On December 4, 8 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On December 2, 9 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

One-hundred and eighty-five kids and their families had the opportunity Saturday to buy Christmas presents with local law enforcement and firefighters. The 17th annual Shop with a Hero event brought in 170 children to the Beloit Walmart on Saturday morning, where the kids were able to shop with an officer or firefighter to not only pick out presents for themselves but for the whole family.
- PUB DATE: 12/5/2017 7:18:18 AM - SOURCE: Beloit Daily News

On December 4, 7 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On December 3, 9 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

The FDNY on Monday moved to curb soaring medical leave among firefighters by reducing staffing on engine companies. Effective on Tuesday at 9 a.m., the FDNY will no longer assign a fifth firefighter to the 10 engine companies that had carried an extra set of hands, the Daily News has learned. The absenteeism rate includes time taken off to recover from injuries as well as sick days to recuperate from an illness.
- PUB DATE: 12/5/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Daily News

After Daniel Helsel and his colleague were dispatched to help a woman in labor at her home Monday morning, the two firefighters joked about the coincidence of the call landing on his birthday. Wouldn’t it be funny if Helsel, who was born in the back of an ambulance, wound up delivering a baby on the way to the hospital just as he had come into the world 42 years ago? It turns out that is exactly what happened minutes after Helsel and his colleagues loaded the mother-to-be in the back of an ambulance heading to Prince George’s Hospital Center.
- PUB DATE: 12/5/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Washington Post

Thousands were forced to flee their homes on Monday as firefighters battled a fast-moving wildfire in Southern California that had charred at least 45,000 acres of land, authorities said. Intensified by strong winds and harsh weather conditions, the fire was impacting structures in downtown Ventura early Tuesday morning, with multiple residential homes on fire near City Hall.
- PUB DATE: 12/5/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: ABC News

There's a huge debate Monday night in Belleville about the city's proposal to eliminate its fire department and let a neighboring township provide services. The idea isn't sitting well with residents and current firefighters. Current firefighters would have to re-apply for their jobs, but residents don't like the idea of the city's only firehouse shutting down.
- PUB DATE: 12/5/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WDIV-TV NBC 4 Detroit

Can you think of a better way to get in the holiday spirit than a fire truck light show? How about a fire truck light show complete with Christmas carols and dubstep music. That is what the Sterling Fire Department in Colorado decided to do to kick off the Christmas holidays in a video which has now gone viral.
- PUB DATE: 12/5/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTSP.com

On December 4, 2 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

VIDEO: Madison Fire Department said a business did the right thing after what could have been a close call with carbon monoxide over the weekend. Crews were called to That BBQ Joint on Williamson Street Saturday close to 5 p.m. after complaints of an “odd smell.” When firefighters arrived, they found a carbon monoxide leak and evacuated the restaurant.
- PUB DATE: 12/4/2017 5:30:38 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

Recent scams involving individuals claiming to be associated with area fire departments have local officials warning residents to be on the lookout for similar cons. Scammers have targeted the cities of Madison and Jefferson recently and are reaching out to people via phone and mail. According to a city of Madison scam alert release, a caller told a woman they were “from the fire department” and asked if she had her smoke alarms regularly checked.
- PUB DATE: 12/4/2017 10:57:42 AM - SOURCE: DeForest Times

On December 3, 8 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On December 1, 9 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On December 3, 5 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

The sweeping changes to the city’s personnel system that New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu pushed through three years ago may have ushered in an era of racial and political bias at the Fire Department, a new report alleges. Fire Superintendent Timothy McConnell set aside higher test scores from dozens of candidates for promotion to captain in favor of lower-ranked applicants in September 2016, according to a ruling issued Thursday by the city's Civil Service Department.
- PUB DATE: 12/4/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Advocate

Casper Fire Chief Kenneth King’s early retirement followed weeks of turmoil within the department after copies of his emails were distributed to a group of firefighters by an unknown source. King unexpectedly announced Tuesday that he would retire Friday, more than a month before his expected retirement date of Jan.
- PUB DATE: 12/4/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Casper Star Tribune

As retired Fire Lt. Donald Courtney lifts open one of 82 containers of “the stuff” stored on the property of Saint-Gobain Corp., he smiles as he carefully inspects the items inside. He said he remains fascinated by what he finds and deeply touched by what it all means. “The stuff” is a collection of everything left by firefighters, schoolchildren and members of the community, as expressions of grief over the loss of the six Worcester firefighters killed on Dec.
- PUB DATE: 12/4/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Blood alcohol level, crew integrity and fireground communications were among the host of factors that contributed to the April 2015 death of a volunteer firefighter in a residential fire. NIOSH released its findings last month, which included 9 key recommendations, including establishing a zero-tolerance alcohol policy and ensuring proper use of PPE.
- PUB DATE: 12/4/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1