HOUSE FIRE LEAVES THREE PEOPLE DISPLACED IN SALISBURY. AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE

FEBRUARY 19, 2015

SALISBURY, MARYLAND

The State Fire Marshal has ruled an electrical problem as the cause of a house fire that left three people displaced late Wednesday night in Salisbury in Poplar Hill Avenue.

According to Salisbury Fire Department Assistant Chief Darrin Scott, firefighters reported to a two-alarm house fire shortly before midnight on Poplar Hill Avenue in the area of Gay Street.

Scott said a couple woke up just before midnight Wednesday, and called for help after smelling smoke.  A third person was asleep on the first floor of the two-story home. There were no reported injuries.
George Powell lives a couple homes up the street from the home that caught on fire. Powell was up late helping his daughter finish a school project. He said he and his family smelled smoke and looked out of the window to see what happened. 

"I saw the lights, and then I saw the neighbors down the street here , and it[the house] was engulfed in flames," Powell said. "I'm just sorry that it had to happen like this."
The assistant chief said all three Salisbury fire companies, along with companies from Fruitland and Delmar, responded to the blaze.
Fire officials said there was heavy smoke showing from the attic area when they first arrived at the scene. The blaze took around one hour to contain.
The Salisbury Fire Department said there was a partial roof collapse at the house after the fire died down. Debris flew in the air falling down on the street. Caleb McKenzie lives on the same street and said he "couldn't believe what was going on; it was like a movie." 
The Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office said damage is estimated at $160,000.

10 PEOPLE DISPLACED BY HOUSE FIRE IN SALISBURY, MARYLAND. THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE SECOND FLOOR

FEBRUARY 25, 2015 

SALISBURY, MD

Multiple crews were called to the scene for a fire that broke out shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday at a home in the 200 block of Tilghman Street in Salisbury. The fire ravaged the 2nd floor of the home.

According to Assistant Fire Chief Bryan Records, there were three adults and seven children in the home. All made it out safely. They are being assisted by the Red Cross.

One of the adults said she was sleeping in the 2nd floor room in which the fire started, and woke up to the smell of smoke. She said she believes the fire was sparked by an electrical wire or space heater, although Records said an official cause is under investigation.

WILMER, ALABAMA FIRE CHIEF INJURED IN EARLY MORNING HOUSE FIRE; 5 ARE HOMELESS

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

WILMER, ALABAMA (WALA) -

A family of five is homeless tonight and the chief of the Wilmer Volunteer Fire Department was hurt in a four alarm blaze that roared through a home in Wilmer Wednesday morning.

It happened in the 6000 block of Wilmer Road and caused some anxious moments for firefighters when part of a brick wall collapsed.

FIRE CHIEF HURT

Flames lit up the morning sky in Wilmer starting about 3:00 am.

In minutes, the fire spread through a house, roaring through the attic.

Firefighters had been fighting the blaze for more than an hour when, suddenly, a row of bricks collapses on Wilmer Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mike Cooper as he tried to help fight the blaze.

There were anxious moments as firefighters rushed to Chief Cooper's side.

Rusty Holloway, Deputy Chief of Tanner Williams Volunteer Fire Department, said, "Some bricks off of that gable brick on the outside had come down, and a couple got him on his leg, but, he's fine."

Cooper walked off with only minor injuries to his leg.

WATER HAD TO BROUGHT IN

Volunteer firefighters had a tough time trying to contain the fire because water had to be brought in by pumper truck and then emptied into 3500 gallon tubs.

Holloway said, "We had a dump tanker shuttle running for half a mile. We've got four tankers that have been shuttling water at 2000 gallons a load. I imagine we pumped 30,000 gallons of water on this thing already."

Still, the stubborn fire wouldn't go out, flaming up in spots around the roof.

"WE WERE ALL SO SCARED"

When daylight came, the blaze was still burning, and Nancy McDowell surveyed what was left of her home from her wheelchair.

She said, "We were all so scared, none of the kids had shoes on, nor coats, or anything."

McDowell lived on the property with her husband and children, but all got out safely.

She said, "Thank goodness, I heard the fire alarm, and I woke my husband up, and the upstairs was already engulfed in flames. "

HEAVY SMOKE INSIDE

McDowell's son, Justin, lives in a home on the back of the property, and learned about the fire from his father.

He said, "They came and banged on my door and grabbed my fire extinguisher, and tried to make it upstairs, but the smoke was just too thick, and we couldn't even walk down the hallway."

McDowell credits quick work by her husband in saving lives.

She said "He screamed at the kids, and I heard them all hit the floor, so, I'm just so thankful everyone was okay."

WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE?

Firefighters from four volunteer departments helped fight the blaze.

They believe it may have started in the attic, but the investigation continues.

Source: www.fox10tv.com

MAN WHO WAS FOUND IN PUDDLE OF POOL CHEMICALS IN BUENA PARK, CALIFORNIA DIES

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

BUENA PARK, CALIFORNIA

A man died late Tuesday night after he was exposed to a mixture of potent pool chemicals at a Buena Park apartment complex, officials said.
Chang Jun, 67 of Buena Park died around 11 p.m. at UCI Medical Center in Orange, less than four hours after he was found semi-conscious near spilled, yellow liquid inside a garage at the Richmont apartment complex, 6386 Lincoln Ave.
Jun, who lived in the apartment complex and possibly worked as the pool cleaner, may have inhaled toxic fumes from the chemical inside the garage, which caused him to fall unconscious, knocking them over and causing the spill, officials said.
Orange County Fire Authority officials lifted Jun out of a puddle of yellow chemicals, which omitted a yellow gas, and authorities sprayed both Jun and the exposed firefighters with water before cutting off Jun's clothes, OCFA Capt. Steve Concialdi said.
Jun had severe burns to his back, face and respiratory tract, including his lungs, Concialdi said.
He was taken by Anaheim Fire & Rescue officials to UCI Medical Center in Orange, where he later died.
OCFA Hazmat members found several pool-cleaning chemicals, including chlorine and hydrochloric acid, and the team worked for hours to neutralize the chemicals.
"With all pool chemicals we have to make sure they are separated and that they do not mix," OCFA Capt. Steve Concialdi said. "Some chemicals, when they mix, can be deadly."
Coroner officials had not determined the cause of death Wednesday morning, as they had not completed an autopsy.

That is a tragic and unfortunate death.  He should never mix these chemicals inside the garage;  only in a well ventilated area.  Certainly, there have been quite a few incidents where the improper chemicals are mixed, giving off deadly gases.  If this was the case here, then this poor fellow had no chance:  he collapsed on the floor and he end up burning as well form the chemicals (acids and bases, mostly)

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BUENA PARK MAN IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER INHALING POOL CLEANER CHEMICALS OUTSIDE APARTMENT COMPLEX

FEBRUARY. 24, 2015 

BUENA PARK, CALIFORNIA

A man was hospitalized Tuesday evening after inhaling fumes from a swimming pool cleaning chemical in a Buena Park apartment garage.

Firefighters with the Orange County Fire Authority responded to a call at 8:30 p.m. at the Richmont apartments at the 6300 block of Lincoln Avenue, and found a man lying semi-conscious on the ground, surrounded by a spilled yellow liquid.

After the responders turned on their airtanks, they picked the man up, sprayed him with water and removed his clothing to rid him of any chemicals, Capt. Steve Concialdi said.

"The clothes would (otherwise) absorb the chemicals and spill off," Concialdi said.

The man was then taken to UC Irvine Medical Center in what appeared to be critical condition, Concialdi said.

The garage was filled with chlorine and other pool cleaning products.  Concialdi said the man lived at the apartment complex and was possibly the pool cleaner.

Hazmat teams and the Anaheim Fire Department assisted.

 Source: http://www.ocregister.com