When Ed Parkinson was named the acting CEO of the First Responder Network Authority in October of 2018, his assignment related to public safety broadband that has represented a full cycle from a committee policy staffer to overseeing the program he helped legislatively create. During the fifteen months after the new post, he manages a program with a federal budget of $81 million as monitor of a contract with AT&T.
- PUB DATE: 1/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: All Things FirstNet

The Sunbury Steam Fire Engine Co. Number 1 is facing a 60-day shutdown because the firefighters need more training, city Fire Chief Brad Wertz said. Wertz told City Council that he decided to pull the company, located at Center and Penn St., out of service because he discovered that six of the eight volunteer firefighters were not properly trained.
- PUB DATE: 1/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Daily Item

As legislation continues to move swiftly through the Florida Legislature to allow increased governmental use of drones, Florida’s fire chiefs are seeking to get on board. On Tuesday the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee took up, and swiftly approved, HB 659, which would allow use of drones by Florida wildlife and forestry officials for two purposes: to monitor invasive species encroachment on public lands, and to help manage and fight wildfires.
- PUB DATE: 1/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FloridaPolitics.com

Chris Owens turned the key but the engine in the fire truck would not start. It wasn't the first time. The Town Creek Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department's equipment has fallen into disrepair as the department faces significant financial challenges. "We'll jump that truck first," said Owens looking at the pumper truck which still bore the Sipsey name from it's former home.
- PUB DATE: 1/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WBMA-TV ABC 33/40 Birmingham

VIDEO: Remember the good ‘ol days when kids collected and traded baseball cards? A few folks at the Amarillo Fire Department remember those days too. But they’re version of trading cards features their fire engines and trucks. These cards are helping highlight our local heroes and connecting them with our local kids.
- PUB DATE: 1/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KAMR-TV NBC 4 Amarillo

Four first responders with the Wausau Fire Department were honored with the Valor at City Hall on Tuesday for their swift response during the shooting at Pine Grove Cemetery back on October 3, 2019. Mayor Robert Mielke says because of their selfless actions more lives were saved. “I believe in my heart that employees should be recognized for the good they do in the community,” stated Mayor Mielke during the City Council meeting before the awards were given.
- PUB DATE: 1/28/2020 9:50:00 PM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

The Howard Fire Department can often be found at the former Farr's Grove Supper Club, doing training. “It's probably the best training, because these are the kind of buildings we might have to actually fight a fire in,” said Training Lieutenant, Chris Hohol of the Howard Fire Department. The department often relies on donated buildings like this to do its training, but soon it will have its own facility.
- PUB DATE: 1/28/2020 8:30:48 PM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

A fire inside an apartment on Green Bay’s east side displaced seven people Tuesday evening, authorities said. Firefighters from the Green Bay Metro Fire Department responded to a two-story house in the 800 block of North Webster Avenue and saw smoke and flames coming from the back of the building, according to a news release.
- PUB DATE: 1/28/2020 8:11:13 PM - SOURCE: Green Bay Press-Gazette

Officials say three people have been taken to a hospital after the car they were in crashed down an embankment during a police chase. The crash happened just after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday on South Layton Boulevard near the Mitchell Park Domes. A fire official said the car went down an embankment just short of the bridge.
- PUB DATE: 1/28/2020 9:37:30 AM - SOURCE: WISN-TV ABC 12 Milwaukee

Two firefighters received minor injuries following a two-story shed fire Monday in Wood County. The fire was reported around 9 a.m. on the 9000 block of Ader Lane in the town of Richfield. The building had extensive interior damage and the contents had severe smoke and heat damage. One firefighter was injured by snow falling off the roof onto the firefighter and one was struck in the wrist by something that fell from the second story.
- PUB DATE: 1/28/2020 6:47:06 AM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

When an ambulance or a fire truck responds to a call, it might be from another jurisdiction. Four Rock County fire departments are using technology to dispatch the closest available emergency services vehicle. The four departments are the City of Beloit, Town of Beloit, City of Janesville, and Milton and Milton Township fire departments.
- PUB DATE: 1/28/2020 1:43:34 AM - SOURCE: Milton Courier

Two Jacksonville firefighters stabbed by a patient in their ambulance are back on the duty and speaking about the ordeal for the first time. Three and a half months after a violent attack, Capt. Latorrence Norris and Engineer Vincent Harper said they were dangerously close to losing their lives at the hands of someone they were trying to help.
- PUB DATE: 1/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WJXT-TV 4 Jacksonville

More than a handful of firefighters shared personal, powerful stories about the challenges they've faced while diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Their families and mental health experts joined them in asking Nebraska state senators to champion first responders and a new bill, which they say will help them better serve communities by providing guarantees and options for mental health treatment.
- PUB DATE: 1/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KETV-TV ABC 7 Omaha

VIDEO: Operators at 911 centers across southern Arizona are screening calls for possible cases of coronavirus. The Arizona Department of Health Services confirmed the state’s first case of the illness on Sunday, Jan. 26. The following day, experts offered resources and guidelines from NHTSA Office of EMS for first responders to limit their exposure to coronavirus.
- PUB DATE: 1/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOLD-TV CBS 13 Tucson

This Wednesday, Jan. 29, KRDO will once again team up with Shield 616 for an all day telethon. This time, it's to buy rifle-rated vests for Colorado Springs firefighters. KRDO has been working hand in hand with Shield 616 for years. Tonight, we're looking back at what the non-profit stands for, where it came from and what's next.
- PUB DATE: 1/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KRDO-TV ABC 13 Colorado Springs

Pelham author Jeanne LaSala-Taylor has written a just-released children’s book, “Just Bunny and the Great Fire Rescue.” Based on a true story of her daughter’s stuffed bunny being rescued from a burning building, this book provides a special thanks to firefighters everywhere for saving lives – and stuffed bunnies, too.
- PUB DATE: 1/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Yonkers Times

A house fire broke out in La Crosse Monday afternoon. The fire department responded to a 911 call shortly after 3 p.m. regarding a fire at 213 Rose Street. Firefighters responded to the scene within two minutes and saw smoke from the eaves and chimney. The department described the fire as a "difficult" one to find as it had entered the crawl space and spread throughout the house.
- PUB DATE: 1/27/2020 5:52:23 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

Firefighters responded to a sawmill fire in Lake Tomahawk shortly before 9 a.m. Monday morning. According to Lake Tomahawk Fire Dept. assistant chief Mike Carlin, a break in the sawmill's wood-burning chimney caused the fire. Due to the structure of the building, the heat was trapped in the attic and firefighters were able to completely extinguish the fire in about 30 minutes.
- PUB DATE: 1/27/2020 5:07:26 PM - SOURCE: WJFW-TV NBC 12 Rhinelander-Wausau

VIDEOS/PHOTOS: A fire chief in Scottsboro, Alabama has confirmed fatalities in a massive fire that consumed at least 35 boats docked along the Tennessee River early Monday morning. Witness Carol Fuller took video of the boat dock as it was engulfed in flames. She tells us she could hear people cry, but was frustrated that there was no way to rescue them.
- PUB DATE: 1/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTVC-TV ABC/FOX 9

The union representing full-time Yonkers firefighters is accusing the city of cutting future benefit payments for some fire officials who may retire after becoming permanently disabled while on duty. Yonkers Firefighters, Local 628, International Association of Firefighters, AFL-CIO filed a petition against Yonkers and the state Public Employment Relations Board last month.
- PUB DATE: 1/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NY Journal News (LoHud.com)