Dear Readers…..This writer has learned since the LBTS-VFD took over in October with Vice Mayor/Deputy Chief McIntee “running” the department to wait for the Incident Report…to get the FACTS!…

Too many times the VFD P. R. led by McIntee on and off the dais is found to be pure spin…stories full of holes…

This Incident Report on the May 1st, 2009 Hyperbaric Chamber explosion was no exception….

Last night, the Vice Mayor read the LBTS-VFD press release…previously posted on this site…(scoops/VFD cat.)…and Comm Silverstone questioned the BSO’s press releases quite a few  times…leaving quite a bad taste in the mouth of most residents in the hall…with their accusations and desire of praise and recognition for doing their jobs that day…

The Incident Report is contains the radio/phone (CAD) communication times…of dispatch, en route , arrival and clearing the scene…along with narratives from the firefighters…

Chief Perkins used a portion of the press release as his narrative (pg. 6)…

‘On the 1st of May 2009, at approximately 11:29 AM, the Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a report of an EXPLOSION at 4001 North Ocean Drive in our town.

Chief Robert Perkins was the first fire officer on the scene and reported on location at 11:29:28 AM; just 1 minute and 55 seconds after the call was transmitted. Chief Perkins upon arrival was confronted with a three story commercial building with fire alarms sounding and smoke showing. The building at this stage was evacuated by the occupant, about 30-40 people. Chief Perkins immediately went into the structure located that alarm panel and determined where the alarm was activated from. This panel indicated the alarm was coming from one of the hyperbaric chambers. As Chief Perkins went into the Chamber room, he was met with heavy white smoke. Also in the room was a Sheriff’s Deputy who had a mask on. This Deputy indicated to Chief Perkins that we may have two victims inside one of the observed chambers. The Chief and Deputy Sheriff walked over to the suspect chamber, opened the chamber and observed two bodies, a young male and a middle aged female: both victims had extensive charring and burn injuries. At this point, the Chief alerted the Deputy Sheriff that he had to secure the building for immediate safety reasons. The Chief directed Inspector Paine of the VFD to turn off the oxygen, the power to the building and then the Chief gave orders to the incoming firemen and AMR ambulance personnel to begin the rescue work. One of the orders was to relocate the ambulance to the front of the building for easy regress of the victims. The Chief then returned to to the Deputy Sheriff who was standing by the occupied chamber, total time lapsed, was 1-1 1/2 minutes between initially opening the occupied chamber and his return.

Chief Perkins went back and met with the Deputy Sheriff to explain to the Deputy how they werre going to remove the victims. The Chief stated that he wanted to pick the child up first and the Deputy assisted in this action. The Chief then picked up the child and handed him the victim to the Deputy and told him to go outside the front door AMR would be located there. The Deputy Sheriff then went outside with the young child. The Chief then began to lift the female victim out of the chamber. At this time, Firefighter Silverstone and Chavez came to the Chief’s aid. The female victim was carried out with Chief Perkins holding the legs and FF Silverstone and Chavez carrying the upper body of the victim. The three fighters working together carried the woman victim outside to a waiting AMR’

BC- That is most unfortunate…due to the inconsistencies found between his narrative/press release and the CAD report time…

CAD ( Computer Automated Dispatch) is from BSO and is radio/phone communications…all times are entered during the event….

In Chief Perkins’ narrative he states…

‘On the 1st of May 2009, at approximately 11:29 AM, the Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched’

‘Chief Robert Perkins was the first fire officer on the scene and reported on location at 11:29:28 AM; just 1 minute and 55 seconds after the call was transmitted.’

The CAD Report states…(pg.1)…

Alarm Date and Time 11:27:24 Friday May 1,2009

Arrival Time 11:31:27

Chief Perkins Times…(pg. 2)…

Apparatus Dispatch Date and Time 11:29:28

Arrival Time 11:31:27

The Chief narrative he states…

‘As Chief Perkins went into the Chamber room, he was met with heavy white smoke. Also in the room was a Sheriff’s Deputy who had a mask on. This Deputy indicated to Chief Perkins that we may have two victims inside one of the observed chambers. The Chief and Deputy Sheriff walked over to the suspect chamber, opened the chamber and observed two bodies, a young male and a middle aged female: both victims had extensive charring and burn injuries. At this point, the Chief alerted the Deputy Sheriff that he had to secure the building for immediate safety reasons. The Chief directed Inspector Paine of the VFD to turn off the oxygen, the power to the building and then the Chief gave orders to the incoming firemen and AMR ambulance personnel to begin the rescue work. One of the orders was to relocate the ambulance to the front of the building for easy regress of the victims. The Chief then returned to to the Deputy Sheriff who was standing by the occupied chamber, total time lapsed, was 1-1 1/2 minutes between initially opening the occupied chamber and his return.’

In Fire Inspector Steven Piane’s narrative he states….(pg.8)…

‘Upon arrival I found that the perimeter was being set up by using crime scene tape by BSO. I met with Command and was assigned to secure the electrical and oxygen supply to the building, the electrical service was turned off at the main disconnects electrical switches, which were located in west exterior meter room. The oxygen supply to suite 100 was turned off at the in-line valve which was located just before the entrance door to suite 100. I-12 then assisted SQ12 Crew with securing a firefighting hose line for fireground operations. A joint fire investigation was performed by BSO, State Fire Marshall’s office and the Lauderdale-By-The-Sea fire depatment. For more information in reference to cause and origin reports please see respective agencies reports. At this time, the fire investigation cause has not been determined and it is under investigation and will remain open.’

The CAD report states…

Inspector Paine Times…(pg.4)…

Apparatus Dispatch Date and Time 11:36:28 Friday May1,2009

Arrival Time 11:37:13

Chief Perkins narrative states….

‘The Chief directed Inspector Paine of the VFD to turn off the oxygen, the power to the building and then the Chief gave orders to the incoming firemen and AMR ambulance personnel to begin the rescue work. One of the orders was to relocate the ambulance to the front of the building for easy regress of the victims. The Chief then returned to to the Deputy Sheriff who was standing by the occupied chamber, total time lapsed, was 1-1 1/2 minutes between initially opening the occupied chamber and his return.’

BC- The Chief states he arrived at 11:29:28 (CAD states that was in fact the Chief’s dispatch time) CAD arrival time 11:31:27

BC- The Chief says he left the Deputy …directed Inspector Paine…went outside took care of the AMR ambulances…and returned to the Deputy ..’total time lapsed, was 1-1 1/2 minutes between initially opening the occupied chamber and his return.’

BC-CAD report states Inspector Paine was dispatched at 11:36:28…arriving at 11:37:13..

BC- that means the Inspector did not arrive on scene until 6 minutes after the Chief…arriving…(BSO crime scene tape already going up)….and then he had to go meet up with Command…(Chief Perkins)…

BC- 1-1 1/2 minutes….Just does not add up!…

All were doing their jobs to the best of their abilities….but the LBTS-VFD Press Release are not based on the facts…

Last night Commissioner Dodd spoke of the Sunday May 3, 2009 equipment fire in Pompano Beach….He praised the LBTS-VFD for working alongside Pompano Beach in a “mutual aid” situation…Vice Mayor McIntee responded there was no mutual aid that the two Fire Depts. arrived on scene at same time…Well…according to the Pompano Beach Incident Report and The LBTS-VFD Incident Report…”Mutual Aid Was Given”(pg 1 and pg 5)…OOPS!…That is due to LBTS being asked to assist which they did…

BC- Next time VM read the VFD report!…

BC- the difference in the reports from Pompano Beach  and LBTS is astounding!…The Pompano Beach report has separate timely accounts by each apparatus…done on the day of the event May 3,2009…LBTS-VFD  wrote their report on May 11,2009…and again it was written by FF Chavez who was not on scene…YIKES!…

The Incident Report for Burger King…May 7,2009 does not show any injury on scene by the VFD Explorer…although previous LBTS-VFD Incident Reports do show minor injuries on scene by personnel….

We hear the story of the young man breaking his arm is not quite as stated by the Chief last night. We hear the VFD insurance should cover the young man’s hospital costs…but how can insurance cover something not contained in the report?…

Quite a few residents were taken aback by the Chief’s remarks about the young man when he replied to the inquiry with a little humor and said “he ( the boy) learned his lesson.”…with a laugh…

This young man according to many should not have been in the area and certainly not near a building that according to the BSO Incident Report which states at the scene…’Tony Noah from Broward County Environmental Protection Division (954) 765-4400 responded and declared the Burger King structure unsafe’

To stand by and direct a minor to be in such an area…to result in being injured and then to make a joke…bodes poorly on the VFD leadership!…

more to come…

Tags: BSO, hyperbaric chamber, incident reports, Public Safety, Scoops, VFD
Posted in Uncategorized

“Is the town offering any support, financial or emotional?”…asks a faithful Reader…

BC-  …No, it seems a “pissing match” of wanting recognition has usurped that call from the Town/VFD….as seen in the previous post…and heard from the Mc-Furth Gang…since it occurred…

The LBTS-VFD should have put out a timely press release, on their own actions….and then proceeded to pass the boot on street corners and at the station house for the injured victim…

Let the Incident Reports and the investigation speak to the facts …for whatever they are …they will come out in the end…

The men and women who responded to the call and were on scene that day did their jobs and if they did them well, that should be all the recognition they require….

As witnessed many times and posted on this site… The press releases and “Truth” stories printed in the Mc-FurthTimes are nothing like the Incident Reports…sad to say!…

Hope to see the Boots out for this child and his family…ASAP!…

more to come…

Tags: hyperbaric chamber, Public Safety, Scoops, VFD, vfd scoops
Posted in Uncategorized

MAY 1, 2009….

Last week Readers will recall we had a tragedy occur at the Ocean Hyperbaric Center in the south end of town…( previous scoops posts)…It resulted in instant “Hero” status for the brave actions of BSO Deputy John Melbourne…with newspaper articles, local newscast stories, along with BSO press releases and culminated in the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an Officer being awarded to Deputy Melbourne last Wednesday May 6th in a ceremony.

As previously posted there was major grumbling in the background of the VFD and AMR being left out of the media attention and BSO press releases…

Well the VFD and the Town went into overdrive on that very day…sending out a letter from LBTS-VFD Chief Perkins to BSO Sheriff Lamberti and 2 press releases……

Here they are…..

(1)…Letter To BSO Sheriff Lamberti…

May 6, 2009

‘Dear Sheriff Lamberti,

Attached you will find the press release prepared by our department regarding the recent incident at the Hyperbaric Chamber in our town on May1, 2009. I can sadly say many members of my Department were very disappointed and depressed at the way the Public Information Officer of your department treated our members and the members of the AMR ambulance division in our town.

In the release made by your department and various public statements to the local TV news media, not once were we mentioned as even being present at this tragic event. When you read our VFD press release you will clearly see that we certainly were present and did all that was in our power to help these poor people who were so tragically injured.

We, at the Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Volunteer Fire Department hope in the future you will be more considerate in your press releases regarding events we participate in with your department in providing public safety to our community.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely Chief Robert Perkins’

(2)…The LBTS-VFD Press Release …

‘On the 1st of May 2009, at approximately 11:29 AM, the Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a report of an EXPLOSION at 4001 North Ocean Drive in our town.

Chief Robert Perkins was the first fire officer on the scene and reported on location at 11:29:28 AM; just 1 minute and 55 seconds after the call was transmitted. Chief Perkins upon arrival was confronted with a three story commercial building with fire alarms sounding and smoke showing. The building at this stage was evacuated by the occupant, about 30-40 people. Chief Perkins immediately went into the structure located that alarm panel and determined where the alarm was activated from. This panel indicated the alarm was coming from one of the hyperbaric chambers. As Chief Perkins went into the Chamber room, he was met with heavy white smoke. Also in the room was a Sheriff’s Deputy who had a mask on. This Deputy indicated to Chief Perkins that we may have two victims inside one of the observed chambers. The Chief and Deputy Sheriff walked over to the suspect chamber, opened the chamber and observed two bodies, a young male and a middle aged female: both victims had extensive charring and burn injuries. At this point, the Chief alerted the Deputy Sheriff that he had to secure the building for immediate safety reasons. The Chief directed Inspector Paine of the VFD to turn off the oxygen, the power to the building and then the Chief gave orders to the incoming firemen and AMR ambulance personnel to begin the rescue work. One of the orders was to relocate the ambulance to the front of the building for easy regress of the victims. The Chief then returned to to the Deputy Sheriff who was standing by the occupied chamber, total time lapsed, was 1-1 1/2 minutes between initially opening the occupied chamber and his return.

Chief Perkins went back and met with the Deputy Sheriff to explain to the Deputy how they werre going to remove the victims. The Chief stated that he wanted to pick the child up first and the Deputy assisted in this action. The Chief then picked up the child and handed him the victim to the Deputy and told him to go outside the front door AMR would be located there. The Deputy Sheriff then went outside with the young child. The Chief then began to lift the female victim out of the chamber. At this time, Firefighter Silverstone and Chavez came to the Chief’s aid. The female victim was carried out with Chief Perkins holding the legs and FF Silverstone and Chavez carrying the upper body of the victim. The three fighters working together carried the woman victim outside to a waiting AMR backboard and placed the victim on this medical device where a team of AMR Paramedics and EMT’s feverishly worked to save the victims. It should be noted, that the tremendous work of AMR EMS personnel who were lead by Chief Medic Donald Anderson, Gus Herrera, Kevin Padden, Arthur Moen, Robbie Salvina, Paulette Archer and Paul Chevannes kept the horrible injured victims alive and prepared them for transport. The young boy was helicopter transported to the hospital and the woman was ground transported to the hospital. The Deputy Sheriff who entered the building with the borrowed mask should also be commended for his brave actions.

This was the perfect example of the whole public safety apparatus in town working together for the greater good of the community.

We are sad to report that the female has succumbed to her injuries and the young boy remains in critical condition.

Chief Robert Perkins’

BC- The “Deputy Sheriff” in the VFD press release is BSO Deputy John Melbourne…

(3)…The Media Release From The Town of LBTS from Public Information Officer Steve d’ Oliveira

May 6, 2009

‘Media Release

LBTS FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS PLAYED VITAL ROLE IN EXTRICATING VICTIMS….

Lauderdale-By- The- Sea volunteer firefighters and paramedics played a vital role in extricating the two victims of Friday’s tragic hyperbaric chamber explosion.

The incident occurred May 1 at 11:29 AM at 4001 N. Ocean Drive, a three-story structure that houses the first-floor Ocean Hypebaric Oxygen Neurologic Center.

One of the victims, Vincenza Pesce, 62, of Italy, later died. Her grandson, Francesco Pio Martinisi,4, also of Italy, suffered burns over much of his body. The boy, who was receiving medical treatment, was in the chamber with his grandmother when a blast caused a flash fire inside the pressurized chamber.

The cause of the explosion and fire is under investigation.

Shortly after the fire alarm in the building went off, the Lauderdale-By- The- Sea Volunteer Fire Department, Broward Sheriff’s Office and paramedics with American Medical Repsonse responded to the scene at the south end of Town.

When VFD Chief Robert Perkins entered the building, which was filled with heavy white smoke, he encountered Broward Sheriff’s Officer John Melbourne, who entered the building wearing a mask shortly before Perkins went inside. Melbourne told Perkins he thought there were two victims inside a chamber.

Perkins and Melbourne opened the chamber and found the burned bodies of the young boy and his grandmother. After Perkins ordered another firefighter to turn off the power and oxygen to the building, he lifted up the child and handed him to Melbourne., who exited through the front door and handed him to paramedics.

Perkins then lifted up the woman with assistance from firefighters Jim Silverstone and Daniel Chavez. The three carried the woman out of the building and handed her to paramedics, who then rushed the grandmother to a nearby hospital. The boy was transported by helicopter to medical facilities for treatment of his burns.

Perkins today (05-06-09) praised Silverstone, Chavez, Melbourne and AMR paramedics who responded;  Chief Medic Donald Anderson, Gus Herrera, Kevin Padden, Arthur Moen, Robbie Salvina, Paulette Archer and Paul Chevanne.

“This was the perfect example of the whole public safety apparatus in town working together for the greater good of the community,” Perkins said.

BSO honored Melbourne today for his role after  responding to the scene.

“The Volunteer Fire Department and BSO deputies performed professionally and were of great assistance to AMR crews,” said Brook Liddle, Chief  of Operations for AMR in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea.’

Below …. is what the Sentinel included from the press releases……on May 7,2009

(4)….’Meanwhile, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Volunteer Fire Department’s Chief Robert Perkins and two other volunteer firefighters, Jim Silverstone and Daniel Chavez, removed the grandmother from the chamber, Perkins said in a press release Wednesday.

Perkins described Friday’s rescue efforts, which involved multiple departments, as “the perfect example” of emergency personnel working as team for “the greater good of the community.”‘

BC…the Incident Reports have been requested from BSO and the VFD…and will be posted upon receipt …

more to come….

Tags: amr, BSO, hyperbaric chamber, News, Public Safety, Scoops, VFD
Posted in Uncategorized

THE FACE OF A HERO….

BC- Lots of “grumbling”…still going around town…with the LBTS-VFD feeling left out of the limelight of accolades…some even playing a ” the emperor’s wearing no clothes” by insisting it was the LBTS-VFD Chief who carried out the little boy…All on scene…including VFD know that ain’t so…The BSO did what they were supposed to…. spoke  to the press about their own…and gave the facts…BSO has the  P.R. media “drill” down to a science… …and followed through…from the moment the incident happened…culminating in the well deserved  honor bestowed upon BSO Deputy Melbourne honored along with other BSO  honorees yesterday…

Lauderdale-By-The-Sea…has had an ongoing problem with P.R. …whether getting events in the news…or prodcuing timely accurate incident reports from the LBTS-VFD…as have so often been previously posted on this site…….In fact on next Tuesday’s 5/12/09 LBTS agenda Comm. Clottey has put on an item to address the media by the Public Information Officer after a crisis…(we surmise this was not her own idea)…But the Comm. should have spoken with the town  PIO…to find out what is already in place…Our PIO Steve d’Oliveira is a seasoned professional in this area…But this writer also surmises from the bumbling done regularly from the Town  and the VFD…he can’t  possibly do the same job as BSO…with the press if he is not given the information to get out in the first place…on time …concise…and accurate…..

In the Sentinel the Chief of the VFD finally says …what the BSO told this writer and and was previously posted (scoops cat.)…that he and 2 other members ( Comm. /FF Silverstone and FF Chavez) carried out the grandmother…Also a heroic act that I am sure will be front and center in acknowledging next Tuesday night at the Regular Commission meeting…

Again, Congratulations to all the brave men and women who came to do their jobs that day…

Excerpts…

‘FORT LAUDERDALE – A Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy on Wednesday received the agency’s highest honor, the Medal of Honor, for helping save a 4-year-old boy from a fiery explosion last week at a Lauderdale-by-the-Sea clinic.

Deputy John Melbourne received a standing ovation from more than 400 Sheriff’s Office employees and other people at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts’ Amaturo Theater in Fort Lauderdale.

Responding to an emergency call Friday, Melbourne arrived at the center, rushed to the burning chamber, grabbed the boy and took him outside the building.

Meanwhile, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Volunteer Fire Department’s Chief Robert Perkins and two other volunteer firefighters, Jim Silverstone and Daniel Chavez, removed the grandmother from the chamber, Perkins said in a press release Wednesday.

Perkins described Friday’s rescue efforts, which involved multiple departments, as “the perfect example” of emergency personnel working as team for “the greater good of the community.”‘

full text link below…

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-hyperbaric-sheriff-deputy-honored-050609,0,7864184.story

Tags: BSO, hyperbaric chamber, News, Public Safety, Scoops, VFD
Posted in Uncategorized

BSO TO COMMEND  ….DEPUTY JOHN MELBOURNE….

from the BSO press report…

‘HEROES HONORED AT BSO AWARDS CEREMONY

As he helped evacuate a medical building where there had been an explosion last week, Deputy John Melbourne noticed two people – an elderly woman and her 4-year-old grandson – lying inside a burning hyperbaric chamber. Instead of waiting for fire rescue personnel, Deputy Melbourne rushed into the burning chamber and lifted the boy, who was still holding his grandmother’s hand, from the flames.

For that brave act, Deputy Melbourne will receive a Medal of Honor Wednesday at the Broward Sheriff’s Office annual awards ceremony.

10 a.m.
Wednesday, May 6
Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Amaturo Theater
221 SW 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale

Other awards recipients include BSO employees who have excelled, good Samaritans who made daring rescues and individuals or organizations who partner with BSO to provide crucial services to the community.

Media are welcome to attend the ceremony. Contact BSO’s media relations office for a complete list of award winners’

GRUMBLING IN THE BACKGROUND….

We hear there is some major grumbling going around about the accolades bestowed upon BSO Deputy John Melbourne and his quick response when entering the scene in the aftermath of the hyperbaric explosion to rescue the little boy and bring him safely outside…The stories swirling  around are that VFD Chief Perkins was there also.. and the Chief was involved in the rescue…Sad to say…who was actually  first…is the scuttlebutt…making the rounds…at various meetings and within the departments……

According to a BSO Officer who was on scene…Deputy Melbourne was the first to go inside…The Deputy had years of bomb squad experience and was highly knowledgeable about explosives…..He entered the building… taking a face mask that was available inside and proceeded to extract the child who was atop the grandmother…Staff it is said made that retrieval possible by taking the steps required in opening up the chamber……The Chief and the VFD did arrive and did help with removing the grandmother…who came out after the boy….AMR  we are told was not allowed in immediately due to the fumes…and precautions requiring the proper gear needed to be in place before the fire department entered….The Officer went on to explain that the call was made by BSO that airlift service would be required for the two badly burned victims……and direction to assist the VFD in all aspects controlling the scene were also given to assist in the dire and overwhelming situation they all found themselves in…The condition of the boy and the grandmother was shocking to many who arrived to the call….The airlift, we are told took only the boy due to having trouble with the tracheal tube insertion of the grandmother, and BSO Air Rescue followed protocol by sending one of their Air Rescue personnel along with AMR for ground transport to Broward General….BSO worked side by side with AMR and the VFD, but from many observers it the account was the same…BSO was in charge…calling the shots….

As we await the incident reports ..(to be posted upon receipt)…all involved should congratulate themselves for a job well done…with a special nod to Deputy John Melbourne…..

more to come…

Tags: BSO, hyperbaric chamber, Opinions, Public Safety, Scoops, VFD
Posted in Uncategorized

BC- Something to think about ….when the McGang -CIC rumblings of replacing LBTS-BSO Police gets loud….

Excerpts…

‘Hyperbaric chamber blast: Broward Sheriff’s Office proud of deputy’s response

LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA – The Broward Sheriff’s Office is lauding a sheriff’s deputy for his quick actions in a fiery explosion at a Lauderdale-by-the-Sea clinic last week.

In less than two minutes after an emergency call was received, Deputy John Melbourne arrived at Ocean Hyperbaric Oxygen Neurologic Center, where an explosion and flash fire occurred Friday.

Melbourne entered the building, past heavy smoke, to rescue 4-year-old Francesco Pio Martinisi, who suffered burns to more than 90 percent of his body. Additional deputies responded and assisted with evacuations and traffic control in the area.

“Everybody here is really proud of the way he responded, under the circumstances,” said Sheriff’s spokesman Jim Leljedal. “We’re disappointed there wasn’t a better outcome.”

Melbourne, who the Sheriff’s Office today said is unavailable for comment, is being considered for a commendation, Leljedal said.’

full text link below….

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-hyperbaric-blast-b050409,0,7129882.story

Tags: BSO, hyperbaric chamber, News, Public Safety, update
Posted in Uncategorized

BSO News Alert…

‘GRANDMOTHER SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES SUSTAINED IN BLAST

* Vincenza Pesce, 62, female, 03/30/47, Italy (DECEASED)
* Franchesco Martinizi, 4, male, 09/03/04, Italy (HOSPITALIZED)

Description of Incident:

A grandmother who was critically burned in a Lauderdale-By-The-Sea hyperbaric chamber explosion died from her injuries early Saturday morning.

Vincenza Pesce passed away at 3:49 a.m. Saturday. Since the victim died in Miami, the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s office will handle the case along with the Broward Sheriff’s Office and State Fire Marshal, who are continuing their investigation.’

full text link below…

http://www.sheriff.org/about_bso/admin/media/newsdetails.cfm?pk=2846&sType=M

BC- Many local residents were asking yesterday about the building …All having concerns about the upkeep since the death of the Dr.Neubauer…Adding to that dialog was a resident who said his father was told to go to Imperial Point for more up to date equipment…Investigations are ongoing…with news yesterday of the 1500 lb. tank below the center being emptied…and reports of so much paperwork that the fire dept. and building depts. are still going through it. One question that needs answering for many is what was the followup after the dryer fire late last year and was this business part of the Town fire inspection in process…said to have been starting in the south end of town? We know from the Fountainhead was the first..acknowledged by the Town Manager and the VFD…and we also know the downtown businesses have been inspected…from their own reports weeks ago to this writer…It would make sense that an inspection was done on Ocean Hyperbaric. It is among 3 locations in town that have tanks..the other 2 are the gas station and Beach Hardware….The building at 4001 Ocean is now under the control the BSO Homicide Unit, headed by Sergeant Glenn Bukata.

The Commissioners are receiving frequent updates on the situation from BSO Chief Scott Gooding,  thanks to Comm. Dodd asking for this to be done regularly at the 4/28-29 2009 Commission meeting under a new business item he put on… …Along with the news alerts from BSO …it is a real plus for our community…

Excerpts from the Sentinel…

‘That center was founded in 1972 by Dr. Richard Neubauer, who died in 2007. Corporate records list his widow, Winnie, 83, of Pompano Beach, as its current manager. Winnie Neubauer could not be reached for comment despite two messages left on her answering machine.

Kenitz worked at the Neubauer clinic until 2005, and complained about safety, she said.

“They are using chambers that are pretty old chambers,” she said.

Jachles too said the chambers in the room that exploded “appeared older.”‘

full text link below….

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/lauderdale_by_the_sea/sfl-hyperbaric-explosion-bn050109,0,4038845.story

more to come….

Tags: BSO, hyperbaric chamber, Local News, News, Public Safety, Scoops, VFD
Posted in Uncategorized

FROM BSO NEWS ALERT….

BC-BSO sent in their helicopter…with a Volunteer Fire Dept. in place…showing we in LBTS are always covered when the need is there for it….rest assured….

GRANDMOTHER, GRANDSON CRITICALLY BURNED IN BLAST
QUICK THINKING BSO DEPUTY RUSHES IN TO RESCUE BOY

BSO Case Number: LS09-05-00010
PIO Number: 09-5-4
Date: May 1, 2009
Time: 11:28 a.m. Jurisdiction: Lauderdale-By-The-Sea
Place of Occurrence: 4001 N. Ocean Dr., Lauderdale-By-The-Sea

Victim(s):

* Vincenza Pesce, 62, female, 03/30/47, Italy (HOSPITALIZED)
* Franchesco Martinizi, 4, male, 09/03/04, Italy (HOSPITALIZED)

Suspect(s):

* N/A

Description of Incident:

A grandmother and her grandson were critically injured when an explosion ignited a hyperbaric chamber they were in just before noon on Friday.

At 11:28 a.m., Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a reported explosion at the Ocean Hyperbaric Oxygen Neurologic Center at 4001 N. Ocean Dr. in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. In less than two minutes after the call was received, BSO Deputy John Melbourne arrived at the scene. Without hesitation, he entered the building and fought his way through heavy smoke to rescue Franchesco Martinizi, 4, who was on fire, with his grandmother, Vincenza Pesce, 61, inside a hyperbaric chamber. Additional deputies responded and assisted with evacuations and traffic control in the area.

Pesce was holding her grandson inside the tube-like chamber while he was receiving treatment for a medical condition. Initial investigation by BSO homicide detectives and the State Fire Marshal’s Office indicate that there was a blast that dislodged a tube attached to the chamber, resulting in an explosion and flash fire. The medical facility staff was present at the time, as were other patients in the treatment area, which consisted of a room filled with approximately a dozen of the oxygen-enriched chambers just inside the first-floor entrance to the building. Nobody else was injured.

A BSO helicopter landed across the street, and a team of Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue flight medics treated the two victims. Both sustained serious burns over 90% of their bodies. Pesce was transported to Broward General Medical Center by ground ambulance, accompanied by one of the flight medics. Martinizi was flown to the same hospital by BSO Air Rescue. The two were stabilized at that facility and later flown by BSO Air Rescue to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Burn Unit in Miami.

Late Friday night, three of the hyperbaric chambers were taken as evidence and will be examined by experts to assist in determining the cause of the blast. Crews emptied a 1,500 lb. underground liquid oxygen tank that supplied the gas to the units inside the facility. The State Department of Health and Agency for Health Care Administration were also notified of the incident. The investigation is ongoing.

INVESTIGATORS: D-13, D-11, RID, Homicide, Crime Scene, OHS, Bomb Squad, Sgt. Bukata, State Fire Marshal, FLDOH, AHCA, Chief Gooding, Lt. Cedeno, LBTS Fire Inspector
THIS REPORT BY: Mike Jachles/PIO 05/01/09 2245

more to come….

Tags: hyperbaric chamber, Public Safety, public safety BSO, Scoops
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THEY ARE STILL ON SCENE…

Excerpts….

‘A Broward Sheriff’s deputy who was first on the scene fought through thick smoke and found the boy in a burning hyperbaric chamber on the first floor.

State fire marshals and Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives are investigating.
The Lauderdale-by-the-Sea fire department arrived a short time later.

The woman and the boy are not mother and son, Jachles said.

It is not known why the victim of this afternoon’s explosion was being treated.

A patient is usually put in a chamber and exposed to 100 percent oxygen at a pressure greater than sea level. Chambers are typically cylindrical and can fit only one person at a time.

Hope Fine, who runs a freestanding Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy clinic called South Florida Center For H.O.P.E. in Deerfield Beach, said if the hyperbaric chamber exploded, it could be the first such incident in the United States.

“The last accident was at least 15 or 16 years ago in Asia, because the patient brought in a hand warmer,” she said. “These chambers are safe if you do it correctly. You have to take precautions because you’re dealing with 100 percent oxygen.”

Pure oxygen is highly flammable’

full text link below….

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-hyperbaric-explosion-bn050109,0,1520166.story

Miami Herald…link below has a series up photos….along with the story…

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/breaking-news/story/1027566.html

Television news crews are still on scene…so expect local coverage on all local channels….starting at 5 pm…(It was on local channel 7 at noon)…

Channel 4 reported at 5 pm the boy first said to be 7-8 yrs. old was actually 4 and the woman was in her 50s and possibly the boy’s grandmother…They were here from Italy for treatment of Cerebral Palsy…First taken to Broward General…they were then transported to Jackson Memorial…The boy’s father is en route from Italy…The BSO Deputy …first on scene was also a paramedic…A special report on hyperbaric chambers will be at 6 pm….

At 5:30 the area surrounding the building is closed down while the all the tanks are being emptied …..precluding many homeowners from entering their  streets…

We are also told the helicopter touched down at the Fountainhead Condominium….

Questions being asked by concerned citizens today…with 3 calls since October 2008…was the facility sufficiently inspected for fire safety?…

A request for the incident report has been made from BSO and an e-mail sent to the VFD….

They will be posted upon receipt….

BC- a note of thanks to all the Readers who contacted this writer with eyewitness accounts and professional input ….

more to come…..

Tags: BSO, hyperbaric chamber, News, Public Safety, update, Updates, VFD
Posted in Uncategorized