A Houston firefighter survived a scare late Friday afternoon. His crew was cutting a hole in the roof of a south-side home to put a fire out when he fell through. "He fell through in such a way that the guys that were on the roof weren't able to pull him out," said HFD Deputy Chief Herman Gonzales.
- PUB DATE: 11/23/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTRK abc 13

A recent question about the appropriate title for Doña Ana County's top fire official brought to the forefront a power struggle that's been simmering for years between county administrators and volunteer fire districts across the county. County commissioners answered the question definitively when they voted unanimously earlier this month to change Robert Monsivaiz's title from "fire marshal" to "fire chief.
- PUB DATE: 11/23/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Las Cruces Sun-News

A firefighter who was allowed to graduate the Fire Academy despite failing physical tests has already gone out on medical leave — just 10 days into the job, The Post has learned. Probationary firefighter Choeurlyne Doirin-Holder injured herself Monday while conducting a routine check of equipment at Queens’ Engine 308 in South Richmond Hill.
- PUB DATE: 11/23/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: new york post

The Detroit Fire Department reported that Fire Boat 1 Capt. Walter Szelag died in the line of duty Friday of an apparent heart attack. At about 4:45 p.m. fire crews called for an ambulance to the fire boat station. Capt. Szelag was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The department web site said one firefighter reported that Friday was meant to be Szelag's last shift at the boat station before it was closed for the winter.
- PUB DATE: 11/23/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: firerescue1

On November 19, 2 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On November 17, 3 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

Columbus firefighters recently rejected a three-year contract proposal that would have given them raises of 3.5 percent in the first two years and 3 percent in the final year. Union members mainly objected to lower pay differentials for paramedics and increases in health-insurance premiums. More than two-thirds of the members rejected the contract, according to three firefighters, including a captain.
- PUB DATE: 11/20/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: columbus dispatch

A Detroit firefighter and longtime veteran died last night while on duty. Sgt. Vince Smith, a 24-year veteran with Detroit Fire died in his sleep at Engine 48, on Fort St near Marathon Oil refinery. Smith was assigned to DFD Ladder 13 but he was pulling a duty shift overnight at Engine 48. "He had a special way that he saw life," said Battalion Chief Steve Kirschner.
- PUB DATE: 11/20/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WJBK fox 2 detroit

A proposal to reclassify three of the Kingman Fire Department's six battalion chiefs from exempt to non-exempt status revealed conflict between the city's police and fire departments at Tuesday's City Council meeting, and led to hard feelings and some profanity. City Manager John Dougherty said the change was necessary for three of the battalion chiefs who work in operations and are on the same 24-hour shift schedule as firefighters.
- PUB DATE: 11/20/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: daily miner

Fuel mitigation is crucial for combating the nation’s growing wildfire problem, but culture, politics, and geography can be significant barriers keeping communities from doing the work. That’s one of the key findings in “Local Wildand/Urban Interface: Fire Department Wildfire Preparedness and Readiness Capabilities,” the new report of an ambitious NFPA project aimed at capturing, for the first time, how municipal fire departments nationwide are adjusting to their increased role in battling wildfire.
- PUB DATE: 11/20/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NFPA Journal

Some volunteer firefighters in Robeson County are under fire from vandals. Someone has been breaking into the homes of Parkton volunteer firefighters and has even shot the fire station’s sign. Parkton Fire Department Captain Jason Viar said that recently, several of his firefighters have been answering a different kind of alarm-burglar alarms at their own homes.
- PUB DATE: 11/20/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WRAL-TV CBS 5 Raleigh

On November 18, 0 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On November 13, 10 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

His face is scarred, he’s missing the tips of all 10 fingers and he has a long, difficult recovery ahead. But the young firefighter who survived last summer’s deadly Twisp River blaze said he’s grateful for the family, friends and community who have helped him pull through. “This accident was a true tragedy, but it’s brought out what’s good in the world,” said Daniel Lyon Jr.
- PUB DATE: 11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: seattle times

Judge Joseph K. Williams won't recuse himself from the retrial of a man accused of starting a fire in 1995 that killed three firefighters, saying prosecutors who sought a new judge failed to back up claims Williams harbored a grudge against the ATF or a potential expert witness. Williams granted the retrial for Gregory Brown, 38, after a 2012 Post-Conviction Relief Act hearing, on the grounds that the prosecution did not tell jurors that two key witnesses were promised thousands of dollars in exchange for their testimony.
- PUB DATE: 11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

In a significant step forward for the renewal of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday agreed to back a permanent extension of its expired health program, according to Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. But King said “there is still a long way to go” because the Zadroga reauthorization bill must pass out of four key committees.
- PUB DATE: 11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: firerescue1

Cory Hohs' idea was inspired by a close call with a Chicago fire truck on his motorcycle, but his new app, which warns drivers to the presence of emergency vehicle traffic, is being tested first in Grand Rapids. That's because the city's fire department was not only willing to take part in a pilot, but the agency also let Hohs and his two partners gather research as they rode on fire trucks during emergency calls.
- PUB DATE: 11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Mlive.com

Three people whose homes and acres of property were destroyed during the worst wildfire in Washington state history are blaming the Department of Natural Resources for their losses. They all live near Carlton, and filed a lawsuit in Okanogan Superior Court this week naming the State of Washington DNR as defendant.
- PUB DATE: 11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KIRO-TV CBS 7

Permanently renewing legislation to benefit Ground Zero first responders could be financed by closing a tax loophole, Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said Tuesday. That loophole allows foreign insurance companies to issue reinsurance in the United States without paying the same taxes as their U.
- PUB DATE: 11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Poughkeepsie Journal

On November 17, 2 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.