On January 19, 6 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

Following in her father’s footsteps, Capt. Zina Opper has been a firefighter/EMT in Lake Geneva since 1995, and she’s served fulltime with the Fox Lake, Illinois, Fire Department for 16 years. Opper was the featured firefighter by Fire Chief John Peters in the department’s recent monthly report to the Lake Geneva Police and Fire Commission.
- PUB DATE: 1/20/2017 2:39:56 AM - SOURCE: Lake Geneva News

The arson and fraud case against Oconomowoc's Ybdi Islami will soon come to a close, ending one court saga involving the embattled Islami family. Islami, 61, pleaded no contest Jan. 13 to a felony arson charge in Waukesha County Circuit Court, according to online court records. Judge Lloyd Carter found him guilty the same day and will sentence Islami for the crime on March 8.
- PUB DATE: 1/20/2017 1:52:10 AM - SOURCE: Lake Country News

On January 19, 1 residential fire fatality was reported by the Nation's news media.

Fishing enthusiasts of all ages are invited to the Chetek Fire Department’s 23rd annual Chetek Firefighters’ Adult and Kids Ice Fishing Tournament on the Chetek Chain of Lakes on Saturday, Jan. 21. Once again, the contest is open to all lakes on the Chetek chain and will land on Wisconsin’s Free Fishing Weekend.
- PUB DATE: 1/20/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Chetek Alert

A former Arizona hotshot superintendent is suing the federal government to obtain aircraft radio transmissions that may help explain the deaths of 19 firefighters in the Yarnell Hill Fire of 2013. Fred Schoeffler alleges in his federal court complaint that the Department of Agriculture has denied a public-records request for recordings and transcripts of U.
- PUB DATE: 1/20/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com & KPNX-TV NBC 12 Phoenix

The executive director of the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System blasted city officials for unveiling an alternative plan that would cast off the failing retirement fund — and thousands of retirees and active workers — and create a new plan. Kelly Gottschalk said in an email to pension trustees Wednesday that she was shocked by the city's latest move.
- PUB DATE: 1/20/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Dallas Morning News

VIDEO - Three generations of Columbus Fire Fighters, all privileged to wear the same badge. For the Smith family, Columbus Fire badge number 220 was held by Lauren “Grandpa” Smith Sr., since 1948. Years later Lauren Smith Jr., would join the force in 1988. His father passed on the badge to him in 1989.
- PUB DATE: 1/20/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCMH-TV NBC 4 Columbus

The Newbury Park fire station on West Hillcrest Drive was evacuated Thursday evening after a resident brought mercury into the building, officials said. Capt. Ron Oatman, a spokesman for Ventura County Fire, said a resident had vacuumed up mercury after a spill at a storage facility and brought the vacuum bag to the station mistakenly believing firefighters could dispose of the toxic liquid metal.
- PUB DATE: 1/20/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Ventura County Star

President Barack Obama began meeting with prominent Democrats in early January to develop a strategy to keep his signature domestic policy, the Affordable Care Act, intact in the hands of a new administration. Vice President-elect Mike Pence and Republican Congressional leaders have been strategizing and meeting since the election to develop an alternative to the ACA.
- PUB DATE: 1/20/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: EMS1

VIDEO: The La Crosse Fire Department honors one of their own Thursday for his efforts to boost morale and improve our community. Each year the fire department recognizes an employee nominated by the community, and the 2016 Firefighter of the Year is awarded to Fire Department Engineer Todd English. Among other efforts, English leads the 'Fill the Boot' campaign.
- PUB DATE: 1/19/2017 3:38:49 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

Rodney Menne lived his life giving, rather than receiving. He gave of himself to the Eldorado Volunteer Fire Department, the Eldorado community, and anything and everything of which he was involved. "He was a dedicated, dedicated fireman," town of Eldorado chairperson Gary Miller said. "I think that's what he lived for.
- PUB DATE: 1/19/2017 3:38:43 PM - SOURCE: Fond du Lac Reporter

The architect for Minocqua’s proposed new fire station Tuesday heard both praise and concerns from Minocqua Town Board supervisors who reviewed the project’s timetable and final drawings at a special joint session Tuesday with the ad hoc fire station expansion committee. The board on a 3-1 vote directed MSA Professional Services to proceed with its bid timetable despite being told by MSA architect Al Szymanski that state Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) approval of the storm water management plans may not be received before bid notices are posted.
- PUB DATE: 1/19/2017 8:26:38 AM - SOURCE: WXPR-FM 91.7 Public Radio

On January 18, 5 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On January 15, 12 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

A new Middleton Fire Station is in the works near the Town of Westport's border with the city. At its meeting Monday, the town board heard about the future project that is gaining attention and momentum. The Fire District made a presentation about acquiring property for the satellite fire station at the intersection of Hwys.
- PUB DATE: 1/19/2017 4:12:16 AM - SOURCE: Waunakee Tribune

Firefighters rescued a dog from a burning van Wednesday afternoon. Lake Geneva firefighters were dispatched at 12:56 p.m. for a report of a car fire in the parking lot the Walmart, 201 N. Edwards Blvd., just west of Highway 12 and south of Highway 50. According to Fire Department Capt. Mark Moller-Gunderson, arriving crews found a well involved fire engulfing two vehicles.
- PUB DATE: 1/19/2017 2:13:12 AM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times

While rumors and even media reports have talked about the Milton and Milton Township Fire Department “merging” with the City of Janesville Fire Department, the intergovernmental agreement approved this month by the municipalities does not. The agreement is for “shared services” and goes into effect Feb.
- PUB DATE: 1/19/2017 2:11:51 AM - SOURCE: Milton Courier

On January 18, 1 residential fire fatality was reported by the Nation's news media.

A firefighter died Tuesday morning from a type of cancer that he likely got because of his job, according to colleagues. Jimmy Hendryx, 47, is Bremerton's first firefighter to die in the line of duty in the history of the department, which stretches back 114 years. Hendrix was an avid bag pipes player, and would often perform at memorials for fallen firefighters and police officers.
- PUB DATE: 1/19/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000