Sheriff’s officials say a man has died after he broke through the ice on a pond in Waupaca County while trying to rescue a dog. Dispatchers received a 911 call about a man in distress on a pond on private property in the Town of Weyauwega Wednesday afternoon. Sheriff’s deputies and Weyauwega police and fire responded.
- PUB DATE: 3/26/2020 2:27:38 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

With the retirement of Menomonee Falls interim Fire Chief James Mollet, the police and fire commission planned to meet March 26 to take possible action on designating a replacement interim chief. "We need to move quickly to have a permanent (fire) chief for the long term and to move quickly in the interim," said Village Manager Mark Fitzgerald.
- PUB DATE: 3/26/2020 9:47:44 AM - SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Mayor Jack Young will give employees in the city a stipend to ease financial burdens as they continue to work during the coronavirus pandemic. The COVID-19 Pandemic Mission Critical Stipend will be meant for “frontline public-facing employees” including firefighters, EMTs and police officers. They will receive an extra $200 bi-weekly.
- PUB DATE: 3/26/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WJZ-TV CBS 13 Baltimore

With the number of people in the city testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) growing by the day -- 84 members of the FDNY have tested positive for the virus, according to an FDNY spokesman. The number of FDNY employees who have tested positive has almost doubled since yesterday, when FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro stated during an interview on Fox News that 46 members had tested positive for coronavirus.
- PUB DATE: 3/26/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: SILive.com

VIDEO: The New Haven Fire Department has a new weapon in the war against Covid-19. The department purchased an AeroClave device, which is a fogging system that disinfects on contact. “We are using it for firefighters or medics that go into a building of potential exposure. When they come out, we can actually decontaminate the firefighters gear and spray the firefighter right down on scene,” said Mark Vendetto, Assistant Chief Operations with the New Haven Fire Department.
- PUB DATE: 3/26/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTNH-TV ABC 8 New Haven

Kentucky firefighters say they struggle still to get COVID-19 tests and don’t get workers’ compensation for missed days while self-quarantining or waiting for test results. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announced Tuesday a Louisville firefighter was the first to test positive for the coronavirus. The man is self-isolating at home, Fischer said.
- PUB DATE: 3/26/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Lexington Herald Leader

Mansfield Fire Chief Steve Strickling has issued a directive to his employees to limit their exposure working at other jobs, including township fire departments and hospitals, for the time being due to COVID-19 concerns. Strickling said he does not know the exact number of his employees who work elsewhere too but said "there are quite a few.
- PUB DATE: 3/26/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Mansfield News Journal

This is a really challenging and difficult time for all of us. However, area fire departments are trying to show a sign of solidarity. In Galesville, along with many other communities across the country, they rolled up the station bay doors and turned on all the lights of their fire trucks at 7 p.m.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2020 10:40:41 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

The Sun Prairie Fire Department took part in a nationwide effort Wednesday to thank health care workers and first responders. At 7 p.m., they opened the bays and turned on the lights to their trucks as a sign of strength and hope for the community. Sun Prairie firefighters say they wanted to take an opportunity to recognize those who are right now putting their lives on the line every day.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2020 8:53:05 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

Firefighters responded Tuesday morning to a structure fire started by a laptop computer. According to an incident report, firefighters were dispatched to the 300 block of South Westfield Road for the fire, but were told that a laptop had been on fire and removed from the building. The report said there was smoke in the building after the fire was extinguished shortly after 10 a.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2020 7:47:33 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

Bear hunting season has arrived in Beaver Dam and no license is needed. Emergency responders in the Beaver Dam Fire Department have organized an effort to display bears, of the stuffed variety, around town to encourage families to safely enjoy the outdoors during the “stay-at-home” order aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus in Wisconsin.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2020 4:36:03 PM - SOURCE: Daily Citizen

Nathaniel Presterl, 19, of Kenosha, was charged Tuesday with attempted arson and possession of a molotov cocktail after he allegedly attempted to set a relative’s home on fire. Presterl was arrested at about 1 a.m. Tuesday outside a house on the 2800 block of 27th Street. Residents of the house called police after seeing him in the yard pulling burning material near the house.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2020 1:42:28 AM - SOURCE: Kenosha News

VIDEO: Montgomery County first responders who are on the frontlines in the fight against the coronavirus are using spray guns to clean ambulances and keep themselves safe. “One of our employees came up with the idea just to go to Home Depot or Lowes and get paint sprayers,” Justin McNabb, a Narberth Ambulance Infection Control Officer, told NBC10.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCAU-TV NBC 10 Philadelphia

VIDEO: Thuy Dinh was stuck at home while the coronavirus pandemic was quickly moving across the world. So, the mechanical engineer put her talents to use—from home. “A lot of people right now who aren't in the medical field feel like there's a sense of helplessness,” Dinh said. She had seen a design of a protective face shield on Facebook and decided to use her own home 3-D printer to make one.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KENS-TV CBS 5 San Antonio

In reaction to Ohio's first confirmed death from coronavirus, a state lawmaker is urging his colleagues to back a bill that would require hospitals and local boards of health to notify first responders when a patient they've treated is suspected of having a contagious disease. “We need to make sure our first responders stay healthy and are able to respond to the community's call for service,” said state Rep.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Toledo Blade - Metered Site

As shelter-in-place orders and other directives from government officials take effect, people across the country are adapting to a new normal of social distancing, working from home and, in some cases, temporarily closing up shop during the COVID-19 outbreak. Health officials say such measures are essential to help “flatten the curse,” keeping the number of disease cases at a manageable level, spread out over time.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fire Rescue 1

While some families are grappling with how to keep their children educated and entertained in this new age of social distancing, many on the front lines are grappling with whether to risk coming home to their families some nights or pondering whether responding to an emergency could result in exposure.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Bucks County Courier Times

If you see a recreational vehicle (RV) at the South Beloit Fire Department, don’t worry—staff aren’t planning a vacation. The RV is the department’s extra unit to be used in the event of staff needing to be quarantined during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. South Beloit Fire Chief Mike Davenport said the department has yet to order any staff on quarantine, and said staff are taking extra precautions to disinfect and sanitize equipment.
- PUB DATE: 3/24/2020 8:16:07 PM - SOURCE: Beloit Daily News

Fire departments in Arizona went straight to the state Capitol Monday after a workers' compensation insurance company said their firefighters would not receive coverage if they contracted COVID-19 on the job. A voicemail was sent to Arizona's Family confirming that's what 7710 Insurance said, but the company is now admitting they made a mistake.
- PUB DATE: 3/24/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTVK-TV 3 & KPHO-TV CBS 5 (azfamily.com)

After weeks of protests and motions from City Council trying to prevent it, Engine 11 in the South End has been decommissioned. New Bedford Firefighters Local 841 sent out a statement about the closure on Sunday, highlighting the fact that the closure happened during a pandemic. The statement said the closure adds to response times and reduces the level of preparedness that the city needs amid the current time of uncertainty.
- PUB DATE: 3/24/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New Bedford Standard-Times