorf's name, fire department number and more than 25 years of service to the department. The public is invited to join the city and the Nondorf family in the dedication.

"We would like to keep the memories of our past members alive and never forget the years they dedicated to this community," said Fire Chief Chad Dutz, who trained alongside Nondorf. "Chief Nondorf's commitment was extraordinary. He was committed to his vision for the department and passionate about achieving his goals for the community."

Mayor Jon Costas said Nondorf is remembered as a consummate fire chief, a man of integrity, and a dear friend of Valparaiso.

Costas named Nondorf fire chief upon taking office in 2004.

Nondorf died in August after a seven-year battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Kristy, and three children, Nicholas, Zachary and Madison. Nicholas Nondorf has been a Valparaiso firefighter since 2011.

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Posted: Apr 14, 2016

Boston Fire Department's Fleet Overhaul Called into Question

A deadly fire truck accident seven years ago triggered what was thought to be a major overhaul of the Boston Fire Department's fleet maintenance division, but 5 Investigates has learned that promised overhaul has been an "abject failure," according to a key safety expert.
The city made changes to the fleet maintenance division after the tragic crash in 2009 that killed Lt. Kevin Kelley. At that time the engines and ladders were not being maintained and were in very poor condition.

In January 2009, Ladder 26 barreled down a hill, plowing through a major intersection with no brakes. The truck slammed into a building, killing Kelley and injuring two firefighters.

Investigators found brake failure caused by improper maintenance was partly to blame, and the accident exposed major flaws in the department's vehicle maintenance program, flaws that put the safety of firefighters and the public at risk.

The city overhauled the Fleet Maintenance Division, replacing firefighters who were performing maintenance with licensed mechanics.

But a report obtained by 5 investigates calls that move an abject failure, suggesting the hard lessons from Kelley's death have not been learned.

According to the report, daily inspections have been abandoned and preventative maintenance is in disarray, with some trucks more than 200 days past due on inspections.

In addition, the report found no one in the department knows how to use the computerized fleet management system and tests on engines to make sure they pump out enough water at the right pressure were not properly done.

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Posted: Apr 14, 2016

Vintage Fire Equipment Featured at Charlotte AutoFair

A hot-rodded 1944 Mack fire truck street rod known as the Black Mack will be featured in a special display of firefighting vehicles April 7-10 at the Pennzoil AutoFair at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina.
The firefighting display, presented by Vintage Fire Truck & Equipment magazine, includes a 1922 Ford that has served the Farmland (Indiana) Fire Department since it was new; a tiny Scat emergency truck designed to reach fires in crowded buildings; specialized fire units built on an International Harvester Scout and a Ford Bronco; and two trucks that served Kings Mountain, North Carolina, in the 1930s.

The AutoFair also will feature various interactive displays, including the Fire Safety House hosted by the local Concord Fire Department.

The "Black Mack" went from fighting fires in North Riverside, Illinois, to smoking rubber after Precision Designs of Denver, Colorado, did a custom steel frame, heavily modifying the all-steel body and installed a V10 engine from a Dodge Viper. The engine, souped-up to produce 600 horsepower, is linked to a Dodge four-speed automatic taken from a Ram SRT-10 sport truck.

The Mack B rides on an airbagged suspension and a unique set of 24-inch polished aluminum American Force Wheels. The Dodge rear-axle assembly had to be narrowed by 14 inches to fit between the wide rear tires. Dodge truck disc brakes also were installed.

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