A former Greater Naples Fire Rescue District officer who sued the district and its fire chief last year, alleging she was subjected to years of "repeated sexual harassment" by colleagues, could receive $82,500 from the fire district, according to a draft settlement agreement. The district's board of commissioners is scheduled to vote on authorizing a payment of $17,500 from its reserves at its Tuesday meeting, according to the meeting's agenda.
- PUB DATE: 11/14/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Naples Daily News

When every second counts, a fire sprinkler system can be a live saver but most homes in North Texas do not have them. The Texas State Fire Marshal says every home in Texas should have fire sprinklers but state lawmakers have refused to make it a requirement for new homes. In fact, state lawmakers have made it illegal for Texas cities to mandate sprinklers be installed in all new single-family homes.
- PUB DATE: 11/14/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CBS Dallas Fort Worth

The firefighters’ union is seeking an injunction in state Supreme Court to block the city from a new policy that prohibits firefighters from being called into work when their colleagues call in sick. The City Council last week decided in executive session to establish a new policy that will not allow firefighters to be brought into work when others call in sick, a move that City Manager Sharon A.
- PUB DATE: 11/14/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Watertown Daily Times

The Charlottesville Fire Department is in the process of purchasing its first ambulance in more than 50 years. The addition to the department's fleet will help meet a growing demand to provide around-the-clock medical services in the city. The last time the CFD had its own ambulance was in the 1950s.
- PUB DATE: 11/14/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WVIR-TV NBC29

It was a routine call for the Springfield Fire Company: a T-bone accident with minor injuries. In the early afternoon of Nov. 6, six firefighters arrived at the Sproul Road entrance to the Target store at Springfield Mall and met the Blackburn family. Mother Krista, father Kevin, 5-year-old Isaiah, and 2-year-old Aria, of Kannapolis, N.
- PUB DATE: 11/14/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Philly.com

On November 13, 1 residential fire fatality was reported by the Nation's news media.

Those who have been in a home fire know the importance of having working smoke alarms. It can be the difference it the ability to get the family out safety and minimize damages to the home. Lisa Lowe, Human Resources director at Spectrum’s Fond du Lac Call Center, says fire safety is a topic that touches many, including Spectrum employees.
- PUB DATE: 11/13/2017 8:48:37 PM - SOURCE: Fond du Lac Reporter

On November 10, 5 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

VIDEO: The president of the Professional Fire Fighters Association of Wisconsin is expected to launch his candidacy for governor. Mahlon Mitchell has a series of events in Green Bay, Milwaukee and Madison on Monday to make a political announcement. Mitchell would join the large field of Democrats hoping for a chance to take on Republican Gov.
- PUB DATE: 11/13/2017 5:28:50 AM - SOURCE: WXOW-TV ABC 19 LaCrosse

Often surveys confirm what people already believe. That's certainly the case with a recent survey of Walworth County fire and EMS officials and municipal government leaders. The surveys returned in late October reveal that public safety is expensive, complicated and struggling to change. Darien Fire Chief Justin Schenke acknowledged that many of the issues raised in the survey aren't new.
- PUB DATE: 11/13/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Gazette Extra

A volunteer firefighter was killed at the scene of a crash Friday night after being "run over" by another responding firefighter who was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. Colby Blake, 26, of Cannelburg was arrested Friday and preliminarily charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death, and reckless driving.
- PUB DATE: 11/13/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Courier & Press

A Fairborn firefighter-paramedic driving a suspected overdose patient to the hospital Thursday night began showing symptoms of an overdose himself, prompting his partner to jump into action and stop the ambulance in the middle of the road. This is the latest — and perhaps most dramatic — case of a public safety employee exposed to an opioid.
- PUB DATE: 11/13/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: mydaytondailynews.com

Federal authorities knew technology used to broadcast official emergency warnings from cell towers was outdated years before deadly fires ignited last month in Sonoma County and throughout Northern California, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee for their lives, many with no warning. Messages were too short, didn’t support web links and had the potential to be broadcast too widely, according to Federal Communication Commission members charged with regulating how cellphone companies issue government warnings.
- PUB DATE: 11/13/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Press Democrat

When EMT Yadira Arroyo was killed March 16 by a crazed man who stole her ambulance and ran her down, she didn’t qualify for line-of-duty death benefit. Arroyo, 44, a veteran of 14 years, left behind the five boys she was supporting on her Emergency Medical Service salary: $48,000 base pay, $66,000 with overtime.
- PUB DATE: 11/13/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Daily News

At 64, Jim Aulbaugh has long been eligible to retire from Dallas Fire-Rescue. He loved working too much to call it quits, but he says he might have to now. A new state law aimed at fixing the ailing pension fund contains a provision -- a vestigial part of the original proposed fix -- that could cause him and dozens of other police and firefighters to finally leave their shrinking departments in January.
- PUB DATE: 11/13/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Dallas News

The Bangor Burns and West Salem Volunteer Fire Departments are seeking volunteers to fill vacancies and day shifts this month with both departments finding it difficult to get candidates to sign up. Bangor Firefigher TC Allen said the department is seeking more than a dozen men and women to join their roster.
- PUB DATE: 11/12/2017 2:11:36 AM - SOURCE: Onalaska Holmen Courier Life

VIDEO: “You want to make sure that everyone is protected equally in the city of Eau Claire,” says Local 487 member, Karl Johnson. Local 487, or Professional Firefighters of Eau Claire, are expressing concern about a change proposed by city leaders. Within the upcoming 2018 budget, a fourth ambulance would be added to station 6, which is located on the southeast side of Eau Claire.
- PUB DATE: 11/10/2017 5:04:25 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

VIDEO: Battling flames is a tough business, and now Bloomer firefighters have a way to do their jobs a little safer. The city of Bloomer now has its first rehab and medical trailer for firefighters. Bloomer Community Ambulance Administrator Mark Schwartz said the trailer is both heated and air conditioned to provide firefighters a safe place during emergencies, like a structure fire, or a natural disaster like the Chetek tornado last spring.
- PUB DATE: 11/10/2017 3:36:43 PM - SOURCE: WQOW-TV ABC 18 Eau Claire

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office on Thursday, November 9th identified the man who died after jumping into a retention pond following a chase in Franklin. He has been identified as 25-year-old Alton Simpson of Rosedale, New York. It happened Saturday afternoon, November 4th. The incident began with a fraud investigation at a store in Franklin.
- PUB DATE: 11/9/2017 7:24:48 AM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6

On November 7, 8 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.