Battling COVID-19 requires an elaborate armor. First responders don masks, shields, respirators, and other personal protective equipment to protect themselves from the fast-spreading airborne virus. A staple protective gear is the isolation gown. Made from waterproof material and typically designed with long sleeves and snap closures, they protect health care workers while treating patients from splashes and sprays.
- PUB DATE: 4/14/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Quartz

With a growing number of coronavirus cases, the Bossier City Fire Department is making new use of machines its had for the past six years to decontaminate the back of its ambulances in mere minutes. “We have one at every fire station, a few reserves and one on every ambulance," Fire Chief Brad Zagone said of the gear.
- PUB DATE: 4/14/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KSLA-TV CBS 12 Shreveport

With a deadline drawing near, the COVID-19 pandemic has stalled the city's firefighter union short of its goal in a petition drive aimed at forcing a new employment contract. The firefighters need signatures from 5% of the city's registered voters by May 28 to add a proposal to November's general election ballot.
- PUB DATE: 4/14/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Texarkana Gazette - Metered Site

The lights and sirens Monday night in Tryon weren't for an emergency call. They were a tribute to a local fire chief and hero. A fitting farewell for Tryon Fire Chief Janes "Tank" Waters was complicated by restrictions in place because of COVID-19. But Tryon made it work. But it was strict coronavirus orders from Gov.
- PUB DATE: 4/14/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WLOS-TV ABC 13 Asheville

Municipalities across Washington are facing some difficult budget challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mayor in the City of Tukwila said administration estimates $6.1 million in lost revenue by the end of May. David Cline, City of Tukwila Administrator, said officials will continue discussing safe and feasible options with labor partners towards the best solution for the community.
- PUB DATE: 4/14/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KCPQ-TV FOX 13 Seattle

Three West Bend firefighters tested positive for the coronavirus, fire officials announced Monday, April 13. Three others tested negative. Fire officials said Monday two firefighters developed symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and were removed from work. Their tests came back positive. One recovered and returned to work, and the other was symptom free Monday and expected back at work by week’s end.
- PUB DATE: 4/13/2020 6:35:29 PM - SOURCE: WITI-TV FOX 6 Milwaukee

It's National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week and although they will always answer that 911 call for help, this pandemic has changed first responder protocol. Before emergency services are dispatched, telecommunicators ask a series of questions to determine if the caller may have COVID-19. Some of the questions the dispatcher will ask include: Do you have a fever? Do you have a new or worsening cough? Do you have shortness of breath? Have you come in contact with a person who had these symptoms or is known to have COVID-19? Depending on the callers answers, the dispatcher will let emergency first responders know exactly what to expect when they get to the caller's house.
- PUB DATE: 4/13/2020 1:43:13 PM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

Firefighters in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, created a giant heart using their fire engines on April 11. They called on others to join the #HeartsForHealthCare trend and post their own tributes to people fighting the spread of the coronavirus. “We encourage the public to also join us either at their local fire department or in their own driveways, sidewalks, or windows by drawing hearts for healthcare to show your love for those on the front lines fighting,” the department wrote on April 8.
- PUB DATE: 4/13/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KMSP-TV FOX 9 Minneapolis

Israel Tolentino Jr., known as "Izzy" to family and friends, was considered an everyday hero to his Passaic, New Jersey community. On his days off, the firefighter and dad of two served as an EMT and as a member of the volunteer community emergency response team, said Hector Lora, the mayor of Passaic.
- PUB DATE: 4/13/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CNN

City advocates are urging the federal government to create a victims compensation fund for first responders on the frontlines of the coronavirus crisis, to protect their families should they die from the disease. “There has to be a 9/11-type fund set up now for them so that if they die from the virus, their families can be compensated,” said Manhattan attorney Bob Sullivan, who wrote a letter to New York’s federal lawmakers on Thursday.
- PUB DATE: 4/13/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Daily News - Metered Site

More than half the nearly 8,000 ventilators the federal stockpile sent to states to fight the coronavirus pandemic went to New York, while the rest were split among 14 other states and territories, a report from the federal government shows. The report was released Wednesday by the U.S. House Oversight Committee amid criticism from its chairwoman that states with the biggest COVID-19 problems didn’t get enough supplies.
- PUB DATE: 4/13/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: USA Today

The fire was so hot that it melted a fire hose right off the hydrant. Paint and lights on fire trucks blistered, melting in the intense heat that night 35 years ago. The inferno on April 13, 1985, still stands as the city’s biggest, engulfing the 300 block of South Davie Street. A 35-year old homeless man, Rozelle Bryant, died in the fire.
- PUB DATE: 4/13/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Greensboro News & Record

FirstNet PTT service - provided by AT&T and built on 3GPP mission-critical-push-to-talk (MCPTT) standard - delivers the performance that public safety needs and can be an LMR alternative for some agencies, according to the captain of a New Jersey police department that conducted a beta trial of the new offering.
- PUB DATE: 4/13/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Urgent Communications

A barn and camper were burnt Saturday off of Pine Road in the Town of Norrie. Lt. Will Stuart with the Marathon County Sheriff's Office said the property owner was trying to burn a box when the ashes and embers caught the barn and camper on fire. He said this was not the owner's primary residence. No one was hurt.
- PUB DATE: 4/12/2020 7:36:23 AM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

DNR officials say at least one person was injured during a wildfire early Saturday afternoon in Oconto County. According to the Wisconsin DNR, they weren't sure if the person injured was part of the responsible party, or if it was someone else. The cause of the fire is still being investigated, and hasn't been released to WBAY.
- PUB DATE: 4/11/2020 4:01:13 PM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

The Pewaukee and Sussex fire departments have formed a partnership — at least temporarily. According to Pewaukee Fire Chief Kevin Bierce, the decision to merge the two departments was in response to the coronavirus pandemic. "(Sussex Fire) Chief (David) Johnsen and I have been looking at different options of how to enhance service levels for both communities for several months," Bierce said.
- PUB DATE: 4/10/2020 9:33:18 AM - SOURCE: Living Lake Country

PHOTO: Firefighters and paramedics in Oregon showed their support for health care workers Thursday night by driving through the town and waving to residents. The parade, which started at 6 p.m., showcased the Oregon Area Fire & EMS District's equipment. The department asked residents to stand outside in their yards and wave, as a way to thank the health care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon and all over the country.
- PUB DATE: 4/10/2020 7:57:17 AM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

Ellie had been planning everything out for her fifth birthday since at least October: a unicorn party with unicorn cake, special decorations and games, plus a guest list featuring friends from her 4K class. “When we had to tell her we had to cancel it, she was really sad,” said Ellie’s mom, Christel Peterson.
- PUB DATE: 4/10/2020 6:39:09 AM - SOURCE: WiscNews

Firefighters from the City of Wausau are responding to a garage fire on the west side of town. The call came in around 12:45 p.m. Thursday for a fire near the corner of Russell Drive and 56th Avenue. A battalion chief told Newschannel 7 one person was home when the fire started in the garage, but got safely out of the home.
- PUB DATE: 4/10/2020 2:57:30 AM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

Crews from agencies around La Crosse County worked well into the night to extinguish a barn fire on Highway 33. Town of Shelby Assistant Chief Tony Holinka told News 19 that his department answered the call to W2840 Hwy. 33 at 4:15 Wednesday afternoon. Upon arrival, Holinka said they found the barn fully-engulfed in flames, with "flames as high as the corn silo.
- PUB DATE: 4/10/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WXOW-TV ABC 19 La Crosse