DAVE911.COM

Center Point Apartment Fire

2010-03-17T11:12:00.001-05:00

Center Point Fire & Rescue

Center Point Fire & Rescue responded to an apartment fire at Spring Villa Apartments on January 28^th. Upon arrival, firefighters reported flames showing. Center Point made a fast jump on the fire and made a quick stop.

"Those type fires are really hard to stop. I'm really proud of our guys. They got in and did an excellent job. This is one of the better stops I've seen," said Chief Howard Summerford, Center Point Fire Department.

Great work!

A special thank you to David for sharing these pictures...

Beacon View Apartment Fire

2010-03-16T16:31:00.002-05:00

Birmingham Fire & Rescue

Birmingham Fire & Rescue responded to an apartment fire at Beacon View Apartments this morning. Below are a few pictures from the scene.

A special thank you to the person who shared these pictures!

Center Street House Fire

2010-03-16T11:40:00.001-05:00

Birmingham Fire & Rescue

Birmingham Fire & Rescue responded to a house fire in the 1700 block of Center St. South. Battalion Chief Mardis said they were notified of the fire at 1:40 p.m. and had the fire under control within 12 minutes.

The fire, which appeared to have started in a front room, is under investigation, but was likely started from by a heating source. There was about 30 percent fire damage to the residence.

A special thank you to Chief Mardis for sharing these photos!

North Birmingham House Fire

2010-03-15T19:46:00.002-05:00

Birmingham Fire & Rescue

Below are a few pictures of a B-Shift fire on March 1, 2010. The two firefighters in the last photo are AO Kenny Essig and FF Steven Maddox.

A special thank you to the person who sent them in!

Birmingham 2-Alarm Warehouse Fire - Part 3

2010-03-08T13:47:00.004-06:00

Birmingham Fire & Rescue

Birmingham Fire & Rescue responded to a report of smoke near 1029 1st Avenue, North, Friday at 2:30pm. Upon arrival, Engine 6 reported smoke coming from the building and requested a full response. That lead to a 2nd alarm. Crews fought the fire well into the night.

Truck 1 setup on 1st Avenue, North. The Interstate, which runs next to the building, was closed. Truck 2 setup on the Interstate and Engine 2 laid from 3rd Avenue and 11th Street all the way up the off ramp and down the Interstate to Truck 2's location.

While this fire was gong on, Birmingham had a 2-Alarm fire on the Southside, as well.

An awesome job was done by all the firefighters on the scene to bring the large fire under control.

DAVE911.COM HD Video of the 2-Alarm fire

Birmingham 2-Alarm Warehouse Fire - Part 2

2010-03-08T13:47:00.002-06:00

Birmingham 2-Alarm Warehouse Fire - Part 1

2010-03-08T13:33:00.003-06:00

D&T West Live Fire

2010-03-01T14:12:00.002-06:00

Birmingham Fire & Rescue

The live fire for the current rookie school class was held at Drills & Training West. Below are a few pictures from the exercise.

A special thank you to Chief Mardis for sharing these shots...

Lipscomb Triple House Fire

2010-02-25T15:35:00.003-06:00

Lipscomb Fire & Rescue
Birmingham Fire & Rescue
Brighton Fire Department
Fairfield Fire Department

Lipscomb responded to three houses on fire in the 5500 block of Avenue L on February 4. Birmingham, Brighton and Fairfield assisted Lipscomb.

A special thank you to James for sending in these great shots!

Birmingham Eastside House Fire

2010-02-19T15:43:00.003-06:00

Birmingham Fire & Rescue

Below are a few pictures of a house fire Birmingham Fire & Rescue responded to in the 8200 blk of 5th Avenue N. last Saturday.

A special thank you to Chuck for sharing these great shots!

Birmingham sells retired pumper to Brighton for $1

2010-02-16T14:53:00.002-06:00

Birmingham Fire & Rescue

Wednesday, Mayor William Bell and Birmingham Fire Chief Ivor Brooks presided over a ceremony to sell the City of Brighton one of Birmingham's retired pumpers for $1. The City of Birmingham, which has assisted Brighton with fighting fires over the years, decided to sell the engine to Brighton because of the great need for a front line piece of equipment.

Congratulations to the City of Brighton in the acquisition of such a nice piece of equipment.

A special thank you to Chief Mardis for sharing the following images from the ceremony at Drills and Training West...

Hoover Explosives Detection Canine Helps Miami Prepare for Super Bowl XLIV

2010-02-05T23:31:00.003-06:00

Local K-9 team works with security team in Miami for Super Bowl

Photo courtesy of ATF

MIAMI, Fla. — Not everyone participating in this year’s Super Bowl is a football player. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have fielded their best players to help prepare for a safe and secure Super Bowl XLIV. These pros include ATF K-9 explosives detection teams that have been deployed to Miami from around the country. The K-9 teams are working side-by-side with other federal, state and local law-enforcement officers to keep the football teams and fans safe throughout this event.

"The K-9 teams that are here in Miami for the Super Bowl are the best of the best," said Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Miami Field Division. "Like the football teams that will be playing in the Super Bowl, these handlers and their K-9 partners have been training and preparing all year for this event," Barrera further stated. "We are proud to say that the only thing the fans have to worry about is whether their team wins or loses."

One of the K-9 teams working in Miami is Hoover Police Officer / Canine Handler Lee Love and his black Labrador retriever, “Hans.” Officer Love and ATF K-9 Hans have been partners for three years and are detailed to Miami from the Hoover Police Department, Hoover Ala. They routinely work together in criminal investigations and at high profile security events where their expertise is needed detecting the presence of explosives, firearms and ammunition. They were called to assist at this year’s Super Bowl to help locate any type of explosive, which may be in close proximity to the Sun Life Stadium or any other venues relating to the big game.

Photo courtesy of ATF

ATF has used its explosives detecting canines at other special events including the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, the Presidential Inauguration, the G-8, the World Series, NASCAR, the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and of course, the Super Bowls.

ATF’s program, which began in 1986, uses only Labrador retrievers. The dogs are supplied by the Guiding Eyes for the Blind, the Guide Dog Foundation, and Canine Companions for Independence. These specialty canines attend a 10-week training program with their handlers that are conducted at the ATF Canine Training Center in Front Royal, Va. Upon completion of this course, the canines are trained to detect a variety of explosive compounds and materials that could be used in an explosive device. The canines can also detect firearms and ammunition and are used in the more traditional protective search and sweep operations. Once the canine and the handler complete the ATF basic training course, they begin their field work and continue to train on a daily basis.

Firefighter Night 2010 - Speakeasy

2010-01-31T23:56:00.002-06:00

Speakeasy - 1920 3rd Avenue, North

Pleasant View Baptist Church Fire

2010-01-27T12:15:00.002-06:00

Birmingham Fire & Rescue

A fire started around 6:20 a.m. on December 31, 2009 at the Pleasant View Baptist Church in Airport Hills. Upon arrival, firefighters found flames shooting through the roof. Even with all the hard work by Birmingham Fire & Rescue, there was nothing that could be done to save the nearly 40 year old church.

A special thank you to Chief Mardis for sharing these amazing pictures!

Helmet cam video will be posted soon.

Update : Hoover Days Inn Hotel Fire

2010-01-16T23:00:00.004-06:00

Hoover Fire Department

UPDATE : Thursday, January 21, 2010 -

Hoover motel fire apparently started with incense burning in maintenance man's room, federal official says

By Val Walton--The Birmingham News
January 21, 2010, 5:31PM

The fire that killed four Mississippi college students at a Hoover Days Inn Saturday apparently started with a maintenance man burning incense in the room where he lived at the motel, a federal official said today.

The maintenance man, identified as 55-year-old Dhirajlal Bhagat, left his room with the incense burning and discovered the fire when he came back, said Jim Cavanaugh, the special agent in charge for the Alabama and Mississippi division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Bhagat tried to use a fire extinguisher to put the fire out, but it didn't work, Cavanaugh said. He then tried to use a phone at the hotel but could not get it to work either. He went upstairs and used another fire extinguisher, but his efforts were futile, Cavanaugh said.

The fire was so involved that there was no way he could have put it out with a fire extinguisher, Cavanaugh said.

Bhagat is in custody at the Hoover Jail. He has not been charged in relation to the fire but is being held on a charge of being in the country illegally. Bhagat is from India and had proper paperwork when he first came to work at the hotel, but he was denied a work authorization card in December 2007 after he reapplied, Cavanaugh said.

View entire Birmingham News story

Saturday, January 16, 2010 -

A fire swept through a two-story motel in central Alabama, killing four Mississippi college students who were trapped in their room, officials said Sunday.

The victims were students at Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Miss., which is about 90 miles west of Hoover, Ala, the site of the Days Inn fire. Officials didn't immediately know what started the blaze Saturday night, or where it began.

The victims were among those who made 911 calls to report the fire, Hoover Fire Department spokesman Rusty Lowe said. Firefighters knew the women were trapped in their second-floor room, but couldn't get to them because of the flames.

"Half of the hotel was on fire. The fire was very hot and it was just difficult to reach all the rooms to get to the victims," Lowe said.

Two of the victims were 18-year-old cousins. They were identified by officials and a relative as Alondan Turner and Catherine Muse, both of Cordova, Ala., which is about 30 miles north of Hoover.

The local fire department has requested help with the probe from state and federal agencies.

"The investigation will reveal a lot more," Low said, adding that determining the cause "will not be a quick process, due to the amount of precision which will be required."

The Mississippi University for Women was established in 1884 as the first public college for women in the U.S., according to the school's Web site.

A special thank you to Kevin Underwood for sharing these pictures from the fire...

Retired Homewood Officer Orlandera Johnson

2010-01-05T16:53:00.004-06:00

Homewood Police Department

Retired lawman killed in auto crash had been popular Homewood officer
By Carol Robinson -- The Birmingham News
January 05, 2010, 1:40PM

Homewood police are mourning the loss of a veteran officer killed this morning in a traffic accident in Bessemer.

Retired Officer Orlandera Johnson, 64, was traveling southbound on Interstate 20/59 just before 8 a.m. when a car crossed the median and struck him, according to the Jefferson County Coroner's Office.

Johnson was pronounced dead on the scene.

There were three cars involved in the crash, authorities said. A woman and a child in the car that struck Johnson both were injured and taken to area hospitals. The motorist in a third vehicle wasn't injured.

Johnson worked for the Homewood Police Department from 1979 to 2008, when he retired after 29 years of service.

Before he joined the Homewood force, Johnson worked for the Roosevelt City Police Department. said Homewood police spokesman Sgt. Andrew Didcoct.

"O.J., as he was know by everyone, was very popular and probably the most well-known Homewood officer," Didcoct said. "People were always asking, 'How is O.J.' or 'I have known O.J. for years, tell him I said hello.' Everyone loved O.J. and he will be missed."

More from the Birmingham News

God rest his soul and comfort his family. He will be missed.

Two Viewings:

Saturday, January 9 : 12pm - 5pm
2601 9th Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020-4035
(205) 425-2414

Saturday, January 9 : 6pm - 8pm
7313 Arabia Avenue
Birmingham, AL 35224-1037
(205) 787-1398

Funeral:

Sunday, January 10 - 1:30pm
Abyssinia Missionary Baptist Church
2301 Avenue E
Birmingham, AL 35218-1830
(205) 786-5378

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T23:38:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year - 2010

I want to wish you all a Happy New Year!

I've enjoyed all the exciting times we've shared together over the past year. I hope this year is filled with success and safety for you all.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T22:21:00.001-06:00

Christmas 2009

I hope everyone has a safe and Merry Christmas!

Thank you to all the emergency services professionals and military personnel who will be away from your families working today so that we can all celebrate in safety.

God bless you all!

Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Application Extension

2009-12-18T16:13:00.001-06:00

U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL)

Shelby Announces Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Application Extension

Washington, D.C., Friday, December 18, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala) today announced that the application period for the fiscal year 2009 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program has been extended until Friday, January 15, 2010. Applicants who have already submitted an application and wish to amend the application given this new extension will be granted that opportunity.

"Our nation's firefighters are true first responders and it is critical that they have the personnel necessary to fully protect our communities," said Shelby. "The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant program helps fire departments across Alabama recruit and retain firefighters so that they will be prepared to ensure the safety of our communities. I encourage fire departments to seek federal assistance by completing an application to the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Program before the January 15, 2010, deadline."

The SAFER program provides assistance to fire departments to increase the number of frontline firefighters. The goal is for fire departments to increase their staffing and deployment capabilities and to ultimately attain 24-hour staffing, thus assuring that their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards.

The Department of Homeland Security is accepting applications now through Friday, January 15, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. EST. For more information or to obtain an application for the SAFER Program visit: www.firegrantssupport.com

Ensley House Fire

2009-12-15T13:42:00.003-06:00

Birmingham Fire & Rescue

Birmingham Fire & Rescue responded to a house fire in the 2600 Block of Ave E in Ensley last Saturday.

Engine 16 and Rescue 16 were the first on the scene. E-16 established command and laid supply line on Avenue E.

E-17 laid a line from 27th St. to the back alley and attacked the fire from rear of house.

Engine 16 had 3 hand lines and a blitz nozzle flowing. Crew Members : OIC Mike McConnell, AO Mark Puccio, Nozzleman Desi Lassiter, Archie Gresham, and Dave Nance.

Engine 17 had 2 hand lines and a monitor gun flowing.

Thank you, Mark, for sharing the great shots!

Companies on the scene included:

Engine 16
Engine 17
Engine 24
Quint 20
Rescue 16
Battalion 1
Safety Officer
Fire Investigator

Brave in Blue Night Tonight

2009-12-11T13:06:00.002-06:00

Speakeasy

Chief Euell Hodge

2009-12-10T16:52:00.004-06:00

Cullman County Association of Volunteer Fire Departments

Chief Euell Hodge, Long-time Chief and President of the Cullman County Association of Volunteer Fire Departments, died last Tuesday at the age of 80. Below are a few pictures from the funeral procession. A special thank you to Lane Pair for sharing these touching photos.

God rest his sole and comfort his family. He will be missed.

Story from the Cullman Times:

Longtime volunteer fire dept. supporter Euell Hodge dies at 80

By Trent Moore The Cullman Times

CULLMAN — For Hanceville Fire Chief Alan Bolling, Euell Hodge is the reason Cullman County has such a strong foundation of volunteer fire departments.

“Without him, the fire departments of Cullman County would not be nearly as advanced as they are,” he said. “He’s the reason we have the things we have in this county. He was very instrumental in getting training and communications systems.”

Hodge, 80, died Tuesday after spending much of his life working with local fire departments and serving as president of the Cullman County Association of Volunteer Fire Departments. He was instrumental in establishing the Cullman County Volunteer Fire Association, which consists of 26 volunteer departments and more than 50 stations with 800 volunteers. The Cullman County Firefighter Training Center was dedicated to Hodge in 2007.

Though he was a trailblazer for fire protection in the area, Bolling said Hodge was also a great man.

“He would just do anything in the world for you,” he said. “He was such a great person.”

Baileyton volunteer fire chief Joe Golden said Hodge’s passing is a tremendous loss.

“He worked to benefit for the whole county, looking out for the county’s welfare,” he said. “He brought us a long way.”

Hodge’s vision will live on with a construction project set to break ground soon, Golden said.

“He was instrumental in getting the funding to build a classroom we’re fixing to start on,” he said. “He won’t get to see it realized, but everyone will benefit from it.”

David Scott, chief of the Good Hope volunteer fire department, said Hodge would be greatly missed.

“Just all of the departments are going to miss him,” he said. “He put his own time in, going to Montgomery and trying to get grants and get bills passed for us. You just can’t replace a man like that, as dedicated as he was.”

Vinemont Providence volunteer fire chief Mike Graves said Hodge was driven to support the local fire departments.

“Euell Hodge was a good man and he was relentless in improving fire service in Cullman County,” he said. “He worked with every department in Cullman County. I’m sure his efforts will be missed.”

Cullman County coroner Gary Murphree said Hodge showed an amazing dedication when he worked with him at accident scenes.

“He was a hard worker and a dedicated volunteer,” he said.

Cullman Fire Rescue training officer Mike Hackney said Hodge spent a great deal of his life dedicated to fire service.

“He was instrumental,” he said. “The fire fighters of Cullman County will feel the loss.”

Hodge was a lifelong member of the Alabama Association of Volunteer Firefighters (AAFV), the Cullman County E 9-1-1 Board of Commissioners and the Alabama Forestry Association.

In 2001, he received the Ray Tucker Memorial award for outstanding leadership and dedication while serving on the Rural Community Fire Protection Steering Committee for the Alabama Forestry Commission.

Funeral Arrangements for Capt. Gary Childs

2009-12-09T15:41:00.003-06:00

Birmingham Police Department

Funeral services have been set for a retired Birmingham Police Captain Gary Childs, who was killed in a car wreck Monday evening.

Details are below.

God rest his soul and comfort his family. He will be missed.

Viewing

Thursday from 4:30 p.m. until 8 p.m.
John's Ridout Southside Chapel
2116 University Boulevard
Birmingham, AL 35233-3108
(205) 251-5254

View Larger Map

Funeral Services

Friday at 10 a.m.
St. Paul's Cathedral
2120 3rd Avenue North
Birmingham, AL 35203-3315
(205) 583-5040

View Larger Map

Arrangements for Officer Philip Davis

2009-12-05T00:46:00.003-06:00

Pelham Police Department

Update: The Pelham Police Department has setup a website with information about Officer Philip Davis. In the near future, visitors will be able to donate to the family online. http://www.officerphilipdavis.com/

The City of Pelham has released the arrangements for Officer Davis.

Arrangements are as follows:

Visitation and viewing will be held on Monday, December 7th, from 5:00PM until 7:00PM at Church at Brook Hills.

Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, December 8th, at 11:00AM at Church at Brook Hills.

Church at Brook Hills
3145 Brook Highland Drive
Birmingham, AL 35242-5863
(205) 313-7777

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Officer Philip Davis Memorial Fund

2009-12-04T16:38:00.004-06:00

Pelham Officer Philip Davis

Update: The Pelham Police Department has setup a website with information about Officer Philip Davis. In the near future, visitors will be able to donate to the family online. http://www.officerphilipdavis.com/

All America’s First Federal Credit Union branches in the area are accepting donations for the family of fallen Pelham Police Officer Philip Davis. If you're able, please consider contributing to the memorial fund.

Even if you aren't in a position to contribute financially, I hope you'll remember the family and fellow officers of Officer Davis in your prayers.

Branch locations can be found here: https://www.amfirst.org/locations-hours.html