Mount Sinai Fire District officials unnecessarily raised taxes more than 4 percent over a four-year period after overestimating expenditures by more than $300,000, state auditors said in a report released last week. The district, which runs business operations for the fire department, also failed to seek bids for about $27,000 worth of purchases, the office of state Comptroller Thomas P.
- PUB DATE: 9/3/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Newsday

Poisonous chemicals killed one woman in an apparent suicide and sickened eight people, prompting the evacuation of three floors of the Hotel Fairmont in San Jose Saturday, fire officials said. About 10 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to the hotel on a report of an attempted suicide on the 19th floor using chemicals.
- PUB DATE: 9/3/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: San Francisco CBS Local

Most people didn't have to work on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2, and got to enjoy some time with family and friends, but for first responders, it was another day working to keep our community safe. To say, "Thank you," Olive Garden officials delivered a complimentary lunch, including fresh pasta, salad, and bread sticks at fire stations and police departments.
- PUB DATE: 9/2/2019 3:46:02 PM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6

A structure fire at a Chippewa Falls home leaves behind thousands of dollars in damages on Labor Day. The Chippewa Falls Fire and Emergency Services Department says it happened around 2:30am on Beaver Street. Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy fire and smoke coming from the second floor of a single family home.
- PUB DATE: 9/2/2019 11:52:46 AM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

The Milwaukee Police Department has arrested a 14-year-old boy in connection with a playground fire that took place at Butterfly Park Sunday. Firefighters responded to the area about 1:25 p.m. Sunday for reports of a slide on fire near the playground equipment. Investigators arrested a 14-year-old boy Monday in connection with the blaze, police said.
- PUB DATE: 9/2/2019 9:52:47 AM - SOURCE: Today's TMJ4

Hazmat crews evacuated people who live near Kern Park area Sunday afternoon. The Milwaukee Fire Department said neighbors called them about a van that they thought had something suspicious inside. Officers arrested a person accused of possession of narcotics. "I saw a young man being pulled off, being arrested, being put into the back seat of a police car and driven away," said John Hughes, who lives in the area.
- PUB DATE: 9/1/2019 3:47:50 PM - SOURCE: WISN-TV ABC 12 Milwaukee

Seven people are homeless after an apartment fire Saturday night on Milwaukee's east side. The two-alarm fire broke out on the third floor of the building, which housed three apartments near Downer Avenue and Park Place about 7:40 p.m. According to the Milwaukee Fire Department, nobody was hurt, but the landlord had to jump onto the balcony to escape.
- PUB DATE: 8/31/2019 7:41:57 PM - SOURCE: WISN-TV ABC 12 Milwaukee

Saturday's fire on Straight Street would have engulfed several city blocks if fire commanders on the scene hadn't made the right call, said Fire Chief Brian McDermott. Fire commanders Capt. Jose Castro and Battalion Chief John Botero got to the scene and within minutes switched the mission from offensive to defensive in order to prevent the fire from spreading throughout the neighborhood.
- PUB DATE: 8/30/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: North Jersey.com (Bergen County Record & Herald News)

Family and friends are remembering Maysville, Iowa, Fire Chief Ty Arp as not just a loving husband and father who loved his firefighters and his community, but also as a man who brought joy wherever he went. Arp, 42, died Tuesday at University Hospitals, Iowa City, after suffering a stroke on Aug. 22.
- PUB DATE: 8/30/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Quad-City Times

It’s not often that a fire district must prepare for a known event with so many unknown factors. But that’s the situation facing the Lincoln County (Nevada) Fire Protection District and its fire chief/emergency manager, Eric Holt, now anticipating a massive influx of people to the remote area on Sept.
- PUB DATE: 8/30/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter's proposed 2020 budget would take money from the police department's mental health unit and give it to the fire department. Carter allocated $500,000 for the police department in 2019 to pay for three new mental health officers and community mental health provider contracts, according to the city's finance department.
- PUB DATE: 8/30/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Star Tribune

The Brownsville Fire Department is equipped with some new ambulances that can be used in off road conditions. The three all-terrain response units will be able to go into areas standard ambulances are unable to access. Fire Chief Jarrett Sheldon said the off-road ambulances will be used on the hike-and-bike trails, along the border fence, along the river terrain and even Boca Chica Beach.
- PUB DATE: 8/30/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Brownsville Herald

The Stevens Point Fire Department is kicking off its annual fill the boot campaign to raise awareness and money for muscular dystrophy. The disease causes progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass and eventually death. There is currently no cure. Jack and Jennie Kapral said the fundraising event means the world to those affected by this disease.
- PUB DATE: 8/29/2019 1:59:35 PM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

A family of four escaped unharmed from a house fire in Somers early Thursday. The Somers Fire Department was called to the home, 908 Sheridan Road, at about 2:08 a.m. When firefighters arrived, the family, including two children, was already out of the house and smoke was pouring from inside. An adult man from the family was taken to a local hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.
- PUB DATE: 8/29/2019 1:06:35 PM - SOURCE: Kenosha News

Two people were booked on suspicion of murder in connection with the disappearance of 28-year-old firefighter John Brian Mananghaya Aguila, West Covina Police announced Wednesday. Elijah Thomas Rouse, 18, of La Verne and Shaun Cardarelli, 37, of San Gabriel were arrested on Tuesday and are currently being held in lieu of $1 million bail each.
- PUB DATE: 8/29/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTTV-TV MyFox 11 Los Angeles

Signs taped to the entrances of Guerneville’s fire station warn people that it’s risky to step inside — an unusual message for a building dedicated to public safety. It turns out this Russian River firehouse is among an aging group of unreinforced masonry structures in jeopardy of collapse in a major temblor.
- PUB DATE: 8/29/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Press Democrat

Apopka fire Chief Chuck Carnesale, a part of the Fire Department since 1983 when he was 13 and served as a “student explorer,” announced Wednesday he is retiring. His decision to step down effective Friday followed a city request for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to look into problems with National EMS Billing, a company which held a contract to collect bills from patients treated by the city’s emergency medical service.
- PUB DATE: 8/29/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Orlando Sentinel - Metered Site

West Covina police detained three people Tuesday in connection with a missing 28-year-old man who has not been heard from since last week. The family members of West Covina firefighter John Brian Mananghaya Aguila contacted West Covina police on Aug. 24 after not hearing from him for multiple days.
- PUB DATE: 8/29/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CBS News Los Angeles

VIDEO: A destructive wildfire season in Alaska has only grown worse in recent weeks, as the Swan Lake Fire has spread rapidly. Located near Sterling on the Kenai Peninsula, the blaze has been fueled by an incredibly warm and dry summer. Since being ignited by lightning on June 5, the blaze has become the country's largest wildfire at a total size of 158,042 acres, as of Aug.
- PUB DATE: 8/29/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: AccuWeather

The surgeries were over, the life-threatening condition halted, and Tommy Spiotta headed out of Stony Brook Children's Hospital Tuesday — only to find a joyful surprise. The East Patchogue 19-year-old — a fire department explorer and Special Olympics competitor — passed through the front doors of the hospital to applause and cheers from about 50 firefighters.
- PUB DATE: 8/29/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Newsday