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

PHOTO: A cat in Seymour got to keep one of its nine lives after police and firefighters found it in a cat-astrophic position. The black cat was found Wednesday morning with its head stuck between two pieces of concrete steps, leading to a vacant house in the 400 block of North Main Street. Seymour police officers were unable to free the cat, so the fire department and DPW were called to help.
- PUB DATE: 5/23/2018 9:16:28 AM - SOURCE: WLUK TV Fox 11

On May 22, 8 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

VIDEO: An arson investigation is underway after fire breaks out at a Milwaukee home Tuesday night -- where a 15-year-old Dennis King was beaten to death a few days ago. According to Milwaukee Police, a small fire started near the back door of a home near 12th Street and Keefe just before 10 p.m. Police say no one was home when the fire started.
- PUB DATE: 5/23/2018 7:10:40 AM - SOURCE: WTMJ-AM 620 Milwaukee

On May 21, 2 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On May 19, 5 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

Fox Crossing Fire Department called our last night (Tuesday) around 6 for a report of a house fire at 1104 Lakeshore Drive. Police first reported that smoke was visible from the exterior of the vacant home and flames were visible from inside. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and found no one inside.
- PUB DATE: 5/23/2018 4:50:41 AM - SOURCE: WNFL SPORT REDIO

Chris Anderson looked forward to sleeping in Friday morning. As assistant chief for Santa Fe Fire and Rescue, a volunteer fire department, Anderson's plans changed when the phone rang minutes before 8 a.m. "I never would have thought this would have happened to our community," Anderson said. It did happen.
- PUB DATE: 5/23/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KPRC-TV NBC 2 Houston

An investigation into complaints of bullying and sexual harassment at Spokane Fire Department Station 2 found five officials violated city policies. Yet the investigation is being criticized as one-sided and thus, incomplete, by those named in the report and the union that represents them. The city’s Human Resources Department issued a report April 27 following a two-month-long investigation that named Battalion Chiefs Don Waller and Darin Neiwert, and Lts.
- PUB DATE: 5/23/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Spokesman-Review

If you are one of the thousands of Anne Arundel residents with CPR training a new phone app can alert you to a nearby heart attack or another cardiac emergency in a public place. The county activated PulsePoint Monday, an app that will notify CPR certified residents who sign up to participate and provide the location of public automated external defibrillators — a portable device that checks the heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore a normal rhythm — they can grab on their way.
- PUB DATE: 5/23/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CapitalGazette.com

Active shooter training exercises are becoming more commonplace across the country; which is a good thing. However, without proper planning, many of these well-meaning exercises leave the responders no better off than before or possibly even worse. A strong, multi-discipline exercise design team, a solid exercise plan and buy in from the responding disciplines are critical ingredients for success.
- PUB DATE: 5/23/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

Joey Kauppi already knew his Dad wouldn't be able to attend his graduation from George County High School last Friday night. What he didn't know was who would. Gautier firefighter Lt. Dan Kauppi was seriously injured in an accident a little over a month ago. On his way to work, Kauppi's truck left the roadway on Gautier-Vancleave Road and overturned, ejected Kauppi from the vehicle.
- PUB DATE: 5/23/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Mississippi Press (Gulf Live - South East Mississippi)