Town firefighters responded to fires potentially caused by lightning Thursday, one of which seriously injured a firefighter, officials said. Around 6:40 p.m., the Fairfield Emergency Communications Center received a call for a structure fire in the 1000 block of Mill Hill Road. Several units were dispatched to the residence and the first units on scene reported smoke coming from a large detached garage.
- PUB DATE: 6/29/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fairfield Citizen

Bronx prosecutors are getting into the mix to decide if charges are justified in a drunken brawl between firefighters, the Daily News has learned. Earlier this month, a full-on firefighter fracas exploded between off-duty uniformed smoke eaters when someone was called the N-word. The fight happened in Billy’s Bar, near Yankee Stadium, between the Bronx’s Rescue Company 3 and members of Ladder Company 49 and Engine Company 68, The News reported — adding that no arrests were made at the time.
- PUB DATE: 6/29/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Daily News

The city’s Retirement Board has blocked Fire Chief Brian Moriarty from firing a 250-pound firefighter who the chief alleged is unfit for duty because of his weight. Morarity directed firefighter Alfredo Sanchez, a 17-year-veteran of the force, to retire when Sanchez returned from an 18-month disability leave after tearing a ligament in his knee.
- PUB DATE: 6/29/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse

Dozens of firefighters attended the Newport News City Council meeting on Tuesday hoping to be heard. Donnie Lewis, President of the Newport News Firefighter's Association, says a mandatory overtime policy is exhausting city firefighters. “Our firefighters are the best in the world, I think. They do a great job…but there’s a limit," said Lewis.
- PUB DATE: 6/29/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTKR Channel 3 News

A structure fire on Thursday afternoon displaced the occupant of a home in the 1700 block of Mead Street, along with her six children. The electrical fire was contained to the first floor bedroom where it began at 3:22 p.m., but still caused an estimated $20,000 worth of damage to the structure and $5,000 to its contents, according to a press release from the Racine Fire Department.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2018 7:37:07 PM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times

VIDEO: Firefighters put their lives on the line every day, putting out fires and saving others. But once the fire is out, the danger does not end for firefighters. "Certainly the idea is to put the fire out, that is definitely dangerous," Battalion Chief Dan Mrochek of the Oshkosh Fire Department told Local Five.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2018 5:09:26 PM - SOURCE: WFRV-TV and WJMN-TV Green Bay

It's been three months since 29-year-old Richard Garner collapsed suddenly and died. The Madison firefighter had finished his shift just hours before. The death was shocking, saddening, and left Station 10 with a void that is still felt today. Area firefighters and paramedics will honor Garner on Friday with the inaugural Richard Garner Memorial Ride, a charity ride through southern Wisconsin.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2018 8:16:15 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

Public-safety worker unions in Wisconsin cannot require that fees be paid by non-union members under a pivotal ruling issued Wednesday by the U.S. Supreme Court. Gov. Scott Walker touted the national ruling as a sign Wisconsin was ahead of the curve seven years ago when it passed a landmark law curtailing the power of public unions.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2018 5:49:27 AM - SOURCE: Lacrosse Tribune

A 34-year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department died Wednesday at Aria Torresdale Hospital, two days after he was critically injured at the Fire Academy in Holmesburg. Lt. Benny Hutchins, 62, who joined the Fire Department in 1984, was participating in a training exercise at the academy at 5200 Pennypack St.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Philly.com

An Austin Fire cadet died at the hospital on Tuesday, according to the a tweet sent Tuesday evening from the department. The cadet was identified as Devon Coney. "Immense sadness over the passing of one of our best and brightest, Devon Coney, who died earlier this evening at a local hospital. Devon’s positive attitude, ever-present kindness and joy, and megawatt smile are just a few of the many things we’ll miss," Austin Fire tweeted Tuesday evening.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KVUE-TV ABC Austin

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of public employees' First Amendment rights to decline to pay union dues, marking a potential blow to the funding for influential unions of public employees. The decision marks a big moment for Justice Neil Gorsuch, who voted with the majority and broke the tie from 2016 when the court was split 4-4 in the same case after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: ABC News

A video shows a firefighter falling out of a burning home while evacuating. WJAR reported that 28-year veteran Lt. Michael Hillier fell head-first out of a second-story window while trying to escape the flames. “He fell evacuating the building,” Battalion Chief Steven Houle said. “He was coming down the ladder.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

PHOTO - The Martins Ferry Volunteer Fire Department’s new purple fire engine is in service. In fact, it was christened Wednesday when it was called to a minor traffic accident on Ohio 7 at Hanover Street, Lt. Justin Matz said. The custom pumper truck, which cost $488,616, was manufactured by Sutphen in Columbus, Ohio.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Times Leader

On June 27, 1 residential fire fatality was reported by the Nation's news media.

VIDEO: Firefighters who responded to the Shipwrecked Brew Pub fire last August returned to the scene on Wednesday, but this time, for a free dinner from the restaurant owners expressing their gratitude. Many people who live in or visit Door County know the Shipwrecked Brew Pub well. Some visit it all the time.
- PUB DATE: 6/27/2018 9:43:00 PM - SOURCE: WFRV-TV and WJMN-TV Green Bay

VIDEO: Madison police say a man arrested in connection with an attack that left both the suspect and victim with serious chemical burns has now been taken into custody. Matthew R DeJesus, 31, Madison was released from an area hospital Tuesday and taken into custody on a probation hold while the investigation continues.
- PUB DATE: 6/27/2018 2:53:20 PM - SOURCE: WKOW-TV 27 ABC

More than 7 years after an Amherst garage was damaged by fire, one of its owners will head to trial for arson. Barbara Maslowski-Day is free on $10,000 signature bond. She was charged in April 2017 and pleaded not guilty that June. According to court documents, a neighbor reported the fire around 2 p.
- PUB DATE: 6/27/2018 2:46:16 PM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

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