Just 30% of Americans are worried about contracting COVID-19, the lowest fear level recorded by Gallup since the survey firm began tracking the pandemic in April 2020, and 69% of Americans said the pandemic was getting “better” in the U.S. as more Americans get vaccinated and states begin reopening parts of the economy.
- PUB DATE: 5/14/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Forbes

"Careless use of fireworks" was the cause of a Thursday afternoon fire on the 1000 block of Blake Avenue, the Racine Fire Department is reporting. According to the RFD, firefighters responded to a two-family home at about 2:17 p.m. Thursday where flames could be seen coming out of the roof's east side.
- PUB DATE: 5/13/2021 3:57:43 PM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times - Metered Site

Trees are once again turning green and neighbors are mowing their lawn, but that doesn't mean Wisconsin's wildfire season is over yet. The Department of Natural Resources is still warning residents and visitors to be safe with fire, as drought-like conditions continue for the southern and western portions of the state.
- PUB DATE: 5/13/2021 7:36:00 AM - SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Milwaukee's private ambulance providers are facing a staffing dilemma, struggling to hire people to man the ambulances, and the effects are spilling over into the 911 system. One private ambulance company, Paratech owned by Midwest Medical, is pulling out of the city's 911 agreement with the private providers, citing staffing issues as a factor in its decision.
- PUB DATE: 5/13/2021 6:28:22 AM - SOURCE: WTMJ-TV NBC 4 Milwaukee

Charges were filed against the suspect in a fire at a storage unit which prosecutors said caused about $400,000 damage to the facility and contents — and more charges are forthcoming. Thomas Smith II, 58, made an initial appearance Wednesday on charges of arson, burglary, possession of burglarious tools, and obstruction.
- PUB DATE: 5/13/2021 4:06:12 AM - SOURCE: WNFL Sports Radio

VIDEO: A U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter crashed at an airport in Oklahoma City during a training flight Wednesday afternoon. Emergency responders, including the Oklahoma City Fire Department, were called to the 1700 block of North Cimarron Road in the area of the Clarence E. Page Municipal Airport.
- PUB DATE: 5/13/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KFOR-TV NBC 4 Oklahoma

Two Los Angeles County firefighters could be fired and a third suspended after some first responders took and shared graphic photos from the site of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his teenage daughter and seven others, court documents say. The court documents were filed Monday as part of widow Vanessa Bryant's federal lawsuit against Los Angeles County that alleges invasion of privacy.
- PUB DATE: 5/13/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KABC-TV ABC 7 Los Angeles

Cory Roebuck, a volunteer firefighter with the Western Taney County Fire Protection District, is helping the families of first responders killed in the line of duty. A ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday at the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce launched the Taney County 100 Club. Roebuck said he nearly died eight years ago when he was left hanging from a tree while responding to flash flooding.
- PUB DATE: 5/13/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KYTV NBC 3 Springfield

VIDEO: Firefighters put their lives on the line every day. While we know the tremendous job they do to protect the community, sometimes they go above and beyond to save priceless items that would have been lost. That’s what happened Monday in Bangor. “I had the clothes I was wearing, and I had my phone in my pocket,” said Jonathan Tenney.
- PUB DATE: 5/13/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WABI-TV CBS/CW+ 5 Bangor

VIDEO: According to Gas Buddy about 7% of gas stations in Alabama are out of fuel. Others are running low - or only have limited options. As more and more gas stations continue to face a gas shortage, first responders are trying to make plans to keep their vehicles fueled. Decatur Fire Chief Tracy Thornton said he's starting to see more gas stations with bags over the pumps to indicate they’re running low or completely out of fuel.
- PUB DATE: 5/13/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WAAY-TV ABC 31 Huntsville

It’s common practice for smaller fire departments to rely on paid-on-call firefighters and emergency medical personnel. However, a number of departments in the Stateline Area say the challenges they face related to recruitment, budget constraints and scaled-down training opportunities have increased due to COVID-19.
- PUB DATE: 5/12/2021 8:01:34 PM - SOURCE: Beloit Daily News

Airport firefighters from around the world will now be coming to Northeast Wisconsin for training. The ATW Airport Rescue Fire Fighting Training Center, or ARFF, opened about a year ago. It’s a partnership between Appleton International Airport and Fox Valley Tech, but access to the facility has been limited due to the pandemic.
- PUB DATE: 5/12/2021 4:32:14 PM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

Authorities are still investigating what caused a fire at a house in Mosinee Tuesday night. The fire was reported around 8:30 p.m. at a house on the 800-block of 9th Street in Mosinee. Deputy Chief Adam Grahn said there were people in the home at the time of the fire. They made it out safely. Last night at approximately 8:30pm the Mosinee Fire District along with its auto aid (Kronenwetter, SAFER and Riverside) were paged to a structure fire in the city of Mosinee.
- PUB DATE: 5/12/2021 7:37:58 AM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

VIDEO: Whether it’s a burning building or an active shooter, first responders run toward the danger, not away from it. But some may be ignoring a potentially deadly threat. Yearly firefighter and police officer suicide rates often rival line of duty deaths. A new survey shared exclusively with CBS 58 Investigates sheds light on the mental wellbeing of first responders in Wisconsin.
- PUB DATE: 5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee

VIDEO: A multi-business plaza went up in flames in South Fargo. “At 1:20, we had a report of a fire here at 3242 20th Street South. When crews arrived, they found smoke showing and fire in the attic of the building. They struck a second alarm to bring in additional crews and as you see here, there’s an extensive fire involved of the attic, so they were working to get that stopped.
- PUB DATE: 5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KVRR-TV FOX 15 Fargo

When firefighter Teresa Mauldin was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2013, she attributed it to the dangers of the job. But Mauldin and more than four dozen San Jose firefighters now attribute the danger to the equipment they used and wore every day. “I feel betrayed,” she said. A group of 49 current and former San Jose firefighters, along with three of their spouses, filed two lawsuits in December and March against 27 manufacturing companies including 3M and DuPont.
- PUB DATE: 5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: San Jose Spotlight

Sheldon has a nose for solving arson cases, and he proved it on his very first day at work. The dog — part golden retriever, part black Labrador — was trained by State Farm Insurance to use his incredibly sensitive snout to detect fuels and other accelerants, when authorities suspect that a fire was set on purpose and need evidence to support their case.
- PUB DATE: 5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Metered Site

VIDEO/PHOTOS: Both the West Bend and Town of Sheboygan fire departments recently added new vintage fire trucks to their fleets. The West Bend Fire Department recently refurbished a 1929 Model Ford A fire truck. According to the fire department, they believe it was originally owned by the Germantown Fire Department and then purchased by the West Bend FD in the 1940s.
- PUB DATE: 5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTMJ-TV NBC 4 Milwaukee

Scott Martin, a 12-year veteran with the Buffalo Fire Department, was fired from his job earlier this year because he tested positive for marijuana. Martin doesn't deny using marijuana. The 37-year-old firefighter who served with the Air Force in Iraq and Afghanistan said he is a certified medical marijuana patient who uses cannabis to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and back pain and that cannabis has greatly improved his health and well-being.
- PUB DATE: 5/12/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Buffalo News

Both the West Bend and Town of Sheboygan fire departments recently added new vintage fire trucks to their fleets. The West Bend Fire Department recently refurbished a 1929 Model Ford A fire truck. According to the fire department, they believe it was originally owned by the Germantown Fire Department and then purchased by the West Bend FD in the 1940s.
- PUB DATE: 5/11/2021 7:06:36 PM - SOURCE: WTMJ-TV NBC 4 Milwaukee