Longview firefighters responded to the hospital at 1:35 a.m. today. When they arrived, they connected to the built-in fire protection system and supported the sprinkler system, according to Johnny Zackary, public information officer for the Longview Fire Department.

The fire was out within four minutes after arrival, Zackary said in a prepared statement. Fire crews assisted in removing water and cleared the scene. Preliminary cause is undetermined at this time, and damage is estimated at $5,000.

The San Juan Fire Department responded about 3 p.m. Monday to a structure fire at Villa San Juanita Rutledge, 1200 N. Standard Ave. According to the incident report, smoke was coming from the roof when firefighters arrived. They used a 75-foot ladder and a chainsaw to make a 4-by-4 foot ventilation cut on the roof so firefighters could see when entering the building.

Lopez said fire officials told him lightning had probably started the fire.

“Luckily, no one was inside the building,” he said.

He said the building has been sealed, and the housing authority is waiting for the insurance company to assess the damage.

But City Manager Ann McGlone dispelled that notion in a recent phone interview, saying the absence of female firefighters is because none have formally applied. Despite the lack of separate showering facilities and a common sleeping area, the city would be able to accommodate qualified female firefighters, McGlone said.

“The city can and will hire female firefighters,” the city manager said. “So far, we have not had any females apply. If a female candidate does apply and is selected, we will make it work.”

City officials posited the lack of adequate space to accommodate both genders as a reason for $10.3 million bond referendum last November, but voters rejected the measure by a 3-to-1 margin.

More recently, the lack of female firefighters came into greater focus following a July 15 North Central News report about the number of fire department vacancies.

The retirement of former chief Bill Hagendorf after 20 years of service will bring to five the number of vacancies after a fellow firefighter’s retirement by month’s end. Assistant Fire Chief Buddy Kuhn is acting as interim department chief.

The article sparked renewed discussion among residents – both privately and on the MyAlamoHeights Internet portal – speculating whether the lack of any women on the force is attributable to the lack of separate sleeping and showering facilities.

In response, McGlone pointed to Kuhn’s expertise in past positions he has held, as evidence of the city’s preparedness in accommodating women into the force should any apply.

“Chief Kuhn was directly involved in hiring three female firefighters in Terrell Hills and has experience in providing fair and adequate accommodations in older stations,” McGlone said.

She noted the city has received inquiries from female applicants in the past, but none submitted an application. To her knowledge, the city has never turned down a female applicant because of facilities, she added.

We have the ability to build partitions,” McGlone said, ticking off a list of makeshift measures the city could undertake upon hiring a woman firefighter.

“We have locks on bathrooms; we have extra showers in the Henderson houses; we already have dress code regulations. We will be prepared when and if we hire a female firefighter to provide fair and equal accommodations.”

Her reference to “Henderson homes” alluded to nearby residential real estate on Henderson Street previously purchased by the city to accommodate growing staffing needs in light of overall cramped conditions.

One of those residential properties is the two-story home behind the fire department once owned by Naomi Russell Wolfman before its acquisition to accommodate fire department office functions.

There’s no word if the truck was en route to a fire call.

Crews believe a generator in the garage was leaking fuel, which was ignited by the hot water heater. No one got hurt.

More than 1,900 municipal firefighters and 502 guest instructors were at the complex this week for a variety of training courses. Wednesday night, they opened the complex to the public, and several fire school students came out as well.

Kenneth Dollery, who’s been a firefighter for 26 years, made the two-hour drive from Alvin with about a dozen children who are members of the town’s junior fire department.

“We teach them about all aspects of firefighting and let them do everything but actually fight a live fire,” said Dollery, who attended fire school himself for 12 years. “We thought this would be a great experience for them, so we drove up for the day.”

Visitors to the complex were shown several demonstrations, including a rescue operation from a high location and several fire-extinguishing drills.

Chris Britton and his 4-year-old daughter, Shelby, sought shelter under a large, slightly singed structure that’s used to simulate building fires. Most of the audience was crowded near a rope line about 50 yards away, but the rain combined with Shelby’s height seemed to make Britton’s shoulders the best seat in the house.

“We’ve always heard great things about how large the field is and the training they do for firefighters across the state,” he said, explaining the reason he made the two-hour drive from Austin for the demonstrations. “It’s great to get to talk to some of the firefighters out here, too. These guys are the first responders to accidents all across the state.”

Suzie Vestal also came from about two hours out of town and brought her two grandsons to visit her son, Billy, who is attending this week’s fire school.

“We’re here just for today, and tomorrow’s his 30th birthday, so we’re celebrating that, too,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to see what he does and I feel a lot better now, knowing how safe he’ll be with this kind of training.”

One of her two grandsons, Corey, who’s 5, already said he wants to be a firefighter like his uncle, she said.

“They’re both loving it,” she said. “I guess we’ll be back next year.”

The fire reportedly started in the upper areas of the house and spread to attic. The three children home alone at the time were able to get out before firefighters arrived. The cause is currently under investigation.

Investigators don’t yet know whether the incidents are related. The fire did about $20,000 in damage, and arson is suspected, according to a news release from the Arlington Fire Department.

Vandals also cut some copper tubing. Members said they believe the vandals thought the tubing was for natural gas, but as it turns out, the tubes were water lines.
Read article here.

Investigators say Debbie Coyl’e-Larner saw what happened and jumped into the water to try to help. She noticed Thomas’ head was submerged, and managed to adjust her seat to raise her head above water.

Brad Murff and another man also jumped into the ditch to try to turn the vehicle back over, but were unable to. That’s when the good Samaritans turned their focus to Thomas and were able to free her from the car.

“There was no way I would have been saved if it weren’t for Debbie and the others,” said Thomas. “I want to thank them.”

Sugar Land Mayor James Thompson, Fire Chief Juan Adame and several Sugar Land firefighters recognized Coyl’e-Larner and Murff during council meeting last week.

Canton City Manager Andy McCuistion said on Tuesday there were 22 applicants for the position, which had been narrowed down to four candidates. A panel made up of McCuistion, Canton Fire Department Assistant Chief Ronnie Denton, Canton Police Chief Michael Echols, and Canton Assistant City Manager Lonny Cluck conducted the interviews.

“I wanted the fire department represented and the police department represented on that panel because they work closely together,” McCuistion said.

McCuistion said at the beginning of the process he thought there were only two options in selecting a new fire chief: either someone rising in their career with lots of credentials, or someone who was near the end of their career.

“During this process, one of the candidates asked me to consider one other option which was to hire a full-time fireman,” McCuistion said. “They would work 24 hours on and off 48, and during their days they would work more than full time. Its not like you would hire a part-time fire chief.”

McCuistion said that is currently being done successfully in the city of Wills Point, so he went and spoke with the city manager in Wills Point. “After speaking with the city of Wills Point, I was convinced we could do that successfully here as well,” he said.

Sanford was selected upon the recommendation of the panel. Sanford has served on the Garland Fire Department for 19 years, and worked for the Balch Springs Fire Department seven years prior. He served as the Canton Volunteer Fire Chief from 1991-1999.

“He knows this department and he was successful during that time in maintaining a good volunteer force,” McCuistion said.

“He will be putting in more than 40 hours. He will not be a part time chief,” McCuistion added. “We are excited about having him come on board.”
Read article here.