Friday, January 31, 2014

Passing of James J. McSweeney

Passing of James J. McSweeney
FSSA regrets to inform you of the recent passing of JAMES J. McSWEENEY, beloved husband of Cindy (nee Binelli), after a long battle with cancer. Jim was the co-owner of Gemcom, Inc. with his nephew John Kelly.
He was the devoted father of Todd (Nikkie), Casey (Ning) & Jim (Kristina); loving grandfather of Jackie (Ed), Brittani, Phillipe, Porsha, Isabella, Dario, Gabriela & Kai; great-grandfather of Ivory; devoted son of Marion nee Hawks & the late Robert McSweeney; brother of Bob (Michele), Kathy (Bob) Kelly & Mike (Danette); brother-in-law of Kathie (Dave) Bass, Micki (Dave) Bohac & Chuck (Chris) Binelli; fond uncle of many nieces & nephews.  
"Big Jim" was a beloved friend of many & best buddy to Chewy & Snoopy. 
A Celebration of Jim's life will be held, tomorrow, January 31, 2014, 3-8 p.m. at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, 12294 Archer Ave., Lemont, IL (630) 257-5872. For more information, click here or call (708) 839-8999. 
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made here to NextSteps Chicago in Willow Springs, IL.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Local Firemen Fall in Final Alarm.


We would like to offer our deepest sympathy and condolences to the friends and families of our fallen Toledo heroes yesterday. 

2 firefighters die battling Toledo blaze

Apartment complex engulfed in North Toledo

BY VANESSA McCRAY
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Toledo firefighters battle the blaze at 528 Magnolia, a six-unit apartment building in North Toledo. Two firefighters died from injuries while fighting the blaze that was reported Sunday afternoon.Toledo firefighters battle the blaze at 528 Magnolia, a six-unit apartment building in North Toledo. Two firefighters died from injuries while fighting the blaze that was reported Sunday afternoon.
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Two Toledo firefighters were killed on Sunday while battling an apartment complex fire in North Toledo -- the city’s first firefighter fatalities from an active blaze since 1981.
Stephen A. Machcinski, 42, and James Dickman, 31, died of injuries sustained while fighting a fire at 528 Magnolia St.
Private Machcinski had more than 15 years of service. Private Dickman was appointed to the department in September. His fire class of 51 recruits, sworn in on Sept. 3, has not yet had its graduation ceremony.
Privates Machcinski and Dickman were among the firefighters who went into a six-unit apartment building after a blaze was reported at 2:47 p.m.
A despondent Fire Chief Luis Santiago, at a news conference Sunday night at the downtown headquarters, said that inside the burning building the two — who were both assigned to Engine 3 — suffered fatal injuries.
Deputy Toledo Fire Chief Brian Byrd, acting Deputy Chief Richard Syroka, and Battalion Chief John Kaminski lower the U.S. flag to half staff, and raise a funeral flag, at Toledo Fire and Rescue headquarters on North Huron Street,  early today in honor of firefighters Stephen A. Machcinski and James A. Dickman who were killed Sunday.Deputy Toledo Fire Chief Brian Byrd, acting Deputy Chief Richard Syroka, and Battalion Chief John Kaminski lower the U.S. flag to half staff, and raise a funeral flag, at Toledo Fire and Rescue headquarters on North Huron Street, early today in honor of firefighters Stephen A. Machcinski and James A. Dickman who were killed Sunday.
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Firefighters went into the building to look for Privates Machcinski and Dickman, who were lost in the fire for several minutes, according to radio traffic.
“After what could be described as valiant efforts” the two were pulled from the still-burning building and other firefighters “began immediate … life-saving’’ attempts, Chief Santiago said. The two were then taken to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center where they were pronounced dead.
Dr. Maneesha Pandey, a Lucas County deputy coroner, said autopsies are scheduled for today.
Chief Santiago did not take questions from the media after the news conference, but promised a “detailed investigation,” with the help of “many agencies,” would take place.
Mayor D. Michael Collins, at the news conference, said firefighters and police officers are different in that “they run into harm’s way instead of running away” from it.
The mayor asked that, starting at 8 a.m. today, flags around the community be flown at half-staff out of respect for firefighters and their families.
After the news conference, Mayor Collins said Mr. Dickman’s parents, who live in Mansfield, Ohio, were escorted to Toledo by the Ohio Highway Patrol on Sunday.
“This is an indelible thing that can never be erased,” Mayor Collins said.
Firefighters could be seen removing the second firefighter from the back part of the building still engulfed in smoke around 3:30 p.m. The firefighter, laid on a stretcher, was taken away by Lucas County EMS.
Over the next two hours, firefighters doused the smoking structure with water. Flames occasionally erupted from the roof.
Firefighters and other emergency personnel try to resuscitate a firefighter as he is being taken to get help at the rear of the building at 528 Magnolia. The two firefighters went missing inside during the blaze.Firefighters and other emergency personnel try to resuscitate a firefighter as he is being taken to get help at the rear of the building at 528 Magnolia. The two firefighters went missing inside during the blaze.
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Officials at the scene did not speak to reporters, and additional details about the fire were unavailable on Sunday. Chief Santiago said additional information would be provided as it's available.
Patricia Rollins lives in the upstairs of the building. She watched in near-tears from a snowy sidewalk across the street as firefighters battled the blaze.
She said she smelled burned wire, but didn’t see any smoke until a neighbor downstairs yelled a warning to her.
Ms. Rollins said she tried to save her dog, a “pit bull”-type puppy, but was unable to retrieve the dog. She left her house wearing pajama pants and without any socks or her inhaler.
Her neighbor Tracy Bishop, another tenant of the building, said her apartment is behind a garage, and she heard the garage door open and shut.
“And then all of a sudden I look up and there’s fire. I’m like ‘Oh my God’ the place is on fire,” Ms. Bishop said.
She called out to Ms. Rollins, who lives above her, to leave the building because she saw flames near her ceiling.
“It wasn’t just smoke, it was fire,” Ms. Bishop said, adding later, “My whole livelihood is in there.”
A firefigher is taken down the stairs as smoke pours from the building in North Toledo. Attempts to revive both firefighters were made at the scene.A firefigher is taken down the stairs as smoke pours from the building in North Toledo. Attempts to revive both firefighters were made at the scene.
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Lucas County records show the two-story, mixed residential and commercial building has been owned by Ray and Mariam Abouarab since 1992, when the sale price was $36,000. Its current value is $101,500. The primary structure was built in 1877, according to county records.
Several fires have been reported at the 137-year-old North Toledo building several times over the past two decades -- including in December, 1996, December, 1998, and September, 2002.
Six residential units are located adjacent to and behind the Huron Market carryout. The owner, who watched firefighters work to put out the fire, said seven people lived in the units and none were injured. He said he recently spent about $2,500 to fix the plumbing on the residential side after this month’s deep freeze caused problems.
Another apartment building Mr. Abouarab owned caught fire twice within in a six-month period a decade ago. That five-unit complex at 809 North Huron St. — which Mr. Abouarab sold in 2007, according to county records — was on fire in August, 2002, and again in January, 2003.
The rear of an adjacent structure was badly damaged in Sunday’s fire.
Toledo firefighters, some still dressed in turn-out gear, crowded an ambulance drop-off lobby inside Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center on Sunday night, hours after two of their own were rushed there.
Firefighters and others wait in the emergency room entrance at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, their two injured colleagues had been taken earlier in the day. The two killed were a 15-year veteran and a firefighter sworn in September.Firefighters and others wait in the emergency room entrance at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, their two injured colleagues had been taken earlier in the day. The two killed were a 15-year veteran and a firefighter sworn in September.
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Toledo fire paramedics, responding to other emergency calls at other locations, continued to bring patients to the hospital. Calls for service don't stop for heartbreak.
Dozens of firefighters gathered at their union hall downtown Sunday evening. The room was silent and many in the crowd stood with somber faces, drinking coffee while awaiting official news - although all already knew that two of their own had been killed in the line of duty.
Dan Desmond, Toledo Firefighters Local 92 Vice President, said he knew the two fallen firefighters, but couldn't talk about them.
"Everyone is just numb right now," said Mr. Desmond, a longtime firefighter.
Firefighters and police officers remained at scene of the fatal fire for hours after the blaze. Investigators could be seen moving inside the building. Toledo fire investigator Glen Frames declined to comment on the investigation or the cause of the fire.
Former Toledo Mayor Mike Bell who was the city's fire chief from 1990 to 2007 and the state fire marshal from then until just before starting his first mayoral campaign, could not be reached for comment.
The American Red Cross of Northwest Ohio helped six adults and two children, including occupants of the nearby structure, find a place to stay Sunday.
Staff Writers Taylor Dungjen and Ignazio Messina contributed to this report.

Read more at http://www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2014/01/26/Fire-at-Huron-and-Magnolia-downtown-Toledo.html#6TptMA1lLQ59rJJX.99

Thursday, January 16, 2014

FSSA ANNUNCIATOR

FSSA CALL FOR INSTALLER AND
MANUFACTURER NOMINATIONS
FSSA is accepting nominations for the following positions on the 2014-2015 Board of Directors:  Three (3) Installer Director Positions; One (1) Installer Division Chair and One (1) Vice Chair; Three (3) Manufacturer Division Directors Positions; One (1) Manufacturer Division Chair and One (1) Vice Chair.  Directors serve two-year terms; Division Chair & Vice Chair serve one-year terms.
FSSA's Board of Directors requires a "Declaration Statement" which outlines what can be expected of all elected representatives. If you wish to be considered for nomination to the Board of Directors, please read and sign the Declaration Statement and email to Vince Mullhausen or fax to (410) 931-8111. The deadline for nomination recommendation is February 5, 2014.

Installer Declaration Statement - please click here to view, print, read and sign the Statement.

Manufacturer Declaration Statement - please click here to view, print, read and sign the Statement.

Elections and committee appointments are scheduled for the Installers and Manufacturers Division Meeting, Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at the FSSA Annual Forum in San Diego.

Questions on nominations can be referred to Crista LeGrand, FSSA Headquarters (410) 931-8100.

ANNUAL FORUM HOTEL CUTOFF
JANUARY 22nd
Please note that the cutoff date to reserve a room under the FSSA room block for the Annual Forum is next Wednesday, January 22, 2014.  If you have not made a reservation with the hotel please do so ASAP.  Call 800-815-6397 and request the special Fire Suppression Systems Association room rate of $219/per night or reserve online by clicking here. 

GOLF FEE REDUCED FOR FSSA GOLFERS
The cost to play golf in the FSSA Annual Golf Tournament is now reduced to $135.00 per person.  This fee includes green fees, cart fees, practice balls, a box lunch and transportation to and from the course.

The FSSA Annual Golf Tournament is being held at the Coronado Municipal Golf Course, which opened in 1957, and is rated as one of the best public golf courses in the nation.  Coronado is a best choice located just minutes from downtown San Diego and the Loews Coronado Bay Resort. The course measures 6,590 yards from the blue tees and is a par 72. Immaculate greens, wide inviting fairways and dramatic views coupled with incomparable weather, make Coronado a must-play for all golfers year round.  There are golf holes adjacent to San Diego Bay.

By the way, several years ago, President Clinton spent time  in San Diego. He took in the California sun at the Coronado municipal golf course with his bodyguards in tow. Wearing a straw hat, black shirt and black shorts --  at least he was in black --- the president was seen getting out of a sand trap and then dropping a second ball on the green. He waved to the person with the video camera and lamented on his inability to score well. Then, he climbed into the golf cart, marked his card and drove to the next hole. He is reported to have scored his first ever below 80 round with a 79.
To register for the Annual Forum or add golf to your existing registration please click here.
NOTE:  For all those golfers who registered at the higher fee, you will receive a refund for the difference.  Thanks!!

STUART WHITE PASSING
FSSA sadly informs you of the recent passing of Stuart L. White, Jr. , age 84, of Stratford, CT,  husband of Lois Dunphy. White passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 4, 2014.
He was born in Milford in 1929 and was the son of the late Stuart and Gladys Evans White. He was employed by The Stuart L. White Company of Milford for over 60 years serving as secretary, vice president and president. Stuart was active in the Bridgeport Safety Council and was the president in 1965. He was a member of America St. John’s Lodge No. 8 and served as Master of America Lodge No. 132 in 1967 as well as being a trustee for both lodges. He was a member of The First Congregation Church in Stratford and a former trustee.
In addition to his wife Lois of 61 years, Stuart is survived by his son Charles R. White and his wife Patricia of Milford, two daughters Deborah Baker and her husband Gene of Goshen and Kimberly Sembiante and her husband David of Bethany; five grandchildren Gene Baker, Jr., Jennifer Baker, Charles R. White, Jr. and his wife Lauren, Sarah White DeChristoforo and her husband Ryan and Alexandra White; one great grandson Jackson Charles White and his lifelong special friend Robert S. Keane of Trumbull.
A Funeral Service was held on Wednesday, January 8th in Milford, CT. 
In lieu of flowers, Stuart White contributions may be made to The First Congregational Church, 2301 Main Street, Stratford CT 06615.


VOLUNTERS NEEDED FOR NICET SPECIAL HAZARDS LEVEL III TEST SCORE
SETTING WORKSHOP
NICET has a few spaces available in the upcoming Special Hazards Level III test score-setting workshop on January 27 and 28 at NICET in Alexandria, VA.
To set the passing score for the Level III exam, NICET will use a "modified Angoff" procedure.  This involves gathering a group of technicians; having them rate each of the exam questions in relation to the job knowledge expected of a baseline candidate for Level III certification; and analyzing the aggregated ratings to determine where to draw the line between pass and fail.
The participating technicians must:
  • Be certified in Special Hazards Systems Layout or Special Hazards Suppression Systems at Level III or Level IV and have at least one year of design experience
  • Be currently performing special hazards technician work
  • Not be involved in preparing or conducting formal training courses with the purpose of preparing individuals for NICET testing
  • As a group, be reasonably representative of various types and sizes of companies, work objectives and environments, and geographic considerations
The workshop is an opportunity to network with other special hazards technicians from around the country.  Participants will earn 4 CPD points toward NICET recertification for participating.
Space is limited.  If you would like to attend, please submit a résumé or any questions to NICET Certification Program Development Manager, Mellissa Campbell.


YOU'RE INVITED TO
March 4-7, 2014
University of Central Florida (UCF), Orlando, Florida
Featuring 30 presentations and a special workshop “SMART Buildings and Fire Safety”
Keep your knowledge at the leading edge through 30 presentations including:
  • Latest in sprinkler and other suppression solutions including recent developments of environmentally friendly fire suppression agents, sprinkler protection of high hazard challenges, and oxygen reduction systems.
  • Latest in detection and signaling research related to nuisance alarms, new fire test sensitivities, mass notification, computer modeling, and more.
Free half-day workshop on “SMART Buildings and Fire Safety” is open to all attendees! (Wednesday, March 5)
This workshop is a “bridge event” between the Suppression and Detection sessions which all SupDet registrants can attend. Exciting new possibilities for addressing unwanted fires are being realized, based on: (1) available data gathered from an increasingly sensor rich environment, (2) the comprehensive ability to analyze and process this data, and (3) new ways of delivering and using this data.  The smart buildings of tomorrow and their sensor rich environments offer great fire safety potential to building owners, occupants, emergency responders, and all other participants in our built environment.  The goal of this workshop is to establish a needs assessment for the use of systems in SMART buildings for fire safety.
Register today for the full symposium, or choose either the Suppression Program or the Detection and Signaling Program. All registration options entitle you to attend the “SMART Buildings and Fire Safety” workshop on Wed., March 5.
SupDet 2014 has been co-located with the International Crisis and Risk Communication Conference (ICRC Conference), which is hosted by the Nicholson School of Communication at UCF and being held March 3-5.



FSSA TRAINING PROGRAM

The FSSA Training program is live!  If you reserved a spot at the forum invoices were emailed in May. For questions regarding the training program or to reserve your space, please contact Vince Mullhausen at FSSA HQ.




FSSA, the FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS ASSOCIATION, is a not-for-profit trade association, drawing members internationally. FSSA is a unique blend of designer/installers, manufacturers and suppliers working together to share ideas and strategies for the benefit of the fire suppression systems industry. FSSA members are dedicated to the highest level of safety, reliability and effectiveness of special hazards fire suppression.
 
The mission of FSSA is to promote the use of, and be the leading recognized authority on, special hazard fire protection systems; employing existing and new technologies to safeguard people, high-value assets and the environment.




Interested in passing along information on
FSSA to prospective members? FSSA has printed cards proclaiming "WHY Join the FSSA" with information on member benefits. If you would like a stack of cards mailed to you so that you can distribute them to your colleagues, please contact FSSA Headquarters.
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Crista LeGrand, CAE, CMP
- Executive Director
Vince Mullhausen - Meetings & Member Services
Donna Liberto - Financial Manager
Jason Dumm - Financial Coordinator
(contact Jason for all membership dues & meeting registration payments or invoicing)
The complete archive of The Annunciator is available on the FSSA website. Click here to view.
 Please contact Vince Mullhausen at FSSA Headquarters if you would like to have a colleague added to the mailing list.

Copyright © 2013 Fire Suppression Systems Association. All rights reserved.

Monday, January 6, 2014

A-Gas RemTec closes due to snow emergency

Good Morning everyone! as Wood county is now operating under a level 3 Snow emergency (Meaning only emergency vehicles can be on the roadways or you can be arrested), A-Gas RemTec is Closed for the day. If you have an emergency the recharge hotline is up and running 419-466-6238! Please stay warm and safe friends, this weather is brutal!

Here is what is going on with the weather in NW Ohio! 
http://www.13abc.com/story/24367561/lucas-county-moves-to-level-3-snow-emergency-at-530-pm-sunday