It isn't easy to describe the life of an emergency responder, but Jonathon Gould, with Chatham EMS, sees it as "sheer boredom interrupted with complete chaos." Gould, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician from Ludowici, has wanted to help others since he was a teenager, putting himself through EMT school at the age of 17.
- PUB DATE: 3/2/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WJCL-TV ABC 22 Savannah

Two men were rescued from the middle of Geneva Lake on Sunday, March 1 after an ice slab broke off from the main ice. Fontana Fire & Rescue officials responded around 11:30 a.m. for a report of two people stuck on the ice. An assistant fire chief was on scene immediately after dispatch and gathered information from witnesses onshore and dispatchers as to the location of the men needing rescue.
- PUB DATE: 3/1/2020 1:37:57 PM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6

A fundraiser was held Saturday, Feb. 29 at Jen’s Sweet Treats in Cudahy in honor of Darrin “Superman” Jones, the Milwaukee firefighter who passed away in his sleep on Feb. 1, just three months before he planned to retire. Jones’ passing was considered a line of duty death. “They put their lives on the line every time they, you know, come to work, and Superman was no different,” said Jennifer Clark, owner of Jen’s Sweet Treats.
- PUB DATE: 2/29/2020 5:40:37 PM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6

Brian Bleskacek was diagnosed with stage four inoperable urothelial cancer in November. On Saturday members of Bloomer came to the Pines Ballroom to honor Brian and all he has done for the community, as well as raise money for medical expenses. "It's pretty amazing to see all the community outpouring involvement whether it's donations or the people here who are spending money and having a good time,” says Brady Bleskacek.
- PUB DATE: 2/29/2020 4:31:14 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

The Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed that a 71-year-old man is dead following a early morning house fire on Friday. Crews from multiple departments responded to the fire in the 1900 block of Wochos Road in Franklin shortly after 1 a.m. Chief Jeff Chalupny of the Tisch Mills Fire Department says upon arrival at the scene, firefighters encountered heavy smoke and flames, putting crews on a defensive approach immediately.
- PUB DATE: 2/28/2020 5:43:30 AM - SOURCE: WFRV-TV and WJMN-TV Green Bay

Firefighters battled a fire Thursday afternoon that severely damaged a boiler building at SV Pallet facilities in Wood County. Fire crews responded to the blaze around 2:20 p.m. at SV Pallet on State 80 in the town of Richfield, according to Richfield Rural Fire Department. Crews arrived to find a wood-framed structure with metal siding that had flames and smoke coming from the roof.
- PUB DATE: 2/28/2020 4:48:36 AM - SOURCE: Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune

The scene is disturbingly realistic: Two men lie on the floor with very convincing fake blood pooling around them. Others in the room are screaming in fear. A siren is heard in the distance. Several men and women arrive with stretchers and medical gear to treat the “wounded,” while two men pose as police to attend to the upset onlookers, who shout, “That’s my friend!” and “You’re not working fast enough!” This is just one of the scenarios that the Black Fire Brigade’s EMT program uses to prepare students for work on the job.
- PUB DATE: 2/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTTW-TV PBS 11 Chicago

Local and state leaders are preparing for COVID-19 like they would a hurricane. The local emergency operation center is now active in Jacksonville ahead of a potential coronavirus outbreak. While there are currently no cases in Florida, local and state leaders said now is the time to be prepared. Our firefighters and paramedics are the first line of defense, along with health care workers.
- PUB DATE: 2/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WFOX-TV 30 Jacksonville

An interest arbitration board reached a decision Tuesday regarding the FY19 firefighters’ contract, awarding an across-the-board wage increase of 2.25 percent for the July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019 agreement, Mayor Joseph J. Solomon announced Wednesday. The decision puts to rest the final issue related to negotiations that had been ongoing since the prior contract expired on June 30, 2018.
- PUB DATE: 2/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Warwick Beacon

New Jersey officials have issued a $108,000 fine to a Burlington County ambulance squad after finding the crew drove an ambulance to 90 emergencies even though the vehicle was not licensed through the state’s Department of Health. Shamong Medical Services, which is part of the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company, responded to those calls between Oct.
- PUB DATE: 2/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NJ.com

Maybe it’s finally time to recognize the 699 New York City firefighters who battled the famous New York City Telephone Company fire 45 years ago today. Nearly 700 men fought the awful five-alarm inferno that broke out in the early morning hours of Feb. 27, 1975 at the telephone company’s switching center on Second Ave.
- PUB DATE: 2/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Daily News - Metered Site

The Milwaukee Fire Department is at the scene of a residential fire near 83rd and Villard on the city’s west side. FOX6 News crews captured a heavy fire department presence at that location just before 9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27. There is visible damage to what appears to be a multi-home building. The Milwaukee Police Department confirmed that the two-alarm residential fire spread to two nearby buildings.
- PUB DATE: 2/27/2020 7:42:28 PM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6

Firefighters on Wednesday night, Feb. 26 responded to the scene of a fire Romy Battery near 43rd and Lincoln in Milwaukee. The call came in shortly after 10 p.m. Upon arrival, the building was fully engulfed and additional fire units were summoned. The cause of the fire is not believed to be suspicious — but is still under investigation.
- PUB DATE: 2/27/2020 4:51:52 AM - SOURCE: WITI-TV Fox Channel 6

Crews battled a fire at an indoor riding stable in the Town of Neenah. It happened around 9:00 p.m. Wednesday on the 2900 block of Woodenshoe Road. Firefighters found smoke coming from the stable and found a tractor on fire. The owner of the building was using a fire extinguisher to attempt to control the fire before crews arrived.
- PUB DATE: 2/27/2020 2:45:39 AM - SOURCE: WGBA-TV NBC 26 Green Bay

VIDEO: A DWI suspect crashed into a fire station leaving one firefighter in the hospital overnight. Houston Fire Chief Sam Pena visited the firefighter at the hospital overnight. HFD District Fire Chief Ruy Lozano said the firefighter suffered a head injury, possibly a concussion. Pena later tweeted on Thursday morning that the firefighter had been released from the hospital.
- PUB DATE: 2/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KHOU-TV CBS 11 Houston

Denver Fire Chief Eric Tade has resigned his position with the Denver Fire Department. Tade gave his resignation to Denver Mayor Michael Hancock on Monday afternoon. “Chief Tade is dedicated to this department, and his decision that new leadership was needed reflects his devotion to the men and women who serve our residents in the Denver Fire Department,” Mayor Hancock said in a statement.
- PUB DATE: 2/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KCNC-TV CBS 4 Denver

Five Escambia County fire stations are operating with reduced staffing because of budget constraints. Escambia County Interim Fire Chief Paul Williams sent a memo Friday to all firefighters announcing several changes, including the reduction in staffing levels at the five stations in an effort to cut down on the amount of overtime.
- PUB DATE: 2/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Pensacola News Journal

A Carroll County commissioner with decades of firefighting experience testified in Annapolis on Tuesday in support of a Maryland bill that would require the state fire marshal to enforce residential fire sprinkler requirements. Commissioner Stephen Wantz, R-District 1, who has 30 years of experience as a career firefighter in the state and 44 years as a volunteer firefighter, said Tuesday the Maryland State Firemen’s Association asked if he would speak to the importance of House Bill 823 at a hearing of the House Environment and Transportation Committee, and he did.
- PUB DATE: 2/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Baltimore Sun - Metered Site

VIDEO: Over the years, Hoboken has evolved from a gritty, working-class enclave to a town with the highest rents in the state of New Jersey. Hoboken’s Hispanic population has dropped by 50% during that time. The gentrification of Hoboken wasn’t just the result of market forces and economics. It was fueled by evictions, intimidation, violence, arson and murder.
- PUB DATE: 2/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: News 12 New Jersey

In one of the worst shootings in Wisconsin history, five people were killed Wednesday by a gunman during a rampage on the Milwaukee campus of Molson Coors. The gunman died by suicide, bringing the total of known dead so far to six. Initial accounts from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel indicated at least seven had died, but that number has since been clarified.
- PUB DATE: 2/26/2020 2:58:39 PM - SOURCE: Green Bay Press-Gazette