VIDEO: Racine Police Chief Art Howell said that he believes the bulk of violent activity late Sunday and early Monday in the city was perpetrated by outsiders looking to escalate or take advantage of protests. At a press conference on Monday afternoon, Howell pointed to evidence that indicated to him that some of the violence after a protest of the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis, was not done by members of the Racine community.
- PUB DATE: 6/2/2020 2:08:23 AM - SOURCE: Lake Geneva News

VIDEO: Firefighters are responding to a large multi-structure fire in South Sacramento. According to Sacramento Fire, the incident is at 3400 La Grande Boulevard. The 5 alarm fire has spread to multiple structures including a body shop, mattress factory, and pallet storage facility. The fire chief said firefighters are running into a major issue with water pressure, making the firefight more difficult.
- PUB DATE: 6/2/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOVR-TV CBS 13 Sacramento

The city of Youngstown says it is moving forward with a plan to brown out fire stations after the fire department's overtime budget has been wiped out. Finance Director Kyle Miasek told the city council finance committee Monday night, through the first five months of 2020, $116,000 has been spent on non-holiday overtime.
- PUB DATE: 6/2/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WFMJ-TV NBC/CW 21 Youngstown

For the first time in memory, Florida is about to start hurricane season with its emergency operations center already up and running, and already at its highest alert level because of the coronavirus. And the prospect of managing overlapping natural disasters has state and local officials, emergency managers, first responders, hospital executives, utility officials and restaurant and lodging executives in high anxiety mode.
- PUB DATE: 6/2/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Tallahassee Democrat

Four days and nights of protests, some of which turned violent, tested the training, planning, and safety equipment of Denver Health paramedics and EMTs. By Monday, first responders had treated more than 100 people involved in the protests, despite being attacked several times, Denver Health reported.
- PUB DATE: 6/2/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KCNC-TV CBS 4 Denver

With every new headline about a mass shooting, terrorist attack, hate crime or natural disaster, many of us fear for our safety and that of our loved ones. In 2020, though, by far the biggest safety concern on Americans’ minds is the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed around 100,000 Americans and infected nearly 1.
- PUB DATE: 6/2/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Wallet Hub

A final salute was held Monday night in Bloomer for the community's long-time fire chief, Brian Bleskacek. Fellow firefighters, along with other friends and family came out as a show of support. In November, Bleskacek was diagnosed with stage four inoperable bladder cancer. He passed away last week.
- PUB DATE: 6/1/2020 8:12:42 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV NBC 13 Eau Claire

At least 15 people have been arrested after a second night of protests devolved into more violence in Madison, according to police. In a blog post, Interim Chief Vic Wahl says officers were present starting at around 6 p.m. Sunday, when a group started protesting peacefully on the Capitol Square. The group grew to several hundred people over the next few hours, extending beyond the 9:30 p.
- PUB DATE: 6/1/2020 3:42:58 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV CBS 3 Madison

VIDEO: A huge fire broke out in several residences in South Boston early Saturday morning, and five of the firefighters trying to contain the blaze were hurt. The seven-alarm fire erupted about 3:30 a.m. on Columbia Road and Douglas Street and tore through about seven homes, the Boston Fire Department said.
- PUB DATE: 6/1/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WBTS-TV NBC 10 Boston

“Peaceful protests by our neighbors exercising their first amendment rights across America are being interrupted by violence and unrest. In the middle of the challenges and turmoil, I am proud of our IAFF fire fighters, paramedics and EMTs who are once again proving their dedication to keeping their communities safe when they are needed most.
- PUB DATE: 6/1/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: IAFF.org

A coalition of national EMS organizations announced a joint fundraising effort to honor EMS providers who died from COVID-19 through the sale of a custom-designed memorial coin. The coin and fundraising effort were conceived by Paramedic Alan Lieberman, and the coin goes on sale starting June 1, 2020 through June 15, 2020.
- PUB DATE: 6/1/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: EMS1

A disagreement surrounding COVID-19 quarantine protocols has sparked a dispute in Cranston, after the mayor’s office ordered firefighters exposed to infected co-workers to return to work while waiting for test results. Four Cranston firefighters have tested positive and at one point about 40 coworkers were in quarantine.
- PUB DATE: 6/1/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WPRI-TV CBS 12 Providence

They often find interesting things, and sometimes uncover an object of historical value. Recently, artifact hunter Axel Macon and two of his friends fired up their metal detectors at a site near Spring Street in Charleston and aimed their electromagnetic bursts at a promising area in the backyard of the property.
- PUB DATE: 6/1/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Post & Courier

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced Saturday the Wisconsin National Guard has been authorized to support the city of Milwaukee in its response to those who have disrupted the peaceful protests within the city. The protests began following the death of George Floyd after a Minneapolis police officer was seen on video kneeling on Floyd's neck while he was handcuffed on Monday.
- PUB DATE: 5/30/2020 3:41:15 PM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

The Eau Claire and Altoona Fire Departments conducted a live fire training today. They don't often get to have this type of training, but were donated a house from the site that is to become Martin Dental in Altoona. The house is located off of Highway 12 in Altoona. The Altoona fire chief says that this type of training is very valuable and that they are grateful to have a house to be able to use for this purpose.
- PUB DATE: 5/30/2020 3:24:52 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV NBC 13 Eau Claire

A house fire in Janesville has displaced six people Friday night. According to a news release, firefighters were sent to 1518 S. Willard Ave for a report of a residential fire with smoke and flames at around 11:52 p.m. Once firefighters arrived to the scene, they were able to limit majority of the fire damage to one bedroom after fighting flames outside the house.
- PUB DATE: 5/30/2020 9:49:59 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV CBS 3 Madison

The building that houses the Vandenbroek-Kaukauna Fire Department was damaged in a fire Thursday afternoon. The fire also destroyed a fire truck, along with the damage caused to the department's building near the intersection of Outagamie County JJ and State 55, according to a Post-Crescent photographer at the scene.
- PUB DATE: 5/29/2020 3:32:44 AM - SOURCE: Appleton Post-Gazette & Post Crescent.com

The simplest way to track the progress of any outbreak is by seeing how many new cases and deaths are reported in a given area each day. And in the United States, falling numbers in some of the hardest-hit places have offered glimmers of hope. Totals for the country have been on a downward curve, and in former hot spots like New York and New Jersey, the counts appear to have peaked.
- PUB DATE: 5/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Times

PHOTOS: Audra Carter has a simple message for any young woman or girl who asks her about becoming a firefighter: “Please. We need more.” The 48-year-old Hoboken native is providing a shining example for future female firefighters. She was promoted Thursday, becoming the first woman battalion chief in the 171-year history of the Hoboken Fire Department in a ceremony at City Hall.
- PUB DATE: 5/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NJ.com

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to take action that would avoid potential layoffs of America’s experienced firefighters. Specifically, Rep. LaHood and U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) called on FEMA to temporarily expand the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program to include firefighters already on payroll.
- PUB DATE: 5/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Ripon Advance