A veteran Harris County firefighter is suing his former department, claiming that his bosses fired him for missing a holiday shift as retaliation for whistleblowing on illegal behavior by the department’s leadership. The state district court lawsuit alleges that Jeramie Casiano, a lieutenant in the Harris County Emergency Services District 48’s fire department, first warned in January 2017 of “highly concerning and illegal practices,” including the misuse of government property and services by the ESD’s leadership.
- PUB DATE: 5/4/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Houston Chronicle

A town meeting measure that would change the hiring practice for future chiefs and deputy chiefs in the fire department is under fire by the local union. Hull Firefighters Local 1657 is urging voters to reject proposals at town meeting, the second of which eliminates the requirement that firefighters be certified paramedics.
- PUB DATE: 5/4/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Quincy Patriot Ledger

The fire service is mourning the loss of Billy Leach Jr., who brought vehicle rescue training on big rigs to a whole new level. Leach reportedly passed away while staying in an Oklahoma hotel where he was teaching a "Big Rig Rescue" program. "It is with great sadness that we may now report that Squad Member and Special Team Member Billy Leach Jr.
- PUB DATE: 5/4/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse

Salinas Fire Department paramedics and management are under investigation following Monterey County Emergency Medical Services Agency allegations that they failed to complete required paramedic skills testing and accreditation, then falsified documentation to indicate they had done so. Salinas City Manager Ray Corpuz confirmed Wednesday the county EMS agency allegations are under investigation, which is being conducted by he and other city administrators, and a state Emergency Medical Services Authority official also confirmed an investigation is under way.
- PUB DATE: 5/4/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Monterey County Herald

On May 3, 0 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

A house fire in rural Elk Mound left a family without a roof over their head on Wednesday. The Chippewa Fire District was dispatched to the home on 30th Street around 5:45 p.m. Fire officials said five people were in the home at the time, but luckily everyone was able to get out safely. "To get the fire under control took about 40 minutes, because the fire had gone up the back, outside of the house and into the attic.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2018 5:10:49 PM - SOURCE: WQOW-TV ABC 18 Eau Claire

Drones could be spotted "buzzing" around Janesville soon, according to a news release from the Fire Department. Fire Chief Randy Banker hopes that using unmanned aerial vehicles could help create actionable pre-planned responses to buildings across the city. Officials plan to collect aerial images of commercial structures that can be accessed by emergency responders at a moment's notice.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2018 4:51:52 PM - SOURCE: WMSN-TV Fox 47 Madison

Resistance from some veteran firefighters is slowing efforts to overhaul Baraboo Fire Department operations, leaders say. On Monday, the Common Council’s public safety committee voted 3-0 to extend its contract with RW Management Group, a consultant helping the Fire Department implement operational changes.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2018 3:59:31 PM - SOURCE: Baraboo News Republic

The West Salem area may soon have a new fire truck, but it won’t come cheap. The West Salem Fire Protection District board has been discussing buying a pumper truck at a cost of $1,054,000, to replace the fire department’s current pumper truck that is more than 30 years old. The truck would come with attached with a 110-foot ladder.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2018 1:13:03 PM - SOURCE: Onalaska Holmen Courier Life

VIDEO: About 30 people are out of their apartments after a late night, 2-alarm fire on Milwaukee’s north side. The fire was reported in a 2nd floor apartment of a three story building at N 2nd and W Wright Streets. The Milwaukee Fire Department was called to the scene just after 10 PM. The fire was confined to one apartment, but according to MFD officials, three apartments are uninhabitable and the others apartments received smoke and water damage.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2018 9:35:01 AM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee

PHOTO: Firefighters battled a two-alarm fire at an apartment building in Grafton Wednesday afternoon, May 2. It happened near 1st Avenue and Falls Road. Firefighters say two townhouse apartments in the 10-unit building were on fire. A plumber working on pipes in the wall accidentally started the fire.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2018 4:48:42 AM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6

As a worst-case scenario played out in Superior on Thursday, it was met with a coordinated response. An explosion and fire at the Husky Energy refinery, followed by a second bigger fire, led to a state of emergency and the evacuation of much of the city. But no one died. Fewer than two dozen were injured.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2018 4:02:34 AM - SOURCE: Daily Telegram-Superior

The Herda family has been in the dairy farm business for 100 years, and now it's picking up the pieces after a devastating fire. The fire Tuesday destroyed two buildings, and four other structures were damaged on the property in Wheatland. "It's devastating. We have so many childhood memories being here," said Rachel Crane, who grew up on the property now owned by her brother.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2018 3:29:56 AM - SOURCE: WISN-TV ABC 12 Milwaukee

After years of declining membership, the Owls Head Fire Department has gotten to a point where if an emergency call goes out, sometimes it’s only the fire chief who shows up. The department has always posted signs around town to try and recruit new volunteers, but nothing has come of them, Owls Head Fire Chief Frank Ross said.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Bangor Daily News

An Alameda County judge has ruled Oakland officials had a “mandatory duty” to ensure safety at the doomed Ghost Ship warehouse, leaving the city potentially liable for a fire where 36 people died. Attorneys for the dozens of victims and their families, as well as reports by this news agency, have detailed numerous visits by police, firefighters and building officials in the years before the deadly Dec.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: East Bay Times

A county fire battalion chief and a captain were the officials who filed a complaint against a fellow captain for what they described as “interfering with operations” and having “no regard for the safety of the personnel on scene” when he fought a fire on West Daughtery Road in April while he was off duty.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: News Chief

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and American Military University (AMU) today announced they have expanded their successful partnership for another year. AMU is one of the largest providers of online higher education offering more than 190 academic programs to students enrolled worldwide.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: International Association of Fire Chiefs

A firefighter died Tuesday after being struck by a ventilation shaft while battling a blaze. CBC reported that 10-year veteran Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac volunteer firefighter Carmel Moreault, 54, was battling a blaze at a cardboard box plant when the water-filled ventilation shaft fell on him. Moreault was transported to the hospital, where he later died.
- PUB DATE: 5/3/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

VIDEO: A Madison police officer and firefighter are recovering after being attacked by a woman who was having a medical emergency Tuesday morning. According to police, as officers transported a 44-year-old woman who was possibly having a seizure from North Third Street to the hospital, she became combative.
- PUB DATE: 5/2/2018 6:28:22 PM - SOURCE: WKOW-TV 27 ABC

An outside stairway used by people to smoke near a Downtown restaurant caught fire Tuesday, with firefighters quickly putting it out before closing the staircase. The fire was reported at about 3:35 p.m. outside Salvatore's Tomato Pies, 912 E. Johnson St. "A restaurant manager pointed firefighters to an exterior staircase, where two steps were smoldering," said Madison Fire Department spokeswoman Cynthia Schuster.
- PUB DATE: 5/2/2018 9:35:59 AM - SOURCE: Madison.com-Wisconsin State Journal-Capital Times