Poor communication by Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers with Gatlinburg authorities undermined the initial response to last year's deadly wildfire and cost lives, a report released Tuesday found.
"Insufficient warning by (the park) contributed to a dramatically reduced time frame to conduct needed evacuations," the outside review concluded. - PUB DATE: 12/20/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Knoxville News Sentinel
As Hermosa Beach moves toward contracting with the Los Angeles County Fire Department for firefighting services, 13 firefighters have sued the city over how their regular and overtime compensation has been calculated, it was announced today.
The suit filed in federal district court alleges the city has violated the Fair Labor Standards Act and seeks not only the compensation the firefighters say they deserve but double damages spanning three years as a penalty, plus interest and attorneys fees, according to Katie Casey, Hermosa Beach's public information officer. - PUB DATE: 12/20/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KNBC-TV NBC 4 Los Angeles
Officials say a firefighter suffered a heart attack while responding to a call at a Chase Bank Monday morning in Nyack and later died.
Nyack fire crews responded to the bank on North Broadway around 8:30 a.m. after reports of a chemical spill. Officials say a battery in the bank's alarm system overheated, creating an odor. - PUB DATE: 12/19/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: News 12 Westchester
The city and state used private investigators to check on firefighters out on extended sick leave after the city’s Fire Department failed to conduct those compliance checks, state officials said.
The decision to use investigators, allowed under the state takeover of the city, came after city and state officials were made aware of possible abuse of sick leave, said Lisa Ryan, spokeswoman for the Community Affairs Department. - PUB DATE: 12/19/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Press of Atlantic City
A Cranston firefighter who accused a deputy chief of assaulting him has filed a federal lawsuit against the chief, the city of Cranston, and the fire union.
As first reported by Target 12, Lieutenant Scott Bergantino filed the suit Friday, alleging assault, poor training, breach of duty, and negligence. - PUB DATE: 12/19/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WPRI-TV Providence 12
Milwaukee Fire Engine 6 rolled out of its east side station on Brady St. for the last time Monday morning.
Current and retired firefighters and neighbors came out shortly before 8 a.m. to bid farewell to the beloved firehouse and honor those who occupied it, keeping the neighborhood safe for generations. - PUB DATE: 12/19/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Matthew Rose and his father, Richard Rose, have spent a total of 113 years firefighting.
Matthew, a former Stonelick Township fire chief, has spent 43 years saving lives at three different fire departments in Greater Cincinnati. Richard has 70 years under his belt; he’s worked everywhere from Loveland to Goshen to Fayetteville. - PUB DATE: 12/19/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCPO-TV ABC 9 Cincinnati
An Amtrak train making the first-ever run along a new route hurtled off an overpass Monday near Tacoma and spilled some of its cars onto the highway below, killing at least three people, authorities said.
Seventy-seven passengers, six crew members and one technician were aboard when the train derailed about 40 miles south of Seattle before 8 a. - PUB DATE: 12/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000
PHOTOS - An Amtrak train making the first-ever run along a new route hurtled off an overpass Monday near Tacoma and spilled some of its cars onto the highway below, killing at least six people authorities said.
Seventy-eight passengers and five crew members were aboard when the train derailed about 40 miles south of Seattle before 8 a. - PUB DATE: 12/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000
There’s an understanding among firefighters that dirty gear is a measure of toughness. The char from past fires is a way to garner respect and serves as a badge of honor.
But that badge, that dirty turnout gear, is now an ominous reminder of the perils of the job. And in an abrupt change of culture, the blackened gear is now considered an enemy. - PUB DATE: 12/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The cause of death has been released for a San Diego firefighter who was killed while battling the massive Thomas Fire raging in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
Cal Fire San Diego Unit Fire Apparatus Engineer Cory Iverson died from thermal injuries and smoke inhalation, an autopsy performed Friday found, according to the Ventura County Medical Examiner Office. - PUB DATE: 12/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KABC-TV Los Angeles
The Oklahoma City Fire Department has returned all of its rigs to full-time service after 13 months of cutbacks imposed to stave off a budget shortfall.
The department saved $2.6 million between October 2016 and this November by reducing overtime from "callbacks," when staffing falls below minimums. - PUB DATE: 12/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Oklahoman
The whole system of building regulation in the UK is “not fit for purpose”, a damning independent report in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire has found.
Confusing rules and a lack of enforcement means construction companies are able to abuse the system, according to interim findings of the review chaired by Dame Judith Hackitt. - PUB DATE: 12/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Independent
Kern County has released an independent report that details more than $12.75 million in savings that could be achieved by changing the way the Kern County Fire Department pays firefighters, buys vehicles, and provides service to small cities and county airports.
But the Kern County Fire Fighters union on Friday called the report a cut-and-paste hit piece designed to rally public opinion against firefighters right before the county launches a contract assault on their pay and benefits. - PUB DATE: 12/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Bakersfield.com
A 32-year-old firefighter from the San Diego area who was battling the Thomas fire died Thursday, a loss that a local Cal Fire official said “has shaken our organization to the core.”
Cal Fire authorities confirmed at news conferences in Ventura, where the fire is burning, and San Diego County that the fallen firefighter was Cory Iverson, who was assigned to the massive blaze with a fire engine strike team from Cal Fire’s San Diego unit. - PUB DATE: 12/15/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: San Diego Union-Tribune
A 17-year veteran of the Tallahassee Fire Department died overnight Thursday while on duty.
The death of Engineer Jeffery Atkinson was not related to any of the fires fought by the department Thursday, a TFD spokeswoman said. Firefighters had responded to blazes at the International Book Mine on Gaines Street and at a home on Fermanagh Circle in Killearn Estates. - PUB DATE: 12/15/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Tallahassee Democrat
A state Supreme Court judge has ruled against issuing a preliminary injunction that would block the city from a new policy that prohibits firefighters from being called in to work when their colleagues call in sick.
In a decision issued Wednesday, Judge James P. McClusky ruled the city can keep intact, at least for now, a new policy that does not allow firefighters to be brought into work when others call in sick. - PUB DATE: 12/15/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Watertown Daily Times
Brandon Clevenger pleaded guilty this morning to reckless driving causing death in the highway crash that killed Comstock Fire Chief Ed Switalski six months ago.
Replying in one-word answers, Clevenger, 24, of Battle Creek, admitted in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court that he was responsible for the crash that killed Switalski. - PUB DATE: 12/15/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WWMT-TV Kalamazoo 3
The city’s fire marshal testified Thursday that a 2014 report on dangers inside the Ghost Ship warehouse that a fire captain claims to have written has never been found and lawyers said they doubt it exists.
Fire Capt. George Freelen’s surprising testimony Tuesday, during the preliminary hearing of defendants Derick Almena and Max Harris, who have each been charged with 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter stemming from the deadly Dec. - PUB DATE: 12/15/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: East Bay Times
VIDEO - One person has died and two firefighters injured after a fiery crash Thursday morning in Hunt County, authorities say.
Authorities said the crash occurred on Texas 34 at Farm-to-Market Road 2101 shortly before 6 a.m.
According to Lonny Haschel, Texas Department of Safety spokesman, a Cash Volunteer Fire Department truck crashed and flipped onto its side after swerving to avoid a vehicle that pulled out in front of it. - PUB DATE: 12/14/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KXAS-TV NBC 5 Dallas - Fort Worth
