Officials in La Crosse have started a new push to consolidate fire departments in the region, but not everyone is convinced, with some in surrounding communities worrying about a loss of independence. Agencies in La Crosse County have had on-and-off discussions about the idea over the last 20 years. But La Crosse Fire Chief Ken Gilliam said several fires near municipal borders have recently highlighted the lack of coordination.
- PUB DATE: 6/27/2018 9:47:35 AM - SOURCE: Wisconsin Public Radio

A Racine fire station is expected to be relocated from 16th Street to a park near Durand Avenue. Fire Station No. 6, 2101 16th St., was built in 1975, according to Fire Chief Steve Hansen. It was constructed according to residential standards and was not meant to be used for more than 10 years as the fire station, he said by email.
- PUB DATE: 6/27/2018 4:39:49 AM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times

Over 2,000 firefighters are battling the Pawnee Fire in Lake County, which has grown to 13,000 acres. So far, it is 25 percent contained. At least 22 structures have been destroyed and 600 remain threatened, and there's a mandatory evacuation order for the Spring Valley community. There was a break for firefighters on Tuesday afternoon.
- PUB DATE: 6/27/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KGO-TV ABC 7 San Francisco

Both proud service to his city and encounters with tragedy marked the 34-year career of Toledo Fire and Rescue Department Chief Luis Santiago. After announcing his retirement in a letter to firefighters earlier this month, Chief Santiago during an interview with The Blade Tuesday said retiring was absolutely a difficult decision, but a combination of factors made the timing right.
- PUB DATE: 6/27/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Toledo Blade

William C. Richmond, who was Philadelphia’s fire commissioner during the 1985 MOVE bombing, died Monday, June 25, at home. He was 86. A death notice posted by his family did not provide a cause. Mr. Richmond was a Korean War veteran and served as a Philadelphia police officer for two years before beginning a 28-year career at the Fire Department, rising from firefighter to commissioner, a position he held from 1984 to 1988.
- PUB DATE: 6/27/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: PHILLY.COM

More than a year after a Houston firefighter died of cancer, her husband is fighting for benefits he says his wife earned. It appeared he even had the fire chief on his side. It's just the latest case of Houston heroes having a tough time fighting the city's workers' compensation system. ABC13 has reported on police officers struggling with the system.
- PUB DATE: 6/27/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTRK-TV ABC 13 Houston

On Sunday, the Corinth Fire Department reunited a lost prosthetic leg with its owner. The original call came in Thursday from Saratoga County Dispatch -- a male amputee had lost his prosthetic leg -- valued at $127,000 -- off the back of his jetski in the Hudson River. "He said when he lost his leg in a motorcycle accident it truly affected him, but after he so called lost his leg for a second time, it almost affected him more.
- PUB DATE: 6/27/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WRGB-TV CBS 6

Over 2,000 firefighters are battling the Pawnee Fire in Lake County, which has grown to 13,000 acres. So far, it is 25 percent contained. At least 22 structures have been destroyed and 600 remain threatened, and there's a mandatory evacuation order for the Spring Valley community. There was a break for firefighters on Tuesday afternoon.
- PUB DATE: 6/27/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KGO-TV ABC 7 San Francisco

Progressive Rail has lost its request to have a road closed in the Chippewa County town of Eagle Point, just northeast of Chippewa Falls. Progressive Rail filed a request with the state’s Office of the Commissioner of Railroads last September seeking a permanent closure of a 1-mile stretch of 95th Avenue, from Highway 124 to Highway 178, just west of Lake Wissota, allowing Progressive to expand its operations with a larger switching yard.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2018 10:09:53 PM - SOURCE: Eau Claire Leader-Telegram

City paramedics soon will bulletproof gear to use during active shooter situations. The Oshkosh Fire Department will use a $15,050 grant from Capital Credit Union’s Elevate Communities program to buy 10 sets of bulletproof vests, helmets and accessories, said John Holland, a Fire Department spokesman.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2018 4:54:51 PM - SOURCE: Oshkosh Northwestern

The National Weather Service is working to confirm a tornado in southwest Wisconsin after multiple funnel sightings in Platteville. The funnel was spotted around 11:20 a.m., according to the Platteville Fire Department. Chief Ryan Simmons said no siren was issued by the city because the funnel was spotted outside of the city limits.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2018 4:37:43 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

VIDEO: Three Roman Electric employees were honored Tuesday, June 26 for their quick actions which allowed them to save the lives of a man and baby trapped in a burning home in Milwaukee in March. The fire happened on March 12 near 70th and Dickinson. Roman electric employees Chris Rassette, Jack Schoeppe and Brian Pape were honored by the Milwaukee Fire Department and Alderman Michael Murphy for their heroic actions — rescuing Angel Suarez and his 1-month-old daughter from the home before firefighters could arrive on scene.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2018 1:40:54 PM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6

PHOTO: Eight people are injured in an early morning crash near Black River Falls. It happened around 1:12 a.m. on the eastbound side of I-94. According to information from the Wisconsin State Patrol, a semi driven by Jason Gilberts of Willmar, Minnesota was traveling on the interstate on the inside lane.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2018 9:48:33 AM - SOURCE: WXOW-TV ABC 19 LaCrosse

On June 25, 1 residential fire fatality was reported by the Nation's news media.

A Madison man who caused a crash early Saturday morning that took the life of a Madison man is being charged with homicide. Gavin Veium, 22, will be tentatively charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle and second-degree reckless homicide, Madison police said. Diano McCullough, 45, was killed in the fiery crash that happened at about 3:30 a.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Madison.com-Wisconsin State Journal-Capital Times

Humbled and amazed. That's how a family in Alabama feels after receiving an outpouring of support from all over the world for their daughter as she fights cancer. And now she's about to get a little love from Northeast Wisconsin. Firefighters here are donating a massive collection of patches to help the once-stranger they now consider family.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WBAY.com

A 77-year-old man set a fire to lure firefighters to his Southern California retirement home so he could shoot them, authorities said. The attack killed one firefighter and wounded another. Thomas Kim was arrested Monday on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and arson but investigators were still trying to determine a motive for the attack in the southern Los Angeles suburb, Police Chief Robert Luna said.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CBS News

Citing concerns about firefighter safety, the Seattle Fire Department has doubled the number of people who will respond to calls at homeless shelters in Pioneer Square. Capt. Shata Stephenson said in a statement that the department has gone from having two or four firefighters respond to “certain locations within Pioneer Square” to “at least six.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

A custodian had to be rescued Monday afternoon after she was pinned under a bank of lockers while cleaning at Medway Middle School. “These lockers are probably about seven years old and at this point, we’re completely unsure of what went on,” said Medway Town Administrator Michael Boynton. Boynton says he doesn’t know why the lockers gave way because they’re supposed to be bolted to the wall.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CBS Boston

Vallejo Fire Chief Jack McArthur has been released from his position with the department, City Hall confirmed Monday. The move comes after City Manager Greg Nyhoff completed an “assessment of the city organization,” said City Hall spokeswoman Joanna Altman in a statement released to the Times-Herald.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Vallejo Times-Herald