The fire service is mourning the loss of Billy Leach Jr., who brought vehicle rescue training on big rigs to a whole new level. Leach reportedly passed away while staying in an Oklahoma hotel where he was teaching a "Big Rig Rescue" program. "It is with great sadness that we may now report that Squad Member and Special Team Member Billy Leach Jr.
- PUB DATE: 5/4/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse

Salinas Fire Department paramedics and management are under investigation following Monterey County Emergency Medical Services Agency allegations that they failed to complete required paramedic skills testing and accreditation, then falsified documentation to indicate they had done so. Salinas City Manager Ray Corpuz confirmed Wednesday the county EMS agency allegations are under investigation, which is being conducted by he and other city administrators, and a state Emergency Medical Services Authority official also confirmed an investigation is under way.
- PUB DATE: 5/4/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Monterey County Herald

After years of declining membership, the Owls Head Fire Department has gotten to a point where if an emergency call goes out, sometimes it’s only the fire chief who shows up. The department has always posted signs around town to try and recruit new volunteers, but nothing has come of them, Owls Head Fire Chief Frank Ross said.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Bangor Daily News

An Alameda County judge has ruled Oakland officials had a “mandatory duty” to ensure safety at the doomed Ghost Ship warehouse, leaving the city potentially liable for a fire where 36 people died. Attorneys for the dozens of victims and their families, as well as reports by this news agency, have detailed numerous visits by police, firefighters and building officials in the years before the deadly Dec.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: East Bay Times

A county fire battalion chief and a captain were the officials who filed a complaint against a fellow captain for what they described as “interfering with operations” and having “no regard for the safety of the personnel on scene” when he fought a fire on West Daughtery Road in April while he was off duty.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: News Chief

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and American Military University (AMU) today announced they have expanded their successful partnership for another year. AMU is one of the largest providers of online higher education offering more than 190 academic programs to students enrolled worldwide.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: International Association of Fire Chiefs

A firefighter died Tuesday after being struck by a ventilation shaft while battling a blaze. CBC reported that 10-year veteran Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac volunteer firefighter Carmel Moreault, 54, was battling a blaze at a cardboard box plant when the water-filled ventilation shaft fell on him. Moreault was transported to the hospital, where he later died.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

A Tucson Fire captain was attacked Monday while trying to give aid a patient, according to the Tucson Fire Department. At about 9:20 a.m., officials were called to the 1500 block of West St. Mary’s Road for a possible fall injury. As they treated the patient, two bystanders who offered advice were told to leave, according to a TFD news release.
- PUB DATE: 5/2/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KVOA-TV NBC 4 Tucson

Five women, all paramedics, filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday accusing their superiors of sexual harassment and alleging that the Chicago Fire Department “directly encourages” the illegal behavior by failing to “discipline, supervise and control” its officers. Mayor Rahm Emanuel famously acknowledged a “code of silence” in the Chicago Police Department in the unrelenting furor that followed release of video played around the world of white Police Officer Jason Van Dyke firing 16 shots that killed black teenager Laquan McDonald.
- PUB DATE: 5/2/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times

One year after being shot twice responding to a call in South Dallas, Dallas Fire-Rescue firefighter and paramedic William An is still recovering. His memories of that day remain hazy, largely pieced together by stories of others who were there. “I do remember being in the back of the cop car, because he (the officer) was constantly asking me what hurts to keep me conscious and talking and I remember telling him my arm, my leg, I can’t breathe,” said An.
- PUB DATE: 5/2/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KXAS-TV NBC 5 Dallas - Fort Worth

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released NFPA 3000TM (PS), Standard for an Active Shooter / Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Program to help communities holistically deal with the fast-growing number of mass casualty incidents that continue to occur throughout the world. Serving as the first of its kind, NFPA 3000 provides unified planning, response and recovery guidance, as well as civilian and responder safety considerations.
- PUB DATE: 5/2/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: National Fire Protection Association

Sheriff Craig Apple is setting up a program to train jail inmates to become volunteer firefighters. “We are giving them an opportunity to give back to the community they have been polluting,” Apple said of SHIFT – the Sheriff’s Inmate Fire Training Program. Certified trainers will teach the low level offenders basic fire fighting skills, basic first aid and how to administer CPR and Automated External Defibrillator.
- PUB DATE: 5/2/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Spotlight News

A Lawrence Fire Department (LFD) firefighter passed away Monday after the department’s annual physical assessment training. Jeff Holt, 60, had been with the department since 1996. He was previously a Lafayette firefighter. The department says the physical assessment includes turnout in full gear. Shortly after 10 a.
- PUB DATE: 5/1/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WXIN-TV Fox 59 Indianapolis

It was just after 10 a.m. on Monday when dispatch said the words many people in Howard County did not want to hear, “End of watch for Tommy Sullivan.” Tommy served as a volunteer firefighter for Howard County for 35 years, but he was much more than that to many that worked alongside of him. Sullivan was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer back in March and had been dealing with health issues after having part of his right leg amputated in 2017.
- PUB DATE: 5/1/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KXXV-TV ABC 25 Waco

The book is officially closed on a years-long dispute between the city of Providence and its firefighters now that the city paid $6.1 million to settle state and federal lawsuits regarding overtime payments in recent years. Victor Morente, a spokesperson for the Elorza administration, confirmed more than 450 current or former firefighters received payments ranging from $10.
- PUB DATE: 5/1/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WPRI-TV Providence 12

More than 100 people filled the St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in York City on Sunday, April 29, to honor the York City firefighters who died during the past year. The event is in its 142nd year, and for the first time in nearly 50 years, attendees honored firefighters killed in the line of duty. "It's different this year — it's different," the Rev.
- PUB DATE: 5/1/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: York Dispatch

For Emily Switalski, graduating from Western Michigan University was bittersweet. Her father Comstock Township Fire Chief Ed Switalski was killed in the line of duty in June. He was hit by a vehicle while responding to an accident call on I-94. “You know, after these things happen, life keeps moving on and you have to kind of just roll with the punches,” Emily Switalski told 24 Hour News 8 Monday.
- PUB DATE: 5/1/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WOOD-TV NBC 8 Grand Rapids

The leader of the Alameda firefighters union wants at least $200,000 from the city in damages over what he describes as “false” and “malicious” accusations against him as a result of the city manager’s allegations she was put under political pressure to pick a union-backed candidate as fire chief. Jeff DelBono cites Vice Mayor Malia Vella and City Councilman Jim Oddie as witnesses — the same elected representatives that City Manager Jill Keimach secretly audio-recorded for evidence that they were possibly violating the City Charter by weighing in on whom she picked as a fire chief.
- PUB DATE: 4/30/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: East Bay Times

William “Billy” Goldfeder was awarded the 2018 FDIC Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement award at this morning’s General Session. Making the presentation were Chief Bobby Halton, editor in chief of Fire Engineering/FDIC International education director, and Eileen Cress, daughter of Tom Brennan. In his introduction remarks, Halton noted: “Today we recognize someone who, not to sound cliché, truly needs no introduction.
- PUB DATE: 4/30/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fire Egineering

Polk County Deputy Manager Joe Halman on Friday cleared Fire Rescue Capt. Jay Schwartz of any wrongdoing after the captain helped to fight a fire while he was off duty and without proper equipment, saying Schwartz’ actions were, in fact, “heroic, commendable and consistent with expectations of Polk County Fire Rescue employees.
- PUB DATE: 4/30/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: News Chief