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National Fire News

Firefighters in Texas using federal grant to vaccinate homeless, low-income families for the flu

This is the first year the Victoria Fire Department will administer flu shots for the homeless and low-income families and it’s all part of a long-range plan for the department to have more public health outreach. “Due to COVID-19 we felt this was a great year and a great opportunity to start that,” said Tracy Fox, VFD Chief.
- PUB DATE: 10/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KAVU-TV ABC 25 Victoria

Georgia firefighter puts on heels to raise awareness for domestic violence

Tifton fighters are trading in their boots for high heels to show support for the fight against domestic violence. Kiefer Daughtry is an engineer at the Tifton Fire Department, and right before the interview, he traded in his work shoes for a pair of fuchsia-colored high heels. “What’s going through your head right now? How does it feel?” asked Poitevint.
- PUB DATE: 10/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WALB-TV NBC/ABC 10 Albany

Fire truck being raffled off in Pennsylvania

Have you ever heard of a fire truck being raffled off? That's what one Schuylkill County fire company is doing. "We've gotten some messages. I've gotten some messages from people saying, 'what are you guys thinking?' But honestly, it's a good truck, and we're going to give it a shot," said Sam Detweiler of Liberty Fire Company No.
- PUB DATE: 10/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WNEP-TV ABC 16 Scranton

A grim anniversary in Delaware: 'I questioned how many of us were going to walk away'

It was Tuesday, October 21, 1980, and Phillies fans, including New Castle County volunteer firefighters, were anticipating the start of what would be a Game 6 World Series clinching victory. But everything changed around 6:30 p.m. when a massive explosion rocked the Amoco plant off of River Road in New Castle south of Dobbinsville, blowing out windows, and shaking houses and residents for miles around.
- PUB DATE: 10/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WDEL-AM 1150 & WDEL.com

Arizona city develops task force to address workplace problems at 911 dispatch center

The results of a workplace assessment recently completed for Tucson’s Public Safety Communications Department has caused concern among city leaders who are working to address “fundamental problems in the operation of the department.” The department is responsible for dispatching 911 calls for police and fire departments.
- PUB DATE: 10/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Arizona Daily Star

With shortage of volunteers at crisis level, some Pennsylvania fire departments let members live in firehouses rent free

The lounge could pass for a college dorm, ignoring the vintage fire hats, canvass jackets and 1992 training record board hanging on the walls. Half-empty Gatorade bottles and binders sit on end tables next to plush couches the twenty-somethings who live there found on the side of a road. They’ve got a PlayStation system and a kitchenette that, admittedly, they don’t use often, opting for fast food instead.
- PUB DATE: 10/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Morning Call

CDC Reduces Consecutive Minutes Of COVID-19 Exposure Needed To Be A 'Close Contact'

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed the amount of time it would take for someone to be considered a close contact of a person with COVID-19. Previous language defined a close contact as someone who spent at least 15 minutes within 6 feet of a confirmed case. The CDC now defines a close contact as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
- PUB DATE: 10/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NPR

Artist in Missouri uses fire helmets as canvas

A Farmington artist has become nationally known for the unique way in which she uses the helmets of firefighters as a canvas on which to honor them for their courage and sacrifice. Miranda DeOrnellis grew up in Womack and has been painting for others since she was 18. “I’ve always been interested in art.
- PUB DATE: 10/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Daily Journal Online

Florida firefighter speaks out on surviving fall in vehicle from expressway

VIDEO: A Hialeah firefighter has recalled the night he flew over a barrier and off the Palmetto Expressway after, investigators said, he was hit by another driver, causing his truck to come to rest on its roof along the street below. Alain Pineiro is at home recovering from a fractured neck and rib, but it will take him longer to recover from the emotional pain of the crash.
- PUB DATE: 10/21/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WSVN-TV FOX 7 Miami

Missouri: Retirement badge of Clayton's first fire marshal returned to family years after it was lost in Florida

The daughter of Clayton’s first fire marshal on Tuesday retrieved her father’s retirement badge after losing it in Florida. Jill Halsey, 75, of St. Charles, lost the badge at a Florida restaurant years ago — when, exactly, is unclear. But now, thanks to the diligence of Clayton fire Chief John Paul Jones, as well as the Florida man who found the badge, Halsey again has a piece of family history.
- PUB DATE: 10/21/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: St. Louis Post Dispatch

Police officer’s bodycam video shows harrowing rescue of woman from burning car in California

VIDEO: A Davis police officer recalled the tense moments before rescuing a woman from a burning car. It looks like a scene out of a Hollywood movie as Davis Police Cpl. Pheng Ly’s body camera shows him pulling a helpless woman out of her burning car and into safety. But the scene happened in real life Saturday night in the middle of Ly’s shift.
- PUB DATE: 10/21/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTXL-TV Fox 40 Sacramento

US is nearing 'rapid acceleration' of COVID-19 cases, expert warns, as daily infections hit about 60,000

US COVID-19 cases will begin to rapidly accelerate in about a week, a leading health expert says, as the country's daily averages keep climbing toward the summer's peak and several states are setting hospitalization records. The US recorded more than 60,300 new cases Tuesday, and the national seven-day case average hit about 59,500 -- an increase of about 73% in five and a half weeks, Johns Hopkins University data show.
- PUB DATE: 10/21/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CNN

Michigan firefighters destroy $90,000 Mustang Shelby GT500 ... here's why

Firefighters in Dearborn, Mich, destroyed a $90,000 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 last week, but they had a good reason. The department, which is located in the same town as Ford's headquarters, was using the pre-production muscle car donated by the automaker to hone the vehicle extraction skills needed to rescue victims from wrecked vehicles.
- PUB DATE: 10/21/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fox News

Church destroyed by massive fire in Oklahoma

VIDEO: Authorities are currently investigating a massive fire that consumed a church in northeast Oklahoma City late Monday night. Around 10 p.m. on Monday, Oklahoma City firefighters were called to a large fire at a vacant church in the 2200 block of N. Prospect. As soon as firefighters arrived on the scene, portions of the roof and the masonry walls began to collapse.
- PUB DATE: 10/20/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KFOR-TV NBC 4 Oklahoma City

Coffee with a kicker: Nonprofit shop in Maryland will help volunteer firefighters recruit

Second Alarm Brewhouse in Pasadena is pioneering a new business model: Great coffee that helps local volunteer firefighters. The shop has opened its doors in Pasadena and celebrated Saturday. But instead of cutting a ribbon, they cut a hose. The coffee shop was originally a coffee truck, and owner Duane McKee is a volunteer himself.
- PUB DATE: 10/20/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Capital Gazette - Metered Site

Ohio: Firefighters agree to wage freeze as city deals with pandemic finances

The city and its firefighters union have come to a contract agreement in which the International Association of Firefighters Local 974 agreed to a wage freeze for the first year of the three-year deal. City Council agreed to the new contract during its Zoom meeting held Monday, Oct. 19. With the city facing uncertainty as to its tax collections in a year in which COVID-19 has played havoc with communities' budgets, Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan was grateful for the union’s consideration.
- PUB DATE: 10/20/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Cleveland.com

Michigan city opens new $6M fire station with unique training equipment built in

PHOTOS: The city of Portage’s all-new Fire Station No. 2 went into service this October with a design that takes into account the health and wellness of the firefighters who will use it and offers some unique training opportunities. The new facility at 6101 Oakland Drive replaces the oldest of three free stations in the city.
- PUB DATE: 10/20/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: MLive

From the chief: Los Angeles Fire Department can wear Dodgers caps

The Dodgers are headed to the World Series after clinching their third National League pennant in four years Sunday, and all of Los Angeles is celebrating a thrilling 4-3 win over the Braves in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series. That includes the Los Angeles Fire Department, whose chief announced via Twitter shortly after the Dodgers' victory that all LAFD firefighters are authorized to wear Dodgers caps while on duty through the end of the World Series.
- PUB DATE: 10/20/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: MLB.com

VIDEO: Strong Winds Fuel House Fire In Chicago Suburbs

Damaging winds caused significant damage around the Chicago area Saturday night, and strong winds may have even sparked a fire in the northwest suburbs. Multiple fire departments responded to the massive house fire on Burning Tree Circle in McHenry. McHenry police say the house was fully engulfed when crews arrived.
- PUB DATE: 10/19/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WBBM-TV CBS 2 Chicago

Houston firefighter shot with pellet gun, fire truck windows broken during call

A Houston firefighter was injured while responding to a burning storage unit but not by heat or flames. Investigators said a woman shot him with a pellet gun. Houston Fire Department Engine 82 was at a storage facility about 11:30 a.m. Friday in the 12400 block of Fondren Road. They were able to extinguish the fire using a pump can.
- PUB DATE: 10/19/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KHOU-TV CBS 11 Houston

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