Re: 911:: ANOTHER FIREFIGHTER DIED

[Guest guest]

Two people have been killed in the explosion of a diesel tank at a Winterset

business late yesterday morning. One of the deaths is a Winterset

firefighter...the other a civilian. The explosion happened outside the East

Green Collision Center in Winterset. Residents say the local fire department

had been on the scene to extinguish a grass fire near two large tanks that

sat several feet off the ground. After the fire was put out, one of the tanks

exploded. Both helicopter ambulances from Des Moines were sent to Winterset

to pick up the injured. In addition to the two people who died, one

firefighter is in stable condition at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines with

multiple fractures. Seven firefighters were treated and released at the

hospital in Winterset. Another civilian is in critical condition at Mercy.

Winterset residents said the explosion could be heard all over town. The

woman who lives across the street says the explosion knocked holes in the

plaster of her living room.

Hi all

Im bringing bad news, this came from the local newspaper. Winterset is the

county to the south of our county. I was at home listening to it all..There

was one dispatcher on the console, and she did a wonderful job, she is a hero

in my eyes. I bet nobody has even thought of her, being in there all by

herself.. Ya know, I wanted to go down to their Comm Center so bad, to see

if I could be of any help, but I had to work myself..I felt helpless. I

called there last night, to give them my condolences, and tell them that we

would be more than happy to help if needed.....You have understand, this is a

small town and everyone knows everyone..I told them that if they all wanted

to attend the funeral services, we could come down and sit in dispatch for

them. I feel alot better after doing this, but just felt crappy all day

yesterday..This is the first time in my career as dispatching (4 years) that

such a tragedy has occurred so close to home. Do you all feel like this when

a tragedy happens so close to home???

wondering if this is a normal feeling I am having. I could just be loosing

it too..dunno thanks for letting me vent

jamie in iowa

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 04/08/2000 1:57:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

jamicans@... writes:

<< Do you all feel like this when

a tragedy happens so close to home???

wondering if this is a normal feeling I am having. I could just be loosing

it too..dunno thanks for letting me vent >>

..I think we all have felt that way at some point in our career as a

dispatcher. It is a normal feeling. I am very proud of you and your

department for working for the others to allow them to attend the funeral.

Please pass on my condolences to the dispatcher who handled the call and

everyone else involved.

Kristy Rohm

Supervisor, Clayton Co 911

boro, Ga.

NitePrey2@...

[Guest guest]

>Do you all feel like this when

a tragedy happens so close to home???

wondering if this is a normal feeling I am having. I could just be loosing

it too..dunno <

It's a normal feeling... One of the agencies served by my post recently

lost an Officer... Even after the passing of quite a bit of time.. I still

occasionally have a little of the " lost " feeling...

Many times after this type of tragedy a counseling session is

offered to members of the affected department. A department

Chaplain or mental health organization can be a help with this.

Communications personnel are often " forgotten " during this process.

They should not be... if you can get the word to them... see if they.. and you

can attend.

Your offer to help was generous, and if you can help, it will be part of the

healing/grieving process.

This is one of the stresses that is always there with our profession...

My thoughts are with you all...

Weintraut

[Guest guest]

> In a message dated 04/08/2000 1:57:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

> jamicans@... writes:

>

> << Do you all feel like this when

> a tragedy happens so close to home???

> wondering if this is a normal feeling I am having. I could just be

loosing

> it too..dunno thanks for letting me vent >>

>

> Yes,

Even if it is not real close to home. When we lose a brother or sister

of our public safety community, it

hits home, you think it could be one of mine. It is worse if it is close to

home, one of our local pd's lost an

officer in an mva last year, and it was especially hard because the accident

involved an ems unit.

As to offering to help by sitting in at their center that is great. When

our comm Lt. died last year one of

the local pds sent some help over so we could have people attend the

funeral.

Hang in there