An Alameda County Superior Court judge has ruled that Oakland officials have a duty to act when they come across unsafe conditions in buildings such as the Ghost Ship warehouse, which burned a year ago, allowing a lawsuit against the city stemming from the fire to proceed. In his ruling, Judge Brad Seligman permitted some allegations — such as the mandatory duty claims — to stand, while tossing others.
- PUB DATE: 11/15/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle (SFGate.com)

Medway Fire Chief Jon Buckingham has resigned in response to the town’s failure to replace a firetruck that he says is unsafe. The fire department’s front-line pumper-tanker, a 1988 Pierce, has had repairs to its electrical and steering systems, has body rust and and lost its transmission during pump tests.
- PUB DATE: 11/15/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Bangor Daily News

A Marion County grand jury has handed down indictments against the Marion fire chief and the city administrator, alleging they knew the Marion Fire Department building contained asbestos and allowed staff, volunteers and community members to come inside. According to court documents filed earlier this month, city administrator and building inspector Alan Thomas Ammons and fire chief Ralph Walton Cooper III were each indicted on charges of misconduct in office, conspiracy to violate the Pollution Control Act and violation of the Pollution Control Act.
- PUB DATE: 11/15/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WMBF-TV NBC Myrtle Beach

A Mason City councilman acknowledged Monday to leaking a confidential memo on the fire chief's employment status. Mason City Fire Chief Al Dyer Jr. was placed on paid administrative leave Nov. 2 pending an administrative investigation. Dyer didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from the Globe Gazette Monday afternoon.
- PUB DATE: 11/15/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Mason City Globe-Gazette

Omaha Fire Chief Dan Olsen has put the kibosh on plans for a steamy 2018 charity calendar. Last year’s calendar of shirtless local firefighters was a hot seller. But Olsen said the calendar isn’t in line with the department’s mission statement that calls for its members to act with integrity, professionalism and compassion.
- PUB DATE: 11/15/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Omaha World-Herald

On November 14, 0 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

Darren Jorgenson was making his way out of town to visit with family when his pager beeped. He turned around to see a massive smoke plume. He was miles away from the source of the fire, but he could tell it was big. He rushed back to the fire station and boarded 95-foot ladder truck heading out to the call, the second of the trucks to leave.
- PUB DATE: 11/14/2017 9:10:04 PM - SOURCE: wisc news

A Tuesday afternoon fire on the Southwest Side didn't cause any injuries but has displaced a resident, the Madison Fire Department said. Madison firefighters were called to the fire on the 7800 block of Courtyard Drive at about 4 p.m. Tuesday, said Cynthia Schuster, a fire department spokeswoman. Firefighters were met with thick smoke when they entered the building to put out the fire, which was in the basement, she said.
- PUB DATE: 11/14/2017 7:32:45 PM - SOURCE: Madison

The 2018 Dodge County budget was amended Tuesday to include $40,000 to go to area fire departments for water rescue equipment. The $111.6 million budget requires a $34 million tax levy, which is an increase of $559,000 over the 2017 levy. The tax levy complies with state-imposed levy limits that restrict counties to an increase based on the change in value of net new construction and an allowable adjustment for the previous year’s unused levy of $99,000.
- PUB DATE: 11/14/2017 7:23:39 PM - SOURCE: wisc news

VIDEO: Milwaukee Firefighters will donate approximately 5,000 winter coats to local kids this month. For the sixth year, MFD is working with Operation Warm to provide free coats for children at Milwaukee schools. This year, firefighters will hand out the coats at 11 area schools. On Tuesday, they stopped in for a presentation and coat distribution at Penfield Montessori Academy.
- PUB DATE: 11/14/2017 6:45:22 PM - SOURCE: Today's TMJ4

VIDEO: Town officials could ask electors to approve the construction of a new $5.8 million to $6.7 million fire station next year, three years after a larger proposal was soundly defeated in a referendum. Town Administrator Joel Gregozeski said the vote could come through a special town meeting or a referendum.
- PUB DATE: 11/14/2017 1:01:24 PM - SOURCE: Appleton Post-Gazette & Post Crescent.com

A county plow driver saw a fully engulfed house fire at N7521 Highway 65, Saturday morning, Nov 11. Dispatch sent River Falls Fire Department to the fire at about 6:11 a.m. The plow driver helped the house's owner, Barbara Johnson, get out of the house, Assistant Fire Chief Mike Moody said. He said flames were coming out of several windows when the first fire units arrived.
- PUB DATE: 11/14/2017 9:29:48 AM - SOURCE: Hudson Star-Observer

On November 13, 3 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On November 11, 7 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

VIDEO: An Appleton home suffered significant damage after a fire Monday night. Appleton firefighters responded to a duplex on the 1500 block of W. Washington Street around 7:30 p.m., said Jeff Felauer, battalion chief. The residents of the home were both accounted for and no injuries were reported. The Grand Chute Fire Department assisted the Appleton Fire Department at the scene.
- PUB DATE: 11/14/2017 5:44:38 AM - SOURCE: Appleton Post-Gazette & Post Crescent.com

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