A toxic blaze that was fed by highly-combustible movie-set materials and raged unseen behind false plywood walls directly contributed to the tragic death of firefighter Michael Davidson in a Harlem basement last year, the FDNY has concluded. Davidson, 37, a veteran firefighter and father of four children, got separated from his fellow Bravest while fighting a fire on March 23, 2018, inside a former jazz club that had been converted into a set for “Motherless Brooklyn,” a star-studded film based on a Jonathan Lethem novel featuring Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin, Willem Dafoe and Edward Norton, who also directed.
- PUB DATE: 3/28/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Daily News

VIDEO: Millions of dollars in proposed federal budget cuts could cripple New Mexico’s ability to prepare for and respond to large-scale emergencies, including terrorism, according to a state official. “This could be a catastrophic event for New Mexico if that funding is taken away,” said Jackie White, the Cabinet Secretary for New Mexico’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
- PUB DATE: 3/28/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOB 4

Battery-operated smoke detectors weren't sufficient to save about 30 dogs who perished in a January kennel fire near West Chicago. State Rep. Diane Pappas says the outcome could have been less devastating had the two-story building been equipped with more advanced fire safety measures. Illinois lawmakers now are considering legislation to require pet boarding businesses to install a fire alarm system that automatically notifies first responders when it's activated.
- PUB DATE: 3/28/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Illinois Daily Herald

VIDEO: The people who keep Cobb County safe say they are understaffed and underpaid. Cobb police officers, firefighters and deputies crowded a Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday night, and some said there's such a shortage, people worry about who is going to protect the public. Speaker after speaker stood up for Cobb County's law enforcement officers, and many of the officers were there themselves to demand a fix.
- PUB DATE: 3/28/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WSB-TV ABC 2 Atlanta

The firefighters union in San Antonio revealed more details about its proposal for an independent health care trust on Tuesday, requesting a $19,000-per-employee payment from the city every year for the next five years to fund the trust. The San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association is asking for an independent health care trust that it can manage itself, removing it from the city’s purview.
- PUB DATE: 3/28/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: San Antonio Express-News

On March 27, 2 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

A Rock County home is a total loss after a garage fire spread to an entire house Wednesday, according to officials with the Clinton Fire Department. Officials said the homeowners noticed the fire in the garage and immediately went to rescue two baby goats inside. The family was able to rescue their goats, but the hay and straw burst into flames, and they had to call 911.
- PUB DATE: 3/27/2019 8:55:37 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

The man accused of killing a Lake Mills Fire Department captain is heading to trial, according to court records. Samuel Cremers is accused of killing fire Capt. Christopher Truman. Truman had stopped on the side of the Beltline Monday night to help another driver. Cremers hit Truman after Truman exited the vehicle.
- PUB DATE: 3/27/2019 5:13:15 PM - SOURCE: WMSN-TV Fox 47 Madison

Village officials made their choice Monday on whom they want as their new fire chief. Kristopher Grod, 42, will succeed Roger James as the head of the village's fire department. James retired from the Kronenwetter Fire Department on Dec. 31. Grod has an "extensive background and knowledge" of the fire service, Kronenwetter Police and Fire Commission Chairman Chad Billeb said in a statement.
- PUB DATE: 3/27/2019 9:15:55 AM - SOURCE: Wausau Daily Herald

A Jackson County house was heavily damaged by fire late Tuesday. No injuries were reported at N7625 Mitchell Red Cloud Jr. Road in the town of Komensky. The owner was away at the time, and another family member who was staying there spotted the fire. The Black River Falls Fire Department received the call at 9:24 p.
- PUB DATE: 3/27/2019 5:22:53 AM - SOURCE: Lacrosse Tribune

Bargersville fire officials are looking at a program would allow them to better serve local residents to help prevent medical emergencies. The Bargersville Fire Department is considering a paramedicine program, which would allow fire departments to take a greater role in primary care and preventative services.
- PUB DATE: 3/27/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Daily Journal

After having sole access to a state-of-the-art driving simulator for the better part of a week, the Moscow Volunteer Fire Department is already making plans to bring the equipment back in 2020. Situated in a long, enclosed tractor-trailer, the simulator is from the College of Eastern Idaho’s Fire Service Technology program and is intended to give new recruits experience driving large emergency vehicles without any risk.
- PUB DATE: 3/27/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Moscow-Pullman Daily News - Metered Site

PHOTOS: Harris County has sued Intercontinental Terminals Co. for failing to prevent a massive chemical fire that burned for more than 60 hours last week and spewed an unknown volume of hazardous chemicals into the air and nearby waterways. The county is seeking a temporary injunction and restraining order against the company, alleging that it violated the Texas Clean Air Act and the Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act, among other rules.
- PUB DATE: 3/27/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Houston Chronicle

VIDEO: KHON2's recent stories highlighting EMS spending and staffing now has the State Department of Health looking for more answers. This, after we raised questions on ambulance units closing and the purchase of a gas truck that has never been used. The health department controls the money for EMS but does give it leeway on what to purchase.
- PUB DATE: 3/27/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KHON-TV FOX 2

VIDEO: A new law in Arkansas has lowered the minimum age requirement for certain fire departments in the state. In order to expand their pool of potential recruits, a Texarkana, Arkansas Battalion Chief requested the change last year. Nearly two decades ago, Texarkana, Arkansas fire officials say they had about 100 people taking the test to become a firefighter, now they hover around 25 applicants.
- PUB DATE: 3/27/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The De Queen Bee

A fire has caused a barn to engulf in flames in the Town of Center in Outagamie County. The fire started shortly after 8:00 PM on the Northeast Corner of Mayflower and Autumn Hills Parkway. The video was sent in by viewer Jim Dreifuerst who said firefighters are still on scene and that the flames went down, but crews are still combatting it.
- PUB DATE: 3/26/2019 8:31:32 PM - SOURCE: WFRV-TV and WJMN-TV Green Bay

Firefighters in Merrill have lost another appeal in their attempt to get two new positions created on their pay scale. Merrill Firefighters Local 847 had a request for the creation of "Lead Paramedic" and "Lead Inspector" denied by the city's Personnel and Finance Committee on Tuesday, following input from both Fire Chief Josh Klug and representatives from the union and an hour-long closed session discussion.
- PUB DATE: 3/26/2019 6:51:31 PM - SOURCE: WRIG-AM Fox Sports 1390

Classes will go on as scheduled Tuesday at Weyauwega-Fremont Middle School despite a fire reported after school on Monday. The Weyauwega Fire Department responded to an alarm just before 5 p.m. The school district says students and staff inside the school buildings were evacuated. Superintendent Scott Bleck was on the scene when fire crews arrived.
- PUB DATE: 3/26/2019 8:23:43 AM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

On March 25, 6 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On March 24, 8 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.