Santa Claus was briefly blamed for a Dec. 21, 1907, fire that destroyed the eastern half of the 600 block of East Adams Street. The final damage estimate, over $137,000, made the fire the most expensive in Springfield history up to that time. The blaze started in the Johnston-Hatcher store on the southwest corner of Seventh and Adams streets.
- PUB DATE: 12/12/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The State Journal-Register - Metered Site

Acting State Fire Commissioner Charles McGarvey issued the following statement today on the recent increase in firefighter line-of-duty deaths: "Yesterday afternoon, our office learned of the recent house fire in West Penn Township near Tamaqua, Schuylkill County during which three individuals unfortunately lost their lives.
- PUB DATE: 12/12/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WOLF-TV FOX 56 Hazelton

VIDEO: When Meridian Fire Department Chief Kris Blume got into the career almost 25 years ago, he did not think about the health risks. “I never had even an awareness that cancer was something that we needed to be aware of,” he said. But cancer risk is definitely something he is aware of now. A recent 2022 study from the International Agency for Research on Cancer found occupational exposure as a firefighter causes cancer.
- PUB DATE: 12/12/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTVB-TV NBC 7 Boise

A Christmas tree is often the focal point of many homes during the holidays. The focal point of your home can also easily start a fire. Riverside Fire District in Rothschild has reminders to make sure everyone is staying safe and festive. If you have a real tree, the biggest thing is to make sure it is properly watered.
- PUB DATE: 12/11/2022 5:50:00 PM - SOURCE: WQOW-TV ABC 18 Eau Claire

Firefighters were able to successfully extinguish a lawn tractor that caught fire in Verona Saturday evening. Dane County Dispatch says the call for the fire came in at 6:32 p.m. The Verona Fire Department was on scene within minutes. Verona Fire Department Chief Matthew Valentine said a lawn tractor caught fire within the garage of a home.
- PUB DATE: 12/11/2022 4:29:00 AM - SOURCE: WKOW-TV ABC 27 Madison

One person has died and another is injured after a house fire on Rose St. late Friday night. The La Crosse Fire department said in a release that responders were called to a two-floor triplex on 608 Rose Street shortly before midnight Friday. Upon arrival, responders saw heavy fire coming from inside the house.
- PUB DATE: 12/10/2022 11:53:07 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

...LIGHT WINTRY PRECIP COULD MAKE FOR SLIPPERY ROADS OVER NORTHERN WISCONSIN THIS EVENING... A slow moving area of low pressure will continue to bring light snow to parts of north-central and northeast Wisconsin late this evening. Freezing drizzle may mix with the snow at times. The light precipitation should end by midnight at most locations Special Weather Statement 2022-12-10T22:47:00-06:00 2022-12-11T01:00:00-06:00 Actual Alert Met Expected Minor Observed Door; Florence; Forest; Langlade; Lincoln; Menominee; Northern Marinette County; Northern Oconto County; Oneida; Shawano; Southern Marinette County; Southern Oconto County; Vilas FIPS6 055029 055037 055041 055067 055069 055075 055078 055083 055085 055115 055125 UGC WIZ005 WIZ010 WIZ011 WIZ012 WIZ013 WIZ018 WIZ019 WIZ020 WIZ021 WIZ022 WIZ031 WIZ073 WIZ074 VTEC

...LIGHT WINTRY PRECIP COULD MAKE FOR SLIPPERY ROADS OVER NORTHERN WISCONSIN THIS EVENING... A slow moving area of low pressure will continue to bring light snow to parts of central, north-central, and northeast Wisconsin this evening. Freezing drizzle may mix with the snow at times. The light precipitation should end between 9 pm and midnight at Special Weather Statement 2022-12-10T17:27:00-06:00 2022-12-10T21:00:00-06:00 Actual Alert Met Expected Minor Observed Florence; Forest; Langlade; Lincoln; Marathon; Menominee; Northern Marinette County; Northern Oconto County; Oneida; Southern Marinette County; Vilas FIPS6 055037 055041 055067 055069 055073 055075 055078 055083 055085 055125 UGC WIZ005 WIZ010 WIZ011 WIZ012 WIZ013 WIZ018 WIZ019 WIZ020 WIZ021 WIZ030 WIZ073 VTEC

...LIGHT SNOW COULD MAKE ROADS AND SIDEWALKS SLICK THIS AFTERNOON... An upper level disturbance will bring light snow to central and north-central Wisconsin through the afternoon. Freezing drizzle may mix with the snow at times. The snow should end during the early evening hours. While snow accumulations will be generally less than an inch, Special Weather Statement 2022-12-10T10:40:00-06:00 2022-12-10T16:00:00-06:00 Actual Alert Met Expected Minor Observed Florence; Forest; Langlade; Lincoln; Marathon; Menominee; Northern Marinette County; Northern Oconto County; Oneida; Portage; Shawano; Vilas; Waupaca; Waushara; Wood FIPS6 055037 055041 055067 055069 055073 055075 055078 055083 055085 055097 055115 055125 055135 055137 055141 UGC WIZ005 WIZ010 WIZ011 WIZ012 WIZ013 WIZ018 WIZ019 WIZ020 WIZ021 WIZ030 WIZ031 WIZ035 WIZ036 WIZ037 WIZ045 VTEC

...LIGHT SNOW COULD MAKE ROADS AND SIDEWALKS SLICK TODAY... An upper level disturbance will bring light snow to Central and Northcentral Wisconsin today. It could be mixed with freezing drizzle at times. The snow should end during the early evening hours. While snow accumulations will be generally less than an inch, Special Weather Statement 2022-12-10T05:47:00-06:00 2022-12-10T11:00:00-06:00 Actual Alert Met Expected Minor Observed Florence; Forest; Langlade; Lincoln; Marathon; Menominee; Northern Marinette County; Northern Oconto County; Oneida; Portage; Shawano; Vilas; Waupaca; Waushara; Wood FIPS6 055037 055041 055067 055069 055073 055075 055078 055083 055085 055097 055115 055125 055135 055137 055141 UGC WIZ005 WIZ010 WIZ011 WIZ012 WIZ013 WIZ018 WIZ019 WIZ020 WIZ021 WIZ030 WIZ031 WIZ035 WIZ036 WIZ037 WIZ045 VTEC

Across Wisconsin, fire departments and emergency medical service (EMS) agencies have a people problem—a major people problem. They don’t have enough of them. They are struggling to hire and retain paramedics, firefighters and emergency technicians. The problem is so acute that some volunteer fire and EMS departments don’t have enough personnel to respond to 911 calls.
- PUB DATE: 12/9/2022 3:45:00 PM - SOURCE: Sun Prairie Star

Three people died in a house fire in Watertown early Friday, authorities said. The Watertown fire and police departments and the state fire marshal are investigating the fire in the 100 Block of Western Avenue that was reported about 12:30 a.m. Friday, Watertown Fire Department Chief Travis Teesch said in a statement.
- PUB DATE: 12/9/2022 9:40:00 AM - SOURCE: La Crosse Tribune - Metered Site

Construction is expected to wrap up in March for Fire Station Four on La Crosse street. Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Murphy said this new station will bring firefighters closer to the calls they serve. It also offers more perks for first responders. “They are meant to be a safer environment for the firefighters, and to add privacy.
- PUB DATE: 12/9/2022 5:41:03 AM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

The Ohio Senate voted down legislation Wednesday that would lengthen the minimum required prison sentence of anyone convicted of killing a firefighter or EMS worker while driving, setting up a possible negotiation session to hammer out differences in the bill with the Ohio House. The decision comes weeks after a Cleveland firefighter was killed in a recent hit-and-run by an allegedly drunk driver.
- PUB DATE: 12/9/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Cleveland.com

The bodies of a 7-year-old girl and a 25-year-old woman were found in Northridge Lake Thursday afternoon. Milwaukee police said a witness spotted a car submerged in the water off 70th and Brown Deer on the city's north side around 12:30 p.m. Milwaukee Fire Department crews pulled the bodies out. Identities were not released.
- PUB DATE: 12/9/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTMJ-TV NBC 4 Milwaukee

Multiple patients are being treated at University of Iowa Health Hospitals & Clinics for injuries following an explosion and fire at a Marengo plant, about 80 miles east of Des Moines. The Iowa State Patrol tells KCCI that the explosion happened around 11:20 a.m. on Thursday. Many agencies responded within a 30-50 mile radius.
- PUB DATE: 12/9/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KCCI-TV CBS 8 Des Moines

The Ohio Senate voted down legislation Wednesday that would lengthen the minimum required prison sentence of anyone convicted of killing a firefighter or EMS worker while driving, setting up a possible negotiation session to hammer out differences in the bill with the Ohio House. The decision comes weeks after a Cleveland firefighter was killed in a recent hit-and-run by an allegedly drunk driver.
- PUB DATE: 12/9/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Cleveland.com

In the early morning hours of Dec. 8, 1922, fire tore through Oregon’s oldest city. Astoria’s fire likely began near 11th Street and quickly spread through the downtown business district. Despite a drizzle of rain and light snow, the blaze jumped from building to building. Within an hour of the first alarm, an entire block turned to ash.
- PUB DATE: 12/9/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Oregon Public Broadcasting

U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal announced that his bipartisan bill to improve disability and retirement benefits for federal firefighters is included in the final version of this year’s defense policy bill. He said that puts the benefits bill on the path to becoming law by the end of this month. The Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, which had already passed the House earlier this year on its own and is part of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, ensures federal firefighters receive the same access to job-related disability and retirement benefits as state, county and municipal firefighters.
- PUB DATE: 12/9/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Santa Barbara News-Press

VIDEO: The City of Montgomery has purchased seven new firetrucks for Montgomery Fire/Rescue, marking a historic moment. It’s the largest investment in the department’s 125-year history. Mayor Steven Reed and Fire Chief Miford Jordan made the announcement Thursday at a press conference in front of the fire department’s headquarters, saying it’s part of the city’s Montgomery Forward Initiative.
- PUB DATE: 12/9/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WSFA-TV NBC 12 Montgomery