On February 13, 8 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On February 12, 5 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

VIDEO: It's been almost one year to the day since crews broke ground on Fire Station 14, Madison's newest facility. Now, the station is preparing for its first celebration. Friday, Feb. 15, Fire Chief Steve Davis, Mayor Paul Soglin, District 16 Alder Michael Tierney, and former District 16 Alder Denise DeMarb will attend the official grand opening of Station 14 on the city's southeast side.
- PUB DATE: 2/14/2019 4:54:29 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

Lt. Necole Dundy Pittman said her 11 years with the Bridgeport Fire Department is proof that it’s not “a man’s job.” Firefighter Mohammad Kahn said his bigger stature is proof that you don’t have to be thin and muscular. Being a firefighter, they both said, is mostly about endurance. Bridgeport is looking for new firefighters and is hoping to attract a diverse crew to become the newest of the city’s bravest.
- PUB DATE: 2/14/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Connecticut Post

A City Council advisory committee thinks Eugene should establish a new payroll tax to raise $22.8 million to help pay for police, fire and other services. The proposed tax would phase in over 6 years, to be paid by employers and employees. The idea traces its origins to last fall, when Councilors signed off on $9 million for the Eugene Police to hire 10 more officers to improve response times to calls for service.
- PUB DATE: 2/14/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KVAL-TV CBS 13

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano is reminding volunteer firefighters and the community about a tuition reimbursement opportunity through the Fireman's Association of the State of New York (FASNY). FASNY has developed the Higher Education Learning Plan, or FASNY HELP, as an incentive to recruit and retain members of volunteer fire departments.
- PUB DATE: 2/14/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WENY-TV ABC, CBS, CW2

Purdue University researchers are developing firefighters that look more like R2-D2 than anyone in an Indianapolis Fire Department uniform. Purdue researchers have been working on firefighting robots since 2011. In 2015, they rolled out significant improvements, with a robot that had better optics and was nearly indestructible.
- PUB DATE: 2/14/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: IBJ.com - Metered Site

To help celebrate Valentine’s Day, the Chester County Fire Chiefs Association is paying special tribute to couples who keep the spark of romance alive by saving lives together as volunteer firefighters. Malvern Battalion Fire Chief Neil Vaughn came to Andrea’s rescue after she was in a car accident during slippery winter conditions.
- PUB DATE: 2/14/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Coatesville Daily Local News

On February 13, 1 residential fire fatality was reported by the Nation's news media.

John Andersen, deputy chief of fire prevention, has served in the Chippewa Fire District since it was formed in 1978, and he’s seen plenty of challenging fires. Andersen says the blaze at The View tavern on Lake Wissota on Tuesday might be the most challenging in his four decades of service. “This is probably the worst weather conditions I’ve been in,” Andersen said Wednesday morning, noting he was at the scene for 12 hours on Tuesday, then returned overnight to assist in extinguishing more small fires that kept popping up.
- PUB DATE: 2/13/2019 9:30:17 PM - SOURCE: Eau Claire Leader-Telegram

A 12-year member of the Eau Claire Fire Department was fired Wednesday by the city’s Police and Fire Commission. Brian Mero was terminated based on charges made by Fire Chief Chris Bell of misconduct, dishonesty, false reporting and using improper means to report alleged misconduct by his supervisors.
- PUB DATE: 2/13/2019 8:22:41 PM - SOURCE: Eau Claire Leader-Telegram

Overpasses along I-794 were lined with firefighters, community members and locals who paid their final respects to Officer Matthew Rittner. Along the Whitnall overpass, firefighters with Milwaukee County Fire Department arrived two hours before the procession started waiting for the moment that the hearse would pass underneath them.
- PUB DATE: 2/13/2019 6:49:00 PM - SOURCE: Today's TMJ4

We Energies plans to build a massive windscreen to address a coal dust issue plaguing residents living near their Oak Creek power plant. The city's plan commission unanimously approved plans Tuesday, Feb. 12, for a vertical windscreen, in excess of 4.5 acres, which will surround the southern and eastern portions of the large coal pile at 10770 and 11060 S.
- PUB DATE: 2/13/2019 1:05:31 PM - SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

A fire that caused $12,500 worth of damage to a Madison home was the result of improperly discarded cigarettes, according to a news release from the Madison Fire Department. Fire crews responded to a home in the 10 block of North Franklin Avenue around 2:55 p.m. Tuesday. When first responders arrived on the scene, the homeowner told them the fire was already put out.
- PUB DATE: 2/13/2019 12:27:58 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

On February 12, 2 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

PHOTO: After the last few weeks of insane winter weather in southeast Wisconsin, many fire hydrants have been buried. Finn, the grandson of the South Milwaukee Fire Department fire chief, decided to clear a path to a hydrant. Having these hydrants blocked can be dangerous, in case of a fire. The South Milwaukee Fire Department is asking people to follow Finn's lead and clear the hydrants in front of their homes and businesses.
- PUB DATE: 2/13/2019 7:35:19 AM - SOURCE: Today's TMJ4

If ever a project should speed along, it’s the construction of two new communication towers in Kenosha and Silver Lake Park. At issue are fire and police emergency communications that are inadequate or not even possible now in so many spots that include along Lake Michigan in Somers and Pleasant Prairie and along the state line to the far reaches of Kenosha County.
- PUB DATE: 2/13/2019 2:01:33 AM - SOURCE: Kenosha News

As 2020 looms on the horizon, a request to extend the fire chief’s tenure has surfaced. Fire Chief Ed Bradley turns 64 on April 12, and figured he would be shown the door a year later, per state law that mandates police and fire chiefs’ retirement at age 65. He said Town Manager Melissa Arrighi asked him to stay on for another two years to help facilitate a seamless transition to a new fire chief.
- PUB DATE: 2/13/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Wicked Local Plymouth

James Bulerin III has dreamt of following in his father’s footprints and becoming a city firefighter. But city officials have dashed those dreams because Bulerin has a medical marijuana card and tested positive for the drug. “The city has disqualified him from being a firefighter which is a clear violation of the state law,” said Bulerin’s lawyer, Thomas Bucci, who this week filed a discrimination lawsuit against the city on his client’s behalf.
- PUB DATE: 2/13/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Connecticut Post

VIDEO: Firefighters work to save our lives every day. Now, they need help fighting for theirs as they battle more than just fires. According to Dr. Arny Ferrando, a professor at UAMS, firefighters are nearly five times more likely to develop cancer than the average American. The area around their throat where they wear protective hoods, is a breeding spot for carcinogens.
- PUB DATE: 2/13/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTHV-TV 11