Because of yet another mix-up with bioterror pathogens, a federal terrorism response training center in Alabama says it mistakenly exposed more than 9,600 firefighters, paramedics and other students to a deadly toxin over the past five years.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Center for Domestic Preparedness blames an outside laboratory for a series of shipping errors since 2011 that resulted in the first-responder training center using in its classes a potentially lethal form of ricin powder. - PUB DATE: 12/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: USA Today
As Oakland firefighters pulled up to the burning Ghost Ship warehouse the night of Dec. 2, they weren’t exactly sure what they were dealing with — whether anyone was trapped or what they would encounter inside — but they didn’t assume it was a vacant building.
Public safety officials in Oakland have long been aware that people live and party in warehouses — some firefighters say they can tell whether one is inhabited just by looking at its exterior. - PUB DATE: 12/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle
Acting United States Attorney Beth Drake today announced that a Charleston Grand Jury has returned a two-count indictment charging St. Paul’s Fire District Chief Doc McNeil Matthews, 47, of Hollywood; Assistant Chief Charles Riddle, 44, of Goose Creek; and Mary Jo Thomas-Delaney, 67, of Summerville, with fraud and embezzlement from a federally funded organization. - PUB DATE: 12/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCBD-TV Charleston 2
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released the latest edition of its “U.S. Firefighter Injuries” report, which highlights data on injuries sustained by firefighters on duty in 2015. The statistics were collected from fire departments responding to NFPA’s annual U.S. Fire Experience survey. - PUB DATE: 12/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: National Fire Protection Association
During Melanie Nipper's campaign for her seat on the Walton County Commission, she called on a lot of agencies. One of those was the North Walton Fire District. She was appalled by the conditions she found at the fire stations and resolved that if elected she would try to help.
Nipper made good on that resolve at Tuesday night's County Commission meeting when she proposed a feasibility study to investigate the transfer of North Walton Fire and EMS to the sheriff. - PUB DATE: 12/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Ft. Walton Beach: Northwest Florida News
Most Dallas police officers and firefighters are officially getting a 10 percent raise.
Without much fanfare or discussion, the Dallas City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a three-year police and fire salary agreement.
After months of back-and-forth, city leaders and the police and fire associations negotiated a three-year contract in November. - PUB DATE: 12/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Dallas Morning News
The family of a Hartford firefighter killed in the line of duty has settled its wrongful death lawsuit against the city for $350,000. Kevin Bell, 48, died fighting a house fire in October 2014. The family filed suit in November 2015, saying that it wanted answers about why Bell, a six-year veteran of the department, was left behind for more than eight minutes even though a mayday call had been made by his lieutenant after losing contact with Bell in the house. - PUB DATE: 12/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Hartford Courant
Vallejo firefighters staying overnight at Station 24 were in for a rude awakening last week after an unknown gunman fired a bullet into their building.
The damage was discovered Tuesday morning, Dec. 6, at 1005 Oakwood Ave., leading investigators to believe the shot occurred either while firefighters slept in the back dorm area or while they were out on emergency calls. - PUB DATE: 12/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Vallejo Times-Herald
In any fire department, there are so many things that make up the dynamic of an engine crew, certain shift or even the department as a whole.
Firefighters tend to say brotherhood and family defines their core being. So when this small paid department of 33 looked back on the year and saw that six of their brothers had newborn babies, it was time to show the public what was at the core of their department. - PUB DATE: 12/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1
The husband of a woman struck and killed by a fire truck is suing the fire department and one of its firefighters.
A lawsuit seeking at least $50,000 has been filed on behalf of Paul L. Riehm, administrator of the estate of Lorri J. Riehm, in Seneca County Common Pleas Court against Green Springs Rural Volunteer Fire Department and Seth T. - PUB DATE: 12/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Advertiser-Tribune
A 41-year-old man, a fire captain from Orange, jumped off the Crown Valley Parkway I-5 overpass on Tuesday morning and was killed by a big-rig, officials said.
The CHP got a call of a man scaling a the chain-link fence on the overpass about 11 a.m. Minutes later, he jumped and was hit. The Orange County Fire Authority identified the man as Capt. - PUB DATE: 12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Orange County Register
Ten active and retired EMS workers and three NYPD traffic enforcement agents surrendered to authorities early Tuesday, the first in a wave of disability fraud busts orchestrated by city and state law enforcement, the Daily News has learned.
Seven of the accused — six men and one woman — surrendered at the 112th Precinct stationhouse, where they were patted down in the doorway, then handcuffed and lead inside. - PUB DATE: 12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Daily News
A man was killed in a crash involving a fire truck that happened on Route 9 south in Essex on Tuesday evening.
State police identified the victim as 80-year-old William Spitzschuh of Deep River.
The crash was reported at about 7 p.m. and shut down the highway for several hours. It involved an Essex fire truck. - PUB DATE: 12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: wfsb.com
The warehouse where 36 people died earlier this month is just 500 feet from Oakland Fire Station No. 13.
Yet despite much community grumbling in recent years about the grim conditions of the building, Oakland fire officials said Tuesday that they had received no complaints in their records about the warehouse and that fire officials had never been dispatched there in the last 12 years. - PUB DATE: 12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Los Angeles Times
Managing conflict between career and volunteer members in a combination department can be challenging at times. Left unchecked, the conflict can destroy a department and create an environment of hate and discontent.
I’ve spent my career working in combination departments and many hours listening to and addressing issues that emerge between volunteer and career staff. - PUB DATE: 12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireChief.com
Investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have their completed work at the scene of a fatal warehouse fire that broke out during a dance party, killing 36 people.
In a news conference Tuesday representatives from ATF stated there has been no final determination in the cause of the Oakland warehouse fire. - PUB DATE: 12/13/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTVU.com
Police have arrested the home owner in the arson fire that killed Hamilton firefighter Patrick Wolterman a year ago this month.
Lester Parker, 66, is facing felony murder and aggravated arson charges, according to Hamilton police, who announced an indictment Monday afternoon. Wolterman fell through the first floor of Parker's home while fighting a blaze on Dec. - PUB DATE: 12/13/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCPO-TV ABC 9 Cincinnati
He was the one they thought would be chief one day. Hardworking and driven, with a knack for pushing others to excel, Orlando Fire Department District Chief Matthew Negedly had the qualities his brethren wanted in a leader.
"He was getting ready to become assistant chief," his wife, Jill Negedly, said. - PUB DATE: 12/13/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Orlando Sentinel
VIDEO - The town’s police chief and two fire chiefs are to appear on a national news show Tuesday morning to talk about a viral video featuring Manchester first responders.
Police Chief Marc Montminy said he, town fire Chief David Billings and Eighth Utilities District fire Chief Don Moore are scheduled to appear on “Fox & Friends” between 6:30 and 7 a. - PUB DATE: 12/13/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Hartford Courant
At first, Bill and Kristi Anderson felt numb after learning that their 19-year-old son was found frozen to death in southeast Minneapolis the morning after celebrating the end of his first semester of college.
But later, when they brought themselves to view photos of the scene and review reports from paramedics, their questions began to pile up. - PUB DATE: 12/13/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune
