In what may be a first in the state, Madison City Council members are proposing an ordinance to reimburse legal fees of citizens who bring successful claims against city employees or officials before the Police and Fire Commission. The proposal by lead sponsor Ald. Shiva Bidar-Sielaff and at least seven others also would give the council discretion to adjust reimbursement for a police or fire chief who faced multiple complaints with mixed outcomes before the commission, which has the authority to hire, fire and discipline sworn police and fire employees.
- PUB DATE: 5/30/2017 8:18:14 PM - SOURCE: Wisconsin State Journal

Fire has caused $20,000 in damage at a Bellevue assisted living facility. Crews were called to Bufflehead 1, 2084 Bufflehead Lane, at 4:06 pm Tuesday for a report of a structure fire. Upon arrival, crews found a working fire on the exterior of the garage. Due to winds around 25 miles per hour, it was spreading into the garage.
- PUB DATE: 5/30/2017 7:12:51 PM - SOURCE: WNFL SPORT REDIO

A Necedah man faces two battery charges after allegedly becoming violent with a Juneau County deputy and an EMS worker. Ronald L. Kluender, 36, faces one count of battery to a law enforcement officer and an additional charge or battery to an emergency rescue worker. If convicted, each charge carries a possible $10,000 fine or up to six years in prison, or both.
- PUB DATE: 5/30/2017 6:16:11 PM - SOURCE: wisc news

On May 28, 11 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On May 29, 1 residential fire fatality was reported by the Nation's news media.

On May 28, 10 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On May 26, 4 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On May 25, 6 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

VIDEO: Firefighters never leave the station without their gear, because they know it could save their lives. That's why it's important they have the best equipment. Arbor Vitae Fire and Rescue recently put 11 sets of brand-new turnout gear into service. Fire Chief Mike VanMeter says the new gear replaces the 12-year-old equipment they've been using.
- PUB DATE: 5/30/2017 4:06:03 AM - SOURCE: WJFW-TV NBC 12 Rhinelander-Wausau

A beloved FDNY hero who tirelessly toiled at Ground Zero for eight months after 9/11 and was a driving force in getting much-needed benefits for sick first responders lost his battle to cancer on Sunday. Ray Pfeifer, who once said he spent “27 years, 220 days and nine hours” as one of the city’s Bravest, died at age 59, according to officials.
- PUB DATE: 5/30/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Daily News

Rivalries between police officers and firefighters are not uncommon — usually just lighthearted fun among public safety workers. But the animosity between Santa Fe police Sgt. David Webb Jr. and city firefighter Jeffrey Valdez is genuine, creating a yearslong personal conflict that intensified this week.
- PUB DATE: 5/30/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Santa Fe New Mexican

Late Monday night, The Missouri State Highway Patrol released the names of the two firefighters involved in a deadly Memorial Day fire truck crash in northeast Missouri. Investigators said the driver of the fire truck, Jesse Ketchum, 33, of Downing, was killed in that crash. His passenger, volunteer firefighter, John Chancellor, 27, also of Downing, suffered serious injuries.
- PUB DATE: 5/30/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTVO-TV ABC 3 Kirksville

Police officers and firefighters could receive a 7.5 percent salary increase in the city’s upcoming budget — a pay raise proponents say is necessary to retain good employees and compete with neighboring communities for new ones. “We’ve never fallen this far behind,” said City Councilman Mike Barber, who proposed the increase earlier this month.
- PUB DATE: 5/30/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: News & Record

A 15-year-old girl died Monday night in a crash involving a fire truck on I-94 in Ypsilanti, closing westbound lanes for several hours while Michigan State Police completed an accident investigation. The crash happened at about 11:15 p.m. near Grove Road. The Ypsilanti Fire Department said one of its rigs was assisting in an earlier rollover accident when a Ford Escape slammed into the back of the fire truck.
- PUB DATE: 5/30/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WDIV-TV NBC 4 Detroit

First Responders with the Minocqua, Hazelhurst, Woodruff and Arbor Vitae Fire Departments are now some of the best equipped in the nation to save a pet's life. Invisible Fence of Northern Wisconsin has donated four pet oxygen mask kits to the departments. This donation is just a small part of Invisible Fence® Brand's Project Breathe program, which was established with the goal of equipping every fire station in America and Canada with pet oxygen masks.
- PUB DATE: 5/29/2017 11:25:24 PM - SOURCE: Lakeland Times Minocqua

VIDEO: Firefighters in Vilas County called a trailer home a total loss. Jane Fosch left her home to visit family Monday. Not too long after, her house was up in flames. Jane's daughter-in-law, Linda Fosch, was at the home just before the fire started. When she returned a few minutes later, she saw crowds of people and smoke surrounding the home.
- PUB DATE: 5/29/2017 6:08:41 PM - SOURCE: WJFW-TV NBC 12 Rhinelander-Wausau

VIDEO: An Eau Claire firefighter came up with a device that could save the lives of disoriented firefighters battling a blaze. It is a labor of love that has been more than two years in the making. Firefighters risk their lives every day to save others -- running into burning buildings. "We literally cannot see our hand in front of our face," Jeff Dykes, Eau Claire firefighter and creator of Northern Star.
- PUB DATE: 5/28/2017 10:42:43 PM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6

Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue used its extension ladder to rescue a man hanging from a chimney Sunday evening. The fire department says when the call came in, from a home on Scott Street, a man said his friend was stuck on his roof, losing his grip, and about to fall. Officials say the roof was very steep, but crews managed to use an extension ladder to reach the man.
- PUB DATE: 5/28/2017 7:49:53 PM - SOURCE: WLUK TV Fox 11

On May 24, 5 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On May 23, 7 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.