If you have an emergency call 911!

National Fire News

New York City Mayor announces crackdown on illegal fireworks after protest outside mayor's mansion

VIDEO: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) announced a task force Tuesday aimed at cracking down on illegal fireworks after city residents have registered thousands of complaints. “We have concerns about this from all over the city, this is a real problem. It is not just a quality of life problem and noise problem, and it is certainly that … but it can also be dangerous,” the mayor said Tuesday at a press conference.
- PUB DATE: 6/24/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Hill

Firefighters Battle Heat, Heavy Smoke At Pennsylvania Tire Production Facility; ‘They Were Feeling The Heat Through Their Boots’

VIDEO: Nearly one hundred firefighters from 10 companies and two counties rolled into Specialty Tire in Indiana Monday morning. Indiana Fire Association First Assistant Chief Ron Moreau described the scene: “Lots of heavy black smoke.” The picture from Indiana Fire Association shows the issue from the outside.
- PUB DATE: 6/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KDKA-TV CBS 2 Pittsburgh

U.S. remains in 1st wave of pandemic as experts raise concern for several states

With half of US states reporting a rise in new cases, one expert warns of ‘danger signs’ in some parts of the US. After weeks of many Americans failing to heed face mask and social distancing guidelines, health officials in some states are reporting an increase in younger populations testing positive — saying those individuals are often asymptomatic but could be infecting others.
- PUB DATE: 6/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTLA-TV 5 CW Los Angeles

University of Notre Dame Study: Gear treated with ‘forever chemicals’ poses risk to firefighters

Firefighters face occupational hazards on a daily basis. Now, new research shows they face additional risk just by gearing up. Fabric used for firefighter turnout gear tested positive for the presence of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), according to the study published in Environmental Science and Technology Letters, led by Graham Peaslee, professor of physics at the University of Notre Dame.
- PUB DATE: 6/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: University of Notre Dame News

'Chicago Fire' Has an Active Chicago Firefighter in the Cast

Chicago Fire showcases the intense and dangerous situations which firefighters deal with every day, and the crew wants it to be as realistic as possible. They use some fantastic special effects and pyrotechnics, which as amazing as they look, still isn’t real enough. In addition, this drama goes above and beyond by using real life firefighters in the show.
- PUB DATE: 6/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Showbiz CheatSheet

Column: The expanding use of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic

There has been quite a bit of discussion about how telehealth could be utilized during a public health emergency or more commonly during medical care. But only 1% of rural communities in the U.S. routinely use telemedicine and it is rarely utilized outside of emergency situations, such as natural disasters.
- PUB DATE: 6/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: EMS1

Drone footage shows aftermath of massive fire at Massachusetts mill

VIDEO: Drone footage shows the aftermath of the massive fire that ravaged the former Strathmore Paper complex and destroyed Mill Number Two. The footage was taken Saturday by Samuel Mazzaferro, the owner and operator of West Branch Aerial Photography located in Chester. Mazzaferro made sure to follow all rules and regulations and avoided any interference as firefighters continued to work the scene.
- PUB DATE: 6/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Mass Live

COVID-19 modeling site: Michigan one of three states 'on track to contain' virus

A national nonprofit that's been monitoring the spread of COVID-19 says Michigan is one of three states "on track to contain" the novel coronavirus, but officials still warn the fight here is far from over. COVID Act Now, a group of technologists, epidemiologists, health experts and public policy leaders, tweeted Tuesday that Michigan had moved to its lowest risk category on its warning dashboard for states.
- PUB DATE: 6/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Detroit News

Four longtime South Dakota firefighters retire to avoid department layoffs

Four Rapid City Fire Department firefighters retired Friday as a result of budget concerns and to help prevent possible layoffs in the department. Capt. Joe Tjaden, Training Section Chief Matt Culberson, Battalion Chief Tim Daly and Fire Chief Rod Seals have a combined 111 years of experience under their belts, according to a RCFD press release.
- PUB DATE: 6/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Rapid City Journal

About 60 Jacksonville, Florida firefighters home from work because of COVID-19 concerns

About 60 firefighters with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department cannot work right now. They either have COVID-19 or may have been exposed. That’s according to Randy Wyse the President of the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters. It comes after Action News Jax confirmed a firefighter at station 21 tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday.
- PUB DATE: 6/22/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WJAX-TV CBS 47 Jacksonville

Firefighters battle massive blaze in Massachusetts that destroyed home

VIDEO: Firefighters battled a massive house fire in Billerica Thursday evening that left the home a total loss. Crews responding to the scene on Riveredge Road found smoke and flames pouring out of the house. “I was sleeping on the farmer’s porch and the smoke just came out right around me,” homeowner Rob Rawson said.
- PUB DATE: 6/19/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WHDH-TV 7 Boston

Union seeks public's help to keep 2 Baltimore firehouses from closing

The union representing Baltimore's firefighters is calling on residents living in certain neighborhoods to oppose possible firehouse closures. The two firehouses slated to close are Engine 4 on Cold Spring Lane in north Baltimore and Engine 55 on Bush Street in Pigtown. The city fire union said both companies are responsible for bringing water to fires and have life-saving medical equipment.
- PUB DATE: 6/19/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WBAL-TV NBC 11 Baltimore

Florida's Waffle House Index: If the Waffle House is closed, you know the storm is serious

After a serious storm, it's not uncommon to see the world come to a standstill. Traffic lights often go out, homes are ruined and businesses stay closed, but one restaurant tends to stay operational and consistent, despite the chaos and damage. In many places, Waffle House has become synonymous with stormy skies; the business is able to make decisions in the face of serious storms that have caught the eye of first responders and federal officials like Craig Fugate.
- PUB DATE: 6/19/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WPEC-TV CBS 12 West Palm Beach

Research Roundup: Predicting Susceptibility to COVID-19 and More

Every week there are numerous scientific studies published. Here’s a look at some of the more interesting ones: Researchers with the Cleveland Clinic developed a first risk prediction model for healthcare providers to predict an individual patient’s likelihood of a positive COVID-19 test, in addition to predicting their outcomes from the disease.
- PUB DATE: 6/19/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: BioSpace

Indianapolis Fire Department launches first-of-its-kind ‘Project Washout’ for professional gear cleaning

VIDEO: The Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD) has become the first fire department in the country to develop an in-house fire gear cleaning system. IFD said “Project Washout” integrates advanced ozone technology with comprehensive gear maintenance, management and repair. On Wednesday, IFD Chief Ernest Malone unveiled the new system which fire officials said “was created for the sole purpose of better protecting our suppression personnel and implementing cancer preventive initiatives, to help fight the unseen enemies our personnel face every day, including COVID19.
- PUB DATE: 6/19/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WXIN-TV Fox 59 Indianapolis

Fire department union in Missouri reacts to being asked to cut 4.5% of budget

The Union for the Kansas City Fire Department says they are already short 60 firefighters. Cutting 4.5% of the department budget would mean close to $9 million. That would have dangerous impacts on public safety. “I believe that fire department cuts and public safety cuts should be the last to be made,” to International Association of Firefighters local 42 President Tim Dupin said.
- PUB DATE: 6/18/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KCTV CBS 5 Kansas City

13 years later in South Carolina: Honoring the 9 Charleston firefighters killed in the Sofa Superstore Fire

VIDEO: Thursday marks 13 years since nine Charleston firefighters were killed in a fire at the Sofa Superstore on Savannah Highway. It was June 18th, 2007 at 7:09 p.m. when the alarm sounded – firefighters sprang into action. Black smoke was seen pouring from the furniture store and warehouse, and as firefighters began to battle the flames, a 911 call comes in saying an employee is trapped inside.
- PUB DATE: 6/18/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WSPA-TV CBS 7 Spartanburg

FirstNet Board greenlights $218M for core network upgrades, more deployable assets

FirstNet, the dedicated public safety communications network built by AT&T through a public-private partnership, is getting more than $200 million for enhancements to its portable assets and core network for 5G. The First Responder Network Authority Board at its quarterly meeting yesterday signed off on $218 million for strategic investments targeting two areas: initial core network upgrades as the first phase of moving to 5G, and expanding FirstNet’s fleet of deployable assets.
- PUB DATE: 6/18/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fierce Wireless

Michigan collects 30k gallons of toxic PFAS firefighting foam

More than 30,000 gallons of toxic fluorochemical foam has been collected from municipal fire departments and commercial airports in Michigan in an effort that state officials believe is the nation’s largest collection and disposal program of its type. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and the state fire marshal’s office announced the milestone for their per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, foam disposal program on Wednesday, June 16.
- PUB DATE: 6/18/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: MLive

Illinois firefighters saved part of burning church through tactical decision, officials say

PHOTOS: Firefighters' tactical decision to use a front-end loader to open up a hallway while battling a fire at Clinton Assembly of God may have saved part of the facility, officials said Tuesday. The Clinton Fire Department was called to the church at 801 S. Mulberry at 8:19 a.m., and crews cleared the scene at 3:47 p.
- PUB DATE: 6/17/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Pantagraph

Pages

How can you help?

We are volunteer organizations and are funded primarily through generous donations from the community.  We also need help at our fundraising events.

We welcome new firefighters and EMT's.  We can provide you with training through the Wisconsin Technical College System.

To find out more about joining or other ways to help contact us or come to a meeting!