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National Fire News

Firefighting foam under fire for link to water contamination, firefighter injuries

A fire suppressant foam linked to the shutdown of two drinking water wells at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base injured a firefighter during a training incident and the Defense Department has launched an investigation to determine how widespread the problem is across the nation. The firefighter, Michael R.
- PUB DATE: 9/13/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Dayton Daily News

Nine dead in Tennessee house fire; city's deadliest fire since 1920s

Nine people died Monday morning in a South Memphis house blaze that fire officials called the city’s deadliest fire in almost a century. Memphis Fire Director Gina Sweat confirmed the deaths during a 9 a.m. press conference. She said one child pulled from the residence was still fighting for his life at LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center.
- PUB DATE: 9/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Tennessean

Tennessee fire kills 11 including 7 children: '... never seen firemen cry'

Seven children were among 11 people who died in a house fire in South Memphis Monday morning, family and friends said. The children who died were Angel, 16; Cameron, either 8 or 10; Alonzo Ward, 6; Diamond; Precious Rose, 3; Kira; and Ernest Jr. Ages were unknown for Diamond, Kira and Ernest Jr. The adults were identified as Carol Collier, 56; Lakeisha Ward, 27, mother of Alonzo Ward; and Eloise Futrell, 61.
- PUB DATE: 9/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Tennessean

How heroes of 9/11 live on in St. Patrick’s Cathedral

The $175 million restoration of the cathedral is largely complete and little has been left untouched. The stained glass is brighter, the ceiling cracks repaired, the pews polished and the organ pipes cleaned. But one corner of the historic church is still dusty and stained, and it will remain that way forever.
- PUB DATE: 9/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Post

Mississippi firefighter dies, 2 seriously injured as fire truck crashes on way to call

The Meridian Fire Department is mourning the death of a firefighter following a crash Friday morning while his truck was en route to an emergency call. Firefighter Eric Gustafson, 40, originally of New Orleans, was killed and two colleagues were seriously injured when their fire truck rolled over around 9 a.
- PUB DATE: 9/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Meridian Star

Homeland Security grant allows Atlanta to hire 47 new firefighters

Nearly 50 new Atlanta firefighters are slated to be hired as part to a $5.6 million federal grant that the Atlanta fire chief said would “improve and maintain our status as one of the most accomplished firefighting operations in the country.” Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced this week that the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department was awarded a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from the U.
- PUB DATE: 9/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

South Carolina firefighters: Drug abusers are angry and fighting when Narcan administered

Victims of heroin overdoses have a greater shot of surviving now that North Myrtle Beach first responders are authorized to use an antidote called Narcan, but officials believe not all drug abusers will be happy about it. “Most times when you give this, they are really angry and they start fighting,” said Derrick Heim, health and safety officer for North Myrtle Beach.
- PUB DATE: 9/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: myrtlebeachonline.com

Thousands of new patients seeking help for 9/11 illnesses

A wave of new patients is registering for care at local clinics that are part of the World Trade Center Health Program and doctors said they tend to be sicker, signaling more serious health impacts to come from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Some advocates and experts said the number of people who die from 9/11 illnesses eventually will surpass the 2,977 killed in the attacks.
- PUB DATE: 9/9/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Newsday

Is Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti willing to play dirty pool for union money?

Is Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti willing to play dirty pool in order to get significant union money and votes for his re-election as well as for his anticipated future campaigns for either Governor or Senator? Does anyone doubt that the Los Angeles Times – formerly known as the newspaper of record for Southern California – is willing to aid and abet him in that mission? It certainly seems so in reading the Times’ August 24th article by Paul Pringle and Ben Welsh entitled “LAFD Fire Marshal Steps Down after Criticism that He Cut Corners on Safety.
- PUB DATE: 9/9/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Citywatch

IAFC Votes to Support FirstNet

As the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the IAFC has voted to support the enhancement of communications for responders. "...More than 343 firefighters and 71 law enforcement officers died as a result of the attacks at the World Trade Center on 9/11. As the 15th anniversary approaches, the IAFC joins the families of these fallen public-safety officers in vowing that the sacrifices of 9/11 will not be in vain," officials said in a statement Thursday.
- PUB DATE: 9/9/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse.com

New Maryland fire chief answered the call to volunteer after seeing newspaper ad

Mark Johnson was elected chief of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company this week, the pinnacle of a volunteer fire service career that started 18 years ago as the result of seeing an ad in the newspaper. Johnson, a resident of Bel Air, was 34 years old, with two young children, in 1998 when he was sitting in the Bagel Works restaurant near the main South Hickory Avenue firehouse, reading The Aegis.
- PUB DATE: 9/9/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Baltimore Sun

New York City’s Firefighting Arsenal Will Soon Include Drones

The drone hovered over the clearing in the wooded park on Staten Island, the thin cord that tethered it to the ground unspooling enough for it to fly above the trees. Michael Wall, a New York City firefighter, stood on the ground below, operating the drone from a portable command center of sorts, with controls and a monitor housed in a mustard-colored case.
- PUB DATE: 9/8/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The New York Times

Texas volunteer firefighter killed in head-on-collision with semi

A Wink Volunteer firefighter died in an accident Wednesday afternoon. According to the Loving County Sheriff Chris Busse, Colby Slaughter, 36, was killed in the accident. Authorities said the Wink Volunteer Fire Department responded to a tank battery fire around 5 p.m. and the truck was traveling westbound on State Highway 302 with its lights and sirens on.
- PUB DATE: 9/8/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: newest9.com

9/11 ground-zero flag mystery is partially solved in Washington State

The two Everett police detectives didn’t know the flag was missing until a stranger rang the doorbell at Fire Station 1 on Rucker Avenue. The man handed over a plastic bag to firefighters, along with a tale that led the detectives on the investigation of a lifetime. Nearly two years later — on Aug. 4 — a curator from the National September 11 Memorial Museum made a quiet visit to the Everett police station.
- PUB DATE: 9/8/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: HeraldNet.com

Report: GPS placed California arson suspect at fire scene

A GPS tracker placed a California arson suspect's vehicle at the scene of a destructive wildfire north of San Francisco last month about a minute before it started, according to an investigation of the suspect in the blaze that destroyed 189 homes. Investigators first placed a tracker on Damin Pashilk's vehicle in August 2015 after a series of small arson fires over the previous weeks that Pashilk is also accused of starting.
- PUB DATE: 9/8/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Daily Press

Column: Post-9/11 firefighter communication technology

Not familiar with FirstNet? Chances are you're not alone. One of the most important priorities for public safety that emerged in the aftermath of 9/11 was creating an ensuring, robust and interoperable communications for our nation's first responders. In 2012, Congress finally enacted legislation setting aside wireless spectrum and establishing FirstNet to oversee the building and operation of an interoperable broadband network dedicated to public safety.
- PUB DATE: 9/8/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firechief.com

Connecticut Fire Department Beats National Average For Female Firefighters

Romona Walters has always wanted to be a teacher. Kids in preschool, maybe. It's a career that fits her interest in public service, she says. But about a year ago, another possibility opened up. Now, the 20-year-old has a new goal as she continues her classes at Capital Community College: to become the first female fire chief in Hartford.
- PUB DATE: 9/7/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Courant Community

Massachusetts fire department to hire ex-con; union opposes decision

Frederick Conyers Jr. had a choice: he could run and hide from his past or he could face it head on. On Tuesday, he sat, flanked by the mayor and the fire chief and surrounded by microphones and cameras from a half-dozen local reporters, detailing his criminal history, incarceration and rise to redemption.
- PUB DATE: 9/7/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: iBerkshires.com

Maryland county might distinguish between urban and rural fire response times

Changes to Frederick County’s fire and rescue response goals could help county fire stations get more support — and maybe more personnel. The Frederick County Council heard testimony Tuesday on a bill to change target response times throughout the county. Right now, county code has a blanket approach to measuring fire station responses, the time it takes units to leave a station after a dispatched call.
- PUB DATE: 9/7/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Frederick News-Post

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