On March 2, 4 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

The FDNY is turning up the heat on hazing with a stricter policy that includes tougher punishments for offenders — and a new level of accountability for firehouse officers. Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro is taking the unprecedented step of calling all 900 FDNY officers — including those in the highest ranks — to Randalls Island for a personal sit-down with him, the Daily News has learned.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Daily News

A Kansas City firefighter/paramedic earned $232,105 last year — more than the fire chief and the city manager. It was an anomaly, based on an extraordinary amount of overtime. But an emergency medical technician earned $170,446, and three other paramedics earned between $151,000 and $173,816, again with the help of lots of overtime.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Kansas City Star

A firefighter arrived at the scene of a deadly blaze early Wednesday morning only to realize it was his sister's family's home. "It was the family of one of our firefighters," Chief Rich Holloway said, “so he's dealing with that currently." The fire killed 4 children and seriously injured 2 adults and a teenage boy.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KMTR-TV Eugene

Clay Township's ousted fire chief said he was wrongfully terminated after pointing out alleged fraudulent activities involving a federal grant and unpaid overtime due to firefighters. Daryl DuPage filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the township and several board members Thursday. DuPage was asked to resign in December before the board officially voted to fire him the next month.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Port Huron Times Herald

Apartment fires that originate on exterior wooden balconies or walkways, and subsequently advance rapidly up exterior walls into the soffit and into the attic are becoming more commonplace. The Omaha (Neb.) Fire Department experienced eight such fires between October 2011 and June 2012. Post-incident analyses for these fires showed that in each case the fire was well-advanced before the first fire unit arrived.
- PUB DATE: 3/3/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

Gov. Walker has ordered flags be lowered to half-staff in honor of an area fire chief who died last weekend. Terry Shafer, 62 of Spring Valley, died unexpectedly on Saturday. According to his online obituary, he served more than 30 years as fire chief of the Spring Valley Fire Department. He decided to step down as chief last year, but was continuing to serve in various roles with the department.
- PUB DATE: 3/2/2017 5:46:06 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

Beaver Dam fire officials responded to an apartment fire to find someone hanging out of a window, trapped by smoke. The fire took place Thursday afternoon, March 2nd on Lake Crest Drive, near the Beaver Dam Bay Marina. According to the Beaver Dam Fire Department, several people were injured and taken to the hospital -- but they are expected to survive.
- PUB DATE: 3/2/2017 2:17:18 PM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6

Darien Fire/EMS Department recently placed five personal thermal imaging cameras in service for crew members. The thermal imaging cameras where purchased using funds donated by Thelma Meyer in memory of her late husband, Darien Fire Department Captain Richard Sawyer. During the years that Captain Sawyer served with the Darien Fire Department no one would have dreamed of being able to see through smoke, but today that is a reality for every firefighter responding on the fire engine in Darien, said Darien Fire Chief Justin Schuenke.
- PUB DATE: 3/2/2017 12:19:06 PM - SOURCE: Janesville Gazette - Metered Site

VIDEO: While the shores of Lake Winnebago see ice shoves annually, massive ice mounds and strong winds this week are providing a stark reminder of just how powerful those shoves can be. State Senator Roger Roth witnessed it first hand, as he watched an ice shove destroy his boathouse Wednesday afternoon.
- PUB DATE: 3/2/2017 9:20:17 AM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

At most businesses, 144 applicants for eight job openings would be an embarrassment of riches. But for the Kenosha Fire Department, that number of applicants is a steep decline from years past, leaving department leaders wondering how they can encourage more to consider careers as firefighters. Chief Charles Leipzig said they would have 400 applicants for job openings 10 years ago.
- PUB DATE: 3/2/2017 6:19:54 AM - SOURCE: Kenosha News

On March 1, 5 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

A long-time U.S. Fire Administration educator died unexpectedly Wednesday. Dr. Cortez Lawrence was transported to the hospital after falling ill, where he later died, according to FirefighterCloseCalls.com. Dr. Lawrence, a fire educator specialist, has worked at numerous public safety and fire organizations.
- PUB DATE: 3/2/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

The fire commanders at the scene of the airplane crash Monday in Riverside had to make a decision: Did rescuers have a realistic chance of safely entering the home the plane hit and saving anyone as the flames burned fiercely? Fire Chief Michael Moore said the flames initially were burning on the exterior of the house, so after a quick assessment, the answer was yes.
- PUB DATE: 3/2/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Los Angeles Daily News

A house fire in Riddle killed four children early Wednesday morning, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said. Another child and two adults were taken to a Portland hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The fire broke out shortly after 2 a.m. in the 700 block of East Third Avenue, deputies said.
- PUB DATE: 3/2/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Oregonian

Volunteer firefighters from the Salisbury Fire Department threatened to separate from the city last week to form their own company. The threat highlighted a long history of tension between volunteers and career firefighters in the city, but similar struggles are common to any fire department that incorporates career and volunteer firefighters.
- PUB DATE: 3/2/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Delmarva Now

The city of Springfield lowered the passing grade on a written exam to become a firefighter, a change that concerns union leadership. Every prospective firefighter for the Springfield Fire Division must pass a written exam. Before, the minimum score was 70. Now, the passing grade is 66, which the city said is to expand its pool of potential candidates.
- PUB DATE: 3/2/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WHIO-TV Dayton

VIDEO: Between fire alarms and rushing out to emergency calls, firefighters see plenty of action every day. But on Wednesday, Merrill firefighters did a lot of sitting in a classroom. "Back to school," battalion chief Mike Drury said with a laugh. All 23 members of the crew sat through lessons on sentence structure and writing in the active voice.
- PUB DATE: 3/1/2017 5:11:49 PM - SOURCE: WJFW-TV NBC 12 Rhinelander-Wausau

PHOTO: No one was injured after a car was found hanging off the Veterans Memorial Bridge Wednesday afternoon. Rescue crews say they were called to the bridge at 1:15 p.m. Upon arrival, one of the passengers was able to get out of the car. Another person was unable to due to the position of the car. Firefighters used a 9,000-pound side winch to stabilize the car and safely extricate the driver.
- PUB DATE: 3/1/2017 2:40:52 PM - SOURCE: WLUK TV Fox 11

On February 28, 0 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.