HAZMAT called to semi fire on I-90 east of Billings, Montana

HAZMAT called to semi fire on I-90 east of Billings, Montana

Dec 19, 2014 4:39 PM by Q2 News

UPDATE 4:40 p.m.

Lockwood Fire Chief John Staley said driver of the semi was not injured. He said the HAZMAT crew was called because the semi trailer contained compressed gas and some type of acid in unknown quantities. There was no fuel spill at the scene, he said.

The driver initially pulled over because of fire underneath the semi wheel wells. The semi belongs to CRST, and the driver said he was unsure of the cargo.

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UPDATE 4 p.m.

BILLINGS - The Montana Highway Patrol and Department of Transportation are clearing the scene from this truck fire.

The driving lane will still be blocked for at least a couple more hours while Hansers finishes the HAZMAT clean-up and removal of the truck.

Crews will be providing traffic direction for the driving lane which will continue to be closed until they clear.

All other emergency crews have left the scene. The agency said drivers will experience reduced speeds and should expect delays as workers remain at the scene.

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UPDATE 3:20 p.m.

BILLINGS - The Montana Department of Transportation reports that work continues at the scene of a semi fire on Interstate 90 east of Billings near mile marker 464.

Hazmat was called to the scene "due to fuel on the roadway," a press release states.

A hazardous materials team from Hanser's will perform clean-up at the scene, and the Lockwood Fire Department is attempting to remove the semi from the roadway.

Driver's should expect delays and reduced speed, and are asked to use an alternate route if possible.

Leslie Smith shared this photo from the scene.

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BILLINGS - Drivers headed westbound on Interstate 90 east of Billings should expect delays as the result of a semi-trailer fire.

According to the Montana Department pf Transportation release issued a semi caught fire near mile marker 464 in the westbound driving lane, but both lanes may close temporarily as crews work at the scene.

A HAZMAT crew was also called to the scene at about 2:30 p.m.

Bodies of woman, 3 grandsons found in burned home in Washington Court House, Ohio

 This aerial photo taken from video provided by WCMH-TV shows a burned out home in Washington Court House

Bodies of woman, 3 grandsons found in burned home in Washington Court House, Ohio

By DAN SEWELL

Dec. 26, 2014 3:58 PM EST

CINCINNATI (AP) — Three boys who spent the night with their grandmother so she wouldn't be alone on Christmas died with her Friday morning as a fire engulfed her home, authorities said.

Fayette County coroner Dr. Dennis Mesker said the badly burned bodies were turned over to the Montgomery County coroner's office for autopsies and confirmation.

They were tentatively identified as 60-year-old Terry Harris and three brothers: 14-year-old Kenyon, 11-year-old Broderick and 9-year-old Braylon Harris. Terry Harris lived alone in the single-story, ranch-style house that was destroyed by the fire reported shortly after 4 a.m. The boys lived two houses down with their parents.

"They didn't want their grandma to be by herself on Christmas night; that's why they spent the night there," Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth said. "The children just adored their grandmother."

State Fire Marshal's spokesman William Krugh said state investigators are still trying to determine what caused the blaze.

Stanforth said the grandmother's body was found near the front door, with the children near, so authorities think she was trying to help them get out. Firefighters sifting through the smoldering debris found the bodies hours after the blaze erupted because the site was too unstable and hot before then.

"To lose three children and a grandparent, it's devastating to the family," Stanforth said by telephone from the Washington Court House area some 40 miles southwest of Columbus. "The fact that it's the holidays makes it even worse for the community."

He said that he had known the family for years and that the oldest boy had wrestled competitively.

"They're a very close-knit family," he said. "They were good boys."

Officials said counselors were on hand Friday afternoon for family, friends and the children's classmates at Washington Court House city schools' Liberty Hall, and counseling services will be available through the holiday break.

6-year old girl dies, others critically injured in fire caused by kitchen fire in Jacksonville, Florida

Girl dies, others critically injured in fire caused by kitchen fire in Jacksonville, Florida

December 26, 2014 11:15 EST
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Fire officials say a 6-year-old girl is dead and two of her siblings are in critical condition following a fire in their Jacksonville apartment.
The fire broke out about 2 a.m. Friday in the second-floor apartment.
The Florida Times-Union (http://bit.ly/1vh84sf ) reports neighbors saw smoke and called 911.
Firefighters found a man and a child in the bathtub, apparently trying to shield themselves from the smoke. Fire officials say other victims were found throughout the apartment. They suffered primarily from smoke inhalation.
Investigators say the fire started in the kitchen, likely from a pot left on the stove.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office say Jamiyah Smith died, and her 27-year-old father Ronnie Smith is in life-threatening condition. Siblings 3-year-old Amani Smith and 11-year-old Asia Dewey are in critical condition.
Information from: The (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union, http://www.jacksonville.com

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6-year-old girl dies, four family members injured in Jacksonville apartment fire

By Jim Schoettler Fri, Dec 26, 2014 @ 7:22 am | updated Fri, Dec 26, 2014 @ 9:42 am

 

Sheila Doyle, property manager at the Landon Imperial Apartments, laid three stuffed dolls where a fire killed one child and left four family members, including two other children, critically injured Friday morning.

 

A 6-year-old girl died and four family members, including two siblings, were left in critical condition early Friday morning in a Southside Jacksonville apartment fire, police and fire officials said.

The blaze occurred just before 2 a.m. at the Landon Imperial Apartments at 1913 Art Museum Drive. Neighbors saw smoke coming from the second-floor apartment and called 911, said Tom Francis, a spokesman for the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.
Firefighters found a man and a child in the bathtub, apparently trying to shield themselves from the fire, Francis told the Times-Union. The other victims were found scattered throughout the apartment. They primarily suffered smoke inhalation.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office said that the fire started in the kitchen area near the stove. Francis said a pot on the stove was the likely source, though the investigation is continuing.

There are no indications of foul play.
The Sheriff’s Office identified the dead girl as Jamiyah Smith. Smith’s father, Ronnie Smith, 27, was in life threatening condition at Baptist Medical Center. Her mother, Ayana Ahota, 26, is in critical condition at Memorial Hospital.

Also sent Baptist in critical condition are Amani Smith, 3, and Asia Dewey, 11.
Property Manager Shelia Doyle, joined by at least one other person, broke through a window and the front door with several fire extinguishers when they saw the smoke and heard people screaming.

"I came outside and looked up and saw an orange ball of fire," Doyle said. "I screamed for a fire extinguisher and someone to call 911 and we went and kicked the door in. It was so smoky. We couldn't see. We couldn't help."

Doyle said the family lived at the complex for about six weeks.
"They were three of the most gorgeous girls you've ever seen in your life," Doyle said. "It's just horrible."

Neighbor Marcie Montes said she often saw the girls happily playing outside the apartment.

"It's terribly sad that it happened, especially this time of year," Montes said. "I'm sure they had so much fun playing yesterday [on Christmas]. And now this. It's a tragedy."

Jim Schoettler: (904) 359-4385

2 children, 2 adults killed after crash involving a semi truck in Tipton County, Indiana

2 children, 2 adults killed after crash involving a semi truck in Tipton County, Indiana

                                     Photo from Indiana State Police

Posted 9:21 AM, December 26, 2014, by Matt Adams - Web Producer, Updated at 02:04pm, December 26, 2014

TIPTON COUNTY (Dec. 26, 2014) – Four people died after a crash in Tipton County Friday morning, according to Indiana State Police.
Around 8:345 a.m., a 2001 Jaguar was going south on U.S. 31 near 250 South when the driver lost control, went off the road into the grassy median and then went into the northbound lanes.

A semi truck in the northbound lane moved to the outer shoulder to avoid the car, but the front of the semi hit the Jaguar on the driver’s side.

There were five people inside the Jaguar. All had to be extricated from the vehicle. Four of the five people in the car—an adult male, an adult female, a female child and a male child—were pronounced dead at the scene. A fifth child, a female adolescent, was taken by helicopter to Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis.

Police said everyone in the car was wearing seat belts. Their names are being withheld pending notification of family.

The driver of the semi, William Stump, 41, Carmel, was treated and released after complaining of pain. His truck was carrying pickles to Plymouth, Ind. The truck is owned by Marten Transport out of Mondovi, Wis., according to state police.

The crash blocked U.S. 31 in both directions while investigators cleaned up after the wreck and reconstructed the scene. All lanes have since reopened.

WOMAN INJURED IN WRECK ON FOUR SEASONS BLVD., HIGHWAY 64 IN NORTH CAROLINA

Woman injured in wreck on Four Seasons Blvd., Highway 64 in North Carolina

Jean Mullinax Silver, 86, of Hendersonville collided with a tractor-trailer traveling east on Highway 64 in front of Denny's on Friday.

Published: Friday, December 26, 2014 at 2:28 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, December 26, 2014 at 2:28 p.m.

An 86-year-old Hendersonville woman was injured Friday when her vehicle collided with a tractor-trailer on Highway 64 in front of Denny's.

Jean Mullinax Silver was driving a Buick LeSabre at about 1 p.m. when she attempted to turn left into the Denny's parking in the Bi-Lo shopping center and was struck on the passenger side by a white 2006 International tractor-trailer truck traveling east, said Capt. Bruce Simonds with the Hendersonville Police Department. 

Silver appeared responsive as firefighters, using the Jaws of Life, removed the driver's side door and placed her on a stretcher. EMS personnel took her to Pardee Hospital.

The driver of the truck, Adam Pflanz of Chesnee S.C., appeared uninjured. Charges are pending against Silver, Simonds said.