The New Orleans Fire Department ran afoul of the state constitution when it promoted dozens of firefighters to the rank of captain even though they ranked lower than many other eligible candidates on a promotion exam, the city's Civil Service Commission said in a 33-page ruling issued Thursday. But the ruling won’t help those who were passed over to climb the ranks, and it won’t strip the 41 who were promoted of their posts.
- PUB DATE: 5/25/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Advocate

The Rodeo-Hercules Fire District recently voted to remove the chair from his position after alleged harassment and threats, including a threat to “crucify” the interim fire chief. The Rodeo-Hercules Fire District board voted on May 9 to remove Ernest Wheeler as chair of the board after an internal investigation, among other things, found that Wheeler had threatened to “crucify” acting Fire Chief Bryan Craig over a disagreement on the use of district funds.
- PUB DATE: 5/25/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: East Bay Times

Mobile officials gathered Thursday morning in the Crichton area to cut the ribbon on the "mother of all fire stations in the area," as one of them described it. That was Councilman Fred Richardson, who had obvious reason to be delighted that the city's newest public safety facility was in his District 1.
- PUB DATE: 5/25/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: AL.com

Sounding the alarm on cancer risks faced by firefighters, the Massachusetts Senate on Tuesday voted to set aside $420,000 to help municipalities buy equipment to remove deadly carcinogens from firefighters’ gear. Under a budget amendment (1018) offered by Sen. Paul Feeney and adopted unanimously, the money would seed a new trust fund to support the bulk purchase of extractors -- essentially, Feeney said, large washing machines that can remove carcinogens that permeate clothing even after firefighters leave a scene.
- PUB DATE: 5/25/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Wicked Local Wayland

The loved ones of two fallen York City firefighters are suing the engineering firm they say is responsible for surveying the Weaver Piano & Organ building the day of the fatal collapse. Attorneys for Casey Flanscha, widow of Ivan Flanscha, and Allison Hoffman, fiancee of Zachary Anthony, filed a wrongful death suit against Carney Engineering Group and its president, Josh Carney, on Thursday, May 24.
- PUB DATE: 5/25/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: York Dispatch

Gundersen Tri-State Ambulance and the La Crosse Fire Department have agreed to a partnership that is expected to help solve the local paramedic shortage that mirrors the same problem nationwide. The agreement, announced at a joint press conference Thursday at Tri-State headquarters in La Crosse and projected to take effect this summer, will allow fire department paramedics to apply for open paramedic positions at Tri-State, as well as fill paramedic shifts at the ambulance service as needed, Gundersen and city officials said.
- PUB DATE: 5/24/2018 3:50:26 PM - SOURCE: Lacrosse Tribune

VIDEO: West Allis firefighters battled a garage fire at a home near 67th and Beloit on Thursday afternoon, May 24. A Facebook post on the West Allis Fire Department Facebook page say the fire broke out around 1 p.m. Units arrived on scene within 3 minutes and found a detached garage fully involved with fire.
- PUB DATE: 5/24/2018 3:47:01 PM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6

VIDEO: A fire broke out at a Franklin senior living community, killing an elderly woman and injuring three firefighters. It happened near 35th and College Thursday morning, May 24. A combination of Thursday's heat, with the amount of smoke first responders were met with, made the fire particularly tough to battle.
- PUB DATE: 5/24/2018 12:59:50 PM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6

A Delafield man in February repeatedly dumped his burnt marijuana ashes on some cardboard boxes, which ultimately caused them to ignite and burn his father's Summit home to the ground, according to a criminal complaint. As a result, Joseph Fischer has been charged with misdemeanor negligent handling of burning material.
- PUB DATE: 5/24/2018 8:29:37 AM - SOURCE: Livinglakecountry

Several people were injured early Thursday morning in a duplex fire in Green Lake, with fire departments from four communities called in to fight the blaze. The fire happened at about 3:30 a.m. at 471 Meadowlark Lane, Green Lake police said. Occupants from one side of the duplex got out and the other unit was not occupied at the time of the fire.
- PUB DATE: 5/24/2018 8:28:20 AM - SOURCE: Madison.com-Wisconsin State Journal-Capital Times

On May 22, 10 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

A new professional standards program at Cal Fire is giving the department a mechanism to hand down discipline in a consistent manner across the state for the first time in its history. It’s racking up pay reductions, suspensions and dismissals at a rate that rivals scandal-plagued 2014 – the year when an instructor at its fire academy murdered his mistress and brought intense scrutiny on the department.
- PUB DATE: 5/24/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Sacramento Bee

In its first federal sexual harassment complaint of the Me Too movement, the ACLU has filed charges against the Fairfax County and the fire department. The charges are being filed on behalf of two of the highest-ranking women in the Fairfax County Fire Department. The national civil rights organization is accusing Fairfax County leadership of retaliation over sexual harassment complaints.
- PUB DATE: 5/24/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WUSA-TV 9 DC

A two-year-old is alive after a near drowning at an Upstate swimming pool. And it's thanks in large part to an area fire chief, who was the first to arrive on the scene. The emergency unfolded at the Hartwell Villas pool Tuesday around 5 p.m. But luckily, that was the same time a hero happened to be nearby and heard the call for help.
- PUB DATE: 5/24/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCSC-TV Charleston Live 5 News

A months-long probe into abuse of sick leave within the fire department concluded this week with the resignation of a deputy chief and the release of an internal review. The city paid $93,816 in unearned or unauthorized sick time, benefits and incentives over the past five years, according to the review.
- PUB DATE: 5/24/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Tampa Tribune and TBO.com (Tampa Bay Online)

Two firefighters were buried in rubble during a fire in Rogers Park Wednesday. Officials said roof work was in progress at an apartment building on the 6100 block of North Hoyne Avenue, which set off the fire. Several firefighters were climbing the stairs to access the fire when the stairs collapsed, causing three of the firefighters to fall.
- PUB DATE: 5/24/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WLS-TV ABC 7 Chicago

On May 23, 0 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

VIDEO: Milwaukee now has two streetcars being tested on the tracks. Three more will arrive as they’re completed at the factory in Brookville, Pennsylvania. As crews continue the on-street testing in Brew City, there’s also preparation happening behind the scenes. Milwaukee’s Heavy Urban Rescue Team is preparing for what could go wrong with The Hop.
- PUB DATE: 5/23/2018 10:11:48 PM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee

A competency examination is ordered for the man charged in connection with a Buffalo County church fire. The competency hearing for 31-year-old Jessie Bromaghim is scheduled for July 6 at the Buffalo County Courthouse. Bromaghim is facing criminal damage to personal property and arson for the incident at St.
- PUB DATE: 5/23/2018 9:55:15 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

PHOTO: A fire damaged a former Ledgeview truck stop Wednesday afternoon. The call for a structure fire in the 3700 block of Elmview Road came in around 11 a.m., said Ledgeview Fire Chief Tom Guns. When firefighters arrivedm heavy black smoke could be seen coming out of the building, Guns said. The building has been used for storage for many years.
- PUB DATE: 5/23/2018 4:44:55 PM - SOURCE: Green Bay Press-Gazette