If you have an emergency call 911!

National Fire News

Video shows Indianapolis firefighter rescuing kitten from house fire

VIDEO - Stunning video captured the moment an Indianapolis firefighter rescued a kitten from a house fire. IFD tweeted that its crews were called to the blaze in the 3300 block of Houston St. at about 4 p.m. Tuesday. Fire officials say the home was unoccupied except for the cat and no injuries were reported.
- PUB DATE: 8/23/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WXIN-TV Fox 59 Indianapolis

Police: Man steals Illinois fire truck and drives it into Mississippi River bank

VIDEO- Around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 22nd, emergency crews responded to reports of a fire truck that had crashed into the river bank. Upon arrival, it was discovered that a man stole an East Moline fire truck, crashed it into the bank of the Mississippi River, and then jumped into the river "and tried to elude officers," said East Moline Police Captain Tom Reagan.
- PUB DATE: 8/23/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WQAD-TV 8 (Davenport/Rock Island/Moline)

Three Idaho firefighters injured when fire truck destroyed by flames during 'freak accident' at wildfire scene

PHOTO - Three Downey firefighters suffered injuries when their fire truck caught fire at the scene of a wildfire south of this Bannock County town. The fire was reported along South Marsh Valley Road around 11 a.m. Monday and initially threatened multiple houses that were about 100 yards from the flames.
- PUB DATE: 8/22/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Idaho State Journal

Houston firefighters won't get November vote on pay as deadline passes

Houston voters will face $1.5 billion in city bonds and nine community college or school board races this November, but will not be asked whether to give firefighters a raise. Monday was the last day on which a candidate can file for the November ballot, and on which local governments can call an election.
- PUB DATE: 8/22/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Houston Chronicle

FirstNet Efforts Slowly Picking Up Steam

A dedicated wireless communications network for first responders answering the call on a large-scale incident is something most citizens might assume is already in place across the country. The unfortunate truth is that they would be wrong, but efforts are ongoing to present all 50 states with plans and options surrounding The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), which was designed to help public safety agencies coordinate their efforts amid emergencies and major events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods or terror attacks, to name just a few scenarios.
- PUB DATE: 8/22/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse.com

Upper-management union wanted California chief out, but others backed him

An upper-management union for the Orange County Fire Authority planned to tell the agency’s board of directors that “current tensions” in the department were created by Chief Jeff Bowman, who resigned last week, according to a letter written by the union and sent to the board on Sunday, Aug. 20. The letter also said the union – the Chief Officers Association, which represents battalion and division chiefs – met with Bowman a day before he stepped down and recommended he resign before it submitted a position paper, out of respect for him and “to save the organization further embarrassment.
- PUB DATE: 8/22/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Orange County Register

Guilty plea by driver of Michigan firetruck that crashed killing 2 firefighters

A plea deal means a term of slightly less than six years for the driver of a Michigan firetruck that crashed last summer on Interstate 35W in Blaine, killing two fellow firefighters. Michael A. Johnson, 29, of the Upper Peninsula city of Baraga, pleaded guilty in Hennepin County District Court to two counts of criminal vehicular homicide and one count of criminal vehicular operation in connection with the crash on Aug.
- PUB DATE: 8/22/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Minneapolis Star Tribune

New Hampshire fire chief: Previous staffing plan may not be enough

The Salem Fire Department followed suit with its fellow first responders Monday, requesting the Board of Selectmen consider increasing the previously set staffing plans and potentially renegotiate the Tuscan Village development agreement. Both the police and fire departments have experienced decades of stagnant staffing, which department leaders say have caused longer emergency response times in Salem and more cases in which the fire department has to ask for assistance from neighboring towns.
- PUB DATE: 8/22/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Eagle-Tribune

California rookie firefighter pulls captain to safety after roof collapse

A Menlo Park Fire Captain sustained moderate burns in a house fire after the roof he was standing on gave out as the attic burned beneath him, late Friday. The Fire Captain, a seasoned veteran with the Fire District, had just guided a Probationary Firefighter as he cut a square ventilation hole in the roof of the residence, located on Nassau Drive near the Menlo Park-Atherton border.
- PUB DATE: 8/21/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTVU-TV Oakland, San Francisco, Bay Area

Family legacy at Massachusetts fire department ends after 63 years

The number of years was 63 that father and son, Louis “Butch” Chagnon and Michael Chagnon served on the Somerset Fire Department. It included a decade they served together answering the call on fires and medical emergencies, it was announced during a brief recognition by the Board of Selectmen for the retiring son.
- PUB DATE: 8/21/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Herald News

Proposal would reverse course for Michigan town's public safety model

It's been nearly five years since Bay City's fire and police departments merged into a public safety agency. Now, a City Commissioner is proposing to increase the number of full-time firefighters, a move that would drastically change the course of the combined department. Commissioner Ed Clements, 8th Ward, has authored a resolution calling for the Bay City Department of Public Safety to staff no fewer than 22 full-time firefighters, instead of having a staff made up entirely of public safety officers who can fight fires and perform law enforcement tasks.
- PUB DATE: 8/21/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: MLive.com

Pennsylvania assistant fire chief cited by police for allegedly pulling over vehicle

Police have cited York Township's assistant fire chief, alleging he improperly used the emergency lights on his duty vehicle to pull over a driver. If found guilty, Assistant Fire Chief Scotty Bowman, 32, who lives in the township, could face a substantial fine, plus about $150 in court costs and fees.
- PUB DATE: 8/21/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: York Dispatch

Former Atlantic City firefighter joins guilty pleas in federal health fraud case

A former Atlantic City firefighter pleaded guilty Friday to health care fraud in connection with a large-scale prescription-drug fraud ring. It was the fifth guilty plea in the past two days and the first to involve a public employee. Federal authorities have been investigating health-benefits fraud in three Absecon Island municipalities, including Atlantic City, over the past few months.
- PUB DATE: 8/21/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Press of Atlantic City

Researchers: OxiClean effectively cleans fentanyl spills

Researchers found that a household product can effectively clean fentanyl spills. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Bowling Green State University President Mary Ellen Mazey announced that OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover has been proven effective in cleaning up fentanyl spills. Sodium percarbonate is an ingredient in the product, which has been shown to break down fentanyl.
- PUB DATE: 8/21/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

Two Off-Duty California Firefighters Shot, One Fatally, in San Jose's Japantown

Two off-duty Oakland firefighters were shot, one fatally, in San Jose's Japantown on Thursday night, and one person has been detained in connection with the crime, police say. The shooting was reported at 9:37 p.m. near 8th and Taylor streets, across the street from Gordon Biersch Brewery, according to police.
- PUB DATE: 8/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NBC Bay Area

Wisconsin officials: Fire sprinkler rule unenforceable

A rule requiring fire sprinkler systems be put in new apartment buildings has been deemed unenforceable by the state. This comes just six months after the Department of Safety and Professional Services decided to keep the rule. It said new apartment buildings with three to 20 units have to have fire sprinkler systems installed.
- PUB DATE: 8/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Channel3000.com

Connecticut Fire Chief Put On Leave After Critical Report

The city put embattled Fire Chief Thomas Ronalter on leave Thursday and appointed an acting leader for the department, but Ronalter publicly declared he won't quit over accusations of mismanagement and racial insensitivity. "I detest racism and all of the harm it causes. While I have made mistakes, I have never treated people — firefighters or otherwise — differently based on the color of their skin," Ronalter said in a statement emailed to reporters Thursday afternoon.
- PUB DATE: 8/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Hartford Courant

Proposed Indiana bill aims to track higher cancer rates among firefighters

U.S. Rep. Trey Hollingsworth met with local fire service members Wednesday to discuss a bill aimed at tackling increased cancer rates among firefighters. The Firefighter Cancer Registry Act, co-sponsored by Indiana's 9th Congressional District representative, would provide the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the funding and capability to collect and analyze data related to cancer incidents within the profession.
- PUB DATE: 8/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: News and Tribune

Washington fire department's new program helped save mother, daughter hit by car

The Spokane Fire Department said Thursday that two people are alive thanks to a program called Automatic Aid. On Wednesday afternoon, a mother and daughter were hit by a car in the North Spokane Costco parking lot. Officials said at one point, the mother was pinned under the car and crews had to lift the car to pull her out safely.
- PUB DATE: 8/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KREM-TV CBS 2

FDNY engineer dies at 43 amid battle against 9/11-linked brain tumor, one year after his firefighter dad’s death

Firefighter Robert Alexander always followed in his father’s footsteps — even in death. The 43-year-old — who worked on FDNY fire boats — died Monday of a brain tumor stemming from his time at Ground Zero. For Alexander, succumbing to a 9/11 illness is a heartbreaking family affair — a year earlier, his father Lt.
- PUB DATE: 8/17/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Daily News

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!