North Carolina | Natural gas releases forces evacuation of 22 homes in Charlotte
Westover Hills | 4 Feb 2012
A Natural gas release forced the evacuation of 22 homes in the Westover Hills community Tuesday morning, January 31, 2012. At least 30 residents were displaced from their homes for almost two hours.
At 11:04 AM firefighters were called to investigate an odor of natural gas in the 1300 block of Bethel Road. Crews arrived to find a strong odor of gas and after further investigation determined the odor was emitting from sewer manholes.
Utilizing specialized gas meters, Haz-Mat Teams and utility workers from Piedmont Natural Gas Company determined gas levels had reached explosive levels and made the decision to evacuate the immediate vicinity. Residents displaced as a result of this incident were provided temporary shelter in a local transit bus.
Haz-Mat Teams and utility workers were able to control leak by shutting off the gas feed to an isolated area and began the arduous task of ventilating the sewer space and rendering homes safe for residents to return. (26) Firefighters were called to control the leak and bring the incident under control in 1 hour and 47 minutes. Utility workers worked throughout the day to restore gas service to the residents affected.
Methane gas commonly referred to as natural gas was released into the sewer system when utility workers accidentally bore through a service line. There were no injuries associated with the incident.
North Carolina | Norovirus infections spreading widely across the state
Raleigh | 1 Feb 2012
Throughout January, several local health departments across North Carolina have reported multiple outbreaks of norovirus, prompting state public health officials to issue advice on steps everyone can take to avoid this common and unpleasant gastrointestinal illness.
“The most important message we have right now is that people who are ill with vomiting or diarrhea should not work, go to school or attend daycare while they are having symptoms, “said State Epidemiologist Dr. Megan Davies. “Everyone needs to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water. This is the most effective way to protect yourself and others against norovirus since hand sanitizers alone are not as effective against this hardy virus.”
Noroviruses are easily transmitted by touching a contaminated surface as well as by direct contact or by eating food or drinking liquids that have been contaminated with the virus. Noroviruses are notoriously difficult to kill with normal cleaning and disinfecting procedures. Surfaces that have been contaminated with stool or vomit should be cleaned immediately and disinfected with a freshly prepared diluted bleach solution or a bleach-based household cleaner.
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. Some may have fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and a general sense of tiredness. The symptoms can begin suddenly and an infected person may go from feeling well to very sick in a very short period of time. In most people, the illness lasts for about one or two days. People with norovirus illness are contagious from the moment they begin feeling sick until at least three days after they recover. Some people may be contagious for even longer, she added. Infection can be more severe in young children and elderly people. Dehydration can occur rapidly and may require medical treatment or hospitalization.
“Unfortunately, there is no specific medications to treat norovirus, but infected people should drink plenty of liquids to replace fluid lost through vomiting and diarrhea,” Davies said. “The best course of action is prevention.”
Davies offered several simple steps to take if you suspect the presence of a norovirus:
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water, especially after toilet visits and before preparing, serving or eating food or drink. Hand sanitizers are not as effective against norovirus.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces contaminated with vomit or diarrhea immediately using a bleach-based household cleaner, or dilute household bleach 1:10 in water (must be mixed fresh daily; never use undiluted bleach).
- Stay home when sick.
- Do not prepare food for other people when sick and for at least three days afterward.
For more information about norovirus, see the Division of Public Health Web site at www.ncpublichealth.com. More detailed information about cleanup in private homes and in other settings can be found at http://epi.publichealth.nc.gov/cd/norovirus/NORO_personal_health.pdf
North Carolina | Four people injured – three critically – in high-impact RTC with prolonged extrication in Charlotte
5737 Electra Lane, Charlotte | 19 Jan 2012
Four people were injured, three critically, on Sunday January 15th, 2012 after a SUV slammed into an east Charlotte apartment building.
At 9:55 PM, Charlotte Firefighters responded to a single vehicle collision at 5737 Electra Lane. Firefighters from nearby Station 3 were first to arrive and reported a SUV that had crashed into apartment building. The SUV breached a wall and came rest in an occupied dwelling trapping two people under the wreckage.
The passengers of the SUV, a mother and young child were able to exit the vehicle without assistance. The young child was transported to Carolinas Medical Center with what was described as life-threatening injuries. Firefighters and Heavy Rescue Technicians worked tirelessly to free the two victims trapped under the wreckage utilizing specialized rescue apparatus. Urban Search and Rescue personnel worked to assess and shore up the breach in the structure.
A total of four patients were transported to Carolinas Medical Center; three with life-threatening injuries and one with non-life-threatening injuries. Twenty-two firefighters were on-scene.
Responding Companies: Engine 3, Ladder 29, Rescue 3, Battalion 4, USAR 1
North Carolina | Seven people narrowly escape from burning home
7609 Ivy Hollow Drive, Charlotte | 19 Jan 2012
Seven people narrowly escaped from a burning home in east Charlotte early Sunday morning January 15th, 2012.
Charlotte Firefighters were dispatched to a reported structure fire at 1:01 AM at 7609 Ivy Hollow Drive. Firefighters from nearby Station 23 arrived and reported heavy smoke and fire emitting from a two-story house.
Crews quickly sprung into action mounting an aggressive fire attack and accounting for the occupants. Two occupants were said to be asleep on the 2nd floor when the fire occurred and were forced to jump out a window because the fire blocked the stairway. Five others self-evacuated from the 1st floor after a smoke alarm alerted them to the fire.
Fire crews encountered “Collyer’s Mansion” type conditions that hampered firefighter’s suppression efforts, however firefighters were resilient in their efforts until knocking down the fire and bringing the incident under control in 26 minutes.
The fire began in the kitchen and was caused by food left cooking on the stove. Monetary damage estimates were still being tabulated at the time of this report. The Carolinas Chapter of the American Red Cross responded to assist the occupants displaced as a result this fire. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.
Kitchen fires remain the number cause of residential fires. The Charlotte Fire Department reminds you to “Stay Alert”, by not leaving food cooking unattended, “Stay Safe”, by avoiding cooking when your sleepy, and “Stay Alive”, by not allowing yourself to become distracted when cooking.
Responding companies: Battalion 4, Battalion 2, Engines 23, 40, 15, 34, Ladder 23, Rescue 3
North Carolina | Firefighters support ‘Steve’s Coats for Kids’
Charlotte | 10 Jan 2012
For the past 3 years the Charlotte Fire Department (CFD) has partnered with WSOC TV and Crisis Assistance Ministry http://www.crisisassistance.org/ to support “Steve’s Coats for Kids” http://www.wsoctv.com/coats/index.html. For the 4th year, Charlotte Fire Stations will proudly serve as official collection sites for this local charity through January 13th.
Chief Meteorologist Steve Udelson is asking you to go through your closets or buy new coats to help keep local kids warm this winter. Crisis Assistance Ministry Director Carol Hardison told Steve, there are just so many families still reeling from the economy. “For the low income citizens of our community, it’s not better yet,” Hardison said. “We are still seeing the same number of people, which is twice the number of people we had before this recession hit.” There is a desperate need right now for thousands of warm coats. So, now through Jan. 13, we are asking you to donate new and gently used coats for children of all sizes.
We have witnessed hundreds of local area kids go hungry and unprotected from the elements. The population of Charlotte continues to persevere through extraordinarily difficult times and the need has never been greater. Your friends at CFD ask for your assistance in helping local children “Stay Warm, Stay Safe, and Stay Alive” this winter. Click on the link below to locate your neighborhood Fire Station. http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/Fire/FireStations/Pages/default.aspx
North Carolina | Off-duty Charlotte firefighter rescues sleeping couple from burning home
Charlotte | An off-duty Firefighter is credited with alerting a sleeping couple of a fire burning in their home on New Year’s Day.
The day began like most for Charlotte Firefighter Henry Calle. He was relieved from duty at Fire Station 31 and began his familiar trek home early Sunday morning just before 7:30 AM. While traveling Mallard Creek Road, the smell of smoke caught Calle’s attention and almost simultaneously he observed smoke out of the corner of his eye. Henry turned his vehicle around and headed in the direction of the smoke. Within moments he arrived at 9916 Mallard Creek Road and observed heavy smoking issuing from the attic of the 2-story home.
Calle called 911 and alerted them of a working structure fire, however he was unable to verify whether anyone was in the residence. Henry ran to the front of the home where he feverishly knocked on the door. He heard a dog barking, however, there was no answer.
Instinctively Calle grabbed a rake found in the yard and after finding the front door blocked, he used the rake to break a window. He reached in the window, moved the couch and made entry into the burning home. The couple living in the home was awakened by the breaking glass and was greeted by Henry (still in uniform) who identified himself as a Charlotte Firefighter. Calle informed the couple of the fire in the attic of their home and escorted them to safety.
On-duty Firefighters joined their colleague minutes later and were able to knockdown the fire and bring the incident under control in 21 minutes. Fire Investigators said the fire began in the attic and the cause was electrical in nature. Damage estimates stand at $15,000.
Because of his observant, instinctive, and heroic actions personal injury was certainly averted. Henry Calle is a probationary Firefighter who joined the ranks of the Charlotte Fire Department in March of 2011. When asked why he willingly risked his own personal safety not knowing whether anyone was in the burning home, Calle said, “This is what we (firefighters) do, I just happened to be off-duty.”
North Carolina | Fatal apartment fire in Myers Park
Charlotte | The Charlotte Fire Department responded to an apartment fire that sadly claimed the life of a Myers Park man the day after Christmas.
At 7:18 Monday evening December 26th, Battalion 1, Engines 6, 1, 2, and Ladder 1 were dispatched to a reported structure fire at 1142 Queens Road in Myers Park.
Firefighters arrived on scene in less than 5 minutes and reported a working fire involving a large 2-story apartment building. Battalions 3 & 4, Engine 8, and Rescue 10 were dispatched to assist. A neighbor advised firefighters they believed the lone occupant of was still inside. Fire companies sprinted into action forcing entry into the single apartment, initiating a fire attack, and a performing hasty search.
Additional fire companies evacuated adjoining apartments and assisted with search efforts by providing vertical ventilation allowing smoke and super-heated gases to escape. This practice also tends to facilitate increased visibility. Firefighters encountered heavy smoke and “Collyer’s Mansion” conditions inside the fire apartment, which hampered search efforts.
The fire was knocked down and the incident brought under control in 18 minutes. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, firefighters were unable to save the lone occupant and thus, the fire tragically claimed the life of a 55 year-old man.
The Charlotte Fire Investigation Task Force spent much of the evening investigating the fire and deemed the fire “accidental” in nature and stated the most probable cause as candles. It was also noted the victim’s apartment was without electric utility. The victim’s official cause of death will be determined by the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner’s Office.
NC | Source of E.coli outbreak identified
Raleigh NC | A public health investigation into the recent E. coli outbreak in North Carolina has determined that these infections were likely transmitted in the Kelley Building at the North Carolina State Fair. The Kelley Building is one of the permanent structures on the fairgrounds where sheep, goats, and pigs were housed and competed in livestock shows during the fair. No other exhibits, foods or activities were linked to the E. coli infections.
Officials with the North Carolina Division of Public Health and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced Thursday they are working to identify additional protective measures for fairgoers in the future.
“From the beginning of this investigation, we have been focused on finding answers about why these illnesses occurred,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Using the information gathered by our Public Health partners, we can begin to assess whether additional safeguards can be put in place. Our goal is to put on the safest fair we can.”
State Epidemiologist Megan Davies said the illness is likely related to animal contact, though the study did not implicate any specific animal or breed in the outbreak.
“We know that E. coli 0157 is often found in the intestines of ruminant animals, which include cows, goats and sheep,” Davies said. “These bacteria are shed in the animal’s feces, so if it is on the animal itself or surfaces around the animal that someone touches, the bacteria can be transmitted to that person.”
The results came after a carefully conducted case-control study involving 27 individuals identified as having contracted E. coli after attending the fair in October and another 87 individuals who attended the fair, but did not get sick. Investigators from the Division of Public Health did phone and in-person interviews using a survey tool developed for this purpose that asked a comprehensive series of questions about activities at the fair. Activities included animal exhibits, foods, rides and attractions.
Ads
