Dr. Dirty's house on fire

A strange story out of Clarence: A fire totally destroyed the house of singer/comedian John Valby, who said this is the second fire in less than one week. Fortunately, Clarence firefighters arrived on horse and buggy and were able to extinguish the flames. The cause of the fire is still unknown at this time.

This story from channel 4 is quite surreal, unless you are used to seeing someone escape a major fire and use the opportunity to tell one liners throughout the interview...




Valby, whose nickname is "Dr. Dirty" is known for his thoughtful and insightful lyrics. He's kind of like an X-rated Weird Al Yankovic. His most popular songs include Yank My Doodle, Jingle Balls, and LeRoy the Big Lipped N-word...

West Seneca fire

I'm sure everyone's aware of the terrible fire on Covington Street this morning. Tragically, Nancy Crance and her 12 year old son Austin lost their lives. Two other family members escaped the flames, thanks to the help of a great neighbor. The whole neighborhood is understandably in shock. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but authorities don't think it was intentionally set.

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Herbert, Jr. graduates at top of his class; credits uncle

Buffalo Firefighter Donald Herbert, Jr. graduated tied for first in his class of 32 on Friday...

Herbert, the son of departed Firefighter Donald Herbert Sr., was one of about three dozen probationary firefighters who received their firefighting badges Friday afternoon during a recruit class graduation ceremony in Waterfront School.

The soft-spoken, humble 30-year-old, who joins his younger brother Patrick on the city's Fire Department, deflected any special attention at the ceremony.

"I'm very proud and happy; it's a good day," said Herbert, who finished tied for first in his firefighting class. "Obviously,I'd like to give a special thanks to my uncle Mike Blake for the rigorous fitness program he put me through before the start of the class."

When pressed to elaborate, Herbert said he was "sworn to secrecy" about the program's contents. Sources tell the Buffalo News, the program combined Soviet and East German Cold War era training methods along with a form of Buddhist transcendental meditation...

Buffalo fire grads up to challenge

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Lackawanna fire

There was a fire in Lackawanna yesterday. Cup of Joe's Diner on Ridge Rd. was completely destroyed. I've never eaten there, but I know it's been a fixture on the other side of the bridge for years. I have a lot of respect for businesses that operate in poorer neighborhoods. This part of Lackawanna has seen better days. From this clip, it appears many neighborhood residents will miss this popular hangout...

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Herbert, Jr. sworn in as firefighter

The Buffalo News did this story today on Donald Herbert, Jr...

Son follows in the boots of a fallen firefighter

Donald J. Herbert Jr. was 14 years old when his father suffered catastrophic injuries battling a house fire in 1995. His father, Donald J. Hebert Sr., attracted national attention when he awakened from a semiconscious state nearly a decade after the tragedy. He died in 2006.

Friday afternoon, as Herbert raised his right hand and was sworn in with 34 other new firefighter recruits, he was convinced his dad would have been pleased.

Herbert's younger brothers Patrick and Thomas are both Buffalo firefighters and police officers, respectively. Youngest brother Nicholas plans on joining his siblings in a career in public service, with hopes of becoming a Galleria Mall security guard.

Up until today's article, the young lad was most famous for living downstairs of and being the nephew of a mysterious and notorious local blogger...

Son follows in the boots of fallen firefighter - City of Buffalo - The Buffalo News
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Fire on Buffum Strreet

There was a pretty big fire on Buffum Street (off of Seneca St.) yesterday. Apparently, it started in the attic. Everyone got out safely. It's a good thing it didn't happen today as firefighters would have needed snowmobiles to get to the fire. If you have a hydrant on your street, authorities are asking you to shovel it out in case of an emergency.

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Fire in Cazenovia Park

Someone started a large fire in Cazenovia Park last night. The fire department was forced to tear up the golf course to put it out. It's very sad. I know the outdoor soccer club can't leave their soccer goals up for very long or they get destroyed by neighborhood scumbags. The volunteer in charge of equipment received a call last week telling him the goals had been picked up and moved to Cazenovia Street by unknown vandals.

The thing that bothers park goers the most is how pointless most of the vandalism is. I think the people who do these things (and they are white, black, and hispanic) are so used to getting everything for free that they don't understand the value of things. When they damage a playground, they know the government will provide money to replace it. It really comes down to personal responsibility, which they obviously aren't learning at home...


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Fire at Seneca St. pet store

A sad story from Seneca St. today as the pet store across from Cazenovia Park burned down. Authorites report all the animals inside died. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time...

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Fire on Houston St.

One of my neighbors was working on his car's gas lines tonight. I don't think things went as planned. Unsupervised kids were walking around next to live power lines and neighbors were screaming in Spanish.(Actually, that was before the fire started.) Notice the anti-Cuomo sign at 0:25. South Buffalo legend Tim Green runs out of his house at 1:20 and then starts screaming for the dog at 1:45. Fortunately, nobody(including the dog) was hurt and my signs were left undamaged...

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Bus driver commits heroic act

Bus driver Richard Lucas saw a fire on his bus route on South Park and Koester the other day. He got out and banged on the doors and woke up the 10 people living in the two story house.

“I woke up to a guy screaming in the house,” said Juan Huertas, the downstairs resident. “I had no idea who it was, and then I heard my wife screaming, ‘Get out of the house.’ ”

Once everyone was safely outside, Lucas went back to the bus and continued on his route. He doesn't want to speak to the media but the family and the Buffalo Fire Department is proclaiming him to be a hero.
Metro bus driver shuns acclaim after saving 10 : City & Region : The Buffalo News

Fire

I told the kids at school, fire drills are a necessary precaution but expect me to do this in case the real thing ever occurs...

What the hell did she say?

Neighbors pulled two people from a house in the Langfield housing projects yesterday. Good for them, as they acted before the firefighters were able to get there. Hopefully, the victims will be ok. Check out the play by play one of the neighbors gives at 1:15 of this clip. If you can understand one word she says, you are a better man than me:

Letter to the editor- Police and Fire protests

This letter writer to the news doesn't think too highly of the planned protests by the Buffalo police and firemen at President Obama's upcoming visit. While I think furloughed state workers have much to complain about, I'm not sure the public understands what the police and the firemen are mad about. I know they haven't had a new contract in awhile but their present contract seems more than fair (when compared to most city residents).

Both police work and fire work are very difficult jobs and not for everybody. I disagree with the mayor's efforts to characterize either side as "malingerers". We all know, most do a great job. However, there are many people out there working at Russer Foods, Sorrento Cheese, or EMT's who struggle to pay their bills every day and get paid garbage. I think people support the work police and fire personel do. I just don't think there is a public outcry supporting their protests. The fact remains. We don't see many police or firemen leaving to find better jobs around here. How do we know this letter wasn't written by Sean Doctor???

Disgruntled firefighters, cops should find new job

Glory be. Isn’t it just great that our honorable public servants are going “to show the country how Buffalo treats its police and firefighters” by picketing President Obama’s visit to Buffalo? Just what Buffalo needs!
If I were that unhappy with my pay and felt so unappreciated as they must, I would just move on and find a job and an employer that did treat me right, and not embarrass the whole community.

Richard Kohl
Orchard Park

http://video.buffalonews.com/player/index.php?id=1064

City and fire union fight over beer

The city says it will not pay $9,000 it claims the fire department spent on alcohol related items at receptions during the funerals of Jonathan Croom and Charles "Chip" McCarthy. Union President Dan Cunningham says the city is trying to make them out to be "a bunch of drunks". This dispute will now be heard in the all too familiar Court of Public Opinion.
Dispute grows over expenses for firefighters' funerals : City Hall : The Buffalo News

Brown vows crackdown on injury abuses: This message is brought to you by Cellino & Barnes

I hope your sitting down. For the first time in four years,Deputy Mayor Byron Brown came out today and offered an opinion on an issue. Brown says 2010 is going to be the year the city of Buffalo cracks down on Buffalo police officers and firemen pretending to be hurt. He claims to be serious this time. Police and fire leaders say Brown is merely grandstanding again. Efforts to reach Mayor Steve Casey for his comments on this issue were unsuccessful.
Brown vows crackdown on injury abuses : Home: The Buffalo News#comment#comment#comment

Here are some of the more interesting comments from Buffalo News readers on this story. Most were anti-Urkel but some agreed with him:

-Here's a suggestion: Have the News publish the names and addresses of those receiving these benefits. Then let their neighbors share their observations on those who are cheating. Publish a phone number where these reports can be made with guaranteed anonymity and get ready for (pardon the pun) a "firestorm" of reports in which to "police" the abuses that will be revealed. Nah, it's probably too simple.

-For a bigger savings, Mayor Urkel should look into the citys uncivil servants who dont really work while on duty. A citizen with a video camera could catch many every day.

-Police and Fire unions are jokes. They only look for ways to take advantage of the system and by doing so leave the taxpayer with the bill. I don't agree with Brown 99% of the time, but this is the 1%.

-My neighbor is a Cheektowaga police officer who is out on disability right now, and he rides his four wheeler all the time across the street in the woods. I told him that my father was hurt on the job and was scared to go outside and rake leaves because he though he would get caught by the insurance company. My neighbor told me if they ever caught him doing anything he wasnt supposed to the union would never let that evidence come to light.

-You think fake comp claims are bad with the Buffalo police and Firemen? You should see how many questionable comp claims are in the Buffalo Board of Education!

-My neighbor is a retired cop on disability, he claims he damaged his sciatic nerve from his belt (wuss). The phony now has a second career as s security officer and runs marathons. I applaud Mayor Brown for showing some stones and taking on the corrupt unions and the biggest crooks in the world...COPS!

New Candidate Named to Replace Outgoing Fire Commisioner Lombardo

A new name has emerged in the bid to take over for outgoing Fire Commissioner Mike Lombardo. The mysterious candidate is pictured below. As long as it doesn't go to Deputy Commissioner/South Buffalo political prostitute/Brian Higgin's cousin Pat Lewis, we don't care who gets it...

http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/908253.html%22%3ELombard> out as fire commissioner : Home: The Buffalo News