When the Jaws of Life don’t work and a man is dying, a little ingenuity and a big engine could prove to be the best combination. West Springfield and Westfield firefighters pulled a crashed vehicle apart with a fire truck to extricate a seriously injured driver Wednesday, said West Springfield Lt. Andrew Lyne.
- PUB DATE: 3/9/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Republican - MassLive

Some residents in northeast Albemarle County are concerned about a proposal to move daytime fire-rescue staff farther away from their area. As part of County Executive Jeff Richardson’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2021, Albemarle County Fire Rescue would reallocate weekday, daytime fire-rescue staff from Stony Point Volunteer Fire Company and East Rivanna Volunteer Fire Company to the Crozet Volunteer Fire Department and Pantops Public Safety Station to meet system-wide response time standards and call volume.
- PUB DATE: 3/9/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Daily Progress

Florida lawmakers were on the verge of sending Gov. Ron DeSantis legislation Friday that requires panic buttons at every school, the latest security measure being implemented on campuses after the Parkland school shooting two years ago that killed 17. The measure, known as “Alyssa's Law,” would establish an electronic link between schools and law enforcement — and reduce the confusion that became so apparent as a gunman roamed the grounds of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day 2018.
- PUB DATE: 3/9/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: ABC News

As first responders get more and more calls about coronavirus, there are serious concerns among the ranks on how they respond. “We are very very concerned,” said Patrick Morrison of the IAFF. Morrison said they’re telling fire departments across the country to take inventory of their gear. “What we are hearing from our members around the country is we do not have enough supplies," Morrison said.
- PUB DATE: 3/6/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WPXI-TV NBC 11 Pittsburgh

A glitch in Pittsburgh’s new payroll system triggered overpayments totaling about $400,000 for nearly half of the city’s 600 firefighters, officials said. The city is now asking for the money back. The problem occurred in late December after arbitrators provided a new five-year contract to the International Association of Firefighters Local 1, officials said.
- PUB DATE: 3/6/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

If people need to get in from outside in the event of an emergency in downtown Bloomington, the fire department wants to let people know with specific voice directions in addition to the blare of a siren. The Bloomington Fire Department wants to install an outdoor warning siren with public address capability on the roof of the Government Center, 115 E.
- PUB DATE: 3/6/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Bloomington Pantagraph

One of the most important tools for the Mount Vernon fire department is now half a century old. "You can see the scratches and marks on it. The once really bright red paint is more of an orange color now. It's faded over the past 50 years. But overall, it's still an excellent running truck," said Chief Brad DeLay, Mount Vernon Volunteer Fire Protection District.
- PUB DATE: 3/6/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KSPR-TV ABC 33 Springfield

With the elimination of their positions finalized earlier this week, firefighters are asking the city to negotiate on the change to public safety officers. Scott Dix, president of Cedar Falls Firefighters Local 1366, made the request to begin formal union negotiations in a letter sent to the city Wednesday.
- PUB DATE: 3/6/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

Firefighters Local 313, the local union of firefighters in Morgantown, is dissatisfied with the proposed budget from City Manager Paul Brake because they said it puts the safety of citizens and firefighters at risk. The initially proposed budget would decrease the number of firefighters from 61-49, a reduction of 12 positions.
- PUB DATE: 3/5/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WBOY-TV 12 Clarksburg

With wires stuck to his head and a stuffed toy monkey in his arms, Brian McCoy heaved a deep breath as he settled into a reclining chair at South Metro Fire Rescue’s headquarters in Centennial. He slipped on headphones, put up his feet and watched as a TV screen played scenes from under the sea: dolphins twirling, seaweed swirling, sharks prowling.
- PUB DATE: 3/5/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Denver Post - Metered Site

VIDEO: The Webbers Falls Fire Station in eastern Oklahoma caught fire Wednesday, destroying one building and all the gear inside it. "Our department is now on the ground," Webbers Falls Fire Chief Shawn Smith said. "It was heartbreaking, this is our second home, we spend a lot of time down here." Smith and other volunteer firefighters were out of town attending training for severe weather when the fire was reported before 2 P.
- PUB DATE: 3/5/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KHBS/KHOG-TV ABC 40 Fort Smith

VIDEO: More than 40 years ago, the first woman went through Norfolk's fire academy. Pamela Ells-Johnson was just 25 years old and tells 13News Now that she was simply looking for a career when she applied. She ended up paving the way for women in Norfolk Fire-Rescue. Although back then, it was called Norfolk Fire Department.
- PUB DATE: 3/5/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WVEC-TV ABC 13 Hampton

PHOTOS: Ever have a hard time making a turn on a tight Wollaston street packed with parked cars? Try doing it in an almost 60-foot-long fire truck. As Quincy’s development boom continues, the fire department is preparing to put into service a new, $1.45 million tiller truck to help firefighters take tight turns and get closer to ever-taller buildings.
- PUB DATE: 3/5/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Patriot Ledger

The City of Ann Arbor and the firefighter union agreed Monday night to new collective bargaining terms before the expiration of the current contract for the first time in 25 years. City Council voted 8-1 to approve the contract March 2 at Larcom City Hall, 301 E. Huron St. Council also voted unanimously to approve a new contract with the police department deputy chiefs.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: MLive.com

PHOTOS: The criminal complaint filed against Press Bar owner Andrew Charles Welsh outlines firefighters' efforts to contain the fire and details leading up to the blaze. Welsh is suspected of setting the Feb. 17 fire that destroyed the historic building by igniting an accelerant on his office desk, according to court records.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: SCTimes

Republican State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington along with Democrat Ram Villivalam from Chicago are sponsoring legislation to help volunteer firefighters and EMT's with a $500 tax credit. Metamora Fire Chief Mike Sluga said he hopes this new tax credit could help boost recruitment. Metamora's Chief Sluga has been on the job for almost 40 years.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WEEK-TV NBC 25 Peoria

As Milwaukee prepares to host the Democratic National Convention some leaders within the city are getting new roles to keep the area safe. Milwaukee Fire Department Deputy Chief Kevin Hafemann is the person behind the city's fire and EMS response for the DNC. He has been planning for everything from a person suffering from heat exhaustion to a bomb.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTMJ-TV NBC 4 Milwaukee

Anyone who hasn’t been to the city for some time will be captivated, and possibly alienated, by the new architectural profile of New York. The Empire State, the Chrysler and other 1930s classics have maintained their grandeur. But they seem to be losing much of their visual relevance to the most recent construction development: the ultra-high residential apartment buildings that continue to spring up in Manhattan.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Daily News - Metered Site

Developers who are looking to build new projects in Bound Brook will now have to pay for increased security measures at construction sites after a destructive Main Street fire in January that investigators have said was purposefully set. The borough committee last week unanimously passed the new ordinance, which will be added to its construction code, that will require developers to have 360-degree motion detectors and video surveillance, along with a physical security guard, on-site at all times once there are flammable materials, like wood, at the property.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NJ.com

A fire station south of Tucson that services about 5,000 residents is set to close by May unless union members and the company that owns the station come to an agreement. Nico Latini, president of the Old Pueblo Firefighters Association, the union that represents Rural Metro firefighters in Pima County, said Station 81, at 966 E.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Arizona Daily Star