| CALIFORNIA COP LOCKS UP BATTALION CHIEF FOR “BLOCKING” THE HIGHWAY==OTHER COPS PROVDE A DELICIOUS CAKE | ||||
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
– Last week (February, 15, 2010) on Highway 101 in Montecito, California there was a traffic crash and all the usual traffic crash attendees responded included the fire department, EMS and in this case, the California Highway Patrol. The crash occurred on the center divide, there were 2 vehicles involved, 6 patients, 1 known minor injury. The squad crew pulled past the fire engine, then it blocks the lane to provide a safe working area, (per FD SOP). Before we go further, it should be noted that the MFD normally have-and are quite proud of-the excellent relationship they enjoy daily with the CHP and area law enforcement officers. This is an isolated and rare incident.
At this point the recently assigned (very new to that area) CHP officer tells the Battalion Chief that the apparatus cannot block the lane because it will cause too much traffic backup, and to move the rig. The Battalion Chief tells him no, that he needs his crew protected until they take up from the run. About one minute from the time the BC goes on scene, the BC is now on the radio asking for a CHP supervisor to be sent to the scene. Next thing the crew saw was the CHP officer handcuffing/arresting the Battalion Chief. At this point, the Firefighters had not even made patient contact yet. The CHP officer then goes to the Fire Captain and tells him the same thing, move the engine or “I am going to arrest you and the (Fire Engineer) as well”. Then the CHP Officer called for a heavy tow truck to tow the fire apparatus off the freeway. The Fire Captain finally gave in as the fire dispatcher warned him that the heavy tow was 2 minutes out. Within a few minutes, the CHP officers supervisor showed up and un-cuffed the Battalion Chief. The original arresting officer then went back over to the Battalion Chief and gave him an “obstructing a police officer with an investigation ticket”. Turns out the CHP officer just transferred from Bakersfield to that area less than 2 weeks ago. The picture on our home page is the Battalion Chief sitting handcuffed against the center guardrail. The ticket still stands and they haven’t heard what is up with the CHP officer, but he never backed down. It seemed like he never felt like he did anything wrong. Seeya in Court. AND ON A SERIOUS NOTE, GO TO: |
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Archive for February, 2010
This one makes you wonder…
Feb 23
Say its not Snow!
Feb 22
The area is poised to go back into the deep freeze over the next seven to ten days. With the southern branch of the jet stream being as active as it has been of late we could certainly see a few more shots at winter precipitation. There is a risk of accumulating snow tomorrow night and Wednesday morning in the area. Any accumulation will be light and I do not expect us to have any travel problems as of this time, but anything can happen. Once the midweek system is out of the area we can look forward to another shot of precipitation on Friday and a major rain or snow event next Monday. The weather certainly looks to be exciting and I would much rather face the winter weather than the tornado season, which will likely be active.
Here is the forecast from the NAM for the midweek event…
A Busy Day…
Feb 21
The morning started off with a CPR class at Siloam Station… The next item on the agenda was the continued radio project with the installation of a small tower at Siloam. While one crew was on the tower the Boyd VFD received a call for a pasture fire. Chief Pendergrass from Siloam responded to assist while other units stood by in the event that they were needed.
The tower project continued late into the evening. There is a little work left to do to finish up, but the small tower should aid units in the far southern portion of the county.
Before the evening was over a call was dispatched for an MVA in the 6000 block of County Road 10. The call was dispatched out as an overturned vehicle with entrapment and fire. Arriving units located the vehicle in the 3o0 block of Delaine Road. The occupant of the vehicle had been extricated by bystanders and there was no fire. It was apparent that the driver of the vehicle had at least one other accident before the vehicle flipped. Units checking the area located a damaged mailbox at the intersection of Sanders Street and County Road 10. Maybe we can all sleep through the night!
Congratulations Ward Fire…
Feb 19
This morning the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program Office announced that the Ward Volunteer Fire Department has been selected for a grant award. The department will be receiving a $125,000 to purchase a used tanker. This grant comes within weeks of neighboring Siloam Fire Department receiving the exact grant for a tanker. Residents and their property will be more secure thanks to the efforts of these two fine departments.
Always Train…
Feb 18
No matter how much you train there is the possibility that events could spiral out of control and you could become trapped. There are a whole host of questions this video leaves me with, but suffice to say the mans life was saved by quick thinking of the RIT team and those in safety officer positions. One question that keeps grabbing me is… Where was the man’s partner? (Did these guys have a special waiver for the two in – two out rule?)
Meetings This Week…
Feb 16
Don’t forget that Siloam Fire Department has a meeting tonight at 1830 at the station. Not sure what the topic is for tonight, but I bet coffee is on the list of things to do. Everyone should also make plans to attend the CPR training this weekend at Siloam. IF you are in need of this class please make contact with Chief Pendergrass to make sure the head count is correct. If you can’t reach Chief Pendergrass contact Chief Vaughan at 205-742-8544 and I can relay the message for you.
Don’t miss out on any training opportunity!
Rain is beginning to fall over the area shortly after 2100. The initial precipitation will be in the form of rain and then to front will impact the area. Once that occurs the bottom will fall out of the thermometer and the precipitation type will change to snow. I looks as though we will likely get one inch in the area and could see higher amounts if the system meets the expectation of some forecasters.
The NWS Birmingham makes the following projections…
The NWS Jackson makes the following projects for their CWA…
More snow is poised to fall over the West Alabama area tonight. This even will be much lighter than Thursday and Friday’s event. Our area could see up to an inch of snow with this system Sunday evening and Monday morning. The NWS Birmingham has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for our area and its text is located below.
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
337 AM CST SUN FEB 14 2010
…SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM EXPECTED SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY
MORNING…
ALZ011>015-022-023-030>032-034-142200-
/O.NEW.KBMX.WW.Y.0005.100215T0000Z-100215T1500Z/
MARION-LAMAR-FAYETTE-WINSTON-WALKER-PICKENS-TUSCALOOSA-SUMTER-
GREENE-HALE-BIBB-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…HAMILTON…SULLIGENT…VERNON…
FAYETTE…DOUBLE SPRINGS…JASPER…CARROLLTON…TUSCALOOSA…
LIVINGSTON…EUTAW…GREENSBORO…MOUNDVILLE…CENTREVILLE
337 AM CST SUN FEB 14 2010
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO
9 AM CST MONDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM CST MONDAY.
A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL DEVELOP OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
ALABAMA LATE SUNDAY AND CONTINUE INTO MONDAY MORNING. ALTHOUGH THIS
EVENT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AS RAIN SUNDAY EVENING…A CHANGE OVER
TO SNOW IS EXPECTED AS COLDER TEMPERATURES SETTLE ACROSS THE AREA
AFTER SUNSET. ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES WILL BE
POSSIBLE IN ADVISORY AREA…ESPECIALLY NORTH OF THE INTERSTATE 20
CORRIDOR. ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE-HALF TO ONE AND A HALF INCHES ARE
EXPECTED ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE 20 CORRIDOR.
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES…AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.
LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA FOR THE LATER
UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION.
The GFS and NAM forecast models have indicated an increase in moisture for this system to work with. Both are paiting quite a bit of moisture getting into this system well after the cold air has pushed by us. Conditions on Monday appear to be cold and blustery and any snow that does fall could once again give us some travel issues.
A Busy House…
Feb 13
There is no doubt that we have been more than busy today with the weather and drivers that are not prepared for the road conditions. The sixth alarm of the day found us working on an overturned vehicle with an entrapped driver. Hard work from the finest removed the patient from the vehicle and sent him off to the hospital with minor injuries. I certainly hope we can get a little rest now…
Thanks to Skip Holder for the pictures as always!
The Snow…
Feb 12
