Posted on 08/31/2009 7:16:38 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
As the roaring wall of flame raged through the Angeles National Forest, firefighters Ted Hall and Arnie Quinones worked feverishly to protect their fire-crew camp, made up mostly of prison inmates.
But all too suddenly, the fire invaded the campsite. Hall and Quinones shepherded 55 inmates and several corrections and fire personnel into a cinderblock dining hall to shelter them from the blaze.
The fire burned through the camp, leaving it in ruins. The dining hall provided adequate shelter for now, but Hall and Quinones knew they had to get everyone to safety. So they jumped in an engine truck and left to search for an escape route down Mount Gleason.
It proved a fatal move.
Smoke blanketed a winding road that is perilous in the best of conditions. The truck careened off the blacktop, tumbling as it plunged 800 feet down the steep mountainside. The vehicle crashed upside down, killing the two men.
The fire they had tried to outrun quickly caught up to them and left the truck a scorched hulk—a reminder that death lives in the shadows of firefighting.
Quinones, 35, leaves behind a pregnant wife who is due to give birth to the couple's first child in the next few weeks. Hall, 47, had a wife and two adult sons.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
God rest their brave souls.
Fire is hell.
Sounds like these were low security prisoners if they were working at a fire camp.
Firefighters, like police officers and our military are among the bravest people in the world and we should honor their service and their sacrifice accordingly. These should be the highest paid people in the world, not Congressmen and not politicians and certainly not Hollywood liberal elites.
Without the inmates we would not be able to put enough trained people in place, unless there was an extremely large surge in volunteers who were trained.
Oh our local firemen who probably have never seen a fire in their life are guaranteed to retire as millionaires.
Cops and firemen deserve good pay but 20 years and ready for double dipping and the union perks like city, county and state workers in unions are bankrupting cities, states and this country.
I support cops and firemen 100% but don’t get carried away about pay. It bankrupts cities - just ask LOADS of cities in Calif.
They also get paid better than enlisted soldiers fighting two wars in Islamic countries with a CIC who is also a muslim. With advisers connected to Hamas and the Muslim Bortherhood who are probably leaking intel back to the Taliban and Al Qeada.
These two brave men were saints trying to save others. Very very sad.
You got that right...add teachers to the toxic mix
3% x years of service x highest annual salary at age 50. 90% of salary tops. Overtime not included.
The formula was 2.5 at 55 about 8 years ago. If they return to this, it would save the fund a few billion.
Evelle Younger was the first triple dipper I every met. Military, LA DA, and state AG. But it's not what the average cop gets.
A tragedy.
I don’t think you understand what firefighting is. It’s a career that takes an extreme physical and mental toll on its dedicated practitioners. Those able to retire have the scars to prove their worth. If their pay is out of line, it will correct in time as with the private sector. Plenty of retirees would pay a million dollars not to have the memories of a toddler accidently run over by grandpa, a newlywed couple incinerated in a car wreck, or the restoration of their marriage when their spouse can’t take it anymore. Lighten up Francis.
Oh our local firemen who probably have never seen a fire in their life are guaranteed to retire as millionaires...............
They are gutting and re-doing the firehouse around the corner. God knows why. Whenever you drive by the bay doors are open and you see all kinds of weight benches and weights near the engines. So they get to work out a lot. They never see fires so they started changing these jobs into fire and ambulance just so they would keep somewhat busy.
They are primarily paramedics not fighting fires as far as I tell. Another firehouse has a jogging and exercise station path in the back.
I’ll bet the highpoint of their day is suppertime
And trash men too 21 bucks an hour and all you can eat
I know it's right near the top of mine.
I don’t think you understand what firefighting is. It’s a career that takes an extreme physical and mental toll on its dedicated practitioners. Those able to retire have the scars to prove their worth. If their pay is out of line, it will correct in time as with the private sector. Plenty of retirees would pay a million dollars not to have the memories of a toddler accidently run over by grandpa, a newlywed couple incinerated in a car wreck, or the restoration of their marriage when their spouse can’t take it anymore. Lighten up Francis.
_______________________________
You couldn’t be more wrong. House fires and fires of all kinds have been declining for years. They are not busy. They get early retirements and on to a new career. They work out a lot where I am and polish the fire engines I suppose. They do ambulances too. Fight fires?? Very rare and not dangerous here
You must live in Mayberry
You would fit in great at Engine Company Number Nine where the only hounds are chow hounds
May God bless Ted Hall, Arnie Quinones and their families. They were both taken in the prime of their lives trying to help others which is typical of men of their caliber.
I was privileged to know Ted when he was a teenager and worked with his Dad and his uncle who were also County firefighters, his uncle was one of my best friends.
The County Fire Dept and the communities these two men lived in will miss them greatly.
Prayers for them and their families.
I say let the free market figure out what teachers, plumbers, firemen and soldiers are worth in pay.
If it gets to the point that you are not getting enough well-qualified competent employees, increase the wage.
It’s perfectly fair.
God rest the firefighters’ souls. They died well.
If it gets to the point that you are not getting enough well-qualified competent employees, increase the wage.
It’s perfectly fair.
All these gubbermint unions work hand in glove with the Democrat hacks in office. THUS there is no free market. They just point a gun at you and say keep paying taxes and shut up. The implication is these apparatchiks are my overlords
They get sweetheart labor contracts. They are living charmed lives and you are paying the taxes for this bs. I resent paying taxes for these people and like Frantzie said these police and fireman and teachers retirement contracts are bankrupting California towns and cities
Quinones, 35, leaves behind a pregnant wife who is due to give birth to the couple's first child in the next few weeks. Hall, 47, had a wife and two adult sons.
One of my buddies is a SF fireman. They do get paid very well. I've visited him at the firehouse. They're not just polishing the fire engines. Sometimes they're working on their own cars. Meal times are wonderful. But it's not always like a rec center. They do get injuries on the job. It's not always fires. Some of it is rescue work, at the seashore or on cliffs. They do save lives.
Great to see some people talking sense about these ‘brave heroes’, whose unions work tirelessly to line their pockets while lobbying aggressively against easily implemented measures that would virtually eliminate the impact of these annual fires. In California, it is a common joke about how long the line of applicants for the fire department is. Biggest cush job in the state, and those who apply have to wait forever just for a chance at being tested. The cops in California should get paid 3-4 times what the firefighters get, if there was any equity.
I’m sorry for the loss of your friend. May God bless both of the firefighters, their families and friends. They are both heroes.
The fire crews get trained. We love those guys. We love the firefighters, too. Wildfires are amazing, and we citizens can rest easy knowing the best are up there fighting to keep us safe.
Thank you, sissyjane. I appreciate that and know their families do also.
In my state, teachers don’t get the same retirement rate as firefighters, police, prison guards, and elected officials, who get about 90% of their salary. Teachers get about one half salary at retirement. And, that is if you teach for 30 years.
That is one bold choice. I salute you.
Can you imagine history lessons say, 100 years in the future?
How about some famous quotes children?
Four score and seven years ago....?
We have nothing to fear but fear itself...?
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall...?
People in Washington are all weeweed up...?
Yes, little Johnnie, that is actually a presidential quote.
I thought it was impossible to top Carter until Clinton came along. I thought it was impossible to top Clinton until Obama came along. Who in the hell will the Democrats nominate next? Barney Frank?
This NY Times article from Jan 1999 says residential fires have gone down markedly from 1988’s 552,000 to 406,000 in 1997. Why? Smoke detectors. Better built homes. Fire extinguishers bought for home use especially kitchen
These are the best stats on home fires. Take a look at the amazing decline from 1977 to 1998-2000. The number has risen slightly from 1998-2000
Not true everywhere but in many places public school teachers have a great racket going and much better than in the dreaded private sector
BTW -- Who gets half salary at retirement anymore?
Even that is fantastic
Teachers get the summer off. That beats what police and fire get. Teaching can be dangerous in inner city schools
Not all places of course but public employee pensions and salaries are beyond insane in many places. The MTA is NYC is running huge deficits due to pensions and those are for Joe schmoe blue collar jobs
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