They were naked, he was afraid. A black FDNY rookie expecting a warm welcome at his new firehouse was instead sexually hazed and humiliated by a band of naked firefighters, according to a shocking federal discrimination lawsuit. It was the beginning of a series of horrific incidents meant to make the rookie’s life so miserable he would quit, the suit alleges.
- PUB DATE: 1/23/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Post

Benny Fulkerson seizes every opportunity to spread the gospel of fire safety. The city council recognized Fulkerson, a third-generation firefighter, as the 2016 South Oklahoma City Kiwanis Club Firefighter of the Year earlier this month at city hall. As spokesman for a department that values prevention, where "the best fire is the one that never happens," he is expanding the department's social media following with action videos, cautionary tales, and even poetry.
- PUB DATE: 1/23/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Oklahoman

Six Chicago Police officers have been suspended for giving the third-highest ranking member of the Chicago Fire Department favored treatment after the fire deputy crashed his city-owned SUV near Lake Shore Drive in Lincoln Park. Police Supt. Eddie Johnson suspended all six officers for “improper processing and reporting procedures” in connection with the April 20, 2016 crash involving former Deputy Fire Commissioner John McNicholas.
- PUB DATE: 1/23/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times

VIDEO: Brown County sheriff's officials said crews responded to a fire on the 1500 block of Pinecrest Road just after midnight, Sunday. The Brown County Sheriff's Office and nine fire departments responded, including dozens of firefighters. The fire chief said multiple units responded because fire crews did not have access to a water source.
- PUB DATE: 1/22/2017 1:53:24 AM - SOURCE: WLUK TV Fox 11

On January 21, 0 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

VIDEO: A three-alarm fire broke out in a furniture store shortly after 9 p.m. Friday evening. Telephone reports began to come in saying that the furniture store inside the strip mall near 14th and Center was on fire. Upon arrival, The Milwaukee Fire Department saw heavy smoke an attempted to make an interior attack.
- PUB DATE: 1/21/2017 8:36:23 AM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee

On January 20, 3 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On January 19, 9 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On January 15, 14 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

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