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National Fire News

Challenging weekend for California firefighters; county sees more than 25 fires in 3 days

VIDEO: It was a hot weekend for local firefighters. City and county crews were dispatched to dozens of fires all over Kern. Those fires cost families their homes and local business owners, their livelihoods. The Rea family was sound asleep as this fire engulfed their home on Franklin Avenue in East Bakersfield.
- PUB DATE: 12/15/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KGET-TV NBC/CW+ Bakersfield

Texas volunteer fire department renovates excess Stewart Stevenson military truck into fire truck

PHOTOS: The Lorenzo Volunteer Fire Department accepted a $16,300 grant through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program to help convert an excess military Stewart Stevenson truck into a firefighting vehicle. The Texas A&M Forest Service administers the assistance program and the Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program, which awarded Lorenzo VFD with the truck.
- PUB DATE: 12/15/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Connecticut WWII veteran, retired firefighter marks 102 years

PHOTOS: A retired, 29-year Middletown firefighter and WWII veteran marked his 102nd birthday this weekend in style, with a large vehicle parade and a visit from several state and local officials. John Cyrulik Sr.’s family decorated his front yard, and bundled him up in a blanket under a tent on the cold, rainy Saturday afternoon.
- PUB DATE: 12/15/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Middletown Press

Man catches victims jumping from burning Georgia apartment

VIDEO: As others were desperately trying to get to safety, a local man is being honored for taking action to make sure they could on Friday. And his actions may be why a bad situation didn't become much worse. Officials said William Cox was among the first on the scene when a fire broke out at Fairington Village Apartments in Stonecrest on Friday afternoon.
- PUB DATE: 12/14/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WXIA-TV NBC 11 Atlanta

‘The First Five': DC Emergency Responders Will Receive COVID-19 Vaccine

Five emergency responders will be the first members of the D.C. Fire and EMS Department to get the COVID-19 vaccine this coming week, a sign that “the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a news release. The group, designated "The First Five," are FEMS Chief John Donnelly, the department’s Medical Director Dr.
- PUB DATE: 12/14/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WRC-TV NBC 4 Washington DC

New program in Colorado to offer early cancer screening for firefighters

The team behind a new wellness program created specifically for firefighters said they hope early cancer screening will help save lives. The Medical Center of Aurora and Potomac Primary Care are launching the new effort called the Firefighter Wellness and Cancer Screening Program. “They support and protect our Colorado communities and now it’s time for us to protect them,” said Amie Shae, the oncology program manager at The Medical Center of Aurora and part of the team that created the new program.
- PUB DATE: 12/14/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KUSA-TV NBC 9 Denver

Creeping Coyote Surprises Firefighters at Florida Station

PHOTOS: A group of Fort Lauderdale firefighters had quite the surprise when a coyote wandered into their fire station Sunday morning. Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue tweeted a photo of a coyote creeping in front of a fire truck parked inside their bay. “Not sure who was startled more as they ran in opposite directions,” the department quipped in a tweet.
- PUB DATE: 12/14/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTVJ-TV NBC 6 Miami

Michigan firefighters celebrate baby boom

PHOTOS: Water is essential when it comes to fighting fires, but there must be something special in the water in Grand Blanc Township. Their firefighting family just got a whole lot bigger. Seven of the 39 firefighters in the department became dads this year. The adorable babies joined their firefighting fathers for a photo on Sunday.
- PUB DATE: 12/14/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WJRT-TV ABC 12 Flint

Warehouse fire in Illinois draws hundreds of firefighters, smoke seen for miles

VIDEO: A massive warehouse fire in Chicago's Lawndale neighborhood Thursday morning drew hundreds of firefighters to fight the massive flames, with smoke visible for miles. "We couldn't believe it," said Blanca Valderas, witness. "We were like in shock." The 4-11 alarm fire broke out an auto body supply factory at 4425 W.
- PUB DATE: 12/11/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WLS-TV ABC 7 Chicago

San Francisco Firefighters Compete for Best-Decorated Fire House

VIDEO: The San Francisco Fire Department is reviving a tradition that began and ended seven decades ago: a competition to determine the best-decorated fire station. The year was 1948 when San Francisco firehouses began a fierce competition to be named the best-decorated fire station. The grand prize was $1,000.
- PUB DATE: 12/11/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KPIX-TV CBS 5 San Francisco

Missouri firefighters restore 118-year-old firetruck

VIDEO: A 118-year-old firetruck was restored by Willard Fire Chief Ken Scott and his firefighters. The truck, known as Queen City 2, was given to the Willard Fire Protection District from retired assistant chief Bub Herbert who attempted to restore Queen City 2 himself. Scott said it operated in Springfield during 1902 before rolling over during a fire emergency.
- PUB DATE: 12/11/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Ozarks First

COVID-19 sparks safety innovations for ambulance and medical transport operations

PHOTOS: An evening news broadcast in March sparked an idea for Kolby Kolbet: Could a space-age looking helmet used in Europe play a role in reducing coronavirus risk while transporting patients in the U.S.? Months and many hours of testing later, the Sea-Long helmet worn by COVID-19-positive patients is now part of medical transport company Life Link III’s standard operating procedure when transporting those requiring oxygen.
- PUB DATE: 12/11/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: West Central Tribune - Metered Site

Florida: Grateful Delray Beach fire chief meets Coral Springs team who rescued him

VIDEO: Delray Beach Fire Chief Keith Tomey said he was grateful for the team of heroes who recently rescued him when was suffering from chest pain at his home in Coral Springs. Tomey was having a heart attack, he said. He said he was very pale, sweaty, and had shortness of breath. He decided to get inside the house and his wife called 911.
- PUB DATE: 12/11/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WPLG-TV ABC 10 Miami

No injuries reported after more than 100 firefighters respond to massive explosion in New York town

VIDEO: Crews spent hours on the scene of a fire in Gates, after an explosion sent flames and debris into the sky Wednesday night. Firefighters say it happened at 6:11 p.m. on Noel Drive off Lyell Road. More than 100 firefighters ultimately from more than 10 are fire districts responded to the scene. "We are happy to report that despite the extensive damage suffered to the three homes and other properties in the area there were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.
- PUB DATE: 12/10/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Rochester First

Bringing emergency responder training into the virtual world

Virtual reality has many applications, from video gaming to treating post-traumatic stress disorder to tours of buildings at Missouri S&T and other institutions. Benjamin Kwasa, assistant professor of engineering management and system engineering, is working with the city fire department in Rolla to use virtual reality in another application – firefighter training.
- PUB DATE: 12/10/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Missouri University of Science and Technology

Indiana fire department issues warning against 'copycats' after woman caught riding on back of a fire truck

VIDEO: The Indianapolis Fire Department is warning people not to follow the dangerous lead of a woman who hitched a ride on the back of a fire truck Tuesday. A motorist driving behind the truck took a video of the incident, which IFD posted Wednesday to social media. The woman can be seen in the video standing on the truck's rear bumper ledge and holding onto the side with one arm.
- PUB DATE: 12/10/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Indianapolis Star

Body cam video shows Ohio firefighters hosing down man covered in gasoline holding a lighter

VIDEO: The Cleveland Division of Fire recently helped a local man in trouble. Engine 23 was called to a scene after a man reportedly poured gasoline over himself. Upon arrival, firefighters said the man was holding a lighter and said he was going to light himself on fire. Calling for backup, firefighters, along with Cleveland police worked together to keep the man from harming himself.
- PUB DATE: 12/10/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WJW-TV FOX 8 Cleveland

Colorado State Fire Chiefs unhappy with first responder placement on COVID vaccination plan

In the coming weeks, thousands of Coloradans will get access to COVID-19 vaccines. Wednesday, state health officials released a 3-phase plan, prioritizing high-exposure health care employees. “We felt like there was a miss there,” says Don Lombardi. “They didn’t do as much homework as they should have.
- PUB DATE: 12/10/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KDVR-TV FOX 31 Denver

EMS unit lured with bogus call, robbed in New York

An EMS unit was robbed in Brooklyn after the suspect apparently made a bogus call to lure them to him. The incident was reported Monday at 11 p.m. at a location at 365 Sackman Street. Police say a 45-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman, party of a voluntary ambulance squad, responded to that location for reports of a patient experiencing "difficult breathing.
- PUB DATE: 12/9/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WABC-TV ABC 7 New York

Dozens of bystanders jump in to help Kentucky firefighter pull hose

VIDEO: "This happens when we all pull together." That's what Jim Graybeal said in a Facebook post after catching something pretty incredible on video. A fire broke out last week at a place called Wholesale Hardwood Interiors in Campbellsville, Kentucky. That's in Taylor County, just a few counties south of Louisville.
- PUB DATE: 12/9/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WLKY-TV CBS 32 News

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