Editorial: The Wide World Of Fire & Rescue

Many significant newsmaking events involving fires and disasters have occurred recently. In today's instant television coverage of an incident event like the EgyptAir Flight 990 crash, firefighters were shown searching the Nantucket, MA, beaches for pieces of wreckage that may have washed ashore. Aircraft rescue and firefighting crews standing by airports all across the globe could not have helped out at the incident that occurred 65 miles out to sea.

Firefighters near Mina, SD, could only look at the large crater and wreckage of the runaway jet that carried golfer Payne Stewart and five others and which crashed at 600 mph. Little did they know they would be at the final destination of the jet that traveled across the country, covered live on television.

A fire in an illegal bar in Inchon, South Korea, killed 55 people and injured 78 others. After a fire in June that killed 19 kindergartners and four adults, the South Korean president promised better efforts to prevent such disasters from recurring. Some 25 people, including governmental officials, were arrested and charged with serious crimes involving the first fire.

In Indiana and California, fires involving millions of used tires provided difficult and extensive battles for firefighters. These fires also caused financial and environmental concerns. One wildland fire in northern California took over 70 days to contain at a cost of $71 million.

Firefighters known for their feats of daring and knowhow had to reach deep into their bag of tricks when they encountered a fire in an aquarium in Ocean City, NJ. Although numerous sharks, iguanas, snakes and fish were killed, some unusual rescues were made. An 18-foot African rock python, a 10-foot Burmese python and a four-foot Anaconda were saved, and 12 alligators, including one that measured five feet long, were removed from the facility. I'm sure those firefighters have some stories to tell. Even the alligators are talking about the meals that got away.

Applications are available for the Firehouse® Heroism and Community Service Awards program. Call 631-845-2700 extension 230 for an application or send a request via fax to 631-845-7109. Please nominate the members of your department who have performed above and beyond the call of duty and richly deserve recognition in the largest awards program of its kind in America.

Now that the flood waters following Hurricane Floyd have receded in many parts of the country, severe damage has now become evident. By press time, 147 families of North Carolina firefighters had suffered losses in the storm. If you would like to contribute to the fund to render assistance, you can send a donation to: The North Carolina State Firemen's Association, P.O. Box 188, Farmville, NC 27828.