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National Fire News

Inferno Engulfs Row of Stores in the Bronx, Sends Plume of Smoke Over NYC

A raging inferno engulfed several businesses in the Bronx early Tuesday, sending a black plume of smoke into the air as ferocious flames licked the gear of hundreds of firefighters working to put them out. The FDNY says the four-alarm fire broke out around 5:30 a.m. at 316 E. 194th Street, near Marion Avenue, in Fordham.
- PUB DATE: 4/24/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WNBC-TV NBC New York

Colorado fire chief responds to rumored criticism on 117 Fire

The fire and fury caused by the 117 Fire was so destructive Tuesday, incident command directed firefighters not to fight the flames at first. The lack of initial response, though, was not unwarranted. Rather, the weather produced extreme fire behavior — a massive hazard for firefighters, who instead focused on evacuating families and livestock in harm's way.
- PUB DATE: 4/24/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOAA-TV NBC 5 & 30 Colorado Springs

New York mayor says he’ll keep fighting ‘good fight’ in fire department dispute

After a series of stinging defeats regarding the Watertown Fire Department, Mayor Joseph M. Butler Jr. insists he’s not going to back down. “It’s frustrating to see,” he said. “But I’m dedicated to fight the good fight I’ve been fighting. I can sleep at night knowing that I’ve been trying to do what I think is right for the taxpayers.
- PUB DATE: 4/23/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Watertown Daily Times

West Virginia fire chief named one of TIME's top 100 influential people

Huntington Fire Chief Jan Rader is being recognized on a national scale once again for her devotion to helping people. Now, she has been named one of TIME Magazine's Top 100 Influential People of 2018. In a statement to WSAZ reacting to the news, Rader was humble. "I am honored," Rader said. "I think that this is a result of the community coming together to work diligently on a difficult social issue.
- PUB DATE: 4/23/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WSAZ-TV NBC 3

4 adults and 2 children killed in Tennessee house fire

Four adults and two children were killed Sunday morning in a house fire that Alcoa Fire Department Chief Roger Robinson called the worst tragedy he's seen in his 39-year career. Twenty-nine firefighters responded to the single-story home at 885 N. Wright Road after someone called E-911 to report the blaze at 5:24 a.
- PUB DATE: 4/23/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Knoxville News-Sentinel

California supervisors to contemplate $14 million "payday" loan to fire department

On Tuesday the Kern County Board of Supervisors will give the Kern County Fire Department a $14 million dollar payday loan. Fire Chief Brian Marshall said he has more than $15 million in reimbursement money that hasn’t been paid by state and federal fire agencies to Kern County for staff and equipment used last year to fight fires and natural disasters.
- PUB DATE: 4/23/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Bakersfield.com

Statue unveiled honoring Granite Mountain Hotshots who died in Arizona wildfire

A life-sized statue was unveiled Saturday honoring 19 members of a firefighting team known as the Granite Mountain Hotshots who died in a 2013 Arizona wildfire. The statue was dedicated at a state memorial park established where all but one member of the team died in a canyon in mountains near Yarnell on June 30, 2013.
- PUB DATE: 4/23/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KASW-CW6 & KTVK-3TV

'I'm sorry, Chief,' writes Mississippi firefighter who still can't talk after motorcycle crash

Michael Guitreau is still in the ICU at Memorial Hospital at Gulfport one day after his motorcycle collided with a vehicle on his way to work. The 28-year-old firefighter and father of four was traveling south on Mississippi 603 near Kiln-Waveland Cutoff Road on Wednesday when he struck another vehicle.
- PUB DATE: 4/20/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Sun Herald

Southwest hero, Texas firefighter Andrew Needum: 'I'm no different than any other firefighter'

Firefighter Andrew Needum, one of the heroes of ill-fated Southwest Airlines Flight 1380, brushed off accolades for his efforts Thursday, saying he is "no different than any other firefighter." Needum, surrounded by family members, spoke to reporters at his firehouse in Celina, Texas. He and real estate agent Tim McGinty drew national acclaim for pulling passenger Jennifer Riordan out of a smashed window during Tuesday's ordeal.
- PUB DATE: 4/20/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: USA Today

Florida fire captain under internal investigation for fighting fire while off duty

A captain with Polk County Fire and Rescue is under internal investigation for fighting a house fire earlier this month in North Lakeland while he was off duty. A complaint has been filed against firefighter Jay Schwartz, who is also union president of the Polk County IAFF Local 3531, county officials said.
- PUB DATE: 4/20/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Ledger

Former New York firefighter dies from heart attack while helping neighbor having heart attack

Robert Cordani had always been there for other people. Whether it was as a firefighter in Wurtsboro, an EMT for the Mamakating First Aid Squad, or a neighbor, friend or brother. “He was one of those neighbors or friends that if you needed something, 24 hours a day, he’s down there to help you,” said his brother, Art Cordani.
- PUB DATE: 4/20/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: recordonline.com

Injured Alaska firefighter talks about overcoming fall from ladder

How tough is Anchorage firefighter Ben Schultz? That is what he says he found out over the last several months after a devastating fall from a ladder in June in Anchorage. "I'd say the biggest positive is that I've seen the worst part of my life and seeing how I can overcome that," Schultz said while recovering in Omaha, Nebraska.
- PUB DATE: 4/20/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: ktva.com

Anger in Georgia county over firing of fire chief

The recent firing of Henry County’s fire chief, Nish Willis was met with almost unanimous disapproval from members of the public and multiple county commissioners at Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners meeting. Willis was terminated on March 21 without a specific reason cited other than “end of appointment.
- PUB DATE: 4/19/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Henry County Daily Herald

New York Firefighter-Paramedic Dies On Duty

A firefighter-paramedic with a volunteer fire company on New York's Long Island has died in the line of duty. According to a post on the Facebook page of the Greenlawn Fire Department, firefighter-paramedic Kent Stillwagon, 52, died while on duty early Tuesday morning. The department offered no specific details on the incident other than saying it happened around 1:27 a.
- PUB DATE: 4/19/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse

Minnesota firefighters grapple with 'silent epidemic'

The nightmares still sometimes rouse Brian Cristofono from sleep. Even now, nearly two years after the last calls for help came in, ghosts from his days as a firefighter and paramedic are tough to shake. Babies he couldn’t save. Parents he struggled to comfort. Crash victims beyond reviving. “They leave scars,” said Cristofono, 42.
- PUB DATE: 4/19/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune

After hit-and-run, injured Massachusetts firefighter welcomed back

Onset firefighter Marc Granato lay unconsciousness in a raging storm, both boots knocked off his feet. Speeding away during the March 2 nor'easter was the person who struck the 25-year-old in a hit-and-run. Running toward Granato was Onset Fire Lt. Justin Harrington. He’d seen many similar crashes. They never ended well.
- PUB DATE: 4/19/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Village Soup - Wareham

Indiana fire chief helps battle blaze at his own home

It was a scary moment for a local fire chief when he found himself fighting a fire inside his own home early this morning. Several fire departments responded to the house fire on State Road 104 in La Porte County. No one was hurt, but the home is a total loss. We spoke to the fire chief for the Pleasant Township Volunteer Fire Department.
- PUB DATE: 4/19/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WSBT-TV 22

‘God was with us that day’: Crews recount rescue of Texas firefighters surrounded by brush fire

For about 10 minutes, Emergency Services District 1 firefighters Jessilyn Davis and Lt. Brannon Stengel found themselves surrounded by a brush fire April 11 in western Travis County. The winds, which had shifted toward them, and 20 percent humidity that day only made matters worse. They tried to stay positive, but Stengel said in the backs of their minds, they thought they had come face-to-face with the blaze that would take their lives.
- PUB DATE: 4/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Austin American-Statesman

Former Rhode Island fire chief escapes prison but must repay taxpayers for illegal pension

A judge has sentenced the former fire chief of the Coventry Fire District to three years of probation and ordered him to repay nearly $200,000 for fraudulently receiving retirement benefits. Paul Labbadia, 52, of North Providence, pleaded no contest in January to three counts that he filed false documents to obtain a public pension.
- PUB DATE: 4/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WPRI-TV Providence 12

Judge rules Illinois city violated contract with firefighters union

Firefighters are breathing a sigh of relief after a nearly year-long struggle. The Mattoon Fire Department will have to hire a handful of new firefighters. It's after a judge ruled that the city violated their contract last year. The fire department is supposed to have more than 30 firefighters, but right now they're at 24.
- PUB DATE: 4/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCIA & WCFN-TV CBS 3 Champaign

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