A fire broke out Wednesday afternoon in the apartment of a volunteer firefighter who received a threatening and racist letter earlier this week. Firefighters were called early Wednesday afternoon to the blaze at an apartment house at 1096 Oliver St. in North Tonawanda where Kenneth Walker lives. When the fire was discovered, Walker said that no one was in his apartment, where he lives with his wife and their two children.
- PUB DATE: 8/4/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Buffalo News

It can come down to a matter of minutes. “It can be the difference between life and death” Chief Richard White of the Natick Fire Department told FOX25. In the Natick , there are four fire stations to serve 32,000 people and the average response time is below the national standard of 6.5 minutes set by the National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA.
- PUB DATE: 8/4/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: fox25boston.com

It's a warm, sunny morning at the Homestead National Monument of America in southeastern Nebraska. A burn crew dressed in yellow and green flame-resistant clothing is about to set a patch of tall-grass prairie on fire — on purpose. These kind of burns aren't unusual. But today's burn is; a team from the University of Nebraska is testing a fire-starting drone.
- PUB DATE: 8/4/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: kuow.org

The Beloit Fire Department has a history of too much overtime and too many unnecessary emergency calls. The Fire Department is projected to spend $320,800 in overtime which is $60,000 more than budgeted but is the approximate total spent each of the last four years, Fire Chief Brad Liggett said. The department spent $320,345 in 2015 overtime and was budgeted $295,000.
- PUB DATE: 8/3/2016 7:01:37 AM - SOURCE: Beloit Daily News

The Lake Delton Fire Department welcomed a new chaplain into its fold Monday night. The Rev. Steven G. Keller, long-time pastor for Wisconsin Dells United Presbyterian Church, received his chaplain badge from Lake Delton Fire Chief Darren Jorgenson during a brief induction ceremony at the station. Keller steps into the role held by the Rev.
- PUB DATE: 8/3/2016 5:52:08 AM - SOURCE: Wisconsin Dells-Events

VIDEO: A fire damaged a home in Wausau early Wednesday morning. Dozens of firefighters were at the scene on Pearson Street. The blaze was called in just before 4 a.m. Authorities from the Marathon County Sheriff's Department say the family was able to get out of the home safely. The families two pet rabbits also made it out safely, but their bird was not as fortunate.
- PUB DATE: 8/3/2016 5:33:21 AM - SOURCE: WAOW-TV ABC 9-Wausau

The Montezuma Fire Protection District commission, confirmed to be under investigation by the Solano County District Attorney’s Office for possible open meeting law violations, met Monday to appoint an acting fire chief but took no action. Joe Rosewall was fired July 26 as chief. He could not be reached for comment.
- PUB DATE: 8/3/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Daily Republic

A new Fire Chief Search Committee will help the town administrator find a new chief after the abrupt resignation of Fire Chief David E. Zinther. The chief's resignation letter is dated July 19, the day after he last addressed the Board of Selectmen and asked for approval to hire a ninth full-time firefighter.
- PUB DATE: 8/3/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Worcester Telegram & Gazette

When Phoenix Fire paramedic engineer Kim Packenbush learned her daughter wanted to follow her footsteps as a fire paramedic, Kim was thrilled and scared. “I grew up with four brothers so I was pretty much a tomboy,” Kim said. Kim worried her daughter might have a difficult time adjusting to the culture of a fire station.
- PUB DATE: 8/3/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: 12news

The massive Soberanes Fire was caused by someone who lit an illegal campfire, Cal Fire unit chief Brennan Blue said Tuesday. The wildfire sparked in Garrapata State Park on July 22 before it burned more than 44,300 acres, destroyed 57 homes, and led to the death of a bulldozer operator on Green Ridge.
- PUB DATE: 8/3/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KSBW-TV Salinas

Firefighters and fire officers who retired over the last 12 months will collect pensions averaging $119,866 a year, according to data released Tuesday. The Empire Center, a government watchdog, said its analysis of 15,556 former FDNY members determined that the pensions of new retirees — which already exceed six figures — would be increasing another 6 percent.
- PUB DATE: 8/3/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Post

When Joshua Warren collapsed while exercising while on duty back in June, his death stunned fellow firefighters because they said he was a man who was health conscious. The reason he died also has them stunned. “Really couldn’t believe it,” said Mike Turner, an assistant fire chief at East Lincoln Fire Department.
- PUB DATE: 8/3/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WNCN-TV NBC 17

On August 2, 1 residential fire fatality was reported by the Nation's news media.

Representatives from the Milwaukee Fire Department and On Purpose Journey, a non-profit that provides support for military, firefighters, law enforcement and veterans, today announced a collection of events to pay tribute to the upcoming 15th anniversary of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. "This year, we were asked by fire departments, law enforcement agencies and military veteran groups around the country to stand for their fallen, and we are excited and humbled and honored to answer that call," said Mollie Manhattan, founder of On Purpose Journey, at Tuesday's press conference, held outside of Milwaukee Fire Department Engine House 2, 755 N.
- PUB DATE: 8/2/2016 8:39:15 PM - SOURCE: OnMilwaukee.com

As the propellers grew louder and Flight for Life came nearer, a massive crowd of parents and children ran to watch the helicopter land, then wait for a look inside. Flight for Life, along with numerous Fond du Lac police officers and firefighters, was present at the fairgrounds for National Night Out, an event celebrated around the world Aug.
- PUB DATE: 8/2/2016 7:33:35 PM - SOURCE: Fond du Lac Reporter

Police are investigating two deaths that occurred after a fatal fire in Hilllsboro early Monday morning. The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office received two phone calls around 6:53 and 6:56 A.M. from citizens driving by the residence and reporting a fully engulfed structure fire that was almost burnt to the ground.
- PUB DATE: 8/2/2016 7:54:49 AM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

City public safety leaders say they will need more police officers, firefighters and a third ambulance to keep the growing Sun Prairie community safe. Sun Prairie Fire Police Chief Chris Garrison said needs are being met with calls volume on the east side of town but more westside growth could see service to that area could fall in the future.
- PUB DATE: 8/2/2016 5:18:42 AM - SOURCE: Sun Prairie Star

On August 1, 3 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

Omaha Fire Department Interim Chief Dan Olsen announced Monday that Battalion Chief Joseph Salcedo has been placed on paid administrative leave for sharing "inappropriate content on his personal Facebook page." The department released this statement: "It was recently brought to the Omaha Fire Department’s attention that Battalion Chief Joseph Salcedo had shared potentially inappropriate content on his personal Facebook page.
- PUB DATE: 8/2/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WOWT-TV NBC 6 Omaha

A six-member jury has ruled against a volunteer firefighter who sued for pain and suffering from the loss of his leg after being hit by a car as he rushed to an emergency call in Seaford. On Nov. 14, 2010, Steven Hochman was hit by a car driven by Kevin McCarthy, of Seaford, a retired NYPD officer. Besides McCarthy, Hochman sued his fire captain at the time, Thomas Cattone, saying Cattone had parked his pickup truck on the sidewalk across the street from the firehouse, blocking Hochman from seeing the oncoming vehicle, and the driver from seeing him step from the sidewalk as he hurried to the firehouse.
- PUB DATE: 8/2/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firerescue1