RESIDENTIAL BUILDING FIRE FATALITIES AND FIRE INJURIES (2010–2012)

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING FIRE FATALITIES AND FIRE INJURIES (2010–2012)

Residential fires are of great national importance, as they account for the vast majority of civilian casualties. National estimates for 2010-2012 show that 82 percent of all fire deaths and 78 percent of all fire injuries occurred in residential buildings.

Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (findings)

• Bedrooms, at 51 percent, were the leading specific location where civilian fire fatalities occurred in residential buildings.
• The time period from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. accounted for 52 percent of civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings. This period also accounted for 49 percent of fatal fires in residential buildings.
• At the time of their deaths, 37 percent of fire victims in residential buildings were trying to escape; an additional 33 percent were sleeping.
• “Other unintentional, careless” actions (15 percent) and “smoking” (15 percent) were the leading reported causes of fatal fires in residential buildings.
• Males accounted for 57 percent of civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings; females accounted for 43 percent of the fatalities.

Civilian Fire Injuries in Residential Buildings (findings)

• Civilian fire injuries that occurred in residential buildings accounted for 78 percent of all fire injuries.
• Residential building fires resulting in injuries occurred most frequently in the late afternoon and early evening hours.
• January, at 10 percent, had the highest incidence of residential building fires resulting in injuries.
• Cooking, by far, was the leading reported cause for residential building fires that resulted in injuries.
• Of the civilian fire injuries that occurred in residential buildings, 35 percent resulted from trying to control a fire; an additional 26 percent occurred while the victim was attempting to escape.

EXPLOSION OUTSIDE NAACP IN COLORADO DELIBERATE, FBI SAYS

Explosion outside NAACP in Colorado deliberate, FBI says

January 6, 2015

An explosion outside an NAACP office building in Colorado on Tuesday morning that rattled neighbors was caused deliberately, officials say.

improvised explosive device was detonated against the exterior wall of the NAACP building on South El Paso Street in Colorado Springs around 10:45 a.m. Mountain time. No one was injured, said Amy Sanders, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Denver.

A gasoline can had been placed near the device but did not ignite during the explosion, Sanders said.

The local NAACP headquarters building, which also houses a barbershop, suffered minor damage, she said. 

FBI Denver and the Colorado Springs Police Department are on the scene. A man aged about 40 is a person of interest in the investigation. He may be driving a 2000 or older-model dirty white pick-up truck with paneling, a dark-colored bed liner, an open tailgate and a missing or covered license plate.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also investigating the case, according to Christopher Amon, acting spokesman for the agency's Denver office.

It's not clear whether anyone was inside the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People office when the explosion occurred, but Gene Southerland, whose barbershop is in the same single-story building as the NAACP, said he heard the explosion Tuesday morning.

“I made sure my three customers were OK, then walked outside,” Southerland said. “On the northeast side of the building I saw a red gas can on the ground. Neighbors started walking out of their houses asking me, ‘What happened, what happened?’”

“It’s messed up, man. It’s horrible,” Southerland said. “In broad daylight? Just goes to show there’s always a threat.

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COLORADO SPRINGS - A Colorado Springs neighborhood was shaken Tuesday as a nearby building was rocked by an explosion. 
"I saw all the smoke coming out, and heading south. It really kind of made your heart stop for a second," said Colorado Springs resident, Julie Skufca.

Julie Skufca calls Moreno Street home but couldn't believe what she saw on Tuesday. A white pick-up truck with a 40-year-old white man inside, zipping by their house seconds after the blast.

"I couldn't figure out how such a new truck made such a big backfire," said Skufca.

The FBI tells News 5 that an explosive device, next to a gas can was detonated but the can didn't explode. The blast left singe marks against the building that houses Mr. G's Hair Design Studios and the local chapter of the NAACP.

Which is why federal agents are trying to figure out if this was a targeted attack, something the group's president says only spurs them on.

"We don't give up the struggle, apparently we are doing something correct. Apparently we have the attention of someone that knows we are working for civil rights for all. That is making some people uncomfortable, so therefore they feel the need to target," said Colorado Springs NAACP President, Henry Allen Jr.

And they certainly aren't alone in their frustrations as an entire neighborhood remains in shock of what happened just feet from their homes.

"It's kind of sad. I mean it's close to home and with kids you're kind of like, I guess we won't be going out in the front yard anymore," said Skufca.

The suspect in this case is described as a white male in his 40's, balding and heavier set driving a white pickup truck with paneling, a dark truck-bed and missing or covered plates.
If you have any information on this case you're asked to contact authorities immediately.

EXTREME COLD MAY HAVE CAUSED PIPE TO BURST AT UNION STATION IN CHICAGO

Extreme cold may have caused pipe to burst at Union Station in Chicago

Posted: 01/06/2015

The bitterly cold weather may be to blame for a burst pipe that spilled dark-colored water onto part of Union Station Tuesday afternoon. Train service was not affected.

The pipe leading to a sprinkler in the south concourse of Union Station burst about 3:15 p.m., Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said.

“There was an issue perhaps related to the extreme cold in the station that caused the pipe to break,” Magliari said.

Crews cleaned up the spill within 15 minutes, and there was no impact on train service during the afternoon rush, he said

BABY, FOUR ADULTS KILLED IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO EXPLOSION AND FIRE

BABY, FOUR ADULTS KILLED IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO EXPLOSION AND FIRE

SUGAR GROVE, Ohio (Csaba Sukosd/Dawn Faugl) - Five people, including a 10-month-old, died this morning in a house trailer explosion and fire, according to the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office.

The Fairfield County Sheriff's Office identified the victims as Thomas Taylor 54, Pamela Jean Taylor 43, Patricia Taylor 22, Dylan Vanord 22, and their 10 month old son, Cody Vanord.

Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen believes seven people were inside the mobile home on Brushy Fork Road when a fire was reported at 4:17 a.m.

The two people that escaped were the grandparents, Don Asbell, 63, and Georganna Jennings, 62, who were taken to the hospital for treatment. Asbell was later released.

Sheriff Phalen says the victims were moving from McConnellsville to Lancaster, and decided to spend the night with their relatives, Asbell and Jennings, because of the bad weather.

The fire was initially called into 911 as an explosion. The Ohio State Fire Marshal's office and detectives are on the scene looking for a cause.

"It's very extensive. It's totally destoryed and it appears the fire engulfed the entire structure very quickly," said Phalen.

Seven fire departments were dispatched to battle the blaze. 

The Red Cross was also on scene providing aid to the victims and firefighters.