In the small town of Evansville, many local businesses are making it easier for volunteer firefighters to respond to calls during the work day. The Evansville Community Fire District receives about 150 calls a year. When the station gets a call, all 35 volunteer firefighters receive a page. “Being able to have a job, a place of employment, that allows you to leave when the pagers go off is super important,” said Bill Castonguay, who has been an Evansville firefighter for 18 years and an EMT for nine.
- PUB DATE: 9/20/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

A raging fire destroyed a Boyle Heights import business Wednesday and three firefighters were injured, one critically, when the roof of the sprawling warehouse-type structure collapsed beneath their feet. The fire broke out for unknown reasons around 12:45 p.m. at the Passion Imports building in the 2800 block of East Pico Boulevard.
- PUB DATE: 9/20/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KNBC-TV NBC 4 Los Angeles

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner agreed to a 7 percent pay increase for police officers just weeks before a Houston referendum vote to determine whether firefighters deserve comparable pay for similar ranks. Turner announced some of the details of the pay raise at Wednesday's city council meeting. The two-year agreement with police will cost the city $52 million and goes into effect July 1, 2019.
- PUB DATE: 9/20/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTRK-TV ABC 13 Houston

Rensselaer Fire Chief Bill Hummel resigned Wednesday just hours before volunteer firfighters are set to bring concerns about training and proper equipment to city officials. City volunteer firefighters and county officials say both the chief and an assistant chief have stepped down. While the mayor and the chief have not returned calls for comment, the volunteers believe the resignations are a direct response to growing tensions between volunteers and career firefighters within the city.
- PUB DATE: 9/20/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WNYT-TV 13 Albany

As Anaheim Fire Chief Randy Bruegman’s retirement approaches, he discusses the future of firefighting and allows that if departments fail to change it could mean fewer men and women prepared to battle infernos. Along with more mega wildfires and tornadoes of flame never seen before in modern history, the chief points out that 85 percent of calls are for emergency medical service.
- PUB DATE: 9/20/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse

Prosecutors are recommending an 89-year prison term for the “serial arsonist” who set a fire in her nail salon that resulted in the deaths of two Kansas City firefighters. Thu Hong Nguyen, 46, is scheduled to be sentenced Friday by Jackson Country Circuit Court judge Joel P. Fahnestock. She was convicted of murder, arson and assault in the Oct.
- PUB DATE: 9/20/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Kansas City Star

The Pine River Fire Department will hold its 14th annual pig roast fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 22, at the fire station on Range Line Road. The event features food served from 1-7 p.m. and live music by Bernie Thompson from 1-4:30 p.m. and The Influence from 7-11 p.m. Activities also include fire and EMS demonstrations, fireworks at dusk by Fireworks Depot, and raffles throughout the day.
- PUB DATE: 9/19/2018 11:14:12 PM - SOURCE: Merrill Foto News

The Coulee Region offers a lot of original geography. "You have the cliffs, the hills, the terrain," said Jeff Strasser, communications specialist for the Wisconsin Task Force-1 Urban Search and Rescue team. The breathtaking beauty of a scenic overlook can present challenges for emergency responders when someone needs to be rescued.
- PUB DATE: 9/19/2018 7:53:17 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

Police and fire crews are investigating the cause of a fire that damaged a home in the 500 block of Waupaca Street Monday night. The Fremont Fire Department responded to the scene shortly after 9 p.m., according to a statement from the Fremont Police Department. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire shortly after arrival, according to police.
- PUB DATE: 9/19/2018 1:02:52 PM - SOURCE: Appleton Post-Gazette & Post Crescent.com

On September 18, 1 residential fire fatality was reported by the Nation's news media.

For this year’s Fire Prevention Month, the Bloomfield Genoa City Fire & Rescue Association hopes to improve fire safety in the community. In conjunction with Bloomfield Genoa City Fire & Rescue, the association is holding an upcoming smoke detector drive. During the month of October, smoke detectors will be available at the fire station on 1113 Clover Road in Bloomfield.
- PUB DATE: 9/19/2018 3:04:17 AM - SOURCE: Lake Geneva News

Verizon said Tuesday that it is not slowing down or degrading the wireless services of North Carolina residents who have been affected by Hurricane Florence, after a report surfaced accusing the company of "deprioritiz[ing]" mobile data plans. A hurricane victim identifying him- or herself as a Verizon customer posted to reddit Monday saying that it has been days since it has been possible to check Facebook or email from a mobile device in a small town in eastern North Carolina.
- PUB DATE: 9/19/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Greensboro News & Record

The current collective bargaining agreement between the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Professional Fire Fighter’s Union expired four years ago. Right now, the first responders are operating on an evergreen plan, keeping the most current contract in place and allowing time to negotiate. But the city says that's not happening.
- PUB DATE: 9/19/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KENS5.com San Antonio

The pressure in natural gas pipelines prior to a series of explosions and fires in Massachusetts last week was 12 times higher than it should have been, according to a letter from the state's U.S. senators to executives of the utility in charge of the pipelines. Democratic U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey sent the letter Monday seeking answers about the explosions from the heads of Columbia Gas, the company that serves the communities of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, and NiSource, the parent company of Columbia Gas.
- PUB DATE: 9/19/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NBC Boston

ISO has been developing grades of fire suppression capabilities for communities under our Public Protection Classification program for many years. We recognize there are often questions about the PPC process. This article is designed to help provide a better understanding of our PPC, along with information about some ways fire chiefs can get help with the related process.
- PUB DATE: 9/19/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

Joplin's finance director says critics are trying to force her out of her job, and the city manager says city employees who continue to stir rumors and act disrespectful could face disciplinary action. City Manager Sam Anselm holds fire and police employees responsible for repeated incidents in which he said untruths have been spread and employees have acted out against other city employees, such as the finance director, and the City Council.
- PUB DATE: 9/19/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Joplin Globe

About $200,000 in damage was caused by fire to a machine and duct work Tuesday morning at Dynamic Fabrication & Finishing at 800 Wisconsin St. The fire was reported at 7:38 a.m. The business was evacuated by the time Eau Claire firefighters arrived. Firefighters extinguished the fire, which was contained to the machine and adjacent duct work.
- PUB DATE: 9/18/2018 10:56:28 PM - SOURCE: Eau Claire Leader-Telegram

VIDEO: The Milwaukee Fire Department is requiring its 800 firefighters go through a domestic abuse training session. To cover all the first responders, sessions are being offered at the Milwaukee Fire Academy over a three month period. It’s part of a health and wellness program within the department that’s been around for almost ten years.
- PUB DATE: 9/18/2018 6:26:53 PM - SOURCE: Today's TMJ4

A Green Bay Metro Fire Station suffered severe flood damage during Monday night's storms. "Our Fire Station 5 suffered major flooding, rendering the building uninhabitable," said Fire Chief David Litton. The station on Finger Road is expected to be closed for a lengthy period of time while repairs are being done.
- PUB DATE: 9/18/2018 3:37:31 PM - SOURCE: WNFL SPORT REDIO

Milwaukee police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect wanted for a battery cutting and an arson to a vehicle. It happened near 26th Street and Mineral Street. According to police, on Saturday, Sept. 15 around 10:30 p.m. the suspect stabbed the victim over stolen property. The suspect fled the scene — then came back to the area on Sunday, Sept.
- PUB DATE: 9/18/2018 9:03:03 AM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6