Because of yet another mix-up with bioterror pathogens, a federal terrorism response training center in Alabama says it mistakenly exposed more than 9,600 firefighters, paramedics and other students to a deadly toxin over the past five years. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Center for Domestic Preparedness blames an outside laboratory for a series of shipping errors since 2011 that resulted in the first-responder training center using in its classes a potentially lethal form of ricin powder.
- PUB DATE: 12/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: USA Today

As Oakland firefighters pulled up to the burning Ghost Ship warehouse the night of Dec. 2, they weren’t exactly sure what they were dealing with — whether anyone was trapped or what they would encounter inside — but they didn’t assume it was a vacant building. Public safety officials in Oakland have long been aware that people live and party in warehouses — some firefighters say they can tell whether one is inhabited just by looking at its exterior.
- PUB DATE: 12/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle

Acting United States Attorney Beth Drake today announced that a Charleston Grand Jury has returned a two-count indictment charging St. Paul’s Fire District Chief Doc McNeil Matthews, 47, of Hollywood; Assistant Chief Charles Riddle, 44, of Goose Creek; and Mary Jo Thomas-Delaney, 67, of Summerville, with fraud and embezzlement from a federally funded organization.
- PUB DATE: 12/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCBD-TV Charleston 2

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released the latest edition of its “U.S. Firefighter Injuries” report, which highlights data on injuries sustained by firefighters on duty in 2015. The statistics were collected from fire departments responding to NFPA’s annual U.S. Fire Experience survey.
- PUB DATE: 12/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: National Fire Protection Association

During Melanie Nipper's campaign for her seat on the Walton County Commission, she called on a lot of agencies. One of those was the North Walton Fire District. She was appalled by the conditions she found at the fire stations and resolved that if elected she would try to help. Nipper made good on that resolve at Tuesday night's County Commission meeting when she proposed a feasibility study to investigate the transfer of North Walton Fire and EMS to the sheriff.
- PUB DATE: 12/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Ft. Walton Beach: Northwest Florida News

In these freezing temperatures many people use their fireplaces to keep warm. However, if people don't clean their fireplaces, it could start a fire. On Thursday, firefighters weren't just battling fires, they were also battling frigid temperatures. "He had wood burning in two chimneys with metal flues and it just got too hot, probably burnt some creosote on the inside and then started up the outside of the chimney,” said Ledgeview Fire Chief, Tom Guns.
- PUB DATE: 12/15/2016 7:37:16 PM - SOURCE: WLUK TV Fox 11

With more than 88,000 acres of managed forestland in Wood County, logging accidents are always possible. When it comes to logging, it isn't "if" there will be an accident, it's "when," said Dana Hinkley, who owns Logger Rescue Training in Berlin, New Hampshire. Hinkley oversaw training Wednesday of more than 25 men, some loggers and some firefighters, who gathered at the Pittsville Fire Department to learn what to do when a logging accident happens.
- PUB DATE: 12/15/2016 6:38:01 PM - SOURCE: Marshfield News-Herald

With the flip of a switch, Sheboygan County's dispatch center recently came to life, signalling the conclusion of a multi-year goal to bring online a digital system capable of handling all of the area's emergency needs. The $12 million project brings together two former analog dispatch centers, one in the city and one in the county, to provide an efficient response to 911 calls using technology updated for the digital age.
- PUB DATE: 12/15/2016 5:02:50 PM - SOURCE: Sheboygan Press

On December 14, 5 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On December 11, 12 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On December 13, 11 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

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

On December 10, 17 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

When officials in this Jefferson County city saw that many ambulance, fire and police calls were going to assisted living facilities, they took action. In September 2015, they adopted a temporary moratorium on new facilities or expansions, which remains in effect. The City Council is expected soon to consider an ordinance to establish $1,000 fines for preventable calls to assisted living centers.
- PUB DATE: 12/15/2016 4:14:07 AM - SOURCE: Chippewa Herald

Fire damaged a house in Milwaukee early Thursday morning. The fire was reported around 4:40 a.m. on Mother Daniels Way -- one block from the intersection of 35th Street and Hampton Avenue. Emergency crews responding to the fire had to deal with a temperature of 1 degree and a wind chill of -17 degrees.
- PUB DATE: 12/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WISN-TV ABC 12

With some of the coldest temperatures of the winter season upon us, the Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue Department is taking steps to help homeless people in the city. “We realize the overnight warming shelters have their own limitations," Fire Chief Peter O'Leary said. "Each morning at 7 a.m. those using the overnight shelter are sent back out in the cold.
- PUB DATE: 12/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fond du Lac Reporter

Most Dallas police officers and firefighters are officially getting a 10 percent raise. Without much fanfare or discussion, the Dallas City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a three-year police and fire salary agreement. After months of back-and-forth, city leaders and the police and fire associations negotiated a three-year contract in November.
- PUB DATE: 12/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Dallas Morning News

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