The former chief of the Sterling Fire Department pleaded guilty last week to theft over $20,000 — a felony — and first-degree official misconduct following accusations he stole more than $120,000 over several years while leading the force. Kurt Vogel, who was fired from his most recent job as head of the Greater Eagle Fire Protection District following his August arrest in the case, also agreed to pay back all of the money and give back the items he stole, prosecutors say.
- PUB DATE: 11/23/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Denver Post

A fire caused extensive damage to a home Tuesday night in Stevens Point. Firefighters were called at about 9 p.m. to a home on College Avenue, according to Stevens Point Fire Chief Bob Finn. Smoke was already pouring from the home when firefighters arrived. No one was hurt in the fire, but the cause of the blaze was still under investigation, Finn said.
- PUB DATE: 11/22/2016 11:18:04 PM - SOURCE: Stevens Point Journal

Fewer than a dozen residents — six town officials and four private citizens — were present Monday night for the adoption of the Town of Egg Harbor 2017 budget. Next year's $827,371 in spending represents an increase of $89,025 over the amount budgeted for 2016. All but $1,525 of the increase would be allocated toward purchasing a new fire truck within about three years for the joint Egg Harbor Town and Village Fire Department.
- PUB DATE: 11/22/2016 2:46:51 PM - SOURCE: Green Bay Press-Gazette

On November 21, 8 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

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

On November 18, 6 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On November 16, 7 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

The Eau Claire Fire Department hopes its holiday season tradition will help to prevent fires in the community. The department announced on Tuesday that it is placing five-foot wreaths in front of its stations. They are decorated with green lights, a symbol of a fire safe community. If a fire in the city causes any structural damage to a home or business between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, the department will replace a green light on the wreath with a red light.
- PUB DATE: 11/22/2016 8:59:37 AM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

On November 19, 5 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

Firefighter/EMTs are used to running toward fire rather than away from it. But one kind of fire they've traditionally not trained for is gunfire. That's changing. With an increase in active-shooter situations, EMTs are now sheathing themselves in the same kind of protection usually seen on SWAT team members.
- PUB DATE: 11/22/2016 1:49:11 AM - SOURCE: Lake Geneva News

Five children were killed and more than 30 others injured, some critically, in a school bus crash in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Monday afternoon, officials said. Twenty-three of the 37 students on-board the bus were transported to area hospitals, according to Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher. The immediate cause of the crash was unknown, but no other vehicles were involved, police said.
- PUB DATE: 11/22/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NBC News

The city of Bloomington has discovered that its firefighters have been paid on the wrong overtime system, leading many to be underpaid by thousands of dollars. The men and women who put their lives on the line every day thought they were being paid incorrectly, and they were right. Chief Jason Moore said it was one of the first things his employees told him about when he took over this year, and he worked with the city to confirm their suspicions.
- PUB DATE: 11/22/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WXIN-TV Fox 59 Indianapolis

The FDNY is unveiling a new way to resolve problematic workplace disputes — let members handle some issues themselves. Under the new equal employment opportunity policy, the FDNY is training some 35 volunteers from all its ranks — including EMS, fire marshals, firefighters and its high-ranking officers — to be a resource for those needing help with on-the-job problems.
- PUB DATE: 11/22/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Daily News

The burn boss scanned the snaking trail of the Swasey Recreation Area through thick black sunglasses. She saw firefighters scurrying on a hill above in a smoky blue haze. They were setting dozens of fires to burn away piles of sticks and shrubs that a lightning strike or cigarette butt could use to grow into a wildfire.
- PUB DATE: 11/22/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Marin Independent Journal

Picture the next major American city to go bankrupt. What springs to mind? Probably not the swagger and sprawl of Dallas. Indeed. Dallas has the fastest economic growth of the nation’s 13 largest cities. Its streets hum with supersize cars and its skyline bristles with cranes. Its mayor is a former chief executive of Pizza Hut.
- PUB DATE: 11/22/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Times

VIDEO: When firefighters run into a burning building it isn't the flames that are most dangerous it's the smoke. The International Fire Association has deemed every house fire a hazardous material incident because of the increasing levels of hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide. “Right now cancer is the number one killer of firefighters in America,” said Curtis Dunn with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.
- PUB DATE: 11/21/2016 9:35:36 PM - SOURCE: WGBA-TV NBC 26 Green Bay

A fire at a recently opened Forest County supper club closed Highway 8 for hours Monday night. Crews responded to the Silver Lake Inn just west of Laona around 6 p.m. As of 8 p.m. Monday, firefighters were still working to put out the fire in the main restaurant building. Flames were seen coming out of the roof on the east side.
- PUB DATE: 11/21/2016 8:33:34 PM - SOURCE: WJFW-TV NBC 12 Rhinelander-Wausau

VIDEO: An off-duty Fond du Lac firefighter was in the right place at the right time, coming to the aid of an injured motorist following a serious car accident on Friday night. Division Chief Troy Haase, with the Fond du Lac Fire Department, was on his way to deer camp with his 18 year old son on Friday night when the two came across an accident on Highway 23 just west of Fond du Lac.
- PUB DATE: 11/21/2016 3:38:02 PM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

On November 19, 4 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

On November 15, 6 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.