I agree, lots of logistical issues though and i know close to nothing about the fire brigade (although slightly more than at the same time last week!).

although I do see potential for fire services to have someone with a “stream” on the ground before help arrives, I believe it is a huge logistical issue before this becomes reality.

My issue was more from a paparazzi perspective. Fire Services recognise the need to talk to the press, but beyond “proper” camera crews there are citizen journalists.

A wrong perception is easily achieved, and we must know where these developments are taking place.

Irakli

Yes – I would happily have streamed the fire for them so that they would know what they were heading to.

They could also have read my twitter stream to know more about it too.

Lots of opportunity here.

As a “firefighter with a publication”, there is one particularly interesting issue about this story. I’ve spent some time now preaching Fire Services here in Germany to be aware of citizen journalists, ie anyone with a mobile and a camera.

Now, in combination with twitter and perhaps a live streaming service like Qik, any citizen journalist can invite his friends and their friends to be live on the scene.

This is one thing we as ‘999 folks’ need to be very much aware of. Not that we treat incidents any differently, but there is plenty of room for interpretation, often negative, and not a thing we can do about this.

I am very pleased about Steven’s positive tweet re. the emergency services.

On the other hand, these are mechanisms we can use for our own good. We are also competing for the public’s attention, and any little helps.

So thanks again and, as mentioned above, the main thing is that everyone is OK.

Hi John. I got the family out, phoned the fire brigade and with a passer by got the old lady out. Got them into a neighbors.

Then I sent the message.

Glad you’re all ok!

Sorry to hijack this thread but why are comments locked down for the Digital Mission news post ? Mike stop being a fascist, I want to flame it please.

In short, some cool companies there but I’d really be interested in a bit more detail on what the criteria were. It’s a VERY mixed list.

The value in the web was knowing there was a network of people who contacted me on twitter offering help – lots of them.

Never saw the plane crash – sounds scary!

I hope next time i’m on TC it’s for something slightly less dramatic

All the best for 2009 !! (and check those smoke alarms!!)

On a serious note though, very glad to hear hear everyone got out ok, fires really are terrifying stuff.

Glad to hear you’re all ok.

Similar tale from the guy who twittered his escape from a crashed plane in Denver a few weeks back:

http://tinyurl.com/a3fpk7

powerful stuff.

I said “IT WAS DRAMATIC”.

One thing i’ll say is that the amount of support from the community was incredible… much from people i have never met.

Walking out into the hall with my wife, a 2 year old daughter and a 5 year old son and not being able to see in front of me is the scariest thing that has ever happened to me.

But, one of the positive things has been the messages of support i have received from people.

This web thing might work