Around 800 people attend the Reedsburg Fire Departments chili luncheon and Harvest Fest Craft Show. However, Reedsburg Fire Chief Craig Douglas noticed a drop in attendance Oct. 7 at the Reedsburg fire station. Douglas said the weather and other events in Reedsburg area, such as Fermentation Fest and the Hill and Valley Exploration Tour, could have affected the turnout at the event.
- PUB DATE: 10/10/2017 3:14:47 AM - SOURCE: Reedsburg Times-Press

Massive wildfires sweeping through parts of California have killed at least 15 people and damaged more than 1,500 residences and other buildings, according to authorities. Firefighters were battling 17 fires across multiple counties in the state as of late Monday, authorities said. Intensified by strong winds, the fires charred about 115,000 acres of land, destroyed at least 1,500 buildings and forced nearly 20,000 residents to evacuate.
- PUB DATE: 10/10/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: ABC News

Houston Fire Chief Sam Pena gave City Council a bleak assessment Tuesday of his department's readiness to respond to significant rainstorms and even to daily fire and medical calls, saying a ramshackle fleet and inadequate training are putting the safety of both citizens and firefighters at risk. The Houston Fire Department must double its annual spending on engines, ladders and ambulances, the chief said, and must ramp up its purchases of water rescue apparatus and the training to enable personnel to operate them.
- PUB DATE: 10/10/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Houston Chronicle

More than a dozen wildfires raged across Northern California on Tuesday morning, with the biggest ones scorching the state's famous wine country, killing at least 11 people and burning more than 1,500 homes and businesses, authorities said. The fires were burning in California's wine country destinations -- Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties -- as well as Yuba County, north of Sacramento, with flames ripping through the lush, picturesque landscape.
- PUB DATE: 10/10/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CNN

Huntsville Fire and Rescue is treating Station 17 in the Hampton Cove area for brown recluse spiders, confirmed Captain Frank McKenzie on Monday. McKenzie said two firefighters have been bitten. To combat the spiders and keep crews safe, he explained the department moved firefighters, necessary equipment, and firefighters' personal items to Station 19 on Old Big Cove Road on October 5th.
- PUB DATE: 10/10/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WHNT-TV News 19 Huntsville

We're at that time of year when cities and towns across the country take some time to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the performance of their duties. Memorials to the fallen are just one of the ways we remember those who gave everything to protect life and property, and one firefighter from a small community about an hour north of New York City has waited long enough to receive his due.
- PUB DATE: 10/10/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse.com

Earlier this month, 41-year-old Robert Pattison went to introduce himself to his fellow firefighters at Engine 55 at Joy and Southfield in Detroit. Second Battallion Chief Shawn McCarty calls it a tradition for firefighters. "It's not mandatory, it's voluntary," he says. "You come in bearing gifts. The usual gift is doughnuts, but you are allowed to bring whatever you want to bring in.
- PUB DATE: 10/10/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fox 2 Detroit

Channel 2 Investigates has learned Houston fire Chief Sam Pena will make a case to city leaders Tuesday to purchase about $12 million in new emergency equipment to update the HFD's ailing fleet. Specifically, Chief Sam Pena will ask for 10 more evacuation boats, four more rescue boats and six to seven more high water vehicles.
- PUB DATE: 10/10/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KPRC-TV NBC 2 Houston

VIDEO: The Beloit Fire Department is changing its recruitment process in hopes of increasing the applicant pool, and making the job more accessible to people of all socioeconomic classes. Beloit Fire Chief Brad Liggett said the department has struggled in the past to attract a diverse group of applicants.
- PUB DATE: 10/9/2017 7:41:29 AM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

VIDEO: Emergency crews responded to a two-alarm fire in Milwaukee early Monday morning. It was reported around 3:30 a.m. near 33rd and State streets. Flames were shooting from the roof when firefighters and police officers arrived. Investigators are working to learn how the fire started. Police told WISN 12 News no injuries have been reported.
- PUB DATE: 10/9/2017 5:59:07 AM - SOURCE: WISN-TV ABC 12 Milwaukee

“We only need to look back over the past few weeks to witness the tremendous contributions of firefighters called to respond to hurricanes, tragic events in Las Vegas as well as the wildfires burning across the western United States,” said Dr. Don Wright, acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as he addressed those gathered at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service on Sunday morning.
- PUB DATE: 10/9/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Frederick News-Post

A volunteer Burke County firefighter was killed after being hit by a car while trying to clear debris from a road in Morganton Sunday night. According to a spokesperson with the Triple Community Fire Department, firefighters were dispatched to a tree that was blocking the eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 70 East near the Drexel intersection just before midnight.
- PUB DATE: 10/9/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WBTV-TV Channel 3

More than two months after the city expected to announce the hiring of a new chief to lead its troubled fire department in the wake of the Ghost Ship disaster, it remains unclear how soon the position will be filled. One of the finalists, Los Angeles Assistant Fire Chief Patrick Butler, told the Bay Area News Group on Friday he was offered the job at the end of August but turned it down because the compensation package would mean a pay cut.
- PUB DATE: 10/9/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: East Bay Times

The Cleveland Division of Police is investigating a deadly crash involving a car and a fire truck. The crash happened around 12:20 a.m. Monday in front of the Cleveland Division of Fire station at St. Clair Ave. and E. 103rd St. A ladder truck was returning from a fire when a car hit the truck head-on.
- PUB DATE: 10/9/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WJW-TV MyFox Cleveland

Wind-whipped wildfires roared to life Sunday night and early Monday across Wine Country, burning buildings, forcing hundreds of evacuations and injuring several people, reports CBS San Francisco. The Atlas Peak fire was the largest, quickly growing to more than 200 acres near Napa. Meanwhile, a fire near Calistoga had burned several buildings, sent several people to the hospital to be treated for burns and prompted mandatory evacuations along several roads.
- PUB DATE: 10/9/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CBS News

On October 8, 5 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

The Riverside Fire District held its first ever open house on Sunday at the Rothschild Pavilion. All fire equipment, including a medical helicopter, was available for attendees to view and tour. Fire extinguisher demonstrations were available to help teach both children and adults fire safety. "We also have the fire safety house that we borrowed from a neighboring agency that promotes fire prevention in the home and what to do to stay safe and to get out in the event that something does happen," said Kelly Hanick, Fire Chief of the Riverside District.
- PUB DATE: 10/8/2017 5:03:06 PM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

VIDEO: National fire prevention week officially starts Sunday, but the Holmen Area Fire Department got a head start, holding an open house Saturday. This year's theme for the week is "Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out." A smoke house simulated what it would be like to evacuate during a fire, and adults were able to practice with fire extinguishers.
- PUB DATE: 10/7/2017 10:43:34 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

An early Saturday morning fire at Rosa's Pizza in downtown Whitewater caused extensive damage to the restaurant and surrounding apartments, according to a news release. The Whitewater Fire Department was dispatched to the restaurant, 180 W. Main St., at 6:10 a.m. after a report of smoke coming from the building's rear.
- PUB DATE: 10/7/2017 5:29:43 PM - SOURCE: Janesville Gazette

On October 5, 2 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.