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National Fire News

Protect the Protectors Telethon: Colorado fire department to become first in the nation to benefit from Shield 616, rifle-rated vests

This Wednesday, Jan. 29, KRDO will once again team up with Shield 616 for an all day telethon. This time, it's to buy rifle-rated vests for Colorado Springs firefighters. KRDO has been working hand in hand with Shield 616 for years. Tonight, we're looking back at what the non-profit stands for, where it came from and what's next.
- PUB DATE: 1/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KRDO-TV ABC 13 Colorado Springs

New York Author Pens Children's Book in Supprt of FDNY Firefighters

Pelham author Jeanne LaSala-Taylor has written a just-released children’s book, “Just Bunny and the Great Fire Rescue.” Based on a true story of her daughter’s stuffed bunny being rescued from a burning building, this book provides a special thanks to firefighters everywhere for saving lives – and stuffed bunnies, too.
- PUB DATE: 1/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Yonkers Times

Alabama fire chief confirms deaths as fire destroys 35 boats

VIDEOS/PHOTOS: A fire chief in Scottsboro, Alabama has confirmed fatalities in a massive fire that consumed at least 35 boats docked along the Tennessee River early Monday morning. Witness Carol Fuller took video of the boat dock as it was engulfed in flames. She tells us she could hear people cry, but was frustrated that there was no way to rescue them.
- PUB DATE: 1/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTVC-TV ABC/FOX 9

New York: Union accuses city of slashing benefits for some firefighters who may become disabled

The union representing full-time Yonkers firefighters is accusing the city of cutting future benefit payments for some fire officials who may retire after becoming permanently disabled while on duty. Yonkers Firefighters, Local 628, International Association of Firefighters, AFL-CIO filed a petition against Yonkers and the state Public Employment Relations Board last month.
- PUB DATE: 1/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NY Journal News (LoHud.com)

Tactical medics in Ohio seek council OK for firearms when aiding SWAT

Since 1998, the city’s fire department has had a tactical paramedic team that assists the Summit County sheriff’s SWAT team whenever called. With a 2018 change in state law, the nine members on the team and Fire Chief Jeff Funai are hoping that next month City Council will OK the paramedics to be armed during such calls.
- PUB DATE: 1/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Akron Beacon Journal

Sundance: Ron Howard documents aftermath of California's Camp Fire

Ron Howard knew Paradise, the northern California town devastated by the most destructive wildfire in California history. His mother-in-law had lived there and he had visited the town. He had some understanding of its people. Ten days after what became known as the Camp Fire swept through Paradise, killing 85 people and destroying roughly 19,000 buildings, Howard went to see it.
- PUB DATE: 1/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTVU-TV FOX 2 Oakland

West Virginia city to serve as training site for Quick Response Teams in other parts of U.S.

Huntington is now a mentor site for law enforcement officers and first responders from across the United States who are looking to launch or expand drug diversion programs like those already in place in Cabell County, including the Quick Response Team. “There will be people coming from all across the country, actually coming here to go out with the team and see what we’re doing firsthand,” said Connie Priddy, program coordinator for the Huntington QRT.
- PUB DATE: 1/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: West Virginia MetroNews

2 people killed in explosion that rocked northwest Houston

VIDEOS: Broken windows, busted garage doors, and plumes of smoke could be seen from a northwest Houston neighborhood rattled by a large building explosion. According to area residents, the explosion happened around 4:20 a.m. Friday at Watson Valve Services, which is about half a mile away from their homes on Rockcrest road and Stanford Court.
- PUB DATE: 1/24/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Click2Houston

13 Detroit firefighters, 4 sergeants charged in house fire photo

An official with the Detroit Fire Department said 13 firefighters are facing department charges for a photo that surfaced on New Year's Day that featured them posing in front of a burning house in Detroit. The Detroit Fire Department official was not authorized to go on the record about the 13 firefighters but told FOX 2 they are charged with exhibiting ignorance of the rules or orders.
- PUB DATE: 1/24/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WJBK-TV FOX 2 Detroit

Cleveland Fire Department takes steps to improve arson investigations

The Cleveland Fire Department is taking steps to better protect your neighborhood while possibly saving you money, improving how it responds to suspicious fires. "It's very unusual for somebody to have more than one fire in their life," said Chief Chris Posante, Cleveland Fire Investigation Unit. However, in Cleveland, serial arsonists are keeping the city’s recently revamped investigation unit busy.
- PUB DATE: 1/24/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WEWS-TV ABC 5 Cleveland

New York mayor meeting with health, emergency officials on plan to tackle potential coronavirus cases

Mayor Bill de Blasio will meet with health officials on Friday to discuss the city’s response to any potential cases of the deadly coronavirus, which has shut down parts of China and led to fears of an epidemic. The mayor will meet with members from the Department of Health, NYC Emergency Management, the FDNY and the NYPD on Friday morning to talk about how the city will respond if the virus makes its way to the city.
- PUB DATE: 1/24/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WINS 1010 AM

Ohio: Newcomerstown’s early bucket brigade

Just think that over a hundred years ago there was no cellphones, no 911 emergency system, no fire department as we know it today! If your home caught on fire, you had to rely on whoever happened to be nearby to help you extinguish the fire, then hopefully you were within reach of a pump, or a water resource.
- PUB DATE: 1/24/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Record-Courier

3 American firefighters killed in C-130 crash while battling Australian wildfires

Three American firefighters died in a water tanker plane crash Thursday while battling wildfires in Australia, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed. Rural Fire Service officials said they had located the plane, a C-130 Hercules, that crashed in the Snowy Monaro region of New South Wales state.
- PUB DATE: 1/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FOX News

Michigan firefighters staying in trucks after mold forces them out of station

VIDEO: A group of firefighters have been forced out of their station due to health concerns. According to the president of the Dearborn Firefighters Union, fire station five is a moldy mess. Instead of sleeping overnight and waking up if there's a call— firefighters have been staying in trucks. They usually stay at fire station five in Dearborn, but 7 Action News has been told what started as a flooding problem led to mold.
- PUB DATE: 1/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WXYZ-TV ABC 7 Detroit

North Carolina county recommends shutting down fire department, firefighters say they’re here to stay

After 67 years, a Charlotte Volunteer Fire Department could lose it’s funding from Mecklenburg County. That was a recommendation from the county’s Land Use and Environmental Services Agency at last week’s Board of County Commissioner’s policy meeting. They say these community fire departments are expensive to run and although no official decision has been made, the Cook’s Fire Department says they will do whatever they can to keep operating.
- PUB DATE: 1/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WBTV CBS 3 Charlotte

Phoenix fire truck drove up to 29 mph above the speed limit at time of deadly crash, report says

VIDEO: A Phoenix fire engine was traveling approximately 29 mph over the speed limit at the time of a deadly crash in April 2019, according to the police investigation released Wednesday. The report, released more than nine months after the crash, also said the other vehicle's driver, Kenneth "Chase" Collins, 20, did not possess a valid driver's license and had marijuana in his system.
- PUB DATE: 1/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KNXV-TV ABC 15 Phoenix

Bill calls for changes in Maine's 'Dig Safe' law in response to Farmington explosion

VIDEO: Maine lawmakers are considering a bill that would make changes to the state's "Dig Safe" law in response to last year's deadly explosion in Farmington. The bill would add liquefied propane gas lines to the law. "Dig Safe" laws prohibit digging around certain underground utility lines. In Maine, LP lines are currently not on the prohibited list, bill sponsor Rep.
- PUB DATE: 1/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WMTW-TV ABC 8 Poland Spring

New Mexico firefighters demand pay to meet the new state minimum wage requirement

VIDEO: A statewide minimum wage increase that went into effect this year never came for Raton firefighters after city officials said they were unaware that the new law overruled the contract they had with the firefighters union. Now state unions are calling for appropriate raises. “It's an honor for them to serve, but at the same time—just compensate them correctly, that's all we're asking,” said Robert Sanchez, president of the New Mexico Professional Fire Fighters Association.
- PUB DATE: 1/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOB-TV NBC 4 Albuquerque

Volunteer firefighter contracts terminated in Texas county, no known plan in place to serve communities

The county’s Emergency Services Department Board unanimously motioned to end its contracts with volunteer fire departments that protect a large chunk of El Paso County Tuesday night, leaving many firefighters worried for their futures. Six El Paso area fire departments say they were given a 90-day notice that the county is looking at terminating their contracts and with no plan in place that they’re aware of, the firefighters worry what this means for the communities they serve.
- PUB DATE: 1/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTSM-TV NBC 9 El Paso

Firefighter badly burned in 2015 Twisp River fire in Washington reaches $5 million settlement with 2 utilities

A wildland firefighter badly burned in the 2015 Twisp River blaze has reached a $5 million settlement with two utility companies that he had sued for allegedly failing to keep branches away from a power line that state officials concluded caused the ignition. The civil suit that resulted in the settlement was filed by Daniel Lyon Jr.
- PUB DATE: 1/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Seattle Times - Metered Site

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