Capture Events in the Year 2005

Captured Events in the Year 2005

Around 22:00 hrs on November 17 Units were dispatched to the 2700 block of East Cavett Drive for a house on fire. Engines 11, 5, & 14 - Truck 7 - Rescue 1 & District Chief 1 responded. When Engine 11 arrived on the scene they reported a working fire. After several minutes District Chief 1 (the I.C.) requested an additional Engine Co. and Engine 7 was dispatched to the blaze. To see additional photos click here. or on the thumbnail.

Twenty-four Members of S.F.D. were some of the first Search and Rescue crews to arrive in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Their first job was helping to rescue 1100 patients from the Lindy Boggs Medical Center Hospital on Jefferson Davis Pkwy. Later other SFD members volunteered to respond to New Orleans as they went on days-off. Busses and airplanes brought many evacuees from the Gulf Coast and patients from evacuated hospitals to Shreveport. Units of the SFD were dispatched to the Hirsch Coliseum and Shreveport Regional Airport to triage the arriving patients. To see additional photos click here.

A couple of photos from a paramedic that rode-out with SFD while here.
Dear Webmaster, maybe you'd like some pics of 2004. I did while a rideout during my elective-term at LSU. Here in Germany I work as a paramedic half-time while studiing. ragards, Manfred -- please visit www.heckwoelfe.de
Click on image to see photos

A fire in the 3500 block of Catherine St. took the life of an elderly woman. A couple of civilians tried vainly to rescue the woman who was inside, but were unable to get through the heat and smoke. Firefighters arrived on the scene to find an intense blaze, but fought their way through the front door and found the 86 year old invalid in her bedroom. A Medic Unit rushed her to LSU Medical Center where she was pronounced dead upon arrival. After the woman had been removed firefighters fighting the fire were hampered by burglar bars over windows in the home. The fire occurred a little after 2PM on August 25 when the reported temperature in the shade was 102 degrees.

A two-story home in the 900 block of Linden, with fire going through the roof, met first arriving companies. It was an one alarm fire with a special call for 2 more engines and a truck. The call came in around 3:30 PM on Monday, July 25. The temperature was around 96 degrees and the heat index was over 104. Firefighters were ordered to take alternating breaks at timed intervals to be checked by Medic Unit members and cooled off before returning to fight the fire. Once the fire was under control other companies were rotated in and the original units were released. The cause of the fire is thought to be from a faulty water heater located on the second floor or attic. Click here or on the thumbnail for more photos of this fire.

Dura-Oak Cabinet Refacing Company was completely on fire when first alarm companies arrived. This long time Shreveport business was gutted. Due to the extent of the blaze and because pre-planning had revealed a very hazardous environment, firefighters had to set-up in a defensive mode to control the fire. The alarm came in about 9:00AM and it was late afternoon before the last companies were able to leave. The temperature was in the 90's, so fire companies were rotated in and out after only a few hours on the scene. This building is located almost directly behind old central fire station. Click on thumbnail for more photographs of this fire.

Three Abandoned Houses in the 1000 blk of Foster were fully involved when the first units arrived on the scene. A 2nd Alarm was quickly transmitted for the fire that occurred around 1:00AM on Saturday, June 11. A broken 20 inch water main in the northern part of the city caused a temporary drop in water pressure at the fire scene. Two Caddo Fire Districts were requested to respond mutual aid with their water tanker trucks. However, they were not used because the pressure was quickly restored. The fire was very intense and the red glow in the sky could be seen for miles. Signal 51 was paged about 1:45AM and four members responded in their personal vehicles because Unit 51 was committed to another event. By a new agreement made between Signal 51 and Krispy Kreme, 16 dozen doughnuts were donated. Mike Clikas delivered the doughnuts to the scene where he, Father Guido Verbeck, Fred McClanahan and Michael Gillispie served them along with other refreshments to 63 firefighters and 5 civilians. These Sig 51 members were on the scene for over 3 hours. Click here or on the thumbnail for more photographs of this fire.

Father Guido Verbeck in the News! Signal 51 member Father Guido Verbeck was on KTAL's 6PM news telling about the 1961 Seagrave that he restored. His plans are to make it a parade piece and to place it in the Shreveport Firefighters Museum at the Old Central Station on Crockett Street when it is opened. Guido said the '61 Seagrave was bought for him by some families in his congregation when they found out he was very found of old fire trucks. He also stated that he has purchased a 1941 American LaFrance and that he will soon be starting restoration on it. Click on the thumbnail or here for pictures from Channel 6 and some video clips showing the complete news report on Father Verbeck and his fire engines.

Recently, Shreveport Fire Chief, Kelvin Cochran was elected chairman of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Elected to the board five years ago, he has worked his way up from board member, to secretary, to treasurer, to vice chairman, and now chairman. Cochran has chosen to run for the position of second vice president of the association in 2006. Cochran says the chairman of the metropolitan section of I.A.F.C. has a term limit of one year. He has already started his campaign for the position of second vice president. Click here or on the photograph to read more about Chief Kelvin Cochran.

Fire Engulfed 5 Abandoned Houses. Firefighters discovered a body in the house where the fire originated which resulted in the area becoming a crime scene. The fire occurred on Sunday around 3:30AM on 5-22-05. Extra companies were called-in to control the blaze. Signal 51 was paged at about 5:30AM. Unit 51 was driven to the fire location by Mike Clikas. Members Guido Verbeck and Fred McClanahan joined Clikas in serving refreshments to the emergency workers. Photographs of the incident were taken at the conclusion of the fire, and as it turned daylight of the crews overhauling. Click on the thumbnail or here to see the photos

Hot Air Balloon Accident Results in 2 Fatalities. Two well-known balloonist lost their lives after their basket apparently hit a 34,000 volt power line and caught fire. Debris was scattered over an area of about 3 miles from Barid Rd over Mansfield Rd to South Park Mall. It was an all-night operation as authorities and FAA officials examined the area. Signal 51 was paged out and Unit 51 was supplied with food and drinks and responded. Members Katie Allen, Michael Clikas, Michael Gillispie and Fred McClanahan spent many hours making sandwishes and supplying Gatorade to the emergency workers. Members had to make several runs for extra food and coffee as they depleted their supply. Click on the thumbnail for more pictures of the balloon.

NEW PUMPERS ARE IN! New Engine 1 and 4 were at the shop on Friday, 5-13-05 being outfitted and will be placed in service soon. The other new rigs were at various places in the city - Some having radios installed, etc. This will put all engine companies in the white-over-red paint scheme. It will be awhile before the remaining all-white hook and ladder truck companies (16 and 20) will be replaced. Read in Dr. Carter's Corner about what stations are getting the new pumpers and where their former apparatus will end up. Photos of new Engine 1 and Engine 4 can be seen by clicking on the thumbnail or clicking here. Old Rescue 1 is being traded-in for a medic unit. All the new pumpers have LED emergency lights. There is a rear emergency light bar similar to the bars on the rear of the chief cars, except these are high and over the hose bed. . Incidentally, all 5 of the new rigs have bells and they really look cool on the front bumper opposite the Federal Qs. They are rung remotely by a button located on the dash in front of the Captains seat.

2-Alarm fire hits National Linen Services. At 2:16AM on April 2, S.F.D. units responded to the National Linen Services at 5741 St. Vincent Ave for a reported fire. Shortly after their arrival a 2nd alarm was transmitted. Click on Picture to see more photos. Signal 51 members received the page at 2:21AM. Mike Clikas, Mike Gillispie, Guido Verbeck and Fred McClanahan responded with refreshments.

Medic 10 gets new Rig! A new Medic Unit is in for 10 and Medic 5 gets a remount. They both have a new paint scheme and a big Maltese cross on the side. Click on picture to the left to see enlargement and more pictures of Medic 10. Medic 10 went into service 3-29-05.

Mike visits LAFD Station 76. The photograph to the left is of Sig 51 member, Mike Lowe at Engine 76 in Los Angeles. On a recent business trip to L.A. Mike took timeout to visit one of LAFD's stations. He reported they had a Seagrave pumper and ran with a 4 man crew. The guys were friendly and glad to see someone from Louisiana. Mike even called me and had the Captain tell me he was there. One of the things they told Mike was that on any domestic disturbance calls they respond to, they have flak jackets that they must put on. They took Mike back to his hotel on the Seagrave, but told him if they, "catch a run - to hold on tight." Be sure to click on Mike's picture to see more photos of his visit.

Return to Home Page