Last Chance Rescue Filter - Saves life of Fire Fighter at Church Fire

Los Angeles Local News | FOX 11 LA KTTV

This story hits home a little bit for me. I currently work with a company called Essex Industries who has developed a safety device called the Last Chance Rescue Filter (LCRF). This story explains how a fire fighter became trapped during a church fire in Los Angeles recently and had to deploy his emergency breathing canister (LCRF) to stay alive.

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"A firefighter who had been on the second floor rode the falling debris to the first story, where he became trapped and had to use his emergency air canister to breathe, Scott said."I got fire all around me... I got fire all around me," he declared over his radio"

Sunday morning fire destroys Church in Collins Georgia

From: Miami Herald

COLLINS, Ga. -- State fire investigators with the office of Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens' office are looking into an early morning church fire in Tattnall County.

Investigators said in a news release that Collins Full Gospel Tabernacle Church in Collins was destroyed by the fire. The blaze was reported at about 6:30 a.m. Sunday, fire investigators said.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/17/3239675/sunday-morning-fire-destroys-church.html#storylink=cpy

Fire Damages Church - San Diego - Suspected Arsonist Arrested

From: Los Angeles Times

A 38-year-old man was arrested Sunday on suspicion of arson, burglary and committing a hate crime in an early-morning fire that did $250,000 damage to a church near El Cajon, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said

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Fire Destroys 108-year-old Church in Georgia

From: The Sacramento Bee

WINDER, Ga. -- Officials say they suspect lightning sparked a fire that destroyed a 108-year-old church in the northeast Georgia city of Winder.

Fire Chief Matt Whiting says the blaze at the historic Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit flared during a thunderstorm late Thursday.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/28/4669072/fire-destroys-108-year-old-church.html#storylink=cpy

Police: Church Arsonist Calls Police and Confesses to Crime

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Members of an Independence congregation are looking for a temporary place to worship after police say that someone deliberately set fire to their church.

Read More: http://fox4kc.com/2012/06/22/man-charged-in-arson-at-independence-church/

WALDO CANYON FIRE: Churches Support Fire Victims

From: Gazette

{Charred mountains provided the backdrop for the Sunday service at Wilson United Methodist Church, where about 150 people gathered outside feeling blessed their building was spared.

The crowd seated on the still-green church lawn had a view blackened grass where Waldo Canyon Fire stopped just across the street. Several nearby churches were equally blessed.}

Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/fire-141384-churches-blessed.html#ixzz208iEvvpS

Wisconsin Church Fire No Accident

From: Post Crescent 

{A fire at Klondike Community Church last month was not accidental, authorities said Tuesday.

The investigation is continuing, according to the State Fire Marshal's office and the Oconto County Sheriff's Department, which are seeking the public's help with the probe.

However, the agencies said they had one clue.

"Information has been received that shortly before the fire was reported, a small dark-colored vehicle was seen parked in the church parking lot," a statement issued by the agencies said.

"Initial investigative results indicate the fire was not accidental," the statement said.}

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Thursday: Late Night Church Fire in Memphis

"Memphis firefighters battled a two-alarm fire Thursday night at Divine Temple Church, 4360 S. Third.

Flames were shooting out the top of the one-story wooden structure at about 9:40 p.m. as firefighters sprayed water and appeared to be controlling the blaze, which was first reported at 8:51 p.m.

Memphis Fire Department spokesman Lt. Wayne Cooke said it appeared the church was empty when the fire broke out and no injuries had been reported. Cooke said the fire was almost contained just before 10 p.m."

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Church Member Burns Building in Revenge

"The Orlando Fire Department arson unit said today it had made an arrest in connection with a fire at a building owned by a church...Church members immediately told investigators that the fire had been set by Johnson, who had been asked to leave the premises after an argument earlier in the evening with the church's pastor."

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(H/T Matt Larson)

Fire Ravages Historic Church

SOUTH LONDONDERRY, VT -- "No one was hurt as a raging inferno tore through the historic First Baptist Church of South Londonderry early Tuesday morning, firefighters said. 

The 70 foot steeple at the front of the church, an icon of the area for anyone driving along Route 100, is no more. 

At about 3 a.m., firefighters responded to a fire at 62 Crescent St., said Chief George Lang of the Champion Fire Station in South Londonderry. 

Lang said the damages to the church are in the ballpark of $1.5 million. He added that the cause of the fire is still undetermined, but it is not believed to be suscipious."

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Church Fires and the NFPA

According to the National Fire Protection Association:

- An average of 1,300 church fires are reported each year, causing $38 million in property loss.

- The single most leading cause of church fires is arson (25%).

- Electrical Distribution (18%)

- Heating (12%)

Mechanical failures, which can be a result of multiple different causes follow church arson with a combined percentage of 30%. Faulty wiring and improperly functioning heating systems are often at fault, perhaps because they are in older structures and have not been brought up to local fire codes.

- Open Flames-Candles (12%)

- The remaining 33% of the fires were a result of miscellaneous events like acts of God (lightening) or other events.

- Of churches that reported fires, 65% had no smoke alarms and 96% had no sprinkler system.

Guilty Plea for Burning Church

Fire Destroys Houston Church

HOUSTON - "A Wednesday morning fire guts a Northeast Houston church that's been a neighborhood fixture for decades...Houston Firefighters say they got the call at about 2:30 a.m. As they fought the flames, three quarters of the roof of the building caved in. Only the roof of the sanctuary is left relatively in tact. Arson investigators spent hours looking for and gathering evidence at the scene, but have not determined whether the fire was accidental or intentional."

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Federal Agents Join the Fight

PITTSBURG, Calif. -- Federal agents have joined Contra Costa County firefighters to investigate a suspicious fire at a church in Pittsburg...Officials from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and explosives are looking into the fire Saturday morning at the Church of the Living God in the 1100 block of Harbor Street.

http://www.ktvu.com/news/22910919/detail.html

Church Fire Baltimore, MD

WBAL's Robert Lang reports from the fire which has gutted the Mount Calvary Star Baptist Church in Northeast Baltimore. The church located blocks from the Baltimore Cemetery. Baltimore Fire Chief James Clack told WBAL News that a back wall of the church collapsed and firefighters had to fight this blaze from the outside, because the entire building was in danger of collapsing.





http://wbal.com/apps/news/templates/story.aspx?articleid=45999&zoneid=3

Church Fires

According to the National Fire Protection Association(NFPA):

An average of 1,300 church fires are reported each year, causing $38 million in property damage.

The leading cause of church fires is arson (25%).

30% of church fires are the result of mechanical failures. Faulty wiring and improperly functioning heating systems are often at fault, perhaps because the are in older structures and have not been brought up to local fire codes. 

Of churches that reported fires, 65% had no smoke alarms and 96% had no sprinkler systems.

Jamaica Plain church set to rise from ashes

The below story is extremely interesting to me. My father grow up in this small portion of downtown Boston. This specific church has experienced tragedy multiple times over the last century.

Five years after fire, Jamaica Plain church set to rise from ashes - The Boston Globe

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ATF Investigates 7 Church Fires

State fire officials are working with U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and local agencies to investigate seven suspicious church fires in east Texas since the beginning of the year.

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local-beat/ATF-Investigates-Seven-Church-Fires-81982067.html

The city of Tyler along with ATF are urging churches to monitor their facilities and urging citizens to report any suspicious activity to the Tyler Police Department at (903) 531-1000.

ATF is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case. Contact the City of Tyler or ATF if you have any information

Electric problem blamed for church fire - KOAM TV 7 Joplin and Pittsburg News Weather Sports |

Carthage Fire Battalion Chief Roger Williams says the people inside the church reported that an electrical worker was called after the church lost power. Immediately after the power was restored, the fire was spotted coming from the roof of the church.
Electric problem blamed for church fire - KOAM TV 7 Joplin and Pittsburg News Weather Sports |


According to the United States Fire Administration faulty electrical wiring is one of the main causes of electrical fires. (http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/all_citizens/home_fire_prev/electrical.shtm) 

The below information was also provided by USFA as helpful information in relation to electrical fires.

December is the most dangerous month for electrical fires. Fire deaths are highest in winter months which call for more indoor activities and increase in lighting, heating, and appliance use.

Most electrical fires result from problems with "fixed wiring" such as faulty electrical outlets and old wiring. Problems with cords and plugs, such as extension and appliance cords, also cause many home electrical fires.

Many avoidable electrical fires can be traced to misuse of electric cords, such as overloading circuits, poor maintenance and running the cords under rugs or in high traffic areas.

Safety Precautions

• Routinely check your electrical appliances and wiring.
• Frayed wires can cause fires. Replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately.
• Use electrical extension cords wisely and don't overload them.
• Keep electrical appliances away from wet floors and counters; pay special care to electrical appliances in the bathroom and kitchen.
• Whey buying electrical appliances look for products evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
• Don't allow children to play with or around electrical appliances like space heaters, irons and hair dryers.
• Keep clothes, curtains and other potentially combustible items at least three feet from all heaters.
• If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
• Never overload extension cords or wall sockets. Immediately shut off, then professionally replace, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker. Use safety closures to "child-proof" electrical outlets.
• Check your electrical tools regularly for signs of wear. If the cords are frayed or cracked, replace them. Replace any tool if it causes even small electrical shocks, overheats, shorts out or gives off smoke or sparks.

Finally, having a working smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. And remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.

Incense sparks fire at Boston church

Incense sparks fire at Boston church

Now that 2009 is over I thought it would be good to start with a reminder about fire safety!