A memo released Wednesday shows that two Kokomo firefighters engaged in a physical altercation last month over a city contract proposal that was rejected by the local fire union. The fight, which led to both firefighters receiving written reprimands, came just one day after a rally at City Hall attended by roughly 200 people in support of the Professional Firefighters of Kokomo Local 396.
- PUB DATE: 2/8/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Kokomo Tribune

The memory of Hannah Lassette Ahlers and the other Las Vegas concertgoers killed during the largest mass shooting in modern U.S. history is being kept alive, one act of kindness at a time. About a month after the Oct. 1 shooting on the Las Vegas Strip, firefighter Tommy Maher decided he wanted to honor each of the 58 victims by performing random acts of kindness in their name.
- PUB DATE: 2/8/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Bradenton Herald

A veteran of the D.C. Fire and EMS Department says the city's training academy is leaving new firefighters woefully underprepared. Some rookies leave having never used a fire hydrant, a recently retired deputy fire chief with decades on the job wrote in an internal memo obtained by News4. The nine-page memo says the recruits are rushed through a training program.
- PUB DATE: 2/8/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NBC Washington

The Chicago Fire Department Wednesday marked the 50th anniversary of an explosion that killed four firefighters in the Back of the Yards neighborhood responding to a fire in a sausage factory. On Feb. 7, 1968, more than 300 firefighters were called to the Mickelberry Food Products Company at 50th and Halsted.
- PUB DATE: 2/8/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CBS Chicago

On February 7, 1 residential fire fatality was reported by the Nation's news media.

A fire caused by a package of cookies on top of a stove forced the evacuation of a Downtown apartment building Wednesday morning. Nobody was hurt in the incident. The fire was reported at about 6:40 a.m. at the Highlander Apartments, 121 W. Gilman St., the Madison Fire Department said. Arriving firefighters heard the alarm and a recorded message with the alarm telling residents to evacuate.
- PUB DATE: 2/7/2018 7:13:55 PM - SOURCE: Madison

VIDEO: Firefighters typically fight fires but some Eagle River firefighters spent the day making an ice and snow bar on Wednesday. "I think half the department thinks we're nuts," said Eagle River Fire Department Captain Jim Kauzlaric with a smile. Kauzlaric and a few other firefighters plan to put down their fire hoses to pick up some bartending skills this weekend.
- PUB DATE: 2/7/2018 4:45:13 PM - SOURCE: WJFW-TV NBC 12 Rhinelander-Wausau

VIDEO: Crews were sent to a fire in Sun Prairie Wednesday morning. According to Dane County Dispatch, the call came in around 8:40 a.m. for a structure fire at 1091 Gas light Drive. DeForest Fire Department and Marshall Fire Department responded to the scene. No injuries were reported and crews are still at the scene.
- PUB DATE: 2/7/2018 7:35:47 AM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

On February 6, 7 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

The Beloit Fire Department took strides to mitigate its staffing shortage, with the Beloit Police and Fire Commission approving multiple firefighter and officer positions Monday evening. The PFC approved the hiring of Daniel Pease for Assistant Chief, promotion of Beloit Lt. Jason Griffin as Deputy Chief, while also hiring eight probationary firefighters, and the promotions of three current staff to the rank of lieutenant, motor pump operator and relief motor pump operator.
- PUB DATE: 2/7/2018 2:46:43 AM - SOURCE: Beloit Daily News

Upset over the way the city rolled out civil service rules last fall, the union representing Arlington firefighters has now turned to the courts. In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Tarrant County, the Arlington Professional Firefighters sued the city and named Fire Chief Don Crowson, city human resources director Kari Jo Zika and members of the city's Civil Service Commission as defendants.
- PUB DATE: 2/7/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fort Worth Star-Telegram

A toddler died from injuries suffered while touring a Scottsdale Fire Department station this past weekend, city officials confirmed Tuesday. The boy, just under 2 years old, was fatally injured Saturday by apparatus bay doors at the Scottsdale Fire Station at 1901 N. Miller Road, the city's communications office said.
- PUB DATE: 2/7/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com & KPNX-TV NBC 12 Phoenix

The Cranston Fire Department is monitoring the health of 20 firefighters and first responders experiencing exposure symptoms after battling a chemical fire at ProSys Finishing Technologies last week. Crews from across the state responded to the company on Elmwood Avenue last Monday when a report of a fire turned into a hazmat incident, sending 12 firefighters and two first responders to the hospital.
- PUB DATE: 2/7/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WPRI-TV Providence 12

Every 24-hour shift for firefighter-paramedic Nicole Morris gets harder for her to endure. She's not sick or hurt. She's pregnant. And according to the contract negotiated in 2016 between the International Association of Firefighters Local 2201 and the Indian River County Emergency Services District, she can't be assigned to light duty.
- PUB DATE: 2/7/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: TCPalm.com

A Central firefighter became trapped when an overhang roof collapsed while crews were working a house fire Monday afternoon. But civilians on scene helped rescue him, according to a Facebook post from the Central Fire Department. Crews were dispatched around 2:40 p.m. to the 12100 block of Lancewood Drive for a building on fire behind a home.
- PUB DATE: 2/7/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Advocate

On February 6, 3 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

The state firefighters' union has made recommended changes since a 2015 U.S. Department of Labor audit found it did not adequately document expenses including hotels, meals and reimbursements for its leaders, its president said Tuesday. Mahlon Mitchell, who has been president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin since early 2011, said the union now follows all the federal agency's recommendations.
- PUB DATE: 2/6/2018 9:47:03 PM - SOURCE: Madison

A joint meeting between the Clinton Fire Protection District Board and the communities the fire district serves was planned for Tuesday evening to discuss the future of the department. According to a meeting agenda, the village of Clinton, town of Clinton, town of Bradford and fire district board will discuss administrative positions, changes to the fire district agreement and structure of the department.
- PUB DATE: 2/6/2018 9:37:49 PM - SOURCE: WMSN-TV Fox 47 Madison

VIDEO: A Delton firefighter is home tonight and recovering after being hit while at a crash scene on Saturday. After being in critical condition, his family said they're thankful he's alive and hope this sends a strong message about the importance of driving with caution when first responders are trying to do their jobs.
- PUB DATE: 2/6/2018 9:27:55 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

After 32 years of dedicated service, Oshkosh Fire Chief Tim Franz informed his department and the Oshkosh Police and Fire Commission that he will be retiring in June. In a heartfelt letter, Fire Chief Franz thanked the city and the commission for allowing him to serve in "one of the best Fire Departments in the state and country".
- PUB DATE: 2/6/2018 5:10:06 PM - SOURCE: WFRV-TV and WJMN-TV Green Bay