VIDEO: The newest part-time employees at Gaston Emergency Medical Services walk on four legs and work for treats. Bijou, her son Knox, and a Danish import named Macy Mae serve as the first responders’ therapy dogs. Their presence was the idea of Maj. Jessica Ross, who reflected on tough times at the department and her past career as a certified nursing assistant for a way to help her co-workers.
- PUB DATE: 3/19/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Gaston Gazette

The city's fire union is asking a judge to halt newly codified rules that direct firefighters to clean up blood and bodily fluids at accident and medical scenes. The Detroit Fire Fighter Association is asking a Wayne County Circuit judge to grant an injunction to halt the practice until an unfair labor complaint is resolved.
- PUB DATE: 3/19/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Detroit News

The Baltimore City Fire Department is paying overtime to fill nearly a third of its firefighter and medic shifts every day, blowing through its overtime budget. The department is relying heavily on volunteer “callbacks,” in which firefighters or medics who have just finished a shift are asked to work another, said a department spokeswoman.
- PUB DATE: 3/19/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Baltimore Sun - Metered Site

VIDEO: An election forum Monday allowed voters to hear from both sides of Ballot Issue 1, which residents will vote on as part of the Colorado Springs municipal election April 2. The measure would allow collective bargaining for all uniformed firefighters, which means firefighters would be guaranteed an opportunity to negotiate pay, benefits and equipment concerns with the city.
- PUB DATE: 3/19/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fox21 News

De Pere Fire Department says crews were called to a home on Bunker Hill Drive. De Pere Fire Department's Assistant Chief Rich Annen said the fire happened around 7:30 Monday night. Smoke was visible when the first truck arrived on scene. Firefighters say they also saw flames coming from the back of the home.
- PUB DATE: 3/18/2019 11:45:02 PM - SOURCE: WLUK TV Fox 11

City Fire Department officials report that the department has experienced a large increase in carbon monoxide alarm calls lately. Lt. John Magnus of the department's Fire Prevention Bureau advises residents that most carbon monoxide alarms are only designed for seven to 10 years use. There is a chirp that sounds to alert residents when the unit reaches the end of its recommended service life; this chirp will sound every 30 seconds.
- PUB DATE: 3/18/2019 6:08:35 PM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times

Osseo community members made plans to form an emergency event community support group. Locals and business owners in Osseo held a pre-planning meeting at the Osseo Rural Fire Department where they discussed a way for volunteers to help in the event of an emergency. With the opening of the new Fire Station and emergency events, such as the forty car pile-up on I-94 in February, the Fire Department is looking for community members to offer a helping hand.
- PUB DATE: 3/18/2019 5:12:15 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

Multiple emergency departments responded Monday to a fire at The Springs – Your United Methodist Community, 2820 Plover Springs Drive. Crews arrived at the church around 11 a.m., Plover Deputy Fire Chief Ken Voss said. Light smoke was showing when they arrived, he said, but heavy smoke and flames developed shortly after.
- PUB DATE: 3/18/2019 11:56:16 AM - SOURCE: Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune

The Hartland Fire Department is in a state of dysfunction, but also that it is operationally ready to respond to emergencies, according to a study. The department was audited by Five Bugle Training & Consulting to evaluate the fire department since Fire Chief Dave Dean took over in 2014. "It is the opinion of the consultant that the Hartland Fire Department is in a state of dysfunction regarding leadership practices and creating a culture of inclusiveness," the audit concluded.
- PUB DATE: 3/18/2019 10:56:41 AM - SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Dane County may be the second-most populous county in Wisconsin and home to the state’s capital, but it doesn’t exempt the area from the occasional agricultural accident. It’s why the Dane County Farm Bureau and multiple agents of Rural Mutual Insurance Co. found it important to sponsor a recent ag rescue training, with the Farm Bureau fronting two-thirds of the cost for 10 area fire departments to participate.
- PUB DATE: 3/18/2019 8:18:22 AM - SOURCE: Eau Claire Leader-Telegram

What kid doesn't want to squirt water at an imaginary fire? With that question, which really needs no answer, Neenah officials have set out to create a firefighter-themed splash pad at Washington Park. The splash pad will feature water cannons, fountains and sprays that will inspire children to pretend they are heroic firefighters saving the day.
- PUB DATE: 3/18/2019 7:52:35 AM - SOURCE: Fond du Lac Reporter

On March 16, 9 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On March 15, 3 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

Firefighters on Monday morning, March 18 responded to the scene of house fire in Union Grove. It happened near 13th Avenue and High Street. According to officials, a neighbor notified authorities shortly before 5 a.m. of flames coming from the windows of the home. The neighbor also indicated he didn’t see anyone coming out.
- PUB DATE: 3/18/2019 6:17:56 AM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6

The city’s fire chief is firing back after an alderman announced on social media over the weekend his intent to make a motion this week to shut down the Safe Station program. On Friday, Alderman at Large Joe Kelly Levasseur posted a message on his personal Facebook page, stating that 61 percent of those accessing Safe Stations in Manchester “are from somewhere else.
- PUB DATE: 3/18/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Union Leader

A swath of Interstate 15 that runs through Escondido was dedicated Saturday in honor of Cory Iverson, a North County Cal Fire firefighter who died battling the Thomas Fire in 2017. “Corey Iverson is a hometown hero,” said California Assemblymember Marie Waldron, who started the effort to get the freeway naming approved by the Legislature.
- PUB DATE: 3/18/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The San Diego Union Tribune - Metered Site

Starting April 1, it will be illegal to sell smoke detectors with removable, replaceable batteries in New York state. The law was adopted in 2016 but it gave retailers three years to comply. The law requires that battery-powered smoke detectors sold in the state must come with batteries that last at least 10 years and cannot be removed.
- PUB DATE: 3/18/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Syracuse.com

Lieutenant Barry Narrin has a challenge for area fire departments. Narrin’s part of the Otter Lake Fire Dept., and he and his fellow volunteers will be spending their free time installing fire safety kits in 36 homes in the Otter Lake area, completely free for both the homeowners and the department itself.
- PUB DATE: 3/18/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Lapeer County Press

Firefighter Thomas Harwell says it's always been in his blood to help people, and not just when he's on the clock. He, his wife Shayla and their 2-year-old daughter were at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo featuring Brad Paisley Saturday when they saw an elderly woman struggling to get down the stairs of the stadium with her daughter and two granddaughters.
- PUB DATE: 3/18/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CNN

Members of the Eau Claire Fire and Rescue team are rolling up their sleeves to help install free smoke detectors donated by the Red Cross. "Assess the house to see what detectors you have, if they are still good, if they are in a good location and then figure out where to put the new ones," said Eau Claire Fire Inspector Jason Knecht.
- PUB DATE: 3/17/2019 3:09:17 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News