One of the foremost authorities on fire prevention, and the author of the "America Burning" Report passed away Thursday. Louis J. Amabili, 88, began his fire service career when he joined the Hockessin, DE, Fire Company in 1947. In 1970, President Richard Nixon appointed Amabili to to serve on the National Commission for Fire Prevention and Control.
- PUB DATE: 9/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse.com

The badly understaffed Hartford Fire Department received some good news Thursday in the form of an $11 million federal grant. The grant will be used to hire 70 new firefighters over the next three years and help the department offset a 110 member shortage and an ongoing exodus of more than 60 experienced firefighters by the end of the year.
- PUB DATE: 9/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Hartford Courant

Two men charged in a deadly blaze that broke out during an underground music event at Oakland’s Ghost Ship warehouse pleaded not guilty Wednesday to 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter, paving the way for a preliminary hearing of the evidence in the case. The defendants, Derick Almena, 47, and Max Harris, 27, briefly appeared in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland to enter their pleas.
- PUB DATE: 9/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle (SFGate.com)

Surveillance cameras are being installed at Las Vegas fire station entrances to monitor activities and visitors, a plan Fire Chief Willie McDonald announced nearly five months ago amid allegations of sex inside firehouses. This comes as city officials investigate another complaint alleging sexual activity in a firehouse last month.
- PUB DATE: 9/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-Journal

The Fontana Fire Department in Walworth County responded to a call around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning that a boat at the public boat launch was on fire. When firefighters arrived the 21-foot boat was engulfed in flames. The boat was a complete loss, but since it was an older boat the total damages are only around $3,000.
- PUB DATE: 9/28/2017 3:14:08 PM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee

A building is severely damaged after an early morning fire in Rice Lake. The Rice Lake Fire Department says crews were called to the fire at 508 West Allen Street just after 2:30 a.m. Thursday morning. When they arrived, they saw heavy smoke and fire coming from the rear of the building. 17 firefighters fought the fire for about a half hour before the flames were under control.
- PUB DATE: 9/28/2017 6:04:17 AM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

Responding to community needs and arguments that training for service with volunteer rescue squads and fire departments can lead to future careers for students, Wausaukee School Board has approved a policy change that now allows students to get high school and college credits as well as GPA points for successfully completing EMT, First Responder and Fire and Rescue courses that are sanctioned and sponsored by the district.
- PUB DATE: 9/28/2017 2:49:49 AM - SOURCE: Peshtigo Times

As the Holmen Area Fire Department continues to rebuild, its fire chief is advising the Holmen Area Fire District Association Board the department is coming up short on funding. “We are five years behind,” said Holmen Area Fire Department Chief Paul Menches. “The equalized value has climbed, but the department’s finances have gone south.
- PUB DATE: 9/28/2017 2:24:02 AM - SOURCE: Onalaska Holmen Courier Life

Gov. Scott Walker has ordered that the U.S. and state flags be flown at half-staff on Thursday, Sept. 28, to honor Matthew Deicher, an emergency medical technician and firefighter who died in the line of duty, according to the Department of Military Affairs. Deicher died on Saturday, Sept. 23, due to injuries and complications he had suffered during an EMT call in 2003.
- PUB DATE: 9/28/2017 2:09:12 AM - SOURCE: Spooner Advocate

A captain with the Fort Wayne Fire Department died overnight. Jeremy Bush, president of the Fort Wayne Professional Firefighters, told NewsChannel 15 that Captain Eric Balliet was leading a training exercise at a commercial structure Wednesday night. Balliet was a 19-year veteran of the fire department.
- PUB DATE: 9/28/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WANE-TV CBS 15 Fort Wayne

Gov. Gina Raimondo has vetoed a bill that would automatically give firefighters a lifetime tax-free accidental-disability pension if they develop a heart condition. Supporters of the bill – sponsored by Sen. Frank Lombardi, D-Cranston – argue it should be presumed that firefighters who have a stroke or heart disease suffered the ailment in the line of duty.
- PUB DATE: 9/28/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WPRI-TV Providence 12

For Dallas firefighters and paramedics, saving lives is a calling. But what happens when one of their own needs saving? The recent suicide of one of Dallas Fire-Rescue’s nearly 1,900-member force is bringing uncomfortable conversations to the forefront. Earlier this year, the 37-year-old firefighter was arrested on a DWI charge.
- PUB DATE: 9/28/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KHOU-TV CBS 11 Houston

Investigators believe an unidentified vandal who dumped oil outside two officials' homes may have been motivated by the dissolution of Medina Township's fire department. Medina Fire Chief Bob Painter on Monday found about three gallons of oil dumped on the driveway outside his home. Painter's son nearly crashed his motorcycle when he ran over the oil slick, Medina Township Police Chief David Arbogast said Tuesday evening in a news release.
- PUB DATE: 9/28/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Cleveland Plain Dealer & Cleveland.com

Imagine serving a very small community on a tiny budget with a crew of less than 15 people and an average age of about 22. Now imagine a catastrophic storm sweeping through and ravaging that community while destroying all your equipment and even your personal vehicles. Sounds like enough to make the average person throw up their hands and give in, but the young members of the Plum Grove Fire Department never quit as the flood waters from Hurricane Harvey continued rising, and certainly not when members of the community were also stepping up to help those in need.
- PUB DATE: 9/28/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse.com

This past April, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, M.D., announced that the HHS will provide $485 million in grants to help states combat opioid addiction. The funding has been allocated to all 50 states over two years through the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grants provided in the 21st Century Cures Act.
- PUB DATE: 9/28/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

VIDEO: A large house fire Monday prompted the Town of Beloit Fire Chief to postpone the fall burning season until Oct. 9. Normally, the Town of Beloit is allowed to burn from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30 and during the month of April. Fire Chief Gene Wright decided to delay the start of fall burning after the recent warm weather and dry conditions in the area, as well as a large house fire Monday afternoon that destroyed one home and almost caught another on fire.
- PUB DATE: 9/27/2017 3:41:35 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

VIDEO: Eau Claire City Council members approved a plan to construct a larger fire station for one of the department's buildings. Eau Claire Fire Chief Chris Bell said the department is ecstatic to be able to move forward with the larger station. Not only will the larger station help keep some of their equipment from sitting outside, it will also help lessen costs for the future as certain areas in the city expand.
- PUB DATE: 9/27/2017 3:17:24 AM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

Homes were evacuated and utility service was temporarily interrupted for dozens of homes and several businesses after a crew installing a sign post breached a natural gas line in the city Tuesday morning. City of Burlington firefighters were notified at 10:47 a.m. of the situation that occurred at the intersection of Edgewood Drive and Main Street, just east of the Fox River.
- PUB DATE: 9/27/2017 2:15:19 AM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times

Mayor Dennis Hanwell and City Law Director Gregory Huber are asking City Council to consider instituting a mandatory retirement age of 65 for the city's police and fire chiefs. The age restriction would also be considered for all city police officers and firefighters, pending discussions with the safety forces' unions.
- PUB DATE: 9/27/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Cleveland Plain Dealer & Cleveland.com

As his motorcycle careened out of control on a southern Indiana highway, Brandon Anderson said a silent prayer and prepared for the worst. The lieutenant with the Fishers Fire Department and a high school buddy were on their way to Lake Cumberland in Kentucky on a summer day in 2016 when a truck in the right lane of U.
- PUB DATE: 9/27/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Indianapolis Star