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National Fire News

In a first, 2 Somali-Americans joining ranks of firefighters in Minnesota

The newest firefighters in St. Paul and Minneapolis graduated Friday, including two men who will be the first Somali-American firefighters in St. Paul and possibly the state and nation. Twenty-three firefighter recruits for St. Paul graduated, including seven women. Eighteen recruits graduated for Minneapolis.
- PUB DATE: 7/1/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: St. Paul Pioneer Press

California fire authority gets help from SCE to try out helicopters that can fight fires at night

Nighttime aerial firefighting equipment that helped knock down Australian wildfires last year will be tested in Orange County over the next five months. Starting July 1, the Orange County Fire Authority will run a pilot program with two special helicopters: one that does reconnaissance of ground conditions, any obstacles such as power lines, and where the nearest water sources are, and a second chopper that will be “the first-ever nighttime, hover-filling tanker in the U.
- PUB DATE: 7/1/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Orange County Register - Metered Site

Regionalization the key for EMS future in Wisconsin county

A long-term shortage of emergency medical service, and eventually firefighter, volunteers will severely impact Dodge County municipalities both large and small in coming years, according to county officials. And while mutual aid can help minimize the impacts of that shortage, fire and EMS organizations have been preparing for the future.
- PUB DATE: 7/1/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The Nose Knows: FDNY K9s Help Solve Arsons And Other Crimes

VIDEO: They are fire investigators on four legs who help the FDNY solve some of the most difficult arson cases around the city. Weighing in at just under 70 pounds each, Bucca and Pete pack a type of crimefighting muscle different than any other firefighter. They’re part of the K9 arson squad. They sniff, they sit, they solve.
- PUB DATE: 7/1/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCBS-TV CBS 2 New York

Pacific Northwest winemakers worry impact wildfires may have on grapes

As wildfire season approaches, local winemakers are concerned about the potential for more dense smoke. For two summers in a row, thick smoke consumed the Pacific Northwest. It didn't just worsen air quality, it affected wine vineyards, too. Freddy Arredondo, the winemaker for Cave B Winery, told me there can be both positive and negative impacts on grapes.
- PUB DATE: 7/1/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTVL-TV CBS 10 Medford

Ohio Senate Cuts PTSD Coverage For First Responders From Workers' Comp Budget

The Ohio Senate balked at mandates in a House-passed budget to provide workers’ compensation for first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and to make all injured workers declare their immigration status. With those and other policy measures stripped from the bill, the Senate voted unanimously Thursday to approve the budget of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, which is funded by employer premiums.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Canton Respository

Technology makes it possible to map California fire district’s most hazardous parcels in record time

Every day a lot of men have to shave. No matter how good a job they do they have to do it all over again in a day or two. Once a year the VC Fire Protection District has to map as much of the district as it can before the fire season begins in earnest and send out letters to property owners warning them if their property poses a fire hazard.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Valley RoadRunner

After recent blaze, Maine chief raises alarm about shortage of firefighters

When a fire in a New Gloucester mobile home was reported in the middle of the night, it took three towns to muster enough firefighters to fight the blaze. Poland Fire Chief Tom Printup, the first to arrive on scene because he lives nearby, said 12 firefighters responded to the fire on Quarry Road just after 2 a.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Portland Press Herald

5 for Good: Boston firefighters build unity, increase interest in department through volunteer program

VIDEO: A humid day in Mattapan did not slow the pace of an intense basketball game between teachers from Mattahunt Elementary School and a team from the Boston Fire Department. Kimberly Hogan, part of the teacher’s team, said her student spectators were thrilled to watch. "The kids are all amped,” Hogan said.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCVB-TV ABC 5 Boston

Philadelphia Will Honor Fire Department With New Mural Design Unveiling During Wawa Welcome America

An artist who has painted scenes around the world will unveil a new mural design for Philadelphia on July 3 to honor an organization that has protected the city for hundreds of years — the city Fire Department. A 500-square-foot mural depicting the history of the Philadelphia Fire Department will be painted on 4th and Arch streets, next to the Ladder 2 Fire Station and around the corner from the Fireman’s Hall Museum.
- PUB DATE: 6/28/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCAU-TV NBC 10 Philadelphia

California City, County Reinvigorates Program to Lessen Response Strain Caused by Frequent 911 Callers

VIDEO: In an effort to reduce a strain on San Diego’s 911 response system, the city’s mayor announced the resurrection of a decade-old program to help its top abusers -- some who call hundreds of times a year. “Every day, San Diego’s emergency 911 response system receives thousands of calls day and night for help from residents and visitors alike.
- PUB DATE: 6/27/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KNSD-TV NBC 7 San Diego

New Jersey health commissioner: Paramedics can now carry buprenorphine for OD victims

New Jersey paramedics may now offer another medication to overdosed patients revived with naloxone, but some are taking a wait-and-see approach. N.J. Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal authorized the state's 1,900 paramedics to carry buprenorphine, an oral medication used to treat the acute symptoms of opioid withdrawal.
- PUB DATE: 6/27/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Courier-Post - Metered Site

IAFC Release iCHIEFS Podcast Episode 2

The path to becoming fire chief is often challenging and unpredictable. With that in mind, how can you best prepare to become a five-bugle chief? Anne Arundel County (Maryland) Chief Trisha Wolford and Prince William County (Virginia) Chief (Retired) Mary Beth Michos share their experiences and address key elements of preparation, including formal education/training; political and policy development skills and experience; public speaking and communication; work history and reputation; teachable potential, succession planning and job shadowing participation.
- PUB DATE: 6/27/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: IAFC.org

Public Safety Department in Alabama loosens restrictions on facial hair, tattoos for police and firefighters

VIDEO: Public safety departments across the country are ditching dated restrictive grooming and appearance standards. It's an effort to modernize policing with hopes of boosting morale and bolstering recruitment and retention efforts. As of June, the City of Montgomery is part of the national trend, allowing officers and firefighters to grow facial hair and show tattoos while in uniform.
- PUB DATE: 6/27/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WSFA-TV NBC 12 Montgomery

Disaster City: University Program in Texas Training First Responders for the Worst

It’s a scene of utter devastation. Smashed automobiles, derailed train cars and piles of rubble are scattered across an apocalyptic landscape. Hard-hatted responders cling to nylon ropes alongside a gutted high-rise. In the distance, an industrial fire sends flames and smoke into an otherwise bright blue sky.
- PUB DATE: 6/27/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Governing.com

Volunteer firefighter in Maryland dies responding to car crash

Outside of Frederick Memorial Hospital emergency vehicles drove by as a processional to pay homage to the late Michael Powers Tuesday evening. “It is my sad duty with a heavy heart I report the line-of-duty death of firefighter Michael Powers, of Libertytown Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company,” said Tom Owens, Fire Chief for Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue and Service.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WDVM-TV 25 Hagerstown

Bill in New York to Give Firefighters 5-Year Window For Cancer-Tied Pensions

Under legislation pending in Albany, city firefighters would be granted a five-year post-retirement period in which they could revise their retirement option if they developed cancer that may be linked to carcinogens they were exposed to on the job. Epidemiological studies have established the firefighting-cancer link for several years.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Chief-Leader - Metered Site

Texas firefighters suffering from mold exposure

Several firefighters at the Round Rock Central Fire Station are demanding answers from the city after they made a shocking discovery this year. The president of the Round Rock Association of Professional Firefighters says the majority of the firefighters at Station 1 have been having health issues related to mold exposure.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTBC-TV Fox 7 Austin

California firefighter writing poetry about his experiences to cope with trauma and share what first responders deal with

VIDEO: When you picture a poet, a firefighter might not be the first person you think of. Even if you did, Gary Wedemeyer probably wouldn't be the first firefighter coming to mind. "If you put me in a lineup with a bunch of firefighters and said pick the one who's writing poetry, I'd probably be the last one they'd pick," Wedemeyer said with a smile.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KFSN-TV ABC 30 Frenso/Visalia

Idaho firefighter makes history as first female captain

The Boise Fire Department is celebrating a new milestone as it welcomes the first female fire captain. Ashley Rosenbaum is a 12-year-member of the Boise Fire Department. Rosenbaum will be field promoted at Station 17 on June 26 at 11:30 a.m. She began her career with Boise fire in 2007, was promoted to Firefighter 1 in 2008, Firefighter 2 in 2009 and Firefighter 3 in 2011.
- PUB DATE: 6/26/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KIVI-TV ABC 6 Boise

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