[fblike]This past Sunday, FF Roy W. Chelsen of FDNY Engine Company 28 died as a result of multiple myeloma, a cancer that many link to his incredible work on 9/11. He is also the first firefighter to die after the signing of the 9/11 Health Law. Today in the New York Times is an incredible article we recommend to all, from rookie to vet,  to read and discuss. It talks of a man when faced against a worst-case scenario stood up and made decisions that saved many on that fateful day. FF Roy Chelsen is a firefighter’s firefighter.

From the New York Times article referring to the moment after one of the twin towers fell and he was in the one still standing,

“Firefighter Chelsen remembered saying, “Let’s just get these people, and let’s get out of here.” Persuasion gave way to command, and his colleagues in the lobby of 1 World Trade Center fell in behind him, running beside a brick wall outside toward a pedestrian bridge over West Street. “We got out and we got under the bridge,” Firefighter Chelsen told a commander in January 2002, during an interview for an oral history of 9/11. “A couple of bodies came down, flying down, just in front of our guys. We just got under the bridge and, like: ‘O.K., it’s safe. It’s good.’ All of a sudden, we heard this huge explosion, and that’s when the tower started coming down. We all started running.”

It is a story that was not well known while he was alive — mostly because he was not one to talk about it, said Stephen J. Cassidy, the head of the Uniformed Firefighters Association. “This is one of those classic, unbelievably tough New York City firefighters,” Mr. Cassidy said. “He did not say a lot, but when you needed him, he was there.” Mr. Cassidy added, “There are a lot of firefighters alive today because of him.”

A wake is planned for tonight and Friday, at the Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, in Warwick, and a funeral service will be held on Saturday at the Warwick Valley High School due to the expected large number of people who want to attend.

via James Estrin/New York Times

[fblike]WIVB in New York is reporting this morning tat a 26-year-old Big Tree firefighter passed away last night. The firefighter became ill during what the article calls ‘routine SCBA training Monday evening at the fire hall. The firefighter was rushed by the company’s ambulance to Mercy Hospital. His condition worsened and passed away last night. His name has not yet been released to the public.

An investigation into the cause of death is underway.

A memorial fund will be established and details will be posted on the company’s website.

(News story at WIVB)

[fblike]A tribute video was posted last night by YouTuber apttotwinkle in memory of Retired FDNY Firefighter Roy Chelsen. We posted an excerpt and link to the New York Times article covering Roy’s actions on 9/11. Tragically, the number of first responders who lost their lives as a result of 9/11 continues to grow. Roy Chelsen was heroic, both as a firefighter and as he battled cancer caused by working at Ground Zero. Watch this fitting video after the jump …

A wake is planned for tonight (Friday), at the Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, in Warwick, and a funeral service will be held on Saturday at the Warwick Valley High School due to the expected large number of people who want to attend.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Firefighter Mark Falkenhan, 43, was killed last night after becoming trapped and calling a mayday during an apartmentment fire where he suffered massive burns. He leaves behind his wife and 2 children. He was a member of the Lutherville Volunteer Fire Company. Radio traffic audio available after the jump

First 70 Minutes Of Fireground Radio Traffic:
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From CNN:
Firefighters had rescued a woman and were searching for more possible survivors on the second and third floors when a “flashover” occurred, according to the chief. A flashover is a powerful ignition of combustible materials. Falkenhan’s partner managed to escape through a window, officials said.

The following radio traffic audio provided by firefighterdispatch has been edited to remove sensitive radio transmissions.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Flames engulfed an entire apartment building at the Towson Crossing Apartments complex at 30 Dowling Circle at about 7 p.m. Wednesday:

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Additional Media Coverage:
Firefighter Dies In 4-Alarm Parkville Fire – WBAL Baltimore‎ – A Baltimore County volunteer firefighter battling a four-alarm fire in the Parkville area has died. Flames engulfed an entire apartment
Lutherville firefighter killed, 2 residents hurt in four-alarm Parkville fire – Explore Baltimore County - A Lutherville volunteer firefighter was killed during a four-alarm apartment fire in Parkville, fire officials said.
Volunteer Firefighter Killed in Four-Alarm Blaze – Patch - Two residents injured. Fallen firefighter issued a “Mayday” during the fire and was quickly pulled from the blaze but died shortly after.
Firefighter killed in Md. – TBD.com - Fire officials say a firefighter has died after a blaze in an apartment complex north of Baltimore city.

[fblike]Check out this video from last nights Stockton Thunder hockey game in California. The fans honored a fallen firefighter through their annual Teddy Bear Toss. In the Thunder’s sixth annual “Teddy Bear Toss” game, fans were invited to donate stuffed animals to the ice surface on the first Thunder goal. Stockton ended up beating Ontario 4-1.

A whopping crowd of 9,482 piled into Stockton Arena for the “Teddy Bear Toss” game, the largest crowd at Stockton Arena this season and the fourth crowd over 9,000 in the event’s history. Members of the Woodbridge Fire Department, “Storm Squad” promotional team, other select participants and even a few Thunder players, who turned in a helping hand to get the stuffed animals off the ice.

All stuffed animals will be counted and sorted officially before being donated to local youth around the community at the United Way of San Joaquin County. In the five-year history of the event, Thunder fans have helped donate over 18,800 stuffed animals to local children’s charities.

Click here to view the embedded video.

SideCharlie.com has obtained a copy of the debut flyer that was provided inside the gift bags at the 2011 World Police & Fire Games fundraiser last week. The 8.5″ x 11″ handout depicts Firefighter Robert Keiley stricken with ailments as a 9/11 FDNY rescuer when in actuality he wasn’t employed until 2004.

According to a blog post earlier today by Statter911.com and a the New York Post, Keiley is upset that a photo he modeled for in 2010 was used by an ad agency for Worby Groner Edelman & Napoli Bern LLP depicting him as someone he was not. According to Robert, the original photo he modeled for had him holding a fire helmet and not of the photo of the twin towers shown in the flyer below. You can read more about his claims at the two links above.

Another person that has yet to be mentioned in any of the news articles or blog posts is The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart who fought extensively for the Zadroga Bill providing coverage for the 9/11 rescuers. The ad agency conveniently adding a statement at the bottom of the flyer “A special thank you to Jon Stewart for his efforts on the Zadroga Bill” making an attempt to ride on the coat tails of the popular cable star.

Jon Stewart was a featured speaker at the World Police & Fire Games Gala Event where this flyer first appeared.

The ad agency has fired back stating that Robert had signed a model release in exchange for a $350 payment thus giving the company full rights to do whatever they wish with the photo.

Below is a photo of the debut flyer obtained by SideCharlie.com that was inserted into gift bags at the 2011 World Police & Fire Games Gala Event.

The rock group Evanescence wrote a song a while back hitting on this very subject of advertising. Looks like Robert fell victim to the world of lies …

Lt. Kevin Brady of Station 22, Cleveland Fire Department is featured today in a news story on WEWS-TV. In it, Kevin details how after a fire he felt, “a pain like I’ve never felt before” in his chest. Instead of ignoring it he told a paramedic in the station who hooked him up to the monitor to discover he was having a heart attack. Heart attacks are the #1 killer of firefighters in the United States.

Instead of ignoring the signs like many other firefighters, Kevin sought out help and as a result is alive today.

Click here to view the embedded video.