Thank you Casey and to everyone at SP... You guys are awesome and you will hear more from me and the Firefightes Burn Institute!!!

PW, I was told it exploded soon after our first Fire Engine arrived. I am assuming it was a small BBQ type of tank, which as you are aware are very common. What happens when they are exposed to fire is that the pressure inside the tank increases due to the rising temperature and the tank will eventually fail. In fire terms this is called a "BLEVE" or Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion!! Lot of words for an EXPLOSION! Obviously when this happens it can kill people and sometimes it does. I have had a few near misses in my career! The best thing for you to do is obviously prevent fires from happening. But if one occurs, do your best to get the tank to a safe place, but if you cannot do that safely, make sure you get away from the tank and let us know when we arrive what's going on and where the tank is. We usually don't have much of a problem identifying this scenario, due to the fact the these tanks will start "venting" off their contents prior to the tank failing. You will never forget the noise this makes when it happens. It sounds like a jet engine! Thanks for your interest and be safe!

Wackadoodle; thanks for your comments. After the fire was put out, we have to set up a secure perimeter around the fire until the investigation is complete. Until this afternoon, that area was kept secure by one Fire Company, which is 4 Firefighters. Their job is to keep everyone out of the fire area. If there is evidence, it cannot be contaminated. They are also responsible to extinguish any hot spots and flare ups. The fire is now out, and a private security company was brought in to secure the area. As far as the ATF goes, this is a service they provide Nationwide. Due to the size and dollar loss of this fire and because of the enormous job it is going to be to investigate this fire, we requested the assistance of the ATF. This is common. And yes, your tax dollars are paying for this. In my opinion, if this fire was intentionally set, the person or persons responsible are very capable of causing harm and possibly killing someone, and they should be brought to justice. That is why we are doing everything we can to find the cause of this fire, and if someone is responsible, to bring them to justice. Wether or not the building is insured, doesn't change the way we do our job...

Thanks Jessica! And do not forget to install new, fresh batteries in all of your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors! Doing this could save the lives of you and your familiy!!!!

The fire and explosion that occurred Sunday morning February 7, 2010, at 3944 17th Avenue, at 2:07 A.M. has been determined to be Arson. The case is still open and being actively investigated. No further information is available at this time. If anyone has any information pertaining to this case you are urged to contact the Sacramento Fire Department Arson Tip Line at (916) 808-8732 or Sacramento Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP or 1-800-AA-CRIME.

Yes they do cause fires!

It's Tuesday morning. Our USAR Team actually came back home to Sacramento yesterday. This team and other USAR Teams from the US have been staged at strategic locations around the US in a "stand by mode" until needed. Because of the massive traffic jam trying to get into Haiti and with the Government of Haiti priortizing who comes in and what is needed most, it made more sense to send our Team back home and have them wait here instead of waiting at Travis AFB. They are still ready to go and their cache is also packed and ready to go if and when called. Their mission right now is to relieve any of the USAR Teams that are currently in Haiti if needed....

Thanks for the comments. I have been updated from our Team and unfortunately they are still at Travis AFB. They and 2 other USAR Teams are being staged at their home bases until conditions in Haiti allow them to travel there. The airport and the sea port have been badly damaged so all air and ship travel is horribly delayed. The good news is that there are 4 USAR Teams on the ground in Haiti and many other Rescue teams from other Nations are there. Numerous successful rescues have already been accomplished by these rescuers. Our folks will go soon and we hope that they can make a positive difference for all of the victims.

Sorry about the typo! Been up all night!!! "Deployed to Haiti"

Great article, Linda!!!

Sorry, in my narative it says Station 32, it is supposed to say Station #2. I cannot type either!!!

Sorry about the mess I created, but please read my latest article. Lucky has been located, he was never stolen,, and he is fine!!!

Colleen, The main difference is exactly what you stated, size, and shape. I am not sure how long they have been used, but I assume a very long time because these masks are what the Vets use in Pet Hospitals.... Thanks, Jim

Great article Casey and awesome photo's Ed! As far as Puppy's comments above, Puppy is right, our Firefighters pay for their own food, not the City and not the Fire Department. This is very typical for the entire Fire Service. Just so the public knows!!!!

Before I was assigned as the Fire Department's Information Officer I spent about 5 years at Engine #2 at 13th & I Streets. I had the unique experience of going underground and seeing some of these historic areas. I even fought a fire or two there! I think that most of the public has no clue of what's underground in the Downtown area. It is amazing!

Thanks for posting this Michelle. Just like you say, hydrants in the City limits are painted certain colors because of the water flow they produce. This is important to us when we are pumping at a fire. It gives our Fire Engineers the ability to calcualte water flow and if they have the capacity to supply more fire lines (hose). Also I can honestly tell you that I have been to many fires where cars were blocking our access to hydrants and to Fire Department Connections (Fire Sprinkler Hook Ups) and it really does slow our ability to quickly attack a fire and bring it under control. Just like on the movie BACKDRAFT, if a vehicle is blocking our access to a fire hydrant at a fire, we will make the hook up one way or another! Please do not park in front of fire hydrants.... Thanks!

Sorry about the picture quality, (both of them!!!)

Dale, What you mention does happen a lot and it is a problem. With cell phones, people texting on them, loud radios, etc. etc. etc. drivers now a days really don't pay attention while driving. Our Firefighters are trained well to drive during emergencies and we take all of this into account. However accidents do happen and unfortunately will continue to do so. We do our best! I have never received a call from anyone complaining about this. Thanks!

Casey, We do not rent life jackets, we loan them. The Sacramento Fire Stations above, are the stations within the City that loan life jackets. However if you visit www.dbw.ca.gov you will find a site that has the locations of many Fire Stations throughout California that loan life jackets. Also there are life jacket stations along many of our local water ways that have life jackets you can borrow. These sites are maintained by the County of Sacramento. Some of these locations are at Discovery Park, Howe Avenue Boat Ramp, and a few more along the American River. As Firefighters we love the fact that people do take advantage of these life jackets, but I have to also say that it is important to return them for others to use. We do have a slight problem with persons keeping them and not returning them. Which is kind of OK, because at least people are using them! But these life jackets are donated to us, we do not buy them, so it's important to return them! Thanks!

Ed, Thanks for your work yesterday. These kind of calls are the tough ones, and sometimes working with the Media can be a little hard, with everyone wanting to get the story, photo's etc.. and with the obvious concern we have with the victims family and co-workers, it isn't always easy. I appreciate all of the cooperation I got from the media yesterday. Take care and I'll see you out there!