Putting the news into perspective
YOU CAN'T HELP BUT BE SADDENED: by the news of the 7 deaths at Ocean Isle, NC on Sunday morning. The biggest thing that entered my mind while reading the news Monday morning was how the community would react, especially the USC community since 6 USC students lost their lives. The story also made me reflect on the worst part of our jobs, trying to track down information about people who have lost their lives and having to try to contact the families of victims. I can honestly say the part of the job I hate the most is having to contact victim's families, I've always felt uncomfortable bothering people during their most painful times.
THIS FIRE STORY MADE ME THINK: About fire safety inside any home. Judging by the home video you can only imagine many of the victims were trapped inside and unable to easily get out of the windows of the home that was 3 stories high because of the stilts the home sits on. It also has to be difficult for the fire departments in those beach areas (most of whom rely on volunteers) to battle such a big blaze on a structure larger than most residential homes.
HOW CAN WE PROTECT OURSELVES? is a question worth asking after any tradegy. There are devices out there that are in essense temporary ladders that can be used on windows. Living in a home with a 2nd story bedroom, this tragedy certainly gives thought to getting one of those devices. Here's what one of these things looks like in case you're curious. http://www.firesafetysource.com/site/948848/product/468094
(Beter slip in the lawyer speak here: the above link is no way an endorsement of either the weblink, or the product itself, nor does it mean the fire in Ocean Isle could have been any less tragic if this were in place, it's just something to think about.)
HERE'S AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES: A former colleague of mine in Raleigh is now a producer for The Weather Channel. Whenever there's a big weather event she gets to go and be in the middle of it. Check out this gallery, courtesy of Kerrie Cassani.
IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON HOW WIS-TV SHOULD COVER THE AFTERMATH OF THE FIRE TRAGEDY, I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, CLICK ON THE COMMENTS LINK BELOW.
Hello and welcome to Columbia.
I am acquaintance of Lucas and also a former upstate New Yorker. Recently, you had some kind words about volunteer firefighters at a house fire in the Northeast.
The fires like these stress the importance about the need for volunteers. It would be great to see a public interest story on 1. The importance of volunteers and 2. what it takes to be a volunteer. I have 12 years in the fire service -- 2 in NY, 10 in Lexington County and now almost 1 in Richland County (Blythewood). I don't know that the public knows how many volunteers we have and how many are needed. Just an FYI. I'm pretty shaken up about the beachouse fire. I realize how like I was in the fraternity house (fire trap) that I lived in.
Welcome.
Steve Lucas
Posted by: Stephen Lucas | November 04, 2007 at 03:23 PM