Three American firefighters died in a water tanker plane crash Thursday while battling wildfires in Australia, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed. Rural Fire Service officials said they had located the plane, a C-130 Hercules, that crashed in the Snowy Monaro region of New South Wales state.
- PUB DATE: 1/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FOX News

VIDEO: A group of firefighters have been forced out of their station due to health concerns. According to the president of the Dearborn Firefighters Union, fire station five is a moldy mess. Instead of sleeping overnight and waking up if there's a call— firefighters have been staying in trucks. They usually stay at fire station five in Dearborn, but 7 Action News has been told what started as a flooding problem led to mold.
- PUB DATE: 1/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WXYZ-TV ABC 7 Detroit

After 67 years, a Charlotte Volunteer Fire Department could lose it’s funding from Mecklenburg County. That was a recommendation from the county’s Land Use and Environmental Services Agency at last week’s Board of County Commissioner’s policy meeting. They say these community fire departments are expensive to run and although no official decision has been made, the Cook’s Fire Department says they will do whatever they can to keep operating.
- PUB DATE: 1/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WBTV CBS 3 Charlotte

VIDEO: A Phoenix fire engine was traveling approximately 29 mph over the speed limit at the time of a deadly crash in April 2019, according to the police investigation released Wednesday. The report, released more than nine months after the crash, also said the other vehicle's driver, Kenneth "Chase" Collins, 20, did not possess a valid driver's license and had marijuana in his system.
- PUB DATE: 1/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KNXV-TV ABC 15 Phoenix

VIDEO: Maine lawmakers are considering a bill that would make changes to the state's "Dig Safe" law in response to last year's deadly explosion in Farmington. The bill would add liquefied propane gas lines to the law. "Dig Safe" laws prohibit digging around certain underground utility lines. In Maine, LP lines are currently not on the prohibited list, bill sponsor Rep.
- PUB DATE: 1/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WMTW-TV ABC 8 Poland Spring

Several dogs, including puppies were rescued from a house fire in Fond du Lac. Unfortunately not all the pets could be saved. Crews were called to the two-unit home on 8th St. around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday for a fire on the first floor. The occupant of the upper unit was able to get out safely, while the occupants living on the first floor were not home at the time of the fire.
- PUB DATE: 1/22/2020 4:46:51 PM - SOURCE: 1440 AM 101.9 FM Green Bay

A carbon monoxide alarm alerted an east side resident to a problem in their furnace Tuesday night. According to an incident report from the Madison Fire Department, a resident on Inwood Way looked at the carbon monoxide alarm and found a reading of 224 parts per million. Officials said the resident unplugged it and hit the reset button before plugging it back in, still finding elevated carbon monoxide levels of 43 ppm.
- PUB DATE: 1/22/2020 11:45:26 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

The Plover Fire Department recently started using navigation compass devices in their masks. It not only helps crews combat structure fires but it also helps them save lives. "We've had two actual structure fires within the last week," said Plover Fire Dept. Captain Ethan Meddaugh. "One in the village of Plover and one in the village of Whiting.
- PUB DATE: 1/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WAOW-TV ABC 9

VIDEO: A statewide minimum wage increase that went into effect this year never came for Raton firefighters after city officials said they were unaware that the new law overruled the contract they had with the firefighters union. Now state unions are calling for appropriate raises. “It's an honor for them to serve, but at the same time—just compensate them correctly, that's all we're asking,” said Robert Sanchez, president of the New Mexico Professional Fire Fighters Association.
- PUB DATE: 1/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOB-TV NBC 4 Albuquerque

The county’s Emergency Services Department Board unanimously motioned to end its contracts with volunteer fire departments that protect a large chunk of El Paso County Tuesday night, leaving many firefighters worried for their futures. Six El Paso area fire departments say they were given a 90-day notice that the county is looking at terminating their contracts and with no plan in place that they’re aware of, the firefighters worry what this means for the communities they serve.
- PUB DATE: 1/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTSM-TV NBC 9 El Paso

A wildland firefighter badly burned in the 2015 Twisp River blaze has reached a $5 million settlement with two utility companies that he had sued for allegedly failing to keep branches away from a power line that state officials concluded caused the ignition. The civil suit that resulted in the settlement was filed by Daniel Lyon Jr.
- PUB DATE: 1/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Seattle Times - Metered Site

VIDEO: The state fire marshal on Tuesday put all Massachusetts fire chiefs on alert that his office has already received reports of two instances in which teens trying to recreate a viral video have caused electrical system damage or fire. Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey said a video that’s gained attention on the TikTok app has encouraged teens to partially insert the plug part of a phone charger into a wall outlet and then slide a penny down the wall to make contact with the two exposed prongs.
- PUB DATE: 1/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WFXT-TV FOX 25 Boston

VIDEO: The Plover Fire Department recently started using navigation compass devices in their masks. It not only helps crews combat structure fires but it also helps them save lives. "We've had two actual structure fires within the last week," said Plover Fire Dept. Captain Ethan Meddaugh. "One in the village of Plover and one in the village of Whiting.
- PUB DATE: 1/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WAOW-TV ABC 9

A fundraiser has been created to help a man who was working as a Milwaukee firefighter when he suffered a stroke. Derek Geppert suffered a stroke back in 2016. "They got him back from the testing and the doctor was like 'I’m sorry, your husband’s having a stroke and there’s really nothing we can do about it,'" said Melissa Geppert, Derek's wife.
- PUB DATE: 1/21/2020 8:43:20 PM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee

The Wisconsin State Senate passed a bill Tuesday that removes a barrier for professional police officers and firefighters to file a Worker’s Compensation claim when they get treated for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The bill awaits a hearing in the Assembly. As the law is currently written, first responders must prove their trauma is at a higher level than the standard for their profession.
- PUB DATE: 1/21/2020 5:41:16 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

Wisconsin Republicans signed off Tuesday on a bill that would impose new restrictions on firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals in the hopes of reducing soil and water contamination, despite Democrats’ complaints that the proposal would accomplish next to nothing. The Senate approved the Republican-authored measure with a voice vote Tuesday afternoon.
- PUB DATE: 1/21/2020 3:37:09 PM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

Looking to address concerns about the environment, the Kenosha Fire Department stopped using a firefighting foam that contains chemicals that could contaminate groundwater. The fire department made the decision last fall to ditch a firefighting foam typically used in fighting fuel or oil fires. The foam contains chemical compounds called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, that contain fluorine, known as “forever chemicals” that could contaminate drinking water and may pose a cancer risk.
- PUB DATE: 1/21/2020 1:00:32 PM - SOURCE: Kenosha News

A spot of red will be added to the office of Green Bay Metro Fire Department Chief David Litton's office. Chief Litton had placed a wager with the fire chief of the San Francisco Fire Department on the Packers and 49ers game over the weekend. Depending who lost, the losing fire chief would make a personal donation of $100 to the burn camp or burn prevention charity of the winner's choice.
- PUB DATE: 1/21/2020 10:35:39 AM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

A fire caused an estimated $60,000 in damages to a Watertown home early Saturday. Watertown Fire Department received a call at 12:57 a.m. for an active fire with smoke and flames at 923 Labaree St., according to fire officials. The first arriving unit reported the fire was coming from the second story and the on-scene crews were able to knock down the fire from the exterior and get inside to put the fire out.
- PUB DATE: 1/21/2020 6:39:35 AM - SOURCE: Watertown Daily Times

This year, seven first responders have died in roadside crashes across the country, according to the Emergency Responder Safety Institute. "What's really scary is standing two to three feet out at a highway and having a car go by you at 60 to 80 mph," Amherst Assistant Fire Chief Brian Swan said. Swan tells FOX 11 he knows the feeling all too well, along with the neighboring fire department in Waupaca.
- PUB DATE: 1/21/2020 2:28:43 AM - SOURCE: WNFL SPORT REDIO