Wind-driven flames destroyed two homes and damaged two others, with propane tank explosions fueling the flames in Fire Island Pines, LI

FIRE ISLAND PINES, LI -

Four homes were destroyed by flames in Fire Island Pines overnight.

Firefighters rushed over on boats around 1 a.m., and are still on the scene spraying water on hot embers.

Fire officials say the fire started at a home located at 154 Ocean Walk. They say winds quickly blew flames to surrounding homes, damaging at least two others.

Officials credit the quick response from firefighters from keeping the blaze from spreading further, and potentially destroying 15-20 more homes.

Two firefighters were treated at the scene for minor injuries. One firefighter was taken to the hospital for an elevated heart rate, but is listed in stable condition.

No other injuries were reported.



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FIRE ISLAND PINES, Long Island (WABC) --

Four homes burned in a fire on Fire Island overnight Thursday.

The fire broke out in one home on Ocean Walk in Fire Island Pines just after 1:30 a.m.

Flames destroyed two homes and damaged two others, with propane tank explosions fueling the flames.

Firefighters put out the flames in several hours.

One firefighter was taken to the hospital for elevated blood pressure.

No injuries were reported.



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An overnight blaze on Fire Island damaged several homes, officials said Friday, June 16, 2017. News 12 Long Island reported that four homes in the Fire Island Pines section were destroyed and two others were damaged. (Credit: News 12 Long Island)

Four homes were destroyed overnight when flames roared through a section of Fire Island Pines, officials said.

Two firefighters were treated at the scene for minor injuries, and another firefighter was taken to a hospital after reporting elevated blood pressure, officials. No civilian injuries were reported.The fire was reported at 12:57 in a home of Ocean Walk

3-alarm fire in Roslindale in Boston, Mass. displaced 21 people and caused $500K in damages

BOSTON, Mass. —

A large fire left three homes damaged in Boston on Wednesday evening.

Fire officials said the three-alarm fire broke out at 3940 Washington St. in Roslindale, which spread to the neighboring home at 3944 Washington St.

Heavy black smoke could be seen pouring into the sky from the area.

"It started off slow, but then you could see it increasing and getting more vicious," Josh Lopes said. "Then you start seeing stuff flying out of the house."


"I saw the flames in the backyard about six feet high started banging on doors and windows getting people out," Jacob Tucke said.


Firefighters were able to put out the heavy fire in each floor as well as the exterior of the building.

The rear porches of the first building were completely charred from fire. The siding of 3944 Washington St was also damaged.

21 people, 16 adults and 5 kids were displaced as a result of the fire.

Investigators said no serious injuries have been reported, and they are working to determine the cause of the fire.

The fire caused $500,000 in damage.

Truck driver Emmanuel Owuraku Abeasi, 45, of Braselton, Georgia had to be identified using dental records after his 2007 Freightliner tractor-trailer T-boned another Freightliner tractor-trailer and sparked a fire that engulfed both trucks on I-85 in SC

Coroner identifies tractor-trailer driver killed in fiery crash on I-85


Emmanuel Abeasi identified through dental records

Updated: 3:31 PM EDT Jun 15, 2017



CHEROKEE COUNTY, S.C —

The Cherokee County Coroner's Office on Thursday identified the tractor-trailer driver killed in a fiery crash on Tuesday night.


Coroner Dennis Fowler said Emmanuel Owuraku Abeasi, 45, of Braselton, Georgia had to be identified using dental records.

Abeasi was an independent hauler, who had picked up a load of foam in Newnan, Georgia and was headed to New York when the collision occurred, Fowler said.

Two other people were injured in the crash, but their conditions are unknown.

The crash was reported just after 8 p.m. at mile marker 106 near the North Carolina/South Carolina state line.

Fowler said Abeasi's 2007 Freightliner tractor-trailer headed north, crossed into the median, clipped the cable barrier and went into the southbound lanes.


He said the truck then T-boned another Freightliner tractor-trailer and sparked a fire that engulfed both trucks.

Fowler said he was still waiting for test results to determine the cause of Abeasi's death.

Abeasi and passenger of the southbound truck were pulled from the wreckage by a passerby; however the other driver died at the scene, according to Fowler.


In addition to damaged asphalt, about 400 feet of guardrail was also damaged, troopers said.

Troopers asked drivers to use extreme caution when approaching the work zone, and to obey all speed limit and directional signs.



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CHEROKEE COUNTY, S.C. -- One person was killed and two others injured after a fiery crash between two tractor-trailers near the state line Tuesday night.

Officials said the two trucks crashed head-on after one crossed the median near exit 106 in Blacksburg, S.C. A witness said he saw an 18-wheeler blow a tire, causing the driver to lose control, smashing into the other truck before bursting into flames.

"Where we were standing, you could feel the flames and you heard the tires start popping," said Gerald Richardson, who witnessed the terrifying accident.

The massive plume of smoke was visible from miles away after the crash.

"I woke up and seen a whole bunch of smoke and the whole parking lot was clouded," said truck driver Daniel Clemons. "(I) got up and saw the aftermath, it was pretty violent."

Fatal tractor trailer accident shuts down I-85. 

NBC CharlottePosted by Xavier Walton WCNC on Tuesday, June 13, 2017






After hours completely engulfed in flames, firefighters were able to successfully control the blaze to begin clearing the scene.

As of 7 a.m. Wednesday, South Carolina Highway Patrol said the southbound lanes of I-85 remain closed.

3 YOUNG SWIMMERS DIE IN NEW JERSEY, AFTER THEY IGNORED THE RIP CURRENTS AND THE LACK OF LIFEGUARDS

By Paul Milo

pmilo@njadvancemedia.com,

NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

BELMAR, NJ-- A girl who was a student at a local elementary school drowned Thursday night and a second girl, also a young borough resident, was on life support after being pulled from the water, Mayor Matt Doherty said.

Police responded to a call of a distressed swimmer at the ocean beach at approximately 6 p.m., although Doherty did not know the precise time of the incident.

The juveniles were last seen around 7 p.m.

Officers "responded immediately" and pulled the girl from the water before receiving a second call for a distressed swimmer shortly afterwards.

With the summer vacation season still a few days away, there were no lifeguards stationed on the beach.

One of the victims died and the second was in critical condition at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where Doherty was heading Thursday night. He did not release the names of the girls but said their families had been notified.

Three boats, a helicopter and several lifeguards were in the vicinity of the 9th Avenue beach Thursday night in what appeared to be a search for another missing swimmer. Doherty said the search was carried out as a precaution but has been called off after authorities spoke to the girls' parents and determined there were no other persons in the water.

The Coast Guard, State Police, Belmar Water Rescue and Manasquan Water Rescue all assisted in the search.


Bill McKim, a longtime resident of the area, said he witnessed police pull a person from the water around 5:30 p.m. at the 10th Avenue beach near McKim's home.

As lifeguards and police were assembled following that incident, rescuers returned to the water about a half-hour later to help a second person in distress, McKim said. He also saw medical personnel attending to both people on the beach for several minutes.


"I saw a police officer stripped down to his underwear and white t-shirt" as he assisted in the incident, McKIm said.

McKim noted that the incidents occurred at low tide, exposing more of a stone jetty nearby, where earlier he had seen several children. According to the National Weather Service, there was a moderate risk of rip currents at the Jersey Shore Thursday.

Additional details surrounding the dual tragedies were not immediately available Thursday night.

"As mayor of Belmar or any town you feel responsible for the residents, and that's only heightened in the case of children," Doherty, sounding shaken, said.

"When you have a devastating loss like this you feel extraordinarily helpless."



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Atlantic City search for teen swimmers now 'recovery effort'

JOHN RUSSO & VINCENT JACKSON Staff Writers
6 hrs ago
 

ATLANTIC CITY — As rescuers searched for his 15-year-old daughter, Dirk Spence called another missing swimmer "a hero" Thursday evening.

Kalia Spence and an unidentified teenage boy were reported missing around 6:30 p.m. off the beach at Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, Atlantic City Beach Patrol Chief Steve Downey said.

“My heart goes to the family (of the boy),” Dirk Spence told The Press of Atlantic City as he watched the search for his daughter.

“That little guy was a hero. He will always be a hero in my book. It’s a tragedy. Let’s all come together, no matter good or bad, we can make it through.”

The search began shortly after 6:30 p.m. after witnesses reported seeing two people struggling in the water, Downey said.

The rip currents pulled one teen, later identified as Spence, under the water, and the unidentified boy was pulled under when he went looking for Spence.

Mayor Don Guardian arrived at 7:30 p.m. to watch the rescue effort.

“This is a tough beach. The undercurrent is very rough,” Guardian said.

About two hours into the search, Downey said, “At this point it’s a recovery.”

The beach patrol, the Coast Guard, and city police and firefighters used boats, helicopters and swimmers on surfboards to search the ocean. The Brigantine Dive Team responded from Brigantine, police Sgt. Kevin Fair said.

Rescuers were still searching at 9 p.m. Thursday.

The Coast Guard and State Police Marine Bureau continued searching Thursday night using boats with lights on them. The Atlantic City Fire Department and beach patrol will continue their search at daybreak, Downey said.


The search began after emergency calls from witnesses who said two swimmers were in the ocean and appeared to be in distress, Downey said. The beaches were not guarded at the time, he said.

Downey said witnesses reported the teen girl was in the water and the teen boy went out to help.

As many as 100 people were on the beach watching as rescuers searched.

“The beach patrol left at 6 p.m. Normally we don’t have people going back in the water. It was a cool day. It was windy, (and) the water was cold," Guardian said.

Guardian said that the rescuers never once saw the victims when they arrived on the scene.

Guardian said this is usually not the time of year that people go swimming after hours, but a group of kids went into the water after the lifeguards left at 6. p.m.

In 2012, rescuers searched for Khitan Devine, a 10-year-old boy who disappeared while swimming off Atlantic City. Khitan went missing off the beach at Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, which then-Fire Chief Dennis Brooks called “the worst spot” on the Atlantic City beach.

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The dreaded "rip tide" does not have anything to do with tides, so professionals prefer the term "rip current." A rip current is a long, narrow band of water that can pull swimmer away from shore and out to sea in just a few seconds. Rip currents are dangerous, and it's best to learn how to identify and stay out of them. If, however, you get caught in a rip current, the right response gives you a big advantage.

Steps

1. 
   1
   Identify a rip tide. What most people call a rip tide is technically a "rip current": a narrow channel of water rushing from the beach to the sea (or sometimes along the beach). Stay aware of your surroundings and learn the warning signs:

   • Avoid channels of water that look different from the surroundings. A rip current can be choppier and foamier, or it can be a quiet gap in the line of breaking waves. It may be a slightly different color than the surrounding water.
   • Use special caution close to low tide and in high surf conditions, but be aware rip currents can happen at any time.^[1]
2. 
   2
   Exit shallow water if you feel a rip current. If you feel a strong pull in shallow water, get out. A rip current is difficult to fight once you are chest-deep.^[2] If the water is waist-deep or shallower, you can likely walk to shore (or sideways out of the current) if you keep your footing.
3. 
   3
   Remain calm. If you get caught in a rip current, don't panic: it takes a clear head to escape. Understand that a rip current does not drag you underwater, even if it feels that way when a wave hits you. Rip currents only pull you straight out to sea. Good swimmers are not in immediate danger of drowning unless they exhaust themselves by trying to fight the current.^[3]
4. 
   4
   Call for help if you are a poor swimmer. Rip currents are especially dangerous to people who cannot swim well. If you do not think you will be able to reach the shore, get the attention of a lifeguard or of other beachgoers by waving your arms and yelling for help.

   • Trying to rescue someone by swimming into a rip current is very dangerous. People on shore should throw you a floating object to hang onto instead.^[4]
5. 
   5
   Swim parallel to shore to escape the current. Most rip currents are less than 30 feet (9.1 m) wide, though they can reach 100–200 feet (30.5–61.0 m).^[5] Instead of trying to swim against the current — which is much stronger than you are — swim parallel to the shore to get out of its path. The rip current will carry you further away from shore as you swim, but don't panic. This is not a foolproof method, but it is a good option for a strong swimmer. If possible, look for these signs before choosing a direction:

   • The longshore current, a normal current moving parallel to the beach, is often strong enough to push you back into the rip current if you try to swim against it. Check the direction of the longshore current in advance by asking the lifeguard or observing the angle of waves on the beach.^[6]
   • Rip currents often form around jetties and other structures perpendicular to the beach. If you are near one of these structures, swim away from it.
   • Swim in the direction of the nearest breaking waves. These mark the edge of the rip current.
6. 
   6
   Conserve energy when necessary. If you are not making any progress by swimming, or if you are getting tired, conserve your energy. Float on your back or tread water instead of fighting the current. Once you are past the breaking waves, the rip current will slow down and fan out into multiple branches, becoming much weaker.^[7] If you do not have the energy to make it back to shore, stay afloat and relax until you are ready to begin. Continue to signal for help if there are people present.

   • Most rip currents subside or become weak enough to escape soon after the breaking waves. In extreme cases, a rip current can extend up to 1,000 feet (304.8 m) offshore.^[8]
   • Recent research suggests that many rip currents eventually circulate back to shore if you can stay afloat for a few minutes. This is still controversial, but it may be your best chance of survival if you are a weak swimmer.^[9]
7. 
   7
   Swim diagonally toward the shore. Once you are out of the current, either because you have swum out the side or the current has carried you to its end, make your way back to shore. Swimming diagonally away from the rip current minimizes the chance that you will enter it again. You may be some distance from shore at this point, so stop and float periodically if you need to rest.

Cal/OSHA Reminds Employers with Outdoor Workers to Protect Them from Heat Illness as Temperatures Rise Around California

News Release No.: 2017-44                                             Date: June 15, 2017

Cal/OSHA Reminds Employers with Outdoor Workers to Protect Them from Heat Illness as Temperatures Rise Around California

Oakland—Cal/OSHA is reminding all employers to protect their outdoor workers from heat illness, especially those not accustomed to working in high heat conditions. Employers need to ensure workers are drinking plenty of water and taking breaks in the shade as temperatures rise across many regions of California. The National Weather Service is forecasting unusually high temperatures throughout the state, which will remain high for the rest of this week and into next week.

“California rules are very clear on how employers must protect their workers from heat illness,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum. “Our goal is to prevent deaths and serious illnesses and injuries caused by exposure to heat.”

Special attention must be given to new employees who have not been acclimatized to working under hot conditions, as they are particularly vulnerable to heat illness. They must be monitored carefully for signs of heat illness and should, if possible, be allowed to begin work earlier in the day when the temperature is lower or gradually work up to a full schedule.

Many regions of the state will be reaching temperatures in the triple digits. When temperatures reach 95 degrees or above, employers are required to implement high-heat procedures to ensure outdoor workers are protected. Procedures include effective monitoring of all workers through methods such as a mandatory buddy system for workers or regular communication with workers who work alone.

California’s Heat Illness Prevention Standard requires employers to train workers on the signs and symptoms of heat illness, provide shade when temperatures exceed 80 degrees, develop emergency response procedures and train workers on how to execute those procedures when necessary.

Cal/OSHA inspects outdoor worksites in agriculture, construction, landscaping, and other operations throughout the heat season. Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention program, the first of its kind in the nation, includes enforcement of heat regulations as well as multilingual outreach and training for California’s employers and workers. Online information on heat illness prevention requirements and training materials are available on Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention web page or the Water. Rest. Shade. campaign site. A Heat Illness Prevention e-tool is also available on Cal/OSHA’s website.

Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from safety and health hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch provides free and voluntary assistance to employers to improve their safety and health programs. Employers should call (800) 963-9424 for assistance from Cal/OSHA Consultation Services.

Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734). The California Workers’ Information line at 866-924-9757 provides recorded information in English and Spanish on a variety of work-related topics. Complaints can also be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices.