Report: Man Burns Carpet With Static Shock
Friday, September 16, 2005
(09-16) 17:04 PDT SYDNEY, Australia (AP) --
Fire officials evacuated a building in southern Australia after a man triggered a massive shock of static electricity that caused burn marks in the carpet, a media report said Friday.
Fire officials in southern Victoria state said the man, Frank Clewer, had built up at least 30,000 volts of static electricity in his jacket simply by walking around the western city of Warrnambool, according to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
He received his first shock when he walked into a local business Thursday afternoon. "It sounded almost like a firecracker or something like that," Clewer told the ABC. "Within say around five minutes the carpet started to erupt."
Burns about 0.79 inches in diameter were left on the carpet where he had been standing, the report said. ABC did not mention if Clewer was injured.
The Country Fire Authority evacuated the building, fearing the incident might trigger electrical problems in the building, but let Clewer go, the report said.
But when he got in his car, Clewer's problems continued.
"I actually scorched a piece of plastic I had on the floor of the car," he said.
Fire officials took Clewer's jacket and said it continued to give off voltage, the report said.
Calls to the Country Fire Authority rang unanswered Friday evening.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Cryptic recording from Gonzo/Brian and posting from Bob Ladd
Received a broken cell phone call today. Couldn't decipher if it was Gonzo or Brian the Turpened-one. I heard "Blackhawk helicopter" and maniacal laughter and that was it. And Bob Ladd forwarded this from a District 9 Brother:
Greetings,
We are currently in Baton Rouge, LA stage. While staging we are being utilized by Area Command to assist with Planning, Logistics and
Information functions at the Joint Field office of FEMA and loaning our overhead out daily to various other Incident Base Camps who are short handed. I was in New Orleans today. The FDNY responded to New Orleans with their IMT and 300 firefighters to provide relief to NOFD personnel. In addition several other fire agencies did as well. The numbers have swollen to about 1,200 out of area fire fighters and apparatus from all over the Eastern Part of the US.
We met with the FDNY/NOFD ICP today and offered them assistance as well. While down town today it appears that the French Quarter is in pretty good shape. The high rise hotels sustained some pretty heavy damage. The effort is monumental. The sights are surreal, there is an aircraft carrier sitting along the River walk with a cruise ship for emergency worker housing parked behind it and directly behind that is a Command ship for the Coast Guard. The streets are full of Military, Police and heavy equipment vehicles.
The water levels are coming down. They are beginning to get some power back on in the area and fires could become a bigger problem. Phone coverage is terrible limited road access. There are many structures that have totally and partially collapsed. The Human Remains are being processed at a facility in St. Gabriel where they have assembled DMORT teams. New Orleans and the entire Gulf region have suffered devastation beyond description but, in spite of that progress is being made. From my view, this will take a considerable effort over several months before things begin to normalize*.
Take care,
Bob Anderson
Fire Chief
Spokane County Fire District 9
3801 E. Farwell Rd.
Mead, WA 99021-9605
Greetings,
We are currently in Baton Rouge, LA stage. While staging we are being utilized by Area Command to assist with Planning, Logistics and
Information functions at the Joint Field office of FEMA and loaning our overhead out daily to various other Incident Base Camps who are short handed. I was in New Orleans today. The FDNY responded to New Orleans with their IMT and 300 firefighters to provide relief to NOFD personnel. In addition several other fire agencies did as well. The numbers have swollen to about 1,200 out of area fire fighters and apparatus from all over the Eastern Part of the US.
We met with the FDNY/NOFD ICP today and offered them assistance as well. While down town today it appears that the French Quarter is in pretty good shape. The high rise hotels sustained some pretty heavy damage. The effort is monumental. The sights are surreal, there is an aircraft carrier sitting along the River walk with a cruise ship for emergency worker housing parked behind it and directly behind that is a Command ship for the Coast Guard. The streets are full of Military, Police and heavy equipment vehicles.
The water levels are coming down. They are beginning to get some power back on in the area and fires could become a bigger problem. Phone coverage is terrible limited road access. There are many structures that have totally and partially collapsed. The Human Remains are being processed at a facility in St. Gabriel where they have assembled DMORT teams. New Orleans and the entire Gulf region have suffered devastation beyond description but, in spite of that progress is being made. From my view, this will take a considerable effort over several months before things begin to normalize*.
Take care,
Bob Anderson
Fire Chief
Spokane County Fire District 9
3801 E. Farwell Rd.
Mead, WA 99021-9605
Cryptic recording from Gonzo/Brian and posting from Bob Ladd
Received a broken cell phone call today. Couldn't decipher if it was Gonzo or Brian the Turpened-one. I heard "Blackhawk helicopter" and maniacal laughter and that was it. And Bob Ladd forwarded this from a District 9 Brother:
Greetings,
We are currently in Baton Rouge, LA stage. While staging we are being utilized by Area Command to assist with Planning, Logistics and
Information functions at the Joint Field office of FEMA and loaning our overhead out daily to various other Incident Base Camps who are short handed. I was in New Orleans today. The FDNY responded to New Orleans with their IMT and 300 firefighters to provide relief to NOFD personnel. In addition several other fire agencies did as well. The numbers have swollen to about 1,200 out of area fire fighters and apparatus from all over the Eastern Part of the US.
We met with the FDNY/NOFD ICP today and offered them assistance as well. While down town today it appears that the French Quarter is in pretty good shape. The high rise hotels sustained some pretty heavy damage. The effort is monumental. The sights are surreal, there is an aircraft carrier sitting along the River walk with a cruise ship for emergency worker housing parked behind it and directly behind that is a Command ship for the Coast Guard. The streets are full of Military, Police and heavy equipment vehicles.
The water levels are coming down. They are beginning to get some power back on in the area and fires could become a bigger problem. Phone coverage is terrible limited road access. There are many structures that have totally and partially collapsed. The Human Remains are being processed at a facility in St. Gabriel where they have assembled DMORT teams. New Orleans and the entire Gulf region have suffered devastation beyond description but, in spite of that progress is being made. From my view, this will take a considerable effort over several months before things begin to normalize*.
Take care,
Bob Anderson
Fire Chief
Spokane County Fire District 9
3801 E. Farwell Rd.
Mead, WA 99021-9605
Greetings,
We are currently in Baton Rouge, LA stage. While staging we are being utilized by Area Command to assist with Planning, Logistics and
Information functions at the Joint Field office of FEMA and loaning our overhead out daily to various other Incident Base Camps who are short handed. I was in New Orleans today. The FDNY responded to New Orleans with their IMT and 300 firefighters to provide relief to NOFD personnel. In addition several other fire agencies did as well. The numbers have swollen to about 1,200 out of area fire fighters and apparatus from all over the Eastern Part of the US.
We met with the FDNY/NOFD ICP today and offered them assistance as well. While down town today it appears that the French Quarter is in pretty good shape. The high rise hotels sustained some pretty heavy damage. The effort is monumental. The sights are surreal, there is an aircraft carrier sitting along the River walk with a cruise ship for emergency worker housing parked behind it and directly behind that is a Command ship for the Coast Guard. The streets are full of Military, Police and heavy equipment vehicles.
The water levels are coming down. They are beginning to get some power back on in the area and fires could become a bigger problem. Phone coverage is terrible limited road access. There are many structures that have totally and partially collapsed. The Human Remains are being processed at a facility in St. Gabriel where they have assembled DMORT teams. New Orleans and the entire Gulf region have suffered devastation beyond description but, in spite of that progress is being made. From my view, this will take a considerable effort over several months before things begin to normalize*.
Take care,
Bob Anderson
Fire Chief
Spokane County Fire District 9
3801 E. Farwell Rd.
Mead, WA 99021-9605
Sign Waving Request
Mary Verner is a candidate we are supporting for CIty Council. She is requesting some help on Tuesday (the primary election day) to do some sign waving. Mary is a very thoughtful, intelligent member of the Spokane City Council. Bill Jackman has come to know Mary and says she is a very honest person. Mary Verner has always been supportive of our issues. More importantly she has gone out of her way to learn about us. She is part of a growing number of council people who are seeing Local 29 as more than just a bunch of city workers who want fair compensation. She sees us as advocates for the citizens of Spokane, their tax dollars and for public safety. I sense that we have proven our trustworthiness with her and that when our voice conflicts with others, she knows we speak the truth. And, according to Jackman, she is someone who values the truth.
If you would like to wave signs or help out with Mary's campaign, you can e-mail me or you can e-mail Mary at Verner4Council@dc4pc.net
Thanks, John
If you would like to wave signs or help out with Mary's campaign, you can e-mail me or you can e-mail Mary at Verner4Council@dc4pc.net
Thanks, John
Friday, September 16, 2005
Katrina FEMA Team update from Chief Schaeffer
Spokane Fire Department’s FEMA Teams and the Katrina Effort Update:
Our first 3 teams (HAUGHTON/WILLITS, TURPEN/GONZALEZ, ARCHER/ BAECHLER) are still working in Past Christian, MS. At the time of my phone call, they were boarding a helicopter to survey an area of interest. So far they have been one of the busiest teams deployed from Washington State. They have helped build a temporary City Hall, performed damage assessments, restored critical infrastructure and provide first aid (unofficially) and nourishment to the refugees. Their interaction with the victims has provided them with many stories of the devastating loss suffered; total loss of all personal belongings, home, vehicle, identification, money and businesses, etc. The many suffering are pleased to receive the assistance our six firefighters are providing and express their gratitude. The teams are working 16 hour days at times to serve the mass need.
Our second two teams (FRASER/ TIBBLES, SANDERS/ BRUNER) were sent from Atlanta, GA to Orlando, FL (6+ hour drive) yesterday to attend two days of fun-filled FEMA computer training (on laptops) to use in the field during damage assessments. The laptops will enable our personnel to identify the refugees and speed their access to FEMA funds and information. They are expected to be deployed to a damaged area tomorrow night or Sunday.
I will continue to update everyone as the soon as new information on our members occurs. Remember to check with Francie Archer if you are available to help out the families of our members that are deployed.
Brian Schaeffer
City of Spokane Fire Department
Assistant Fire Chief
Our first 3 teams (HAUGHTON/WILLITS, TURPEN/GONZALEZ, ARCHER/ BAECHLER) are still working in Past Christian, MS. At the time of my phone call, they were boarding a helicopter to survey an area of interest. So far they have been one of the busiest teams deployed from Washington State. They have helped build a temporary City Hall, performed damage assessments, restored critical infrastructure and provide first aid (unofficially) and nourishment to the refugees. Their interaction with the victims has provided them with many stories of the devastating loss suffered; total loss of all personal belongings, home, vehicle, identification, money and businesses, etc. The many suffering are pleased to receive the assistance our six firefighters are providing and express their gratitude. The teams are working 16 hour days at times to serve the mass need.
Our second two teams (FRASER/ TIBBLES, SANDERS/ BRUNER) were sent from Atlanta, GA to Orlando, FL (6+ hour drive) yesterday to attend two days of fun-filled FEMA computer training (on laptops) to use in the field during damage assessments. The laptops will enable our personnel to identify the refugees and speed their access to FEMA funds and information. They are expected to be deployed to a damaged area tomorrow night or Sunday.
I will continue to update everyone as the soon as new information on our members occurs. Remember to check with Francie Archer if you are available to help out the families of our members that are deployed.
Brian Schaeffer
City of Spokane Fire Department
Assistant Fire Chief
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