July was a deadly one for the nation’s fire service as 16 firefighters died on duty. The majority of the deaths were due to medical issues including heart disease and hypertension. USFA records show July as deadliest month in recent years. In June 2013, records show there were 25 firefighter deaths that included 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots killed in a wildfire.
- PUB DATE: 8/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: firehouse

A planned two-day hearing to determine whether Liberty Township's fire chief should be disciplined for alleged management lapses has been extended into next month. Following 10 hours of testimony on Monday and Tuesday, a third day was needed on Wednesday to hear testimony of three firefighters, a medical adviser for the fire department and a human resources specialist, each testifying to problems with Tim Jensen.
- PUB DATE: 8/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Columbus Dispatch

In July, a group of fire officials from cities and towns across Massachusetts that have colleges in their communities met at NFPA to discuss the upcoming school year and a perennial challenge: how to start and end the college year without a significant fire tragedy on or around their campuses. The fears of local fire officials are not without merit.
- PUB DATE: 8/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: National Fire Protection Association

Criticism over extravagant "incentive" pay to four top leaders of the Unified Fire Authority has spurred not one audit, but two. Citing complaints alleging improper compensation and "other potential misuse of public funds," the Utah state auditor launched an investigation of Unified Fire Authority compensation, credit cards and fuel cards last week.
- PUB DATE: 8/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Salt Lake City Deseret Morning News

Durham's speed humps often delay firetrucks and ambulances in getting to their destinations and increase risk to those they're trying to serve, a fire official says. Deputy Chief Chris Iannuzzi of the Durham Fire Department wrote a paper on Durham's speed humps while attending the elite Executive Fire Officer Program in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
- PUB DATE: 8/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

On August 11, 1 residential fire fatality was reported by the Nation's news media.

City officials are considering spending an estimated $40,000 to $70,000 for a comprehensive study on the city's fire services. The decision to request proposals and cost estimates from independent consultants comes on the heels of a study recently completed by the Sheboygan firefighters union, which concluded staffing reductions at city fire departments have left areas of the city without satisfactory fire protection.
- PUB DATE: 8/11/2016 6:36:37 PM - SOURCE: Sheboygan Press

VIDEO: Elk Creek was a raging torrent on Thursday morning, catching almost everyone Gilmanton off-guard. Angelique Breitung and her boyfriend Eli Bloom initially came down to help Eli’s brother Matt. Breitung said, early on, conditions seemed manageable. "We were coming down to just help with the lawnmowers,” she said to WEAU 13 News on Thursday.
- PUB DATE: 8/11/2016 5:04:49 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

In the next month, construction of a new fire station will begin – the second of three facility projects happening in Kaukauna. "It's going to be a fun project, a beautiful structure," said Kaukauna Mayor Gene Rosin. "I've seen the design and the layout and the drawings, and it will really complement downtown really nicely.
- PUB DATE: 8/11/2016 1:03:00 PM - SOURCE: Appleton Post-Gazette & Post Crescent.com

Employees were evacuated from Full Compass during the investigation of a gas leak Thursday morning, according to the Madison Fire Department. Firefighters were called at 9:56 a.m. to the business at 9710 Silicon Prairie Parkway. An official said 200 people were evacuated from the building, and eight of them complained of feeling sick.
- PUB DATE: 8/11/2016 8:35:05 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

On August 8, 7 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.

Firefighters at Station No. 3 in Madison were mingling after dinner Tuesday when a woman walked up to say that she saw a Cooper's hawk fly into a station window and fall to the ground.
- PUB DATE: 8/11/2016 6:01:28 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

VIDEO: Three people escape a house fire in Two Rivers. The fire chief says his crews contained the fire to the attic, but there’s still some heavy damage to the home. Two Rivers Fire Chief Scott Schneider says the call came in just after 11:00 p.m. Wednesday night to a house in the 2600 13th Street on the city’s south side.
- PUB DATE: 8/11/2016 3:59:16 AM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

One person is dead after an apparent drowning at Washington Park in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office told WISN 12 News it was called to the park's pool near 40th and Galena streets. Officials with the Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee Fire Department and Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene just before 11:00 p.
- PUB DATE: 8/11/2016 2:42:32 AM - SOURCE: WISN-TV ABC 12 Milwaukee

A fire and explosion at a Silver Spring apartment complex has caused massive damage, killing two, injuring dozens and displaced almost a hundred residents, some of whom are still missing. The incident is now being treated as a death investigation. According to Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein, fire crews were called to the 8600 block of Piney Branch Avenue for reports of an explosion and fire shortly before midnight.
- PUB DATE: 8/11/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WUSA-TV 9 DC

An assistant fire chief that Mayor Tony George had demoted to captain last week is returning to his post after his replacement turned down the promotion. Michael Bilski, president of the International Firefighters Local 104, said Ed Snarski ascended back to his assistant chief position after Robert Suchoski, one of two firefighters promoted to assistant chief, decided to return to his position as captain and fire inspector.
- PUB DATE: 8/11/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice

VIDEO - J.J. Watt is one of the best defensive ends in the league. He takes on big players and makes huge tackles. To say he's tough might be an understatement. But what happens when he spends the day as a firefighter in his home town? Watt and his father, John Watt, visited the Pewaukee (Wisconsin) fire station so that Watt could see what it's like to train as a firefighter in full gear.
- PUB DATE: 8/11/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KPRC-TV NBC 2 Houston

GoodCall, a data analytics company, released a study listing the best places for first responders to live in the United States. According to their research, more metropolitan areas from the Pacific Northwest ranked in the top 20 than any other region of the country. Nearly 1,000 metropolitan areas were analyzed in terms of safety, affordability of housing and pay, among other factors.
- PUB DATE: 8/11/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

A Cowlitz 2 firefighter has found another way to serve his community. Brad Yoder, a Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue Firefighter/EMT, will donate his right kidney to Dana Clayton, a local woman who is lifelong friends with Yoder’s wife, Laura, according to a Cowlitz 2 press release. The surgery will take place Monday at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland.
- PUB DATE: 8/11/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Daily News

On August 7, 2 residential fire fatalities were reported by the Nation's news media.