It didn't have to be that way. The degradation of a person's ethics, and morality through years of immersion in criminal behavior from the leaders of their organization seeps in slowly, but takes over a person's dignity, and before they know it they have rationalized that their obscene pension was either earned, or deserved. Or, more likely than those two reasons, is something they got because if they didn't somebody else would.

Providence mayor Buddy Cianci was convicted of RICO crimes and spent five years in federal prison. He is out, and hosts the area's most popular talk radio program, The Buddy Cianci Show on 630 WPRO. RICO, WPRO, who cares. He was the longest serving mayor of a large city in the history of this country, and was instrumental in getting the 6 % COLA's implemented. His legacy is one of mistrust of all city government officers, caution in dealing with them, contempt for city hall and the general consensus among city workers that we are being played by people whose quest for power is greater than their desire to do what is right.

http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2012/02/providence-mayo-24.html

Good luck, Mayor Tavares

Meanwhile, on the front lines, Providence Firefighters stay focused, show up and get the job done. Fires go out, six rescues do the job of fifteen, stations and apparatus are maintained and we take care of each other. Local 799, The Providence Firefighters Union fights the good fight, and stands up for what is right through mounting criticism and accusations from a disgruntled public.

Thanks Former Mayor Cianci.

http://seanmcnultyphotography.smugmug.com/FirePhotography/2012-Fires/Providence-135-Almy-St-2nd/21321714_jSC4kM#!i=1698058105&k=dkMFn6J

Great job brothers and sisters! Don't let the bastards get you down!

Driving to a call is a big responsibility.  Getting there safely is the top priority.  According to WTSP 10 News,  In Clearwater, Florida crews were responding to a call when a large piece of concrete shattered their windshield. But it was no accident:

Clearwater Police are looking for the man who threw a piece of concrete at a passing fire truck on Gulf to Bay Boulevard Friday morning.

According to police, the fire truck was responding to a call around 7:20 a.m. when the man, walking east on the north side of the road in the 2300 block, threw a large piece of concrete, shattering the windshield on the passenger side. 

The shattered windshield overall remained intact, but sent shards of glass throughout the inside, covering the driver and passenger. Neither were injured.

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Previous coverage of this story

Above is a picture from IAFF Local 36 showing one of its members handing a t-shirt to President Barack Obama yesterday during an event at Arlington County (VA) Fire Department Station 105. President Obama was there to talk about his jobs initiative to help veterans find work as firefighters, police officers and park rangers. The President is now the owner of a shirt that firefighters in the District of Columbia would not be allowed to wear while on-duty because it has the DCFD insignia banned by Chief Kenneth Ellerbe. The Washington Post's Mike Debonis writing in his District of Debonis blog is on top of this story:

Ed Smith, president of Local 36 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said there were no political overtones intended in handing POTUS the shirt.

”Those were shirts we had made up last year, before the change,” he said. “Those are the shirts we wear when we’re out in the community, attending different events. … We try to look uniform.”

Lon Walls, an FEMS spokesperson, said he wasn’t reading too much into the giveaway.

“People give stuff to the president all the time,” he said. “I’m sure he doesn’t know what all the issues are.”

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Mid-Day Fire Destroys Building

A FRIDAY MORNING FIRE DESTROYED the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Festiva visitor center.  The fire was reported just before 10 am and when the first units from Horry County Fire Rescue arrived they had fire showing.

Herald photo

The fire apparently originated in the roof or attic because the employees in the center were unaware of the fire until passers-by started coming into the shop to alert them.

Herald

As of Friday afternoon there was not yet a determination on the cause of the fire.  There are several of these privately-operated visitor centers around the resort city.

The Herald has the story and a photo gallery HERE.

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Saturday Morning – Power Up

File this under How to Make a Million.  This little plug-thingy is a power adaptor for the Amazon Kindle e-reader.  A USB cord plugs into the other end of it and when you connect the two, it enables you to recharge the permanent battery in the device.  You don't have to use the power adaptor because you can plug the USB cord into your computer and charge your Kindle from there.  But not only is it much slower that way, but you have to have access to a computer (that is plugged in) to use it.  So this little power adaptor is virtually a necessity, but not absolutely required.

Prior to December 1 this power adaptor was included with your Kindle purchase, so you were all set to go, right out of the box.  But sensing the strong demand for Kindles likely to occur during the Christmas rush, some marketing whiz-kid convinced the policy-makers to include only the USB cord in the sales box and offer the power adaptor separately for $15.  When you take into account that perhaps as many as 5 million Kindle e-readers were sold over the holiday season (Amazon doesn't release the numbers), you can figure for yourself how that boosted the sales figures for the 4th-quarter.

This morning I see that Amazon is selling the adaptor for $10 if you buy it with a Kindle.  That's a welcome concession, but really, guys.  For all the money that your customers are spending already for your device and future eBook sales, you really oughta' go back to including this plug that probably doesn't cost more than 12 cents to make.

Here's a stat for you:  The number of Americans who own a tablet or e-reader is estimated to be 29% of the adult population.

Let's start on another set of stats now and get this equipment checked out.  I'm going to get more coffee started for us… a Saturday kicker.  See you back in the day room.

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A Review of Recent Incidents Involving Dollar Stores

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GASTONIA, NORTH CAROLINA, POLICE SAY that a local teenager used a lighter to set a fire in a Dollar Tree store on January 2, shortly after 5 pm.  By 10 pm Todd Alexander Bryson, 16, was jailed under a $25,000 secured bond facing an arson-related charge.

The Gaston Gazette reported:

The two-alarm fire was reported about 5:24 p.m. Monday. It occurred in the aisle where potato chips and other snacks are displayed, according to Gaston County Assistant Fire Marshal Billy Glover. Police were able to arrest Bryson before he left (the shopping center). They said he probably set fire to just one item.

"There’s no indication of any reason he’d want to start the fire," said Sgt. Jimmy Arndt with Gastonia Police Department. Bryson was standing in the parking lot with his mother and some acquaintances when taken into custody, Arndt said.

Glover said combined damage will likely exceed $500,000 and could hit $1 million.

The building's sprinkler system helped contain the blaze, but there was still significant damage to both the structure and the merchandise, mainly from smoke and water damage.  Bryson was charged with felony arson and is subject to additional charges.

The store reopened on January 19 while Bryson was still in jail.

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WISH-TV IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA reported that two employees suffered smoke inhalation in a fire set by a customer trying to steal items from a Wayne Township Family Dollar store on January 9.

Firefighters were called to the store near Lynhurst Drive and Rockville Road just after 11:30 a.m. The first units arrived to find a small fire had already been extinguished by employees. They say it appears a would-be shoplifter set the fire as a distraction.

The suspect fled from the store but was identified on a surveillance tape.

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IN NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI, A FIRE BROKE OUT in a Dollar General store around 2 pm on January 10.

Natchez Democrat

The Natchez Democrat reported:

"The manager said everybody was in the front of the store, and when he turned around he could see smoke coming from the back of the building," Natchez Fire Chief Oliver Stewart said.

Most of the fire damage was limited to the rear of the building, but Oliver said the exact point of origin for the fire had not been determined Tuesday afternoon. "They have an office in the rear, and it looks like it started in that office," Stewart said. "We are looking there."

The fire burned out the storeroom and caused some structural damage in that area.  The firewalls between the stores in the shopping center prevented the fire from spreading into the adjoining businesses.

*  *  *  *  *

MONDAY JANUARY 16, A CAR inexplicably drove through the main entrance of a Van Nuys, California, 99¢ store.  Although the car plowed right into the main egress at 1 pm, there were no injuries.  Damages amounted to at least $5,000.99.

KCBS-TV ran this video report:

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A JONESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, TEEN WAS ARRESTED after setting a fire in a Dollar General store on January 14.  The blaze kept the firefighters on the scene for 12 hours as the building was gutted.  There was some extension into other stores in the shopping center, but none of them had major damage with most being able to reopen within 2-3 days.

A 16-yr.-old boy has been charged with the arson, but neither his identity or motive were disclosed by the police.

WGHP-TV has the details in this video report:

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This is a continuing series of fire / rescue incidents involving "dollar stores." Read previous Dollar Store Updates HERE.

He has been suspended from the fire company pending further investigation.

On 3 February the United States Fire Administration announced the tenth official on-duty death of 2012. Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief David M. Flint was killed, and Assistant Chief Sharon Petri injured, when his privately owned vehicle was struck while on the way to fire department training. Here is a specific breakdown of these first ten fatalities.

Age

Average Age: 50

Youngest: 19

Oldest: 63

Department

Volunteer: 7

Career: 3

Two fire chiefs; one captain; six firefighters and one wildland contracted employee, an inmate firefighter.

Nature of Death

Trauma: 4; Unknown: 4; Heart Attack: 2

Cause of Death

Unknown: 4; Vehicle Collison: 3; Stress/Overexertion: 2; Fall: 1

Deaths involving lack of seatbelt use: 2

(1 NC POV response. Seatbelt cited in local news report.)

(1 PA POV response. Ejected; lack of seatbelt reported.)

Deaths Involving Personal Vehicles (POV) and Response: 2

(1 NC POV response. Seatbelt cited in local news report.)

(1 PA POV response. Ejected; lack of seatbelt reported.)

Fireground Activity

On Scene: 1 (1 Fell ill inside apparatus cab on fireground.)

Deaths Which Occurred During Training: 1

(1 Firefighter fell from top of raised, extended aerial ladder during training.)

Deaths Which Occurred Outside the "Traditional" Line of Duty Definition: 6

(1  Inmate firefighter fell unconcious while on training hike; died at hospital. Cause unknown.)

(1 Firefighter fell from top of raised, extended aerial ladder during training.)

(1 Firefighter found unconcious inside station workout room; Activity Type: Fitness Activity )

(1 Suffered heart attack within 24 hours of incident response; died of complications three days later.)

(1 Found dead while asleep on duty.)

(1 Killed in POV crash while enroute to firehouse for weekly drill, according to news reports.)

More details can be found on the Fire Service Sabremetrics page, updated throughout the year.

Bill Carey is the daily news and blog manager for Elsevier Public Safety (FireRescue Magazine/Firefighter Nation, JEMS and LawOfficer sites.) Bill also manages the FireEMSBlogs.com network and is a former volunteer lieutenant with the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department in Prince George's County, Maryland.

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From Dallas, Texas, the news, apparently official … social media has taken over the news business. Actually this is old news. The video above has been on YouTube since 2010, but I realized I had never shared it with you. You see, those in the news business don't just make fun of you, they also make fun of themselves.

Read more about the video from KDFW-TV.

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