A year into the pandemic, COVID-19 still puzzles researchers, but the public release of a new database may help scientists solve some of the mysteries lingering around this devastating disease. An international team of researchers from institutions including Boston Children's Hospital, Northeastern University and the University of Oxford has partnered with Google.
- PUB DATE: 3/5/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTVD-TV ABC 11 Durham

Since the fall, firefighter Tasha Kirch has been learning the skills of what it takes to become a paramedic in a Madison College classroom. But now, Tasha and her fellow Paramedic Academy students are learning in the field, on actual calls with paramedics. In between ambulance calls, checking cabinets full of medical equipment in the back of an ambulance at Madison Fire Station #4 Kirch said, “Oh, this is the best hands-on classroom a girl could get.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 9:37:42 PM - SOURCE: WMTV NBC 15 Madison

Authorities in South Central Wisconsin are warning about dangerous ice conditions after crews responded to two ice rescues in one week. Portage Police Department said the latest case happened on the Wisconsin River. According to a press release, first responders were called to the 700 block of W. Edgewater Street at 5:27 p.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 6:44:13 PM - SOURCE: WMTV NBC 15 Madison

A garage fire that started near a wood burning stove caused tens of thousands of dollars to the detached structure. According to the Madison Fire Dept., firefighters were called to the home in the 3500 block of Portage Road shortly after 10:30 a.m. and could see light smoke coming from the garage as they arrived.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 5:32:56 PM - SOURCE: WMTV NBC 15 Madison

The City of La Crosse claims products containing PFAS chemicals caused contamination of public and private wells in a lawsuit filed against nearly two dozen chemical companies on Thursday. The suit filed by Milwaukee-based law firm Crueger Dickinson and firm Napoli Shkolnik in La Crosse County Circuit Court alleges that cities like La Crosse used aqueous firefighting foams (AFFF) that contained perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for decades without any knowledge of the harmful effects the chemicals pose to public health.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 3:07:43 PM - SOURCE: Wisconsin Public Radio

A $75,000 donation from an anonymous donor helped the Twin Lakes Fire Department and Rescue Squad purchase 22 new self-contained breathing apparatus packs. Fire Chief Stan Clause said the donation was made in honor of former department member Johan Kjellander, who died in March 2020. Kjellander was a member of the department for 65 years, where he served as a rescue squad captain.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 1:45:30 PM - SOURCE: Kenosha News - Metered Site

The Neillsville Fire Department responded to a chimney fire this morning. According to Neillsville’s Fire Chief, they received a call about a chimney fire around 5:29am at W5299 Bob White Road in the Township of Weston. The fire was contained to the chimney and there was no structural damage to the home.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 12:29:05 PM - SOURCE: WCCN-FM 107.5

VIDEO: Bob Stella is a self-taught painter. “It’s a dying art. There’s not many people doing it anymore, it’s all done on computers now,” he said. Stella makes the shields that go on firefighters’ helmets in his tiny Weymouth workshop and is one of the most renowned artists in his industry. “I started in 1988 and just took off from word of mouth.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WFXT-TV Fox 25 Boston

We’re not supposed to forget our heroes. But 25 years ago, the heroes themselves, the ones that helped save the city of Weyauwega, they couldn’t wait to forget. A train derailment, 469,000 gallons of burning propane, and 14 days wondering if this day would be their last; they didn’t want to be heroes anymore.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Spectrum News

VIDEO: Bob Stella is a self-taught painter. “It’s a dying art. There’s not many people doing it anymore, it’s all done on computers now,” he said. Stella makes the shields that go on firefighters’ helmets in his tiny Weymouth workshop and is one of the most renowned artists in his industry. “I started in 1988 and just took off from word of mouth.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WFXT-TV Fox 25 Boston

When someone has a mental health crisis in Oakland, chances are good in the near future that police officers won’t be showing up to try to calm them down. The City Council this week unanimously signaled that it wants the fire department to handle mental health crises and other non-crime calls by sending out paramedics and counselors.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: East Bay Times - Metered Site

VIDEO: Students at a Garland ISD high school have come up with an invention that is now getting national attention. Students at the Gilbreath-Reed Career and Technical Center designed a system to sanitize firefighters’ boots to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. The design got the attention of the researchers at MIT.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KXAS-TV NBC 5 Fort Worth

We’re not supposed to forget our heroes. But 25 years ago, the heroes themselves, the ones that helped save the city of Weyauwega, they couldn’t wait to forget. A train derailment, 469,000 gallons of burning propane, and 14 days wondering if this day would be their last; they didn’t want to be heroes anymore.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Spectrum News

When tragedy recently struck a Nashville firefighter and Tennessee Titans season ticket holder, Derrick Henry stepped up to lend a helping hand. Local firefighter Jeremy Taylor, a father of four girls, recently lost his new Nashville home to a fire. After seeing the news on social media, Henry reached out to the Titans to ask how he could help.
- PUB DATE: 3/4/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Saturday Down South

It's a good thing, and maybe even a refreshing change, when one arm of local government reaches out to praise another. That's what happened Wednesday, March 3, all in the name of fire safety. "Let's make something positive. Let's make something that will actually have an impact on prevention." Acting Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski held a news conference to publicly thank a group of volunteers led by Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2021 6:46:42 PM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee

Western Technical College has lots of space at its Sparta campus and is taking steps to utilize it. The college announced that work on a $4.7 million remodeling and expansion of the Public Safety Training Facility will begin later this spring. The project will accommodate the move of Western’s Emergency Medical Service training program from downtown La Crosse to the Sparta campus located in the Monroe County town of Angelo.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2021 5:34:42 PM - SOURCE: Lacrosse Tribune

The Racine Fire Department responded to a duplex fire near Pierce and Russet just before 5 a.m. Wednesday, March 3. Fire officials say all 12 occupants escape the two units prior to the arrival of firefighters. Officials say those first on scene discovered a small fire near the front entrance. Racine fire officials say the fire was fought by 20 firefighters, staffing three fire engines, one truck, one quint, and one ambulance, along with one command officers and two fire investigators.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2021 2:15:52 PM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee

Firefighters rescued four people from a burning building Wednesday morning. Fire crews responded around 5 a.m. to an apartment fire at 501. S. Fisk Street with reports that four people were trapped inside on the third floor, according to the Green Bay Metro Fire Department. Firefighters saw smoke and found the trapped people at a window.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2021 6:15:44 AM - SOURCE: Green Bay Press-Gazette

VIDEO/PHOTOS: A Jellico, Tennessee motel was destroyed after a large fire early Wednesday morning. Fire crews were called to Parkway Inn just after 10 p.m. last night. Officials said the motel had been closed for remodeling and had just reopened a few days ago. A handful of people were staying there but everyone was able to get out before firefighters arrived.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WHJL-TV CBS/ABC11 Johnson City

VIDEO: Being a firefighter means running into the burning building when everyone else is running out. It’s dangerous and requires courage, but for the brave men and women who train for it, it’s just another day on the job. But even that can change quickly. By all accounts, January 30, 2014, started as a typical day.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WGHP-TV Fox 8 High Point