Madison firefighters have responded to a condo fire Thursday afternoon. Dane County dispatch said a fire was reported on the 500 block of Troy Drive at around 3:30 p.m. MFD said visible flames are out, but crews are working to ensure that there is no hidden fire remaining. Officials said everyone has evacuated the condo unit, but firefighters are still checking to see that the fire did not extend to nearby units.
- PUB DATE: 1/23/2020 3:43:41 PM - SOURCE: WMSN-TV Fox 47 Madison

Firefighters rescued an unconscious man during a house fire in Sun Prairie late Thursday night, according to the Sun Prairie Volunteer Fire Department. Emergency crews were dispatched to a home along the 5000 block of County Road VV in the Town of Sun Prairie around 10:45 p.m. Firefighters arrived to see smoke coming out from the basement and first floor of older farm house.
- PUB DATE: 1/23/2020 2:35:26 PM - SOURCE: WMSN-TV Fox 47 Madison

A fatal fire officials are describing as "probably the worst ever" in the city's history appears to have been a tragic accident, authorities say. “There was nothing suspicious, and (it) appears that it was accidental — at this time,” Fire Chief John Reed said of the Jan. 17 fire that killed four members of an Oconto family.
- PUB DATE: 1/23/2020 1:04:32 PM - SOURCE: Appleton Post-Gazette & Post Crescent.com

The Madison Fire Department wants people to continue avoiding a section of downtown Madison following a gas leak earlier Thursday morning. Everyone is asked to stay away from the area around E. Johnson Street, W. Dayton Street, N. Carroll Street, and Wisconsin Ave. According to the Madison Fire Department, firefighters responded shortly before 9 a.
- PUB DATE: 1/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WMTV - NBC 15

Firefighters in Sun Prairie responded to three different fires overnight. The first one started at 10:40 p.m. at 5699 County Highway VV in Sun Prairie. When crews got there, they noticed smoke throughout the home and one person was unaccounted for. They rushed in and rescued that person who was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
- PUB DATE: 1/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WKOW-TV ABC 27 News

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