The family of a Hartford firefighter killed in the line of duty has settled its wrongful death lawsuit against the city for $350,000. Kevin Bell, 48, died fighting a house fire in October 2014. The family filed suit in November 2015, saying that it wanted answers about why Bell, a six-year veteran of the department, was left behind for more than eight minutes even though a mayday call had been made by his lieutenant after losing contact with Bell in the house.
- PUB DATE: 12/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Hartford Courant

Vallejo firefighters staying overnight at Station 24 were in for a rude awakening last week after an unknown gunman fired a bullet into their building. The damage was discovered Tuesday morning, Dec. 6, at 1005 Oakwood Ave., leading investigators to believe the shot occurred either while firefighters slept in the back dorm area or while they were out on emergency calls.
- PUB DATE: 12/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Vallejo Times-Herald

In any fire department, there are so many things that make up the dynamic of an engine crew, certain shift or even the department as a whole. Firefighters tend to say brotherhood and family defines their core being. So when this small paid department of 33 looked back on the year and saw that six of their brothers had newborn babies, it was time to show the public what was at the core of their department.
- PUB DATE: 12/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

The husband of a woman struck and killed by a fire truck is suing the fire department and one of its firefighters. A lawsuit seeking at least $50,000 has been filed on behalf of Paul L. Riehm, administrator of the estate of Lorri J. Riehm, in Seneca County Common Pleas Court against Green Springs Rural Volunteer Fire Department and Seth T.
- PUB DATE: 12/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Advertiser-Tribune

VIDEO: It may be more than a year before construction could begin, but the City of Green Bay is moving forward with plans for a new public safety building. Action 2 News first told you Tuesday night that a city committee unanimously approved a study showing what the community needs in that building. While it would include police and fire, another agency would not be moving there.
- PUB DATE: 12/14/2016 5:22:50 PM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

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

On December 10, 16 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On December 13, 8 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On December 10, 15 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On December 9, 12 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On December 13, 2 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

An Eau Claire apartment’s Christmas tree went up in flames midmorning on Tuesday. The tree, shrouded in twinkling red and white lights, had a small pile of boxes wrapped in festive paper nestled beneath its branches. There was a brown couch to the tree’s left, a window to its right. The flames licked their way up the tree’s dry pine needles before engulfing the ceiling and the living room’s surrounding features in a thick, dark smoke.
- PUB DATE: 12/14/2016 2:14:54 AM - SOURCE: Eau Claire Leader-Telegram

A 41-year-old man, a fire captain from Orange, jumped off the Crown Valley Parkway I-5 overpass on Tuesday morning and was killed by a big-rig, officials said. The CHP got a call of a man scaling a the chain-link fence on the overpass about 11 a.m. Minutes later, he jumped and was hit. The Orange County Fire Authority identified the man as Capt.
- PUB DATE: 12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Orange County Register

Ten active and retired EMS workers and three NYPD traffic enforcement agents surrendered to authorities early Tuesday, the first in a wave of disability fraud busts orchestrated by city and state law enforcement, the Daily News has learned. Seven of the accused — six men and one woman — surrendered at the 112th Precinct stationhouse, where they were patted down in the doorway, then handcuffed and lead inside.
- PUB DATE: 12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Daily News

A man was killed in a crash involving a fire truck that happened on Route 9 south in Essex on Tuesday evening. State police identified the victim as 80-year-old William Spitzschuh of Deep River. The crash was reported at about 7 p.m. and shut down the highway for several hours. It involved an Essex fire truck.
- PUB DATE: 12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: wfsb.com

The warehouse where 36 people died earlier this month is just 500 feet from Oakland Fire Station No. 13. Yet despite much community grumbling in recent years about the grim conditions of the building, Oakland fire officials said Tuesday that they had received no complaints in their records about the warehouse and that fire officials had never been dispatched there in the last 12 years.
- PUB DATE: 12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Los Angeles Times

Managing conflict between career and volunteer members in a combination department can be challenging at times. Left unchecked, the conflict can destroy a department and create an environment of hate and discontent. I’ve spent my career working in combination departments and many hours listening to and addressing issues that emerge between volunteer and career staff.
- PUB DATE: 12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireChief.com

Plans for a new fire station on Eau Claire’s north side are moving forward. Tuesday, the city took the first step to acquire land at the corner of Birch St. and Malden Ave. for the new building which would replace Fire Station 10. The station was built back in 1949 and the city says its outdated and in need of replacement.
- PUB DATE: 12/13/2016 8:46:52 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

VIDEO: Several people are fortunate to have escaped with their lives after fire damaged two condominiums in Cudahy on Monday, December 12th. "Their holiday's going to be altered quite a bit," said Cudahy Fire Chief Dan Mayer. "Kind of hits home for us when we fight a fire where there's a Christmas tree up, Christmas gifts already set, and the fire comes in and damages everything -- and you know that all of that's ruined.
- PUB DATE: 12/13/2016 3:35:58 PM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6

On December 12, 10 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.