DAVE STATTER
WUSA TV-9
Courtesy WUSA TV-9
|
Courtesy WUSA TV-9
|
Courtesy WUSA TV-9
|
|
"Get Out Alive" has become the most challenging and rewarding part of my
almost 30 years in broadcasting. For the third time, 9 Eyewitness News in
Washington, W*USA-TV, takes viewers inside a fire. Our goal has been to let
the public see what is usually seen only by firefighters and those unlucky
enough to be trapped in a burning building. We have done this with a
single family home and a high-rise building. Now we are focusing on some of
the unique challenges of a fire in a garden style apartment.
For our latest version of "Get Out Alive", we worked with
Prince George's County Fire and EMS Department's Parkway Terrace Project (PTP). This is
the same live burn project featured in recent weeks in Firehouse.com's Training
Zone. The firefighters assigned to PTP provided us with our own apartment
that we then furnished. With their help we were able to set up 10 camera
positions to document the fire's progress. Maryland Fire Equipment provided
a thermal imaging camera with microwave transmit capability to give us a
picture of what was going on behind the smoke.
My job was to stay in the apartment above the fire and show what happens
when you ignore the early warnings from a smoke detector. In less than two
minutes after the fire began, and the first detector sounded, the smoke in
the building's hallway was so thick it would likely have prevented a safe
escape from the apartment building. I think this version of "Get Out Alive"
clearly shows that by not reacting immediately to these early warning
devices you place you and your family in jeopardy.
Courtesy WUSA TV-9
|
Courtesy WUSA TV-9
|
Courtesy WUSA TV-9
|
|
We also talk to Firehouse.com contributor Frank Brannigan about how quickly
fire can spread in a garden style apartment. I first met Frank about 25
years ago when, as a volunteer firefighter, I attended one of his classes.
He is an expert I have called on often when covering stories on the fire
service. As usual, Frank is very direct when he sees potential dangers for
the public and firefighters.
As in our previous editions of "Get Out Alive", 9 Eyewitness News is
offering a free pamphlet to our viewers with fire prevention and safety tips
(see wusatv9.com). With the help of area fire departments we have
distributed 10 thousand pamphlets since 1995.
This is the third time we have hooked up with Prince George's Fire and EMS
for "Get Out Alive". It started in 1995 when the Bowie Volunteer Fire
Department and Prince George's Fire took us inside a burning single family
home. In 1998 we showed the dangers in a high-rise fire thanks to those
involved in the Vermillion Avenue Project.
We could not have done "Get Out Alive" without the blessing of Prince
George's County Fire and EMS Chief Ronald Siarnicki. We would like to say a
special thanks to public information officers Mark Brady and Capt. Chauncey
Bowers, Battalion Chief Doug Osterhouse, Capt. Curtis Eaby, Lt. Doug
Bartholomew and the firefighters at PTP who welcomed us and provided us with
invaluable support.
Related:
news & reports
