VIDEO: More than 15 fire departments fought a fire at a single-family home Wednesday afternoon. Authorities were called to the 3000 block of Sunset Lane shortly after 3 p.m. Residents of the home reported the fire, which heavily damaged the residence. "They had gotten home from work or from town, and that's when they noticed the fire," said Ellington Fire Department Chief Jim Bentle.
- PUB DATE: 3/9/2017 1:42:24 AM - SOURCE: Appleton Post-Gazette & Post Crescent.com

On March 8, 2 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

A Miami defense lawyer’s pants burst into flames Wednesday afternoon as he began his closing arguments in front of a jury — in an arson case. Stephen Gutierrez, who was arguing that his client’s car spontaneously combusted and was not intentionally set on fire, had been fiddling in his pocket as he was about to address jurors when smoke began billowing out his right pocket, witnesses told the Miami Herald.
- PUB DATE: 3/9/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Miami Herald

Dramatic footage released by a Florida fire department shows the moment a backdraft injured two firefighters. The fire happened Monday morning in a West Palm Beach neighborhood. According to Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, the fire started in the garage of the home. When firefighters arrived they were told the family’s cats may still be inside.
- PUB DATE: 3/9/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NBC4i.com

Mayor Scott Eisenhauer proposed laying off 16 firefighters at a Tuesday night budget meeting as a result of a contract arbitration decision. Eisenhauer, who described the cuts as a "harsh" plan, proposed reducing fire department personnel from 42 to 26 after learning earlier in the day that the city lost an arbitration decision on the firefighters' contract regarding minimum manning and salaries.
- PUB DATE: 3/9/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Champaign News-Gazette

A new analysis says San Diego needs to build at least 10 additional fire stations and embrace new emergency response methods to adequately serve the sprawling and increasingly congested city. The new emergency response methods, primarily two-man “fast response” squads and additional engine companies during peak hours, can help meet response time goals in many areas, but won’t eliminate the need for the new stations.
- PUB DATE: 3/9/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: San Diego Union-Tribune

A Miami defense lawyer’s pants burst into flames Wednesday afternoon as he began his closing arguments in front of a jury — in an arson case. Stephen Gutierrez, who was arguing that his client’s car spontaneously combusted and was not intentionally set on fire, had been fiddling in his pocket as he was about to address jurors when smoke began billowing out his right pocket, witnesses told the Miami Herald.
- PUB DATE: 3/9/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Miami Herald

More than 10 percent of Iowa firefighters were granted national certifications over a four-year period despite failing exams at a state academy, authorities said Wednesday, as hundreds more were notified of the testing errors. The Iowa Department of Public Safety informed 739 firefighters in 94 departments this week that they should not have been granted certifications by its Fire Services Training Bureau, the agency said.
- PUB DATE: 3/9/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: U.S. News & World Report

A home near Baileys Harbor was consumed by fire Wednesday night as strong winds fed the flames while firefighters from throughout northern Door County worked to contain the blaze. The home is a "total loss," said Baileys Harbor Assistant Fire Chief Eric Peil. Fire crews were on the scene until 2:15 a.
- PUB DATE: 3/8/2017 9:12:50 PM - SOURCE: Green Bay Press-Gazette

VIDEO: Fire crews are investigating what sparked a wild fire in Eau Claire County. The fire was called in at around 3 p.m. Wednesday on County Road GG in Augusta. Officials have told WEAU 13 News they're still knocking down the fire and believe it's burning about 10 to 20 acres. The forestry team leader says with the windy conditions and low humidity more fire-activities are starting to pick-up.
- PUB DATE: 3/8/2017 5:31:01 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

Firefighters from several fire departments were called to the scene of a fire Wednesday morning in the town of Christiana. Firefighters were called at 9:30 a.m. to 2185 Clear View Road after a neighbor spotted the fire. Firefighters from from Fort Atkinson, McFarland, Edgerton, Stoughton, Deerfield and Cambridge were called to the scene.
- PUB DATE: 3/8/2017 9:14:27 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

On March 7, 2 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On March 6, 7 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On March 3, 17 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

After a three-year stalemate, the village has agreed on a number with the city of Pewaukee for a tentative new fire and emergency medical services (EMS) contract. That number is $1.361 million for a five-year contract, which includes a 3-percent increase yearly and an opt-out clause after 18 months. Administrative and inspection fees are also included in the contract number.
- PUB DATE: 3/8/2017 3:04:46 AM - SOURCE: Lake Country News

Firefighters extinguished a blaze inside a giant trash compactor bin at local store that sells outdoor equipment Tuesday night. The Kenosha Fire Department responded to the fire at Gander Mountain, 6802 118th Ave., at about 6:10 p.m., at a loading dock on the northeast side of the store, Battalion Chief Wes Bernhardt said.
- PUB DATE: 3/8/2017 2:05:57 AM - SOURCE: Kenosha News

On March 7, 0 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

Houston Fire Department Capt. Bill Dowling died Tuesday, according to the department. Both of Dowling's legs were amputated after he was injured in the Southwest Inn fire in 2013. Dowling was injured on May 31, 2013 -- which is considered the deadliest day in Houston Fire Department history. Believing people were trapped in a fire that engulfed the Southwest Inn along the Southwest Freeway, Dowling led a rescue attempt during which four fellow firefighters died and 13 others were injured.
- PUB DATE: 3/8/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KPRC-TV NBC 2 Houston

As overtime costs rose dramatically at D.C. Fire and EMS, the city’s top fire official approved more than $20,000 in bonuses for some of the leaders in his department, according to financial figures obtained by NBC Washington. “I gave bonuses to four assistant chiefs and one civilian,” Fire Chief Gregory Dean told NBC Washington.
- PUB DATE: 3/8/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTOP-AM 1500 Washington

Bryan Sheppard’s long wait for freedom ended late Monday afternoon in a deep embrace with the daughter who never gave up on him. Sheppard, the youngest of five people convicted in the 1988 arson fire that killed six Kansas City firefighters, walked free Monday for the first time in nearly 22 years. “It’s overwhelming, really,” Sheppard said moments after his release.
- PUB DATE: 3/8/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Kansas City Star