Girard Fire Department News & Information

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Residents seek an end to 'Drano bomb' blasts
Story by JOHN W. GOODWIN JR., VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF, on 11/28/2006.

The homemade bombs have been set off in various locations.

GIRARD — Someone has been setting off "Drano bombs" at various locations in the city, and residents are asking police and city council to put an end to the criminal activity.

Drano bombs are made by mixing household chemicals, including those similar to the drain opener Drano, in a plastic bottle.

City police are investigating two reports of Drano bombs set off at homes over the weekend.

According to police reports, a woman heard a loud explosion outside her Woodlawn Street home Thursday night. She reported the incident Friday and officers found a Gatorade bottle and empty toilet bowl cleaner bottle in the yard.

An elderly city man reported a Drano bomb detonated in his Dravis Avenue yard Saturday night. He also said there were eggs thrown in the yard. Drano bombs have been placed in the man's yard on two previous occasions.

Neighbors of the Dravis Avenue man addressed city council about the situation during a meeting Monday. One woman said the attacks have made the man nervous and neighbors are concerned about his health.

"Why he is being picked on I don't know," she said. "We are very worried. He is elderly and this might lead to a heart attack."

Officials' responses

Mayor James Melfi said the bombs go far beyond childish pranks.

"I am appalled that people would do this. This is very serious and someone could get hurt," he said. "We are hopeful that the police investigation will put an end to this."

Councilman Michael Costarella said police have been working on the case and have a number of suspects. He said there is evidence that they hope will lead to an arrest soon.

Councilman Larry Williams said residents in the areas where the bombs have been detonated should make use of the block watches. He said neighbors keeping an eye out on the neighborhood could make a tremendous difference.

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Police nab Drano bomb suspects
Story by JENNIFER KOVACS Tribune Chronicle on 12/2/2006.

GIRARD — Two teenage boys were arrested Friday in relation to ‘‘Drano bombs’’ being set off in the city last week, and one city councilman said he’s happy to hear it.

‘‘I’m going to sleep pretty well tonight,’’ Councilman Mike Costarella said.

Costarella lives on Dravis Avenue, where two of three reported homemade bombs exploded. He and other residents stood watch at night to catch would-be bombers in the act.

‘‘That’s just not something that anyone should have to go through,’’ he said.

Police Chief Frank Bigowsky said that two boys, ages 15 and 16, admitted to their participation in making and throwing the small bombs. The teens have cooperated with police and the filing of formal charges will be handled by the Trumbull County Juvenile Court.

‘‘Drano bombs’’ are made by mixing toilet cleaner and aluminum foil inside a pop bottle to cause a chemical reaction that explodes and sprays the contents from the bottle.

Three reports were made to police last week of the bombs being set off at two city residences. One home on Dravis Avenue was hit twice, on Nov. 24 and 25. One on Woodlawn Avenue was hit Nov. 24.

No specific individuals were targeted by the teens, and the bombs appeared to have been thrown randomly, Bigowsky said.

Costarella said he was just happy that residents and police both did their parts to prevent the crimes from happening again.

‘‘A lot of the neighbors really stood up and really protected the neighborhood. I was very happy to see that. I also want to thank the police for stepping up the patrols. That was very instrumental,’’ Costarella said.

Residents from Dravis Avenue voiced their concern over the incidents at a City Council meeting Monday, at which Mayor James J. Melfi said he was ‘‘appalled’’ that someone would do something that is so potentially dangerous to residents.

The city is reviewing its budget to see if it can afford more police protection, either through the hiring of an additional dispatcher or patrolman for the depleted department.



jkovacs@tribune-chronicle.com

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Firefighters compete in combat challenge
Story and Photo by JENNIFER KOVACS, Tribune Chronicle on 9/17/2007.

Bryan Iceman, right, hoists a hose by rope from the top of an extended ladder truck as Steve Drake watches. The two are in training for the annual Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge, to be held Oct. 5 and 6 in Akron for a shot at competing for the national title. See more photos on CU by visiting cu.tribune-chronicle.com

GIRARD — You might not think that a two-minute-long competition would be all that grueling.

But just tell that to two city firefighters training for the upcoming Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge.

‘‘You get a lot done in two minutes,’’ Steve Drake said.

Drake, along with Bryan Iceman, have signed on to be a tandem team and individual competitors in the regional portion of the nationwide competition that will be held this year on Oct. 5 and 6 in Akron. Those who qualify during that round will make it to nationals and then possibly to the world championship.

Those last big ticket bouts have even been aired on ESPN.

But the potential for fame and glory wasn’t really what inspired the two to take part.

Iceman, 31, has competed by himself the last four years, unable to convince anyone to join him in the challenge.

‘‘I don’t claim to be excellent at it by any means. It gives me a reason to work out and stay in shape,’’ he said.

Since he started, Iceman has actually lost 60 pounds and uses the event to keep him motivated throughout the year.

‘‘It’s sort of addicting,’’ he said.

Then the new guy came along.

Drake, 26, joined the Girard department about six months ago. And soon enough, Iceman began hitting him with his sales pitch.

‘‘It didn’t take long,’’ Drake said.

Never pulling out any great times by himself before, Iceman said he’s looking forward to seeing how he’ll fare on a two-man team.

‘‘We should do fairly well as long as Steve can run up the stairs fast,’’ Iceman laughed.

And going up those stairs is only one portion of what makes up that two minutes of pain.

In full turnout gear, meaning suited up with an air pack and all, competitors must first carry a 45-pound hose up six flights of stairs. That’s not the end of it, though.

A series of five tasks must be completed, including hoisting, chopping, dragging hoses and pulling a 175-pound dummy to safety.

‘‘It takes a lot out of you,’’ Iceman said.

Just weeks away from the real deal, the two couldn’t really say yet whether they make good teammates. Working different shifts at the station, they don’t get to see each other too often.

But during a recent afternoon practice, Iceman offered some tips to Drake as he tried his hand at a few hose hoists. Then, of course, Iceman cracked some jokes, too, as his teammate worked to untangle the knots he put in the rope during the trial run.

Drake is no novice, though. Having taken part in a couple agility training tests in Cleveland, he’s finished courses similar to the one where they’ll be competing.

‘‘I know I can do it. But in a time challenge, I don’t know what my time will be,’’ he said.

And while Iceman said that the toughest part is just finishing, Drake offered that the biggest challenge in that situation may be a bit more simple.

‘‘Standing,’’ he said.



jkovacs@tribune-chronicle.com