Hoarder without Boarders

Good evening from the jumpseat.  As I try to unlock the lid that has firmly planted it'self on my brain I wanted to give a shout out to some folks that have reached out to me.  After the past year and half of researching Fires in Hoarded conditions my amazement keeps growing.  I had no clue of just how big of a problem Hoarding is becoming worldwide!


In the past month or so I have  spoken with Fire Advisor Tonya Roberts from Ontario Canada and Heather Matuozzo from the UK about the Hoarding problem.  It is truly amazing that we all are encountering this problem. So where do we go from here.  We all push forward to attack this problem HEAD ON!


Look, Hoarders don't have boarders!


It matters not where you are located.  From the backwoods of West Virginia to London we all have the potential to face this epidemic. The best remedy is to fix the problem BEFORE a fire happens.  That is a proven fact that remains constant!  But then again we are the FIRE DEPARTMENT, we fight fires!


Fighting a Hoarder fire is NOT a normal response.  We need to all keep that in mind when the bell rings. Hoarder fires kill and have the potential to KILL FIREFIGHTERS.  The maze of belongings can leave you lost and trapped in a blink of an eye.


So back to the research lab I go!  I am passionate about protecting firefighters from the dangers of Hoarding!  Keep your eyes out for more hoarder fire information from the jumpseat soon!


A huge shout out to Canada and the UK for reaching out to band together across boarders to face Hoarding head on!


Be safe and remember,


Bunker up, Buckle in, it's where we ALL begin!!

Hoarder House Fire

View more videos at: http://nbcmiami.com.

These conditions are happening on a daily basis.  Many hoarders are reclusive and are not seen much.  God bless the family of this fire victim.  It's time to take on this problem, HEAD ON, before you are called to a HOARDER FIRE.

Stay tuned to more from the jumpseat!!!

Leaders Toolbox!

I would like to send a huge thank you out to Dr. Richard Gasaway for the chance to record a podcast on Hoarding.   Remember  SA does matter ..


http://www.firehouse.com/podcast/10729193/the-leaders-toolbox-heavy-contents-hoarder-homes

Hoarder Survey Results

  Here are the results of the recent Hoarder fire survey sent out by the Chamber of Hoarders Staff.  Huge “thank you” to the USFA for sharing survey with the fire service community.  The response was overwhelming.

1.       Have you ever responded to a fire with Hoarder Conditions:

Yes: 100%             No   0.00%

2.       How long did it take you to realize that you were facing a hoarder house fire:

Minute: 52.4%               5 Minutes: 35.4                 Start of Overhaul: 11.0%               After Fire:2.4%

3.       Were their occupants trapped:

Yes: 11.0%           No: 89.0%

4.       Did you crew communicate to the incident commanders that they had Hoarder Conditions?

Yes: 39.0%           No: 43.9%            Not Sure: 13.4%                Didn’t Hear: 3.7%

5.       How many personnel did you have on the scene of the Hoarder Home:

5-10: 11.0%   10-20: 52.4%    20-30: 3.7%  30-40: 3.7%         50 or more:1.2%

More than normal: 6.1%

6.       How long did it take to overhaul after the fire was under control?

Longer than normal: 43.9%          10-15 Minutes: 1.2%       30-50 Minutes:  14.6%

60-90 Minutes: 14.6%                     2 Hours or More: 28.0%

7.       Was structure demolition required to extinguish the fire?

Yes: 13.6              No: 86.4%

8.       Would your department benefit from a Hoarder Training Program?

Yes: 79.3%           No: 22.0%

The numbers do not lie that we are all seeing fires in hoarder conditions.   The last two questions are coming soon.  They contained short answer questions and the responses were great.  Stay tuned in to the chamber to see the exciting answers.

 Thank you to all who took part in this survey!

'Hoarder' killed in Bethel Park fire

 By Peter Sullivan / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


 An 83-year-old woman described as a hoarder was killed when her Bethel Park house caught fire this morning -- burning faster because of its contents, fire officials said. The smoke at 85 Highland Road was reported at 5:01 a.m. When firefighters arrived, the blaze was already fierce.


 They tried to force their way in but the heat and smoke pushed them back, Allegheny County Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Don Brucker said. They were able to contain the fire in less than an hour. About 9 a.m., as they demolished the charred remnants of the house looking for its resident, firefighters found Liz Cutone's body on the first floor.


 Bethel Park fire Chief Dave Gerber said having so much fuel only fed the fire. "She was definitely a hoarder," he said. "It makes it harder. It makes it burn a lot faster." Mr. Brucker said there was no sign she tried to escape. Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire, he said. Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/firefighters-comb-bethel-park-wreckage-for-signs-of-woman-638507/#ixzz1waC8khmU

Hoarder Storage Fire

GLENDALE, Ariz. Courtesy of My Fox Pheonix - Firefighters rushed out to an apartment fire in Glendale and found a unit stuffed with belongings. This occurred near 43rd Avenue and Bethany Home Road. Firefighters said the inside of one unit was just packed with stuff. Apparently, a hoarder was storing belongings there -- but wasn't living there. The unit had a lot of damage to it, but crews were able to keep it from spreading. No one was hurt. From

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/18612810/hoarders-storage-unit-catches-on-fire