Longtime Beloit Fire Chief Brad Liggett is moving on, and has accepted the chief's position at the Freeport Fire Department. Liggett has served as Beloit Fire Department chief for 16 years, and has worked over 30 years with the department. The career firefighter said his reason for leaving Beloit was to be closer to family.
- PUB DATE: 6/24/2019 10:51:39 AM - SOURCE: Beloit Daily News

A local sushi restaurant is assessing damages after a kitchen fire, which started around 8:50 p.m. Sunday. Soon’s Sushi Cafe, 2100 54th St., will remain closed until further notice, according to a message posted on its Facebook page. Kenosha Fire Department said smoke and flames were visible when the first of nine units arrived on the scene.
- PUB DATE: 6/24/2019 8:26:06 AM - SOURCE: Kenosha News

Three people were displaced from their home Sunday night after discovering a small fire coming out of the wall. On Sunday, June 23 around 6:39 p.m., Green Bay Metro Fire Department responded to a report of fire coming from the wall of a residence at 2315 Basten St. in Green Bay. Firefighters say they arrived at the residence to find a smoldering fire in the front of the wall of a duplex at that address.
- PUB DATE: 6/24/2019 2:48:42 AM - SOURCE: WFRV-TV and WJMN-TV Green Bay

One person died Saturday after a camper caught fire in Polk County, Wisconsin. The Polk County Sheriff's Office said deputies were dispatched to a report of a camper fire at about 4:37 p.m. in the south ditch off Ravine Drive, about 2 miles east of the Village of Dresser. Upon arrival, emergency personnel extinguished the fire and discovered the vehicle was occupied and the occupant had died in the fire.
- PUB DATE: 6/24/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KSTP.com

Kennewick police had to help firefighters get to a brushfire near the Burlington Store Saturday after onlookers kept getting in the way. First responders tell Action News they're seeing too much of this and they need your help. Officers say they understand the interest, it's human nature to watch events as they unfold but it's starting to impede their ability to do their job.
- PUB DATE: 6/24/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KEPR-TV CBS 19 Pasco

The Navy SEAL rejected to become a city firefighter for being too old can now be hired by the FDNY, thanks to action taken by state lawmakers Thursday. Special Operations Chief Shaun Donovan missed city employee age stipulations by six months and 25 days to join the FDNY in April. The Post first reported on his plight, sparking outrage and support for his bid to become a firefighter.
- PUB DATE: 6/24/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Post

The Oregon Legislature has passed a bill to protect farmers and ranchers from liability while fighting dangerous wildfires, such as the 2018 Substation fire in Wasco and Sherman counties. Senate Bill 290 is similar to other Good Samaritan laws that encourage bystanders to assist people in emergencies without worrying about being sued if something goes wrong.
- PUB DATE: 6/24/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Capital Press

After Joe Scarbeary retired from the Streator Fire Department last October, the Streator City Council decided not to hire a firefighter to replace him. The Streator Fire Department has been working without a 15th firefighter since May 2018, after Scarbeary had an injury that would eventually lead to his retirement and the city's decision not to rehire the position in November.
- PUB DATE: 6/24/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Illinois Times

A possible link between World Trade Center dust and prostate cancer in first responders has been found by researchers. Exposure to dust at the New York City site after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks triggered chronic inflammation in the responders' prostates, which may have contributed to their cancer, according to the Mount Sinai Health researchers.
- PUB DATE: 6/24/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: U.S. News & World Report

The cause of a fire that destroyed a shed and garage in Somers Friday night remained under investigation as of Saturday. The Somers Fire and Rescue Department was dispatched at 7:51 p.m. to 401 100th Ave. for a report of a shed fire. Dispatchers quickly provided additional information indicating it was a shed and a garage, which at the time they believed to be attached to the home, that were ablaze.
- PUB DATE: 6/23/2019 3:01:02 AM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times

On June 22, 0 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

At least half a dozen crews responded to a semi fire overnight on Interstate 94, near Eau Claire. The Eau Claire Fire Department says the driver was traveling westbound and was near mile marker 63, when he noticed the back end of the trailer on fire. The driver was able to disconnect the tractor from the trailer and call 911 for help.
- PUB DATE: 6/21/2019 6:13:52 AM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

A massive fire and series of explosions rocked a South Philadelphia refinery complex, the largest on the East Coast, early Friday morning. The blast jolted people from their sleep miles from the scene, but no injuries were reported. The blaze at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery erupted shortly after 4 a.
- PUB DATE: 6/21/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCAU-TV NBC 10 Philadelphia

In the latest US wireless carrier showdown, a new king has been crowned. Verizon is no longer the fastest carrier, as AT&T has eclipsed them for the first time in five years. This news comes out of PCMag, who released their “Fastest Mobile Networks” report this morning for the 10th year in a row. With a top overall score of 97, AT&T appears to be the clear winner.
- PUB DATE: 6/21/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: DroidLife

Atlanta City Council members passed a $677 million dollar budget Monday that included a pay bump for the city’s firefighters. But, some say it’s not enough. The budget includes a 3.1 percent increase for Atlanta firefighters, other fire rescue personnel and 911 dispatchers. It builds on a similar increase approved last year for firefighters and police officers.
- PUB DATE: 6/21/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WABE 90.1 FM

The Orange County Fire Authority has reversed its decision to encrypt its radio and dispatch communications that was initiated Monday. The encryption was part of the county’s upgrade of its 800 MHz Countywide-Coordinated Communications System, managed by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Officials said the move was meant to improve public safety agencies’ ability to communicate with each other during an emergency, but because it blocks the public from tuning into its communications during disasters, the OCFA decided to reverse the encryption of more than 1,500 radios used by its firefighters and paramedics.
- PUB DATE: 6/21/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Los Angeles Times - Metered Site

A woman who was left living on the streets of Florida with her dog after experiencing hardships was given refuge when a trio of kindhearted firefighters pitched in to get her, and her pup, shelter from the rain. It was around 2 a.m. on Tuesday when the Broward Sheriff’s Office received a call from a disabled homeless woman who complained of pain from standing too long, according to a post from the department’s Facebook page.
- PUB DATE: 6/21/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: People

It’s been nearly one year since the devastating gas explosion in Sun Prairie which took the life of Sun Prairie firefighter Cory Barr. Legislators took the time to recognize Barr at the Capitol on Thursday afternoon. "But in that loss he saved many many lives," said Representative Gary Hebl, who represents Sun Prairie and authored the joint resolution.
- PUB DATE: 6/20/2019 9:19:44 PM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

Hundreds came together to honor first responders on Thursday evening, June 20. The Unsung Hero event, put on by the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association, recognizes firefighters, paramedics and police officers for what they do as well as unsung heroes who died in the line of duty. "This isn't a job, it isn't a career, it's a calling so we just do it because we love it and so when we have opportunities like this," said Michael Bongiorno, union president.
- PUB DATE: 6/20/2019 8:22:04 PM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6

The home of a family of four is a total loss after a structure fire in Rock County Wednesday, according to the Town of Beloit deputy fire chief. The call reporting a structure fire in the 7500 block of West Highway 81 came in at about 2:33 p.m. Wednesday. The Orfordville Fire Department called for mutual aid to assist with the response to the fire.
- PUB DATE: 6/20/2019 4:39:33 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison