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National Fire News

FDNY quietly issues tougher anti-hazing policy after abuse claims

Embarrassed by a series of shocking hazing complaints — including one in which a rookie claimed he was sexually abused — the FDNY has quietly overhauled its anti-hazing policy, The Post has learned. Without any public announcement, Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro on March 21 issued a new five-page policy.
- PUB DATE: 4/3/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Post

Missouri firefighter shot while responding to call

A firefighter from the Riverview Fire Protection District was shot in Ferguson Thursday evening. Shots rang out in the 1500 block of Norlakes Drive in Ferguson around 7:30 p.m., firefighters said. The fire crews had just put out an electrical fire at the Norlake Apartment Complex when a firefighter said it felt like his head was burning.
- PUB DATE: 3/31/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KMOV-TV CBS 4 St. Louis

Man pleads guilty in fatal shooting of Arkansas firefighter, apologizes to family

After pleading guilty to manslaughter in the shooting death of a volunteer firefighter who was coming to his assistance, a North Little Rock man apologized to the victim's family. Mark Eugene Pruitt, 49, pleaded guilty Thursday morning in Pulaski County Circuit Judge Barry Sims’ courtroom Thursday morning.
- PUB DATE: 3/31/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette & Arkansas Online

Portion of Interstate 85 shut down after fiery collapse in Atlanta

A massive fireball collapsed a portion of Interstate 85 in Atlanta, sending motorists driving through billowing black smoke before the city shut down that section of the highway indefinitely. The fire started underneath part of the highway on Thursday evening. At about 7 p.m., an elevated section of the northbound interstate collapsed, forcing frantic motorists to seek alternative routes.
- PUB DATE: 3/31/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CNN

U.S. awards AT&T contract to build wireless network for first responders

The United States on Thursday awarded a contract to AT&T Inc to build a nationwide wireless broadband network to better equip first responders, years after a federal commission recommended setting up such a system following the 9/11 attacks. FirstNet, an independent arm of the Department of Commerce, will provide No.
- PUB DATE: 3/31/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Reuters

West Virginia Chief, 2 Firefighters Charged With Covering Up Wreck

Three members of the Fairview Volunteer Fire Department have been arrested after allegedly covering up a vehicle accident. According to information gathered by Deputy Brian Hawkins with the Marion County Sheriff's Department and filed in a criminal complaint, events began at 1:18 a.m. Saturday at 4405 Crossroads Rd.
- PUB DATE: 3/31/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Time West Virginia

Arizona Court: Yarnell homeowners can’t sue state over 2013 fire

Residents of Yarnell who lost their homes in the 2013 blaze have no legal right to sue the state for failing to save their homes, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled Thursday. In an extensive decision, the court rejected the contention of the homeowners' attorney that the state, which was trying to contain the wildfire that started on public lands, had some duty to also protect the structures.
- PUB DATE: 3/31/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Daily Courier

Massachusetts firefighters pull man to safety as fire rages in dramatic video

VIDEO - A firefighter was hospitalized after crews rescued an 82-year-old man from a burning apartment building on Tuesday afternoon. Brockton Fire said the man was removed from a third floor porch of a building at 685 Oak St. using a ground ladder around 4 p.m. "The fire was blowing out on the second floor porch and some of the bystanders said there was somebody up there," recalled Brockton firefighter Ben Denny.
- PUB DATE: 3/30/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NECN.com

New York firefighters win thousands in damages for mix-up that landed them in handcuffs

A federal court awarded father and son, Michael Dolan Sr. and Michael Dolan Jr, thousands in damages for their arrest in an alleged theft from the New Hyde Park Fire Department that they volunteered for. Both were arrested and cuffed in 2012 when they were charged with felony grand larceny, accused of stealing smoke detectors from the fire department.
- PUB DATE: 3/30/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FiOS1 Long Island

At least 13 dead in collision involving Central Texas church group bus

PHOTOS - A New Braunfels church group returning from a choir retreat Wednesday afternoon was involved in a major collision near Garner State Park resulting in at least 13 confirmed fatalities. The bus and a Dodge dually pickup truck collided head-on at 12:23 p.m. on U.S. 83 North, just south of Ranch Road 1050 when the truck crossed the center line, according to Lt.
- PUB DATE: 3/30/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: MySanAntonio.com

4 former South Carolina firefighters seek up to $1.4 million in unpaid overtime suit

Four former firefighters with the city of York want almost $1.4 million in unpaid overtime, damages and interest, claiming in a lawsuit they were not paid overtime for years. The lawsuits, filed March 22 in York County civil court and obtained exclusively by The Herald, seek not just back overtime pay, but “three times the full amount of the unpaid wages, plus pre-judgment interest.
- PUB DATE: 3/30/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Herald Online

Kansas fire chief apologizes for removal of memorial stickers

The Sedgwick County Fire Chief has apologized to his staff after forcing them to remove memorial stickers from some of the department’s trucks. Fire Chief Tavis Leake sent an email to staff members on Monday in reference to the removal of “Bubba” stickers. The stickers were placed on several fire trucks in 2007 after firefighter Bryon Johnson was killed in the line of duty.
- PUB DATE: 3/30/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KSN-TV News 3

Florida fire chief warns county needs 25 new fire stations, not meeting response goals

Hillsborough County needs 25 new fire stations in the next 25 years to keep up with the thousands of people moving here each year, Fire Rescue Chief Dennis Jones told county commissioners Wednesday.The county is already failing to meet emergency response benchmarks, Jones warned, and it will only get worse as Hillsborough grapples with one of the fastest-growing populations in the country.
- PUB DATE: 3/30/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Tampa Bay Times

Court upholds minimum staffing decision for Pennsylvania firefighters

The state Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Allentown firefighters, finding that their union can negotiate the minimum number of firefighters on a shift because it has a direct impact on safety. In a unanimous decision Tuesday that affects municipalities with professional fire departments across Pennsylvania, the court rejected Allentown's argument that shift staffing was an issue for managers to decide because of its impact on city finances.
- PUB DATE: 3/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Allentown Morning Call

FirstNet board votes to proceed with contract, AT&T award expected this week

FirstNet board members today voted unanimously to authorize FirstNet CEO Mike Poth to finalize the 25-year contract this week—an award to AT&T, although the carrier was not mentioned during the special board meeting—to build and maintain the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN). “This is a very, very special day,” FirstNet Chairwoman Sue Swenson said during the board meeting.
- PUB DATE: 3/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Urgent Communications

Audit finds Massachusetts fire chief's spending was justified

A recent "forensic audit" ordered by the selectmen and conducted by the town account found nothing substantial against Fire Chief Peter Martell. He had been placed on paid administrative leave for 10 weeks awaiting the results of the audit. On Jan. 10, Chief Martell was chastised for spending $33,814 of town money, funds approved by town meeting, for a 2017 Ford Expedition without consulting selectmen and for submitting an electric bill from his home address along with two Fire Department bills.
- PUB DATE: 3/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Worcester Telegram & Gazette

California battalion fire chiefs get 15.5% raises

Palo Alto’s four battalion fire chiefs will get pay raises of 15.5 percent under a labor deal the City Council approved Monday. Three council members, Eric Filseth, Lydia Kou and Greg Tanaka, objected to the raises. Filseth commended the Fire Department’s good work, but characterized the raises as “excessive” especially because of escalating fire service costs.
- PUB DATE: 3/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Mercury News

Deadly fires spark fight over manufactured home regulations in Ohio

Fire officials across Ohio are backing a proposal by Gov. John Kasich to abolish the industry-controlled agency that regulates manufactured homes, saying the commission does too little to protect manufactured home residents from deadly fires. The Ohio Fire Chief’s Association last week sent a letter to Ohio lawmakers expressing support for a provision in the state budget that would do away with the Manufactured Homes Commission and fold its responsibilities into the Ohio Department of Commerce.
- PUB DATE: 3/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Dayton Daily News

Oklahoma Firefighter Assaulted At Scene Of Trailer Fire

A firefighter was assaulted by a man while on the scene of a travel trailer fire just north of Tulsa early Wednesday. The man was identified as 48-year-old Michael Fisher. The incident happened in the 6200 block of North Wheeling at around 3 a.m. The Turley Fire Department was called to the fire involving a 5th wheel trailer being used for storage.
- PUB DATE: 3/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOTV-TV CBS 6 Tulsa

Three confirmed dead in fire at Oakland building with complaint history

People were hanging out windows and running barefoot for their lives early Monday morning as a fire raged through a three-story West Oakland residential building with a history of complaints, killing at least three people and sending another four to the hospital, authorities said. Three were confirmed dead and one was still unaccounted for on Monday night, according to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.
- PUB DATE: 3/28/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: East Bay Times

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