Perrysburg Township to utilize drones in new emergency rescue tactics

VIDEO/PHOTOS: The Perrysburg Township Fire and EMS team is working to introduce a new tool to improve their efficiency during rescue operations – drones. Perrysburg Township Fire Captain Tom Brice says the department purchased their new drone fleet two years ago, but getting the program up and running takes time. Training responders to use the new equipment is one of the first hurdles the department has had to overcome. Drone pilots must pass the FAA’s Part 107 exam in order to be certified to fly the small unmanned aircraft. Firefighter and paramedic Mike Thompson says the drones have re-written what's possible for the department. He says drones can be used for everything from search and rescue operations, to hot-spot searching using a thermal camera, and can even assist in water rescues by dropping lifejackets.
WTOL-TV CBS 11 Toledo

Shawnee Township Fire Department honors retirees, families, and Firefighter of the Year

VIDEO: Shawnee Township celebrated their firefighters of the past and present for everything they've done to protect the community. The Shawnee Township Fire Department held a banquet on Sunday to pay tribute to former chiefs, long-tenured firefighters, and retirees. This year, they honored volunteer firefighters Kevin Mayer, Allen Behnke, and Battalion Chief John Norris, who were presented with their helmets in recognition of their retirements after decades of service. They also took the opportunity to thank the family members of their firefighters for all that they go through. "Everyone sees the first responders out there doing the work, but they don't recognize the families at home. The ones that get left for Christmas dinners, the ones that are worried at home when their first responders are out doing the work. So I really want to take time to honor them tonight too; they deserve the recognition," explains Fire Chief Austin Miller.
WLIO-TV NBC/FOX 8 Lima

Home destroyed by fire in Austintown

VIDEO: A house was destroyed by fire Friday in Austintown. Firefighters were called to a home on the 2200 block of Sprucewood Drive around 2:30 p.m. Austintown Assistant Chief Dave Shertzer was one of the first on the scene. Shertzer said the fire started in the garage and spread to the rest of the home. Fire also damaged the house next door on one side. “So the garage, the roof was already totally caved in and the flames were shooting out through there. It was already spread a pretty decent amount into the actual structure, the residence of the house,” said Schertzer. It was a neighbor who alerted the residents that they needed to get out when he saw the flames coming out of the house and came running down the street. Firefighters are still investigating the cause, but they know where it started.
WKBN-TV CBS 27 Youngstown

Robert Wysong among 226 firefighters to be remembered during National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) will host the 43rd National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend (Memorial Weekend) on May 4-5, 2024 in Emmitsburg, Md. This year’s national tribute will honor 89 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2023 and 137 firefighters who died in previous years. Detailed information about each of the 226 firefighters being memorialized can be found on the 2024 Roll of Honor. One area firefighter will be honored this year in Clinton-Warren Joint Fire and Rescue District Chief Robert L. “Bob” Wysong, 70, who passed away Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, after suffering a heart attack following a fire call on Christmas Eve. Wysong was born Aug. 11, 1953, to James and Idella Wysong. He grew up playing with fire trucks in the Clarksville firehouse, next to his home.
Highland County Press

Ohio fire officials say tiny device could save lives lost to oxygen-related fires

VIDEO: A small device costing less than $10 could save lives and protect homes from devastating fires, according to Ohio fire officials. Thermal fuses are being promoted by the state fire marshal’s office as a way to reduce the number of deadly fires caused by people smoking while on oxygen. In Ohio, smoking-related fires were the leading cause of fire deaths in 2020-2022, and 40% of those deaths involved oxygen users. Anita Metheny, fire prevention bureau chief for the Division of State Fire Marshal, explained the dangers. “Once that catches fire, it burns straight down the tubing,” Metheny said. “That fire now follows the flow of oxygen because it’s hyper-oxygenated all the way to their oxygen machine, which basically starts fire throughout the entire house.” Thermal fuses can prevent this from happening.
WOIO-TV CBS 19 Cleveland

2 adults, 2 kids rescued from burning home in west Toledo

A family of four was hospitalized after their home burst into flames Friday morning. Toledo Fire & Rescue responded to a call about a house fire just after 6 a.m. on Dryden Drive near Walker Avenue in west Toledo. The Battalion Chief at the scene told WTOL two adults and two children escaped the flames and were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Their injuries are unknown at this time. The family's pet bunny was also rescued. Dryden is temporarily blocked off due to fire hoses in the roadway. A fire investigator is at the scene to help determine the exact cause. TFRD crews also responded to two other house fires Friday morning, one in Point Place, and another in east Toledo at a vacant home.
WTOL-TV CBS 11 Toledo