Southwest Airlines recently found itself in hot water and had to apologize for the actions of one of its employees. That person, a gate agent, had joked with coworkers about the unusual name of one of the passengers on the flight, and later posted a picture of that passenger’s boarding pass to her personal social media account.
- PUB DATE: 12/14/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

The city of Houston has alleged in a legal claim that the voter-approved charter amendment granting firefighters equal pay to police officers is unconstitutional and preempted by Texas’ local government code, echoing a similar contention from the Houston Police Officers’ Union. The claim, filed in state district court as part of the police union’s lawsuit against the Houston Professional Fire Firefighters Association and the city, comes 10 days after a judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking implementation of Proposition B, which passed with 59 percent of the vote last month.
- PUB DATE: 12/14/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Houston Chronicle

VIDEO: One person was injured Thursday night in a house fire in the 8400 block of West Front Street in Hanover Township near Orfordville. The call came in just after 8 p.m. Thursday evening. Dispatchers are sending units from a number of area departments to assist Orfordville Fire Department personnel.
- PUB DATE: 12/13/2018 9:58:21 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

VIDEO: A 29-year-old man from Delavan has been taken into custody in connection with two house fires that happened on Dec. 10 and Dec. 12 in the Town of Delavan. The suspect told authorities he was involved in three others as well. Daniel Zitella is described as having severe learning disabilities. He now faces serious charges.
- PUB DATE: 12/13/2018 3:20:18 PM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6

VIDEO: Newswatch 12 spoke with a man who got two scam calls from someone pretending to be an Eagle River police officer and another pretending to be a firefighter. Both scam calls asked for donations. Eagle River Fire Chief Michael Anderson says he thinks the caller is a local because the department is taking donations for a second station, but not over the phone.
- PUB DATE: 12/13/2018 2:08:12 PM - SOURCE: WJFW-TV NBC 12 Rhinelander-Wausau

The Wheatland Town Board approved a construction management contract with Scherrer Construction, Inc., of Burlington, for a proposed new fire station at a Nov. 26 meeting. The unanimous decision, aside from absent supervisor Andrew Lois, comes in spite of concerns expressed by Fire Chief Lou Denko. Denko, whose department worked with Kaukauna-based Keller, Inc.
- PUB DATE: 12/13/2018 1:07:07 PM - SOURCE: My Kenosha County

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

On December 9, 17 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

The Sun Prairie Fire Department (SPFD) responded to a rollover and a gas leak on Wednesday, Dec. 12. Capt. Michael Seltzner of the SPFD said at 8:56 a.m., department personnel responded to the report of a gas leak in the area of 1911 Oakland Ave. Upon arrival, Sun Prairie Engine 3 and Car 2 found WE energies already on location and confirmed a two-inch gas line had been struck by a contractor.
- PUB DATE: 12/13/2018 1:44:53 AM - SOURCE: Sun Prairie Star

At least 12 people are recovering from injuries after a massive fire burned through several businesses in Sunnyside, Queens. The fire broke out inside one store on Queens Boulevard around 2:14 a.m. Thursday and quickly spread. Dozens of firefighters were called to the scene as the fire grew to five alarms.
- PUB DATE: 12/13/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WABC-TV ABC 7

Austin City Council members on Thursday will consider an ordinance that would require most of the city’s fire vehicles to be staffed with a minimum of four people, a move decades in the making that supporters say will improve safety and efficiency at the Fire Department. The ordinance would essentially bring into law a policy that the Fire Department has already been implementing to make sure that first responders are able to act immediately during a critical fire incident.
- PUB DATE: 12/13/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Austin American-Statesman

The attorneys for the Ghost Ship defendants are asking the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office for an unusual move — to arrest the warehouse landlords and fire department officials for the deadly fire. Attorneys for Derick Almena and Max Harris announced the motion to compel the arrests on Tuesday, asking for a laundry list of arrests that includes the Ghost Ship warehouse landlord Chor Ng and her two children, Eva and Kai, who served as building managers.
- PUB DATE: 12/13/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: East Bay Times

The head of the city council's investigations committee has requested an independent probe of the events leading up to the suspension of a top Fire Department chief accused of abusive behavior. Councilman Ritchie Torres, (D-Bronx), sent Department of Investigation Commissioner Margaret Garnett the request Tuesday, days after FDNY Chief of Department James Leonard was relieved of his command and put on desk duty.
- PUB DATE: 12/13/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Daily News

Mitch Crocetti's job pays pretty well, but his old job pays him even better. The Pingree Grove & Countryside Fire Protection District chief receives $117,500 a year in his current role, but his pension after his previous 30-year career with the Wood Dale Fire Department also pays him $124,037 annually.
- PUB DATE: 12/13/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Illinois Daily Herald

VIDEO: For many families with children in the hospital, the holidays can seem out of reach during a time of uncertainty, as many of them are spending time away from their homes and loved ones. On Wednesday, a special visitor came into town to brighten everyone's spirits. Santa came to the American Family Children's hospital in Madison to see the patients and spread holiday cheer, a tradition that's been at this hospital for the last 58 years.
- PUB DATE: 12/12/2018 5:28:51 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

Seven people in a multi-family home had to be evacuated Wednesday morning after a dropped incense stick resulted in a fire, which caused an estimated $60,000 of damage, according to the Racine Fire Department. Firefighters were dispatched at 10:05 a.m. to the residence in the 3200 block of 17th Street after a resident called 911 after attempting to extinguish a fire that had spread to the nearby bedding.
- PUB DATE: 12/12/2018 4:50:30 PM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times

The Barron-Maple Grove Fire Department’s “Keep the Wreath Green” program has started again. Fire Chief Mike Romsos said a wreath illuminated with green bulbs is now on display at Barron City Hall through New Year’s Day. “This is done to help raise fire awareness for area residents. For every fire that occurs in the Barron Maple Grove Fire Department’s Area, a green bulb will be replaced with a red bulb.
- PUB DATE: 12/12/2018 1:06:20 PM - SOURCE: Barron News Shield

Due to a recent historical discovery, the Green Bay Metro Fire Department's emblem is changing. The department's former emblem showed the "established" year of 1891. Recent historical research has determined community members established the earliest form of the Green Bay Fire Department in 1841, fire officials say.
- PUB DATE: 12/12/2018 11:30:43 AM - SOURCE: WLUK TV Fox 11

VIDEO: Pewaukee Firefighters are trained for all types of on-ice rescues, but today they're practicing with a new piece of life-saving equipment. This new device is called the "rapid deployment craft" and with openings on both of its sides, the device allows rescuers to grab victims out of the water while staying in the boat.
- PUB DATE: 12/12/2018 9:50:06 AM - SOURCE: Today's TMJ4

How much time does your family have to escape a fire? The I-Team found out the clock is not on your side if you live in a newly constructed home. The building material in modern homes burns a lot faster. “On average, with new construction, they are failing about 35 to 60 percent faster than conventional stick lumber that was used in the past,” said Lt.
- PUB DATE: 12/12/2018 8:25:18 AM - SOURCE: Today's TMJ4