West Plains Fire Service
In the article on March 9, “Fire administrators say consolidation is complicated by Labor...” “Economically it makes sense, but politically it may not.” The fire fighters are not complicating the issue; in fact Labor groups have developed multiple plans and solutions for consolidation. It makes economic sense for all agencies and especially the affected citizens. It appears some Politicians and administrators have a fear of doing what is right for the community. Are the citizen’s best interests being considered? Does each agency by itself have enough staff to provide a safe work environment to protect the citizens? Are the citizens getting what they are paying for? Duplication of services and multiple responses by various agencies is not the best way to provide service, it makes sense to merge and consolidate services. Those in control say “they are in favor of regionalization” but their actions say differently. Mergers and consolidation of services has the potential to save the taxpayer money and provide a better level of service. Labor is not the problem. It is the administrators and politicians that stand to lose their position or role. Regionalization works and it is in the best interest of the citizens.
Mark Vietzke
President Spokane Firefighters IAFF Local 29
Tim Lively
President SIA Firefighters IAFF Local 1789
Friday, March 11, 2011
Monday, March 07, 2011
America Is NOT Broke
OK. This article is by Michael Moore. And I get it that some of you don't like him. He gets on my nerves sometimes, too. But, he hits the nail on the head with this article. This is the stuff the TV news won't tell you. In fact, this is the stuff they don't want America to know. Instead, they want America to think that you and your collective bargaining, your pension and your standing together, as a union, are the reason we are in the mess we are in. It is simply not true and Mr. Moore points that out. I don't agree with all that he says here, and I know his hyperbole will turn a lot of you off, but his voice is sticking up for all of us who are in unions and I thought you might like to hear what he says:
Michael Moore | Saturday 05 March 2011
Michael Moore | Saturday 05 March 2011
America is not broke.
Contrary to what those in power would like you to believe so that you'll give up your pension, cut your wages, and settle for the life your great-grandparents had, America is not broke. Not by a long shot. The country is awash in wealth and cash. It's just that it's not in your hands. It has been transferred, in the greatest heist in history, from the workers and consumers to the banks and the portfolios of the uber-rich.
Today just 400 Americans have the same wealth as half of all Americans combined.
Let me say that again. 400 obscenely rich people, most of whom benefited in some way from the multi-trillion dollar taxpayer "bailout" of 2008, now have as much loot, stock and property as the assets of 155 million Americans combined. If you can't bring yourself to call that a financial coup d'état, then you are simply not being honest about what you know in your heart to be true.
And I can see why. For us to admit that we have let a small group of men abscond with and hoard the bulk of the wealth that runs our economy, would mean that we'd have to accept the humiliating acknowledgment that we have indeed surrendered our precious Democracy to the moneyed elite. Wall Street, the banks and the Fortune 500 now run this Republic -- and, until this past month, the rest of us have felt completely helpless, unable to find a way to do anything about it.
I have nothing more than a high school degree. But back when I was in school, every student had to take one semester of economics in order to graduate. And here's what I learned: Money doesn't grow on trees. It grows when we make things. It grows when we have good jobs with good wages that we use to buy the things we need and thus create more jobs. It grows when we provide an outstanding educational system that then grows a new generation of inventers, entrepreneurs, artists, scientists and thinkers who come up with the next great idea for the planet. And that new idea creates new jobs and that creates revenue for the state. But if those who have the most money don't pay their fair share of taxes, the state can't function. The schools can't produce the best and the brightest who will go on to create those jobs. If the wealthy get to keep most of their money, we have seen what they will do with it: recklessly gamble it on crazy Wall Street schemes and crash our economy. The crash they created cost us millions of jobs. That too caused a reduction in revenue. And the population ended up suffering because they reduced their taxes, reduced our jobs and took wealth out of the system, removing it from circulation.
The nation is not broke, my friends. Wisconsin is not broke. It's part of the Big Lie. It's one of the three biggest lies of the decade: America/Wisconsin is broke, Iraq has WMD, the Packers can't win the Super Bowl without Brett Favre.
The truth is, there's lots of money to go around. LOTS. It's just that those in charge have diverted that wealth into a deep well that sits on their well-guarded estates. They know they have committed crimes to make this happen and they know that someday you may want to see some of that money that used to be yours. So they have bought and paid for hundreds of politicians across the country to do their bidding for them. But just in case that doesn't work, they've got their gated communities, and the luxury jet is always fully fueled, the engines running, waiting for that day they hope never comes. To help prevent that day when the people demand their country back, the wealthy have done two very smart things:
1. They control the message. By owning most of the media they have expertly convinced many Americans of few means to buy their version of the American Dream and to vote for their politicians. Their version of the Dream says that you, too, might be rich some day – this is America, where anything can happen if you just apply yourself! They have conveniently provided you with believable examples to show you how a poor boy can become a rich man, how the child of a single mother in Hawaii can become president, how a guy with a high school education can become a successful filmmaker. They will play these stories for you over and over again all day long so that the last thing you will want to do is upset the apple cart -- because you -- yes, you, too! -- might be rich/president/an Oscar-winner some day! The message is clear: keep you head down, your nose to the grindstone, don't rock the boat and be sure to vote for the party that protects the rich man that you might be some day.
2. They have created a poison pill that they know you will never want to take. It is their version of mutually assured destruction. And when they threatened to release this weapon of mass economic annihilation in September of 2008, we blinked. As the economy and the stock market went into a tailspin, and the banks were caught conducting a worldwide Ponzi scheme, Wall Street issued this threat: Either hand over trillions of dollars from the American taxpayers or we will crash this economy straight into the ground. Fork it over or it's Goodbye savings accounts. Goodbye pensions. Goodbye United States Treasury. Goodbye jobs and homes and future. It was friggin' awesome and it scared the shit out of everyone. "Here! Take our money! We don't care. We'll even print more for you! Just take it! But, please, leave our lives alone, PLEASE!"
The executives in the board rooms and hedge funds could not contain their laughter, their glee, and within three months they were writing each other huge bonus checks and marveling at how perfectly they had played a nation full of suckers. Millions lost their jobs anyway, and millions lost their homes. But there was no revolt (see #1).
Until now. On Wisconsin! Never has a Michigander been more happy to share a big, great lake with you! You have aroused the sleeping giant know as the working people of the United States of America. Right now the earth is shaking and the ground is shifting under the feet of those who are in charge. Your message has inspired people in all 50 states and that message is: WE HAVE HAD IT! We reject anyone tells us America is broke and broken. It's just the opposite! We are rich with talent and ideas and hard work and, yes, love. Love and compassion toward those who have, through no fault of their own, ended up as the least among us. But they still crave what we all crave: Our country back! Our democracy back! Our good name back! The United States of America. NOT the Corporate States of America. The United States of America!
So how do we get this? Well, we do it with a little bit of Egypt here, a little bit of Madison there. And let us pause for a moment and remember that it was a poor man with a fruit stand in Tunisia who gave his life so that the world might focus its attention on how a government run by billionaires for billionaires is an affront to freedom and morality and humanity.
Thank you, Wisconsin. You have made people realize this was our last best chance to grab the final thread of what was left of who we are as Americans. For three weeks you have stood in the cold, slept on the floor, skipped out of town to Illinois -- whatever it took, you have done it, and one thing is for certain: Madison is only the beginning. The smug rich have overplayed their hand. They couldn't have just been content with the money they raided from the treasury. They couldn't be satiated by simply removing millions of jobs and shipping them overseas to exploit the poor elsewhere. No, they had to have more – something more than all the riches in the world. They had to have our soul. They had to strip us of our dignity. They had to shut us up and shut us down so that we could not even sit at a table with them and bargain about simple things like classroom size or bulletproof vests for everyone on the police force or letting a pilot just get a few extra hours sleep so he or she can do their job -- their $19,000 a year job. That's how much some rookie pilots on commuter airlines make, maybe even the rookie pilots flying people here to Madison. But he's stopped trying to get better pay. All he asks is that he doesn't have to sleep in his car between shifts at O'Hare airport. That's how despicably low we have sunk. The wealthy couldn't be content with just paying this man $19,000 a year. They wanted to take away his sleep. They wanted to demean and dehumanize him. After all, he's just another slob.
And that, my friends, is Corporate America's fatal mistake. But trying to destroy us they have given birth to a movement -- a movement that is becoming a massive, nonviolent revolt across the country. We all knew there had to be a breaking point some day, and that point is upon us. Many people in the media don't understand this. They say they were caught off guard about Egypt, never saw it coming. Now they act surprised and flummoxed about why so many hundreds of thousands have come to Madison over the last three weeks during brutal winter weather. "Why are they all standing out there in the cold? I mean there was that election in November and that was supposed to be that!
"There's something happening here, and you don't know what it is, do you ...?"
America ain't broke! The only thing that's broke is the moral compass of the rulers. And we aim to fix that compass and steer the ship ourselves from now on. Never forget, as long as that Constitution of ours still stands, it's one person, one vote, and it's the thing the rich hate most about America -- because even though they seem to hold all the money and all the cards, they begrudgingly know this one unshakeable basic fact: There are more of us than there are of them!
Madison, do not retreat. We are with you. We will win together.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
SustainableWorks!
Yesterday I met with Joel Williamson from The Spokane Alliance. The Spokane Alliance is a consortium of churches, labor unions and other community entities. Joel wanted me to get the information out to Local 29 members about SustainableWorks. If you're thinking about any repair or retrofitting to your home or rental units this summer or spring, you may want to give them a call.
In a nutshell, you can get a home energy audit from them for $95 (fully refundable if they don't recommend any improvements) and this includes installation of CFL light bulbs, shower heads and faucet aerators to start saving wasted energy $$$ immediately. This audit is a $650 value. If you decide to get some improvements made, they will act as the general contractor, and will put union workers to the task of doing the retrofitting you want done. The people doing the work are journey level workers who are receiving training and supervision while they make a living. SustainableWorks will even line up the financing and take care of all the paperwork for you. So what is the expected outcome of the project?
120 direct full-time jobs
25 apprentice positions and direct employment pathways
3,000 ton reduction of carbon emissions
$12 million in retrofit work.
To date, 200 journey level workers have received special energy systems training and 50 have been trained in energy auditing,
Throughout Washington, SustainableWorks has audited over 500 homes and completed over 200 retrofits. 85 of these retrofits have occurred in two neighborhoods in Spokane.
On the east side of the state, your home must be in the city of Spokane to qualify. Yes, if you own a rental, it can qualify too.
Also, they do furnace safety checks for people and have eliminated some CO calls that we probably would have been called out to.
SustainableWorks is increasing good-paying union jobs, increasing Spokane's tax base, decreasing energy consumption, helping with residential safety, bringing different unions together and building up our community of Spokane from the grassroots. How cool is that?
If you want more information, you can click on the link or give them a call at 532-1688.
In a nutshell, you can get a home energy audit from them for $95 (fully refundable if they don't recommend any improvements) and this includes installation of CFL light bulbs, shower heads and faucet aerators to start saving wasted energy $$$ immediately. This audit is a $650 value. If you decide to get some improvements made, they will act as the general contractor, and will put union workers to the task of doing the retrofitting you want done. The people doing the work are journey level workers who are receiving training and supervision while they make a living. SustainableWorks will even line up the financing and take care of all the paperwork for you. So what is the expected outcome of the project?
120 direct full-time jobs
25 apprentice positions and direct employment pathways
3,000 ton reduction of carbon emissions
$12 million in retrofit work.
To date, 200 journey level workers have received special energy systems training and 50 have been trained in energy auditing,
Throughout Washington, SustainableWorks has audited over 500 homes and completed over 200 retrofits. 85 of these retrofits have occurred in two neighborhoods in Spokane.
On the east side of the state, your home must be in the city of Spokane to qualify. Yes, if you own a rental, it can qualify too.
Also, they do furnace safety checks for people and have eliminated some CO calls that we probably would have been called out to.
SustainableWorks is increasing good-paying union jobs, increasing Spokane's tax base, decreasing energy consumption, helping with residential safety, bringing different unions together and building up our community of Spokane from the grassroots. How cool is that?
If you want more information, you can click on the link or give them a call at 532-1688.
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
WORKERS COMP UNDER ATTACK IN OLYMPIA!
URGENT Please call and/or e-mail Senator Brown NOW. As early as tomorrow she may accept a deal for Workers Comp that would include compromise and release and may also agree to take away any pension benefits for injured workers. Talking points and contact info is listed below.
Beth Thew
Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO
509-939-0688
Phone:(360) 786-7604
Email: Brown.Lisa@leg.WA.gov
Our Worker Comp system continues to come under attack from the business community! We need you to call – TODAY – to tell your legislators not to cut worker comp benefits!
We urge our legislators to reject attacks on our safety net which simply slash benefits rather than responsibly addressing our long-term disability problem by getting people back to work.
We have proven methods to help injured workers and reduce costs by providing quality medical care from the beginning of a claim (HB1869 and SB 5801).
We also support getting people back to work faster by providing a wage subsidy so small employers can bring injured workers back to light duty/transitional positions (HB 2002).
Do not put injured workers at risk. We urge you to oppose cutting people off long term disability at retirement age and to oppose turning our safety net into a lottery system weighted against injured workers by bringing any form of compromise and release to WA. (SB 5566)
Beth Thew
Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO
509-939-0688
Phone:(360) 786-7604
Email: Brown.Lisa@leg.WA.gov
Our Worker Comp system continues to come under attack from the business community! We need you to call – TODAY – to tell your legislators not to cut worker comp benefits!
We urge our legislators to reject attacks on our safety net which simply slash benefits rather than responsibly addressing our long-term disability problem by getting people back to work.
We have proven methods to help injured workers and reduce costs by providing quality medical care from the beginning of a claim (HB1869 and SB 5801).
We also support getting people back to work faster by providing a wage subsidy so small employers can bring injured workers back to light duty/transitional positions (HB 2002).
Do not put injured workers at risk. We urge you to oppose cutting people off long term disability at retirement age and to oppose turning our safety net into a lottery system weighted against injured workers by bringing any form of compromise and release to WA. (SB 5566)
WORKERS COMP UNDER ATTACK IN OLYMPIA!
URGENT Please call and/or e-mail Senator Brown NOW. As early as tomorrow she may accept a deal for Workers Comp that would include compromise and release and may also agree to take away any pension benefits for injured workers. Talking points and contact info is listed below.
Beth Thew
Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO
509-939-0688
Phone:(360) 786-7604
Email: Brown.Lisa@leg.WA.gov
Our Worker Comp system continues to come under attack from the business community! We need you to call – TODAY – to tell your legislators not to cut worker comp benefits!
We urge our legislators to reject attacks on our safety net which simply slash benefits rather than responsibly addressing our long-term disability problem by getting people back to work.
We have proven methods to help injured workers and reduce costs by providing quality medical care from the beginning of a claim (HB1869 and SB 5801).
We also support getting people back to work faster by providing a wage subsidy so small employers can bring injured workers back to light duty/transitional positions (HB 2002).
Do not put injured workers at risk. We urge you to oppose cutting people off long term disability at retirement age and to oppose turning our safety net into a lottery system weighted against injured workers by bringing any form of compromise and release to WA. (SB 5566)
Beth Thew
Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO
509-939-0688
Phone:(360) 786-7604
Email: Brown.Lisa@leg.WA.gov
Our Worker Comp system continues to come under attack from the business community! We need you to call – TODAY – to tell your legislators not to cut worker comp benefits!
We urge our legislators to reject attacks on our safety net which simply slash benefits rather than responsibly addressing our long-term disability problem by getting people back to work.
We have proven methods to help injured workers and reduce costs by providing quality medical care from the beginning of a claim (HB1869 and SB 5801).
We also support getting people back to work faster by providing a wage subsidy so small employers can bring injured workers back to light duty/transitional positions (HB 2002).
Do not put injured workers at risk. We urge you to oppose cutting people off long term disability at retirement age and to oppose turning our safety net into a lottery system weighted against injured workers by bringing any form of compromise and release to WA. (SB 5566)
BOYCOTT WISCONSIN GOVERNOR'S BOSSES!
This is circulating in the great state of Wisconsin.
Let's vote with our money.
These are Koch Brothers products and proceeds are being used against the workers of Wisconsin. Very important to distribute. This is what non-vocal people love to do. Boycott !!!!!!!!
Please send this on to everyone you know. Let the Koch brothers know that we understand what they're trying to do to Wisconsin!
“Boycott Koch Industry products:
(Georgia-Pacific products)
Angel Soft toilet paper
Brawny paper towels
Dixie plates, bowls, napkins and cups
Mardi Gras napkins and towels
Quilted Northern toilet paper
Soft 'n Gentle toilet paper
Sparkle napkins
Vanity fair napkins
Zee napkins
Georgia-Pa cific paper products and envelopes INVISTA Products Lycra Sta
http://www.boycottkochbrothers.com/
Let's vote with our money.
These are Koch Brothers products and proceeds are being used against the workers of Wisconsin. Very important to distribute. This is what non-vocal people love to do. Boycott !!!!!!!!
Please send this on to everyone you know. Let the Koch brothers know that we understand what they're trying to do to Wisconsin!
“Boycott Koch Industry products:
(Georgia-Pacific products)
Angel Soft toilet paper
Brawny paper towels
Dixie plates, bowls, napkins and cups
Mardi Gras napkins and towels
Quilted Northern toilet paper
Soft 'n Gentle toilet paper
Sparkle napkins
Vanity fair napkins
Zee napkins
Georgia-Pa cific paper products and envelopes INVISTA Products Lycra Sta
http://www.boycottkochbrothers.com/
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Labor Rally Last Friday
It was cold!
Two-hundred or so union members and their supporters showed up to wave signs at the triangle where Ruby, Division and North River Drive come together. I couldn't believe how many drivers honked horns and waved back. It was great!
It's easy to forget that Spokane has the labor movement entrenched in its founding and growth. No surprise that as union membership dwindled in Spokane, so did the general prosperity of the city. Mining, timber, the railroads, and of course, aluminum built a Spokane with a thriving middle class.
You can look it up for yourself. The overall prosperity of the individual in this country reached its peak coincidentally with the peak of union participation. Although, there weren't as many billionaires, failed banks, investment scams, unemployed, and medical bankruptcies either. Hmmmm.
The Wobbly Free Speech Movement put Spokane on the map for showing how much the authorities despised unions and how willing they were to persecute them. Look at some of the old newspapers from the time. The Spokesman-Review led the pack, calling for violence and worse against union members. The governor in Wisconsin is resurrecting this spirit, in a way that I don't think even the most fascist-leaning, turn-of-the-century Spokanite would have bought into.
Let's see Governor Walker, you give tax breaks to your benefactors to put the state budget into the hole. This deficit allows you to conveniently blame union employees and their meager pensions for the problem and go after their money, their rights and their political clout. Sad that so many who have been chewed up and spit out by these same forces continue to cheer on those who destroyed them and gleefully anticipate destruction for those who have fought on their behalf. Unbelievable that there are voters in Wisconsin who look to failing (education, health, employment, finances, standard of living) states in the south as their new model because it fits their Koch-brother-sponsored talk-radio, FOX News ideology.
Here in Spokane, the first gathering of firefighters to organize a union resulted in an instantaneous firing of those members, almost a hundred years ago. In fact, Local 29 - The Spokane Fire Fighters' Union celebrates its 93 year year birthday tomorrow. It was one of the original founding locals of the International Association of Firefighters, hence the low number of "29." They are now up to Local 4780.
There was a small article in the Spokesman-Review yesterday about the rally. Thank you SR!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Vote for Alex!
SFD Fire Equipment Operator Alex Mickschl entered a contest to become the next voice of Sparky the Fire Dog. Amazingly, Alex was selected as one of three national finalists. The winner will be determined by online voting between today and Friday. If Alex is selected, the SFD will receive public education materials from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) at NO COST. Because of the limited amount of time for voting, we could really use your help.
This week you, your friends and family can vote for their favorite. YOU CAN VOTE ONCE EACH DAY. We are asking for your support tp help us receive much needed public education materials. Visit the link below and cast your vote for Alex.
http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/93168/voteable_entries?view_entries=1
This week you, your friends and family can vote for their favorite. YOU CAN VOTE ONCE EACH DAY. We are asking for your support tp help us receive much needed public education materials. Visit the link below and cast your vote for Alex.
http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/93168/voteable_entries?view_entries=1
Fire Press Release
ISSUING OFFICER: Battalion Chief Jones
DATE OF INCIDENT: 2/23/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 3425 W. Olympic Place
CITY: Spokane
STATE: Wa
ZIP: 99205
NARRATIVE: On Wednesday, February 23, 2011, at 1:53 A.M. the Spokane Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire at 3425 W. Olympic Place. Eight fire apparatus under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Jones and Green responded to this location. This response included 3 engine companies, 1 heavy rescue, 2 ladder trucks, and 2 vehicles. Command engine 16 was first on scene and reported a single-family structure with light smoke showing from side Alpha. They also reported the residents of the structure were accounted for and located on the sidewalk in front of the residence. Fire crews from Engine 16 and Pumper Ladder Truck 13, responding from their neighborhood stations, quickly knocked down the fire that was located in the wall above the fireplace and checked for fire extension into the attic. Other apparatus on scene were assigned to various duties such as Safety, RIT, Water Supply, Search, and Ventilation. There were no injuries to civilians or Fire Fighters on this response.
PROBABLE CAUSE: Cause of this fire was determined to be a defective fireplace.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Wall above fireplace.
DOLLAR LOSS: 4,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 22
MUTUAL AID: None Given
For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com
END OF RELEASE
DATE OF INCIDENT: 2/23/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 3425 W. Olympic Place
CITY: Spokane
STATE: Wa
ZIP: 99205
NARRATIVE: On Wednesday, February 23, 2011, at 1:53 A.M. the Spokane Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire at 3425 W. Olympic Place. Eight fire apparatus under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Jones and Green responded to this location. This response included 3 engine companies, 1 heavy rescue, 2 ladder trucks, and 2 vehicles. Command engine 16 was first on scene and reported a single-family structure with light smoke showing from side Alpha. They also reported the residents of the structure were accounted for and located on the sidewalk in front of the residence. Fire crews from Engine 16 and Pumper Ladder Truck 13, responding from their neighborhood stations, quickly knocked down the fire that was located in the wall above the fireplace and checked for fire extension into the attic. Other apparatus on scene were assigned to various duties such as Safety, RIT, Water Supply, Search, and Ventilation. There were no injuries to civilians or Fire Fighters on this response.
PROBABLE CAUSE: Cause of this fire was determined to be a defective fireplace.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Wall above fireplace.
DOLLAR LOSS: 4,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 22
MUTUAL AID: None Given
For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com
END OF RELEASE
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Fire Press Release
ISSUING OFFICER: Bob Green/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 2/20/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 1910 W Bridge
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99201
NARRATIVE: The Spokane City Fire Dept. dispatched fire fighting crews and their fire apparatus to 1910 W. Bridge at 20:04 hrs. on Sunday, February 20th, 2011, for a reported structure fire. The first arriving fire companies, E4 and L4 from the Browne's Addition neighborhood Fire Station, reported heavy fire showing from a second floor window of a 2 story wood/frame residence at the very front of the building. The crew of E4 quickly donned their Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and immediately went to the front door with a charged hose lead and proceeded to force entry into the locked structure. Once inside they made their way to the interior stairway and up the stairs to the second floor where they encountered the hot and rapidly growing fire that by now was burning freely in a large open room. As they were putting water on the fire upstairs, other arriving crews were outside laddering the building and scaling the sharply sloped roof in order to cut a hole over where the main body of fire was burning to allow the pent-up heat and toxic gases to vent into the cold night air. Additional hose lines were stretched into the building to provide protection for the initial interior attack crew and to assist in the actual extinguishment of the fire. Other fire crews were searching the interior of the structure and to everyone's relief those crews reported that the house was vacant and that it appeared to be in the process of being remodeled. Still other crews were sent inside the building to pull the ceilings on the second floor to get access to the fire that had spread into the attic space between the second floor ceiling and the underside of the roof. All of these necessary and well-coordinated efforts came together and achieved a fairly rapid knock-down of this fire. There were no reports of any serious injuries to any of the fire fighters at the scene. The fire was contained to the second floor, to the attic space, and to some of the structural members of the roof. The cause of this fire is currently being investigated by the Spokane Fire Department's Special Investigation Unit. Fire crews were kept on scene all through the night on "fire watch" to keep an eye on the scene until the investigators could take a look at the structure in the light of day. 33 fire fighters arrived at this fire on 9 pieces of fire fighting apparatus including 5 engines, 2 senior ladder trucks, 1 pumper-ladder truck, 1 heavy rescue apparatus, and 2 command vehicles.
PROBABLE CAUSE: Under investigation.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Heavy fire damage to the second floor, the attic space, and to some of the structural components of the roof system.
DOLLAR LOSS: 30,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 33
MUTUAL AID: None Given
For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com
END OF RELEASE
DATE OF INCIDENT: 2/20/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 1910 W Bridge
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99201
NARRATIVE: The Spokane City Fire Dept. dispatched fire fighting crews and their fire apparatus to 1910 W. Bridge at 20:04 hrs. on Sunday, February 20th, 2011, for a reported structure fire. The first arriving fire companies, E4 and L4 from the Browne's Addition neighborhood Fire Station, reported heavy fire showing from a second floor window of a 2 story wood/frame residence at the very front of the building. The crew of E4 quickly donned their Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and immediately went to the front door with a charged hose lead and proceeded to force entry into the locked structure. Once inside they made their way to the interior stairway and up the stairs to the second floor where they encountered the hot and rapidly growing fire that by now was burning freely in a large open room. As they were putting water on the fire upstairs, other arriving crews were outside laddering the building and scaling the sharply sloped roof in order to cut a hole over where the main body of fire was burning to allow the pent-up heat and toxic gases to vent into the cold night air. Additional hose lines were stretched into the building to provide protection for the initial interior attack crew and to assist in the actual extinguishment of the fire. Other fire crews were searching the interior of the structure and to everyone's relief those crews reported that the house was vacant and that it appeared to be in the process of being remodeled. Still other crews were sent inside the building to pull the ceilings on the second floor to get access to the fire that had spread into the attic space between the second floor ceiling and the underside of the roof. All of these necessary and well-coordinated efforts came together and achieved a fairly rapid knock-down of this fire. There were no reports of any serious injuries to any of the fire fighters at the scene. The fire was contained to the second floor, to the attic space, and to some of the structural members of the roof. The cause of this fire is currently being investigated by the Spokane Fire Department's Special Investigation Unit. Fire crews were kept on scene all through the night on "fire watch" to keep an eye on the scene until the investigators could take a look at the structure in the light of day. 33 fire fighters arrived at this fire on 9 pieces of fire fighting apparatus including 5 engines, 2 senior ladder trucks, 1 pumper-ladder truck, 1 heavy rescue apparatus, and 2 command vehicles.
PROBABLE CAUSE: Under investigation.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Heavy fire damage to the second floor, the attic space, and to some of the structural components of the roof system.
DOLLAR LOSS: 30,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 33
MUTUAL AID: None Given
For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com
END OF RELEASE
worker solidarity rally
Spokane, WA
Friday, February 25 . 4:30pm-5:30pm. Corner of Ruby, Division and North River Drive in front of Wendy’s Restaurant
Friday, February 25 . 4:30pm-5:30pm. Corner of Ruby, Division and North River Drive in front of Wendy’s Restaurant
People from all over the world are helping feed union demonstrators in Madison!
From Cairo to Madison, some pizza
By MEREDITH SHINER | 2/20/11 4:05 PM EST
MADISON, Wis. — Someone in Egypt has been paying attention to what’s happening in Madison and wanted to send a message of solidarity from across the globe — so they ordered a pizza.
It might seem like a small gesture, but it’s overwhelming to the staff at Ian’s on State Street — a campus staple mere blocks from the Capitol — where in the last few days, they’ve fielded calls from concerned citizens of 14 countries, and all 50 states and the District of Columbia looking to donate money to provide free pizza to the Wisconsinites who have congregated here.
On Saturday alone, Ian’s gave away 1,057 free slices in their store and delivered more than 300 pizzas to the Capitol itself.
By 2 p.m. local time Sunday, they’d given away 351 slices and sent countless other full pies to the rotunda, where protesters have been gathering since well before noon. As a few locals stood waiting for their slices, an Ian’s staffer went to the chalkboard hanging behind the register and wrote, “Turkey” in big block letters and co-workers expressed a sense of disbelief.
“I don’t think we started it,” said Ryan O’Connor, a sophomore at a local technical school who works the register at Ian’s. “We made a post to our Facebook page because of the volume of calls we already had been getting unprompted.”
O’Connor said Ian’s got its first call Thursday when a mother of a University of Wisconsin student called and offered to donate $200 to help feed the people her daughter told her had flooded the Capitol. Since then, the outpouring of money from all over the world has put the pizza-makers into overdrive.
The blackboard behind the counter lists the “countries donating” as “Korea, Finland, New Zealand, Egypt, Denmark, Australia, US, Canada, Germany, China, England, Netherlands, Turkey, Switzerland, Italy” and has the abbreviations for all 50 states listed below, with donating states circled.
The small pizza chain with locations in Madison and Chicago has been using Facebook and Twitter to take what started as one phone call and make it into an international movement. Saturday night, the State Street location was so overwhelmed by orders it had to cease its delivery operations. But employees still are finding time to update the restaurant’s social media pages to keep the pizza revolution going and share with the world their chalkboard progress.
“This is astounding!” Ian’s posted Saturday to Twitter.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/49888.html#ixzz1Ei2sLPN0
By MEREDITH SHINER | 2/20/11 4:05 PM EST
MADISON, Wis. — Someone in Egypt has been paying attention to what’s happening in Madison and wanted to send a message of solidarity from across the globe — so they ordered a pizza.
It might seem like a small gesture, but it’s overwhelming to the staff at Ian’s on State Street — a campus staple mere blocks from the Capitol — where in the last few days, they’ve fielded calls from concerned citizens of 14 countries, and all 50 states and the District of Columbia looking to donate money to provide free pizza to the Wisconsinites who have congregated here.
On Saturday alone, Ian’s gave away 1,057 free slices in their store and delivered more than 300 pizzas to the Capitol itself.
By 2 p.m. local time Sunday, they’d given away 351 slices and sent countless other full pies to the rotunda, where protesters have been gathering since well before noon. As a few locals stood waiting for their slices, an Ian’s staffer went to the chalkboard hanging behind the register and wrote, “Turkey” in big block letters and co-workers expressed a sense of disbelief.
“I don’t think we started it,” said Ryan O’Connor, a sophomore at a local technical school who works the register at Ian’s. “We made a post to our Facebook page because of the volume of calls we already had been getting unprompted.”
O’Connor said Ian’s got its first call Thursday when a mother of a University of Wisconsin student called and offered to donate $200 to help feed the people her daughter told her had flooded the Capitol. Since then, the outpouring of money from all over the world has put the pizza-makers into overdrive.
The blackboard behind the counter lists the “countries donating” as “Korea, Finland, New Zealand, Egypt, Denmark, Australia, US, Canada, Germany, China, England, Netherlands, Turkey, Switzerland, Italy” and has the abbreviations for all 50 states listed below, with donating states circled.
The small pizza chain with locations in Madison and Chicago has been using Facebook and Twitter to take what started as one phone call and make it into an international movement. Saturday night, the State Street location was so overwhelmed by orders it had to cease its delivery operations. But employees still are finding time to update the restaurant’s social media pages to keep the pizza revolution going and share with the world their chalkboard progress.
“This is astounding!” Ian’s posted Saturday to Twitter.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/49888.html#ixzz1Ei2sLPN0
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wisconsin workers protest Tea Party governor's attempt to scrap collective bargaining.
Click on the title above or here for coverage on this. You probably won't hear much about it from the corporate news media.
The same people that we bailed out, the same people who created such economic woes for states are now owning the people running some of of the states. They are taking the money we gave them to fund a fight against us. Organized labor has always been the enemy to these folks. They used their tax breaks in the 1980s to destroy organized labor in the private workforce by moving jobs to China. Now they are using the windfall we gave them to destroy organized labor in the public sector. Wisconsin is the birthplace of collective bargaining. There is little doubt that we could be facing the same battle here.
These folks will not be happy until all workers are little more than slaves. And in many states, they have bought themselves a government to make it happen. This IAFF spot says it best:
The same people that we bailed out, the same people who created such economic woes for states are now owning the people running some of of the states. They are taking the money we gave them to fund a fight against us. Organized labor has always been the enemy to these folks. They used their tax breaks in the 1980s to destroy organized labor in the private workforce by moving jobs to China. Now they are using the windfall we gave them to destroy organized labor in the public sector. Wisconsin is the birthplace of collective bargaining. There is little doubt that we could be facing the same battle here.
These folks will not be happy until all workers are little more than slaves. And in many states, they have bought themselves a government to make it happen. This IAFF spot says it best:
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Fire Press Release
ISSUING OFFICER: Battalion Chief Clive Jones
DATE OF INCIDENT: 2/6/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 15 Wast Cortland
CITY: Spokane
STATE: Wa
ZIP: 99205
DATE OF INCIDENT: 2/6/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 15 Wast Cortland
CITY: Spokane
STATE: Wa
ZIP: 99205
NARRATIVE: On Sunday February 6th, 2011 at16:35 hours the Spokane Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 15 West Courtland. The Spokane Fire Department responded two senior ladders, two engine companies, one pumper ladder, and one heavy rescue unit along with two Battalion Chiefs. The first arriving apparatus was SL2 and reported light smoke showing on the back side of the structure. SL2 entered the structure and quickly located the cause which was a small attic fire. It was extinguished with a hose lead from SE3. PL13 along with SL2 pulled ceiling to expose any areas where the fire may have extended. No extension of the fire was found, and all fire companies were returned in service.
PROBABLE CAUSE: At this time, the cause is under investigation by the Spokane Fire Departments Special Investigation Unit.
DAMAGE EXTENT: The structure suffered a loss of $4,000 in damages.
DOLLAR LOSS: 4,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 23
MUTUAL AID: None Given
For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com
END OF RELEASE
Thursday, February 03, 2011
New Post on "Local 29 Unfiltered."
Under Members' only. 2011 WSCFF Legislative Conference. Also sent to your personal emails.
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