The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the IAFC Company Officers Section (COS) have released a new publication exploring the importance of succession management in the fire service and offers simple steps fire chiefs can take to prepare their fire department for the future. “Succession Management for the Fire-Rescue Service – Understanding and Applying the Process” is a user-friendly 34-page guide providing steps for departments to start their own plans and includes a history of succession management in the fire-rescue service.
- PUB DATE: 8/25/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: International Association of Fire Chiefs

Seventy retired and active firefighters from Scranton, Dunmore and Wilkes-Barre suing a siren manufacturer claim its devices caused hearing loss. In five separate but similar lawsuits filed Tuesday in Lackawanna County Court, the firefighters — most of whom are retired — claim they suffered hearing losses from firetruck sirens manufactured by Federal Signal Corp.
- PUB DATE: 8/25/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Scranton Times & Tribune

A new study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shows scientifically for the first time that an individual’s ability to respond quickly to a residential fire determines who dies and who gets injured. Home fire deaths, the NIST researchers state, are more likely among those they define as frail populations—persons who are not in robust health and primarily age 65 and older—while nonfatal injuries occur more often in adults ages 20 to 49.
- PUB DATE: 8/25/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NIST.gov

On August 24, 0 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

VIDEO: Cars flew down Interstate 39/90 without a problem Thursday afternoon, but fire departments along the highway are concerned about getting to the scene of a crash when traffic backs up in the construction zone. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is expanding about 45 miles of I-39/90 from the Illinois state line to the Beltline in Madison.
- PUB DATE: 8/24/2017 5:08:59 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

VIDEO: Firefighters will be sleeping a little easier at Wausau's firehouse thanks to a donation from the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin. Wausau Fire Chief Deputy Josh Klug said the support of the community is overwhelming. “Anytime your community does that, you're pretty fortunate and pretty blessed,” Klug said.
- PUB DATE: 8/24/2017 1:38:49 PM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

A man was taken to a hospital Wednesday after a cooking fire in his apartment, according to a release from the Madison Fire Department. Firefighters were called at 7:41 p.m. Wednesday to an apartment in the 1100 block of High Point Road on a report of a fire. Fire officials said the man began heating olive oil to make dinner when he stepped out of the kitchen for a minute or two.
- PUB DATE: 8/24/2017 7:50:22 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

On August 23, 6 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

The Fountain City Community Fire Association cleared apparent final hurdles in taking ownership of property where it eventually intends to build a new fire station. The city council approved transferring deed to surveyed property lines that include an acre of land and bathhouse facility located off State Highway 35 where a community swimming pool used to sit on the city’s south side.
- PUB DATE: 8/24/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Winona Daily News

A fire chief died in his home Saturday after attending live fire training the night before. Great Falls Tribune reported that Black Eagle Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tom Martin, 65, died. He was a 20-year veteran of the department. "It's a tough loss," Assistant Chief Mike Deshayes said. "He was a huge mentor to a lot of us and he was a pillar to the community of Cascade County.
- PUB DATE: 8/24/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

The city of San Antonio has lost — again — in its lawsuit against the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association over a long-standing contract clause, which the city has argued is unconstitutional. The Fourth Court of Appeals eviscerated the city’s arguments in its opinion on the city’s appeal, released early Wednesday morning.
- PUB DATE: 8/24/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: My San Antonio.com

The Fire Commission Tuesday demoted the firefighters' union president from lieutenant to firefighter and suspended him five days without pay for his actions at a Jan. 1 fire after a hearing that lasted over five hours at Fire Department headquarters. Chad Cunningham, a 10-year veteran, also must undergo 40 hours of training if he wants to be restored as a lieutenant, the commission said.
- PUB DATE: 8/24/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Republican

Enabling interoperability between the FirstNet public-safety LTE core being built by AT&T and the LTE cores of Verizon or other carriers is feasible technically, but doing so would be a departure from the FirstNet request for proposals (RFP) and could introduce security issues for public safety, according to an AT&T executive.
- PUB DATE: 8/24/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Urgent Communications

A five-alarm fire at a College Park, Maryland, apartment building burned much longer than it should have, putting firefighters and the public at unnecessary risk, according to College Park Fire Chief Bill Corrigan. The Fuse 47 building on Berwyn House Road was still under construction at the time of the fire.
- PUB DATE: 8/24/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NBC Washington

On August 23, 5 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

VIDEO: A crash that injured two people Wednesday afternoon spilled gasoline into the intersection of Riverview Expressway and West Grand Avenue. A man driving north in an SUV on the Riverview Expressway attempted to make a left turn on a green light onto West Grand Avenue, Wisconsin Rapids Police Lt.
- PUB DATE: 8/23/2017 3:05:12 PM - SOURCE: Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune

Janesville firefighters put out a house fire on Old Kennedy Road in Milton on Wednesday afternoon. A man who said he lives in the house at 4446 Old Kennedy Road said he and four dogs got out and away from the fire safely. Barbara Lein, who also lives in the home, said she returned with her daughter and saw the fire.
- PUB DATE: 8/23/2017 2:39:48 PM - SOURCE: Walworth County Today

On August 22, 4 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

Assistant fire Chief Kraig Biefeld will once again assume the role of interim fire chief after being selected by the city's Police and Fire Commission in its meeting Monday night. Biefeld will undertake the duties and responsibilities of former fire Chief Greg Michalek while the commission continues its search for a new chief.
- PUB DATE: 8/23/2017 4:27:16 AM - SOURCE: Watertown Daily Times

VIDEO - A Petersburg firefighter was almost crushed on the job on Monday morning after part of a home collapsed while he battled flames. "There was so much fire you couldn't see where the door was,” said Cody Edlin, one of two firefighters injured. In no time, the front porch of the home on South Dunlop Street collapsed, falling on the firefighters.
- PUB DATE: 8/23/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WWBT-TV NBC 12 Richmond