A recent study revealed Frederick County firefighters are paid less and receive less benefits than those in nearby counties. The study, completed in November and released publicly last week, is an analysis of pay scales, benefit comparisons and how large each county’s fire services division is Multiple county officials this week said that although Frederick County pays its firefighters less, other jurisdictions — like Montgomery County and Baltimore County, both used in the more-than-100-page study — have both larger populations and tax bases to pull money from.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Frederick News-Post

On a mild spring day, Cory Pippen suits up in firefighter’s gear outside Therrell High School as he prepares to climb Atlanta fire Truck 25. No, he’s not putting out a fire or saving someone from a burning building, but with the help of the Atlanta Fire Department, he is one step closer to a dream he’s had since he was a child: being a firefighter.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Atlanta Journal Constitution

While a couple of cities over the past year have threatened to drop out of the Orange County Fire Authority, Garden Grove is veering the opposite direction – toward membership. If the final steps unfold as expected, OCFA may absorb the 93-year-old Garden Grove Fire Department as early as August. All full-time current employees would stay put.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Orange County Register - Metered Site

Attracting and retaining volunteers to fill the ranks of Maine’s many volunteer fire departments has gotten increasingly difficult, but lawmakers hope a bill to fund a pension program for volunteers could change that. The Legislature approved a bill in 2017 setting up the pension program but did not fund it.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Portland Press Herald

VIDEO: In a field traditionally seen as one for men, a crew of female firefighters is hosing down the stereotypes. The West Carter County Fire Department has the first all-female duty in the region. The four women that make up the shift are Ashley Perdue and her mother Carol Jones, Amber Hubbard and Krysten Kelch.
- PUB DATE: 3/22/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WJHL.com

PHOTOS: Kara Rathbone’s story may sound familiar to many firefighters who marched with her Tuesday along Bagby Street in downtown Houston. Rathbone’s husband, Austin, drives to work from their home in Bellville, about 70 miles away. A seven-year Houston firefighter, he has received scant raises since joining the department, and makes ends meet by installing irrigation systems on the side and working for a small fire department near Bellville, where about 4,300 people live.
- PUB DATE: 3/22/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Houston Chronicle

The city of Bloomington has been incorrectly billing businesses for fire protection for nearly 10 years, resulting perhaps in the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue. The current monthly rate, based on the diameter of the water line that serves a business's internal fire suppression system, is $27.
- PUB DATE: 3/22/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Pantagraph

The city’s fire department is testing out a new device that could help drivers using navigational apps steer clear of firetrucks responding to an emergency, helping improve safety for both drivers and firefighters. The device, a small black box about four inches tall and wide, sends out alerts to drivers about the locations of the trucks to drivers using a navigation app called Waze.
- PUB DATE: 3/22/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Patriot Ledger

The city of Lincoln is asking a judge to throw out the jury’s $1.2 million verdict in favor of a Lincoln firefighter, in part because of how jurors arrived at the amount. Last month, at the end of a two-week trial, a federal jury in Omaha awarded Troy Hurd, a Lincoln fire captain, $1,177,815.43 for retaliation after he reported discrimination against a female firefighter trainee born in Iraq.
- PUB DATE: 3/22/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Journal Star

A veteran Philadelphia firefighter has died after suffering a medical emergency while on duty with the engine company assigned to Philadelphia International Airport. Firefighter Michael Bernstein died at the hospital around 1:50 Wednesday morning after being found unresponsive while on duty at Engine 78, "C" Platoon at PHL, the fire department and fire union said.
- PUB DATE: 3/21/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NBC 10 Philadelphia

State Reps. Ryan Berman, Brandt Iden and Jeff Yaroch have introduced a plan to stiffen penalties for criminals who threaten or carry out targeted attacks on first responders and corrections officers in Michigan. Berman, who serves as a reserve police officer, said attacks on law enforcement officers and other first responders have increased over the past few years, creating a need for stronger protections.
- PUB DATE: 3/21/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fox 47 News

VIDEO: First responders are on the front line of New Hampshire's drug epidemic every day, and the trauma they experience dealing with the victims often follows them home. Manchester police, firefighters and EMTs described the consequences of compassion fatigue Tuesday to U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan. "Certainly in my 35 years on the job, I've never seen this much death," Manchester Fire Chief Dan Goonan said.
- PUB DATE: 3/21/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WMUR-TV ABC 9

A first responders' advocacy group is pushing for a new benefit for retired firefighters and rescue squad workers — one currently enjoyed by retired police officers — but municipal officials across the state, including in Elizabeth City, warn it will be hard to pay for. The Parity For First Responders legislation, House Bill 278, and its companion bill in the Senate, Senate Bill 179, would grant a separation allowance to firefighters and emergency medical services personnel who retire with 30 years of service.
- PUB DATE: 3/21/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: DailyAdvance.com

In a move described as “generational change,” Sonoma County supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved a $4.6 million plan to reorganize volunteer fire departments and boost staffing at four tax-supported fire districts. The approval followed positive comments from a dozen fire agency representatives in the audience, a sharp contrast from an earlier proposal that generated animosity within the fire services network.
- PUB DATE: 3/21/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Petaluma360 & Petaluma Argus Courier

VIDEO: Overcoming opioids is difficult for our neighbors struggling with drug addiction. First Responders are taking a new approach to help people who have recently overdosed, find a new life. “I started using heroin when I was 16. I'm 51 years old now. Last month was my first overdose and I think that was my wake up call,” said Abel Martinez.
- PUB DATE: 3/20/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KENS5.com San Antonio

Country music legend Dolly Parton on Saturday donated $200,000 to firefighters to wrap up a fundraising drive that she started shortly after the 2016 wildfires that destroyed large swaths of forest in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and surrounding area. On behalf of the Dollywood Foundation’s My People Fund, Parton presented the check to the fire chiefs of the eight volunteer fire departments located in Sevier County.
- PUB DATE: 3/20/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: AL.com

Less than three years after state officials concocted a plan to boost payments for ambulance services, emergency medical administrators say they're still struggling to keep their doors open. Leaders of ambulance organizations from across Vermont converged on the Statehouse Friday to talk about insurance reimbursement and workforce issues that continue to cause problems in the increasingly expensive business of emergency treatment and transport.
- PUB DATE: 3/20/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: VTDigger.org

The New Carlisle Town Council and Olive Township Board voted Tuesday to establish a joint fire territory in 2020. By increasing taxes, the move will enable several firefighters to be hired so that residents don’t depend solely on volunteers for service. The vote was 3-2 from the town council members, and the Olive Township representatives voted 2-1 on the measure.
- PUB DATE: 3/20/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: South Bend Tribune

A planned $9 million firehouse for the 60 or so firefighters at the 182nd Airlift Wing could be eliminated to help fund a proposed border wall. That’s according to a list released Monday by the Pentagon of military construction projects that could be delayed in order to pay for the wall along the country’s southern border.
- PUB DATE: 3/20/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Journal Star

VIDEO: The Hamilton Fire Department has announced major safety improvements following an internal investigation into the line of duty death of one of their own. Firefighter Patrick Wolterman died in December 2015 after responding to a fire believed to have trapped people inside a home. Wolterman was the first firefighter to enter the home.
- PUB DATE: 3/19/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WLWT-TV NBC 5 Cincinnati