A city resident, who was rejected as a firefighter because he has high blood pressure, has filed a $500,000 federal discrimination lawsuit against the city.
Antonio Dias, 30, claims that although the city’s own doctor said he can perform the duties of a firefighter as long as he takes medication for his high blood pressure the city’s personnel director refused to clear Dias. - PUB DATE: 2/14/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Connecticut Post
Boise Fire Chief Dennis Doan said he is outraged after the House State Affairs Committee voted, 6-9, on Monday not to move forward with legislation that would close a fireworks loophole in Idaho.
Meridian Fire Chief Mark Niemeyer also echoed Doan’s concerns in a statement released Monday afternoon, and Nampa Fire Chief Phil Roberts has also stated in the past he is among those in favor of banning the sale of aerial fireworks. - PUB DATE: 2/14/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Idaho Press-Tribune
McLennan County’s state representatives have expressed support for a bill that would allow first responders with a state License to Carry a Handgun to carry while responding to emergencies, but local officials have differing views.
Waco Fire Chief Bobby Tatum, said he’s adamantly opposed to firefighters caring guns on duty. - PUB DATE: 2/14/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Waco Tribune
Fire chiefs and firefighters on Monday urged Gov. Scott Walker to require new homes to have more devices to prevent fires, saying a new electrical code being considered by his administration doesn't go far enough.
"This is a reckless disregard for safety," said Wauwatosa Fire Chief Rob Ugaste, president of the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association. - PUB DATE: 2/14/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Stevens Point Journal
On Saturday, the Des Moines Professional Fire Fighters Association IAFF Local 4 President Joe VanHaalen announced that a 29-year-veteran of the Des Moines Fire Department died Saturday morning after having a medical emergency while on duty Friday.
Fire Engineer Douglas McCauley, 58, died because of an unknown medical problem. - PUB DATE: 2/13/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Des Moines Registeer
The Washington Supreme Court moved this week in favor of two Bellevue firefighters battling melanoma whose insurance benefits were rescinded by the city and state Department of Labor.
“I thought [the verdict] was great. The fact that skin cancer is a presumptive disease for firefighters, there’s kind of this promise made to us… When it was denied, it was a hard deal. - PUB DATE: 2/13/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Bellevue Reporter
The Milwaukee Division of the FBI has announced an investigation into Milwaukee Fire Department Station 29 on the city's south side. As a result of this, MFD officials are launching their own investigation -- looking into any possible employee Officials are remaining very tight-lipped as to the circumstances surrounding the investigation -- leaving many with more questions than answers. - PUB DATE: 2/13/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6
PHOTO - A firefighter with the Southeastern Randolph Fire Protection District was seriously injured in a crash while heading to a fire Saturday afternoon. According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, the crash happened on Business Highway 63 near Renick.
Troopers said the Kenneth McCune, 57, was driving eastbound when he went off the side of the road, hit a culvert and the firetruck overturned. - PUB DATE: 2/13/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KMIZ-TV ABC 17 Columbia/Jefferson City
Another FDNY rookie has come forward to complain he was hazed on his first day in a firehouse — and viciously bullied on many occasions afterward.
Former probationary firefighter Michael Troina, 24, was fired while his alleged tormenters at Tribeca’s Ladder 1/Engine 7 firehouse escaped punishment.
“At first I sloughed it off as ‘I’m the new guy. - PUB DATE: 2/13/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Post
At first, Jason Hamilton's death seemed like a tragic accident.
The 12-year veteran Houston firefighter was eastbound on I-10 near Brookshire just after the morning rush hour on Jan.27 when suddenly his truck swerved across the median into oncoming traffic, striking another vehicle. At first, authorities thought it might have been a tire problem that sparked the crash that also killed Shelley McKay, 61. - PUB DATE: 2/10/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Houston Chronicle
The union representing Atlantic City Fire Fighters says the state is resorting to "delay and intimidation" to avoid a date in state court that could block them from unilaterally imposing contract changes.
The International Association of Fire Fighters Local 198 has challenged the state of New Jersey's authority under the recently adopted Atlantic City rescue and takeover law that gives the state vast powers, including the right to ignore or rewrite collective bargaining agreements. - PUB DATE: 2/10/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Philly.com
Almost three years after a Columbia Fire Department lieutenant was killed while on duty, the University of Missouri Board of Curators and the man’s widow and daughter have agreed to settle a wrongful death lawsuit.
A hearing for approval of a settlement in the case is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday in front of circuit Judge Jodie Asel. - PUB DATE: 2/10/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Columbia Daily Tribune
U.S. Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) and U.S. Congressman Chris Collins (R-NY) announced the introduction of the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act with 76 bipartisan original sponsors. The bill would create a national cancer registry for firefighters diagnosed with this deadly disease. The creation of this registry would enable researchers to study the relationship between firefighters’ exposure to dangerous fumes and harmful toxins and the increased risk for several major cancers. - PUB DATE: 2/10/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse.com
VIDEO - The Kansas City Fire Department has a catchy new way to attract potential firefighters to the field. The KCFD recruits every two years – and it’s that time again. They’re targeting two groups of people, and they’re hoping their new video catches on fire.
Miss G doesn’t usually rap about heroes. - PUB DATE: 2/10/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KMBC-TV ABC 9 Kansas City
A 46-year-old Homer man died this morning, apparently from a medical problem that happened as he drove his pickup truck on Illinois 49, hitting three parked cars.
Champaign County sheriff’s Lt. Brian Mennenga said John Mike Cummins was taken to Carle Hospital following the accident, which happened about 12:45 a. - PUB DATE: 2/9/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Champaign News-Gazette
Brian Schmitt is still facing questions about his long-term future as the head of the Town of Wilson’s fire department. But elected officials are considering giving him some wiggle room around a firefighting certification requirement he currently doesn’t meet.
The town last year agreed to a set of bylaws for its new municipal fire department that would require its fire officers to have a certain certification. - PUB DATE: 2/9/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Sheboygan Press
In the two and half years before a deadly warehouse fire killed 36 people, Oakland police made regular visits to the Ghost Ship artists’ collective. They investigated an illegal rave, a pistol-whipping incident, thefts, reports of child abuse, a stabbing, threats with guns, drug sales, illegal housing, storing stolen property, allegations of rape, even reports of people barricaded inside. - PUB DATE: 2/9/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: East Bay Times
The United States District Court for the District of Columbia (Hon. Tanya S. Chutkan) has issued a ruling that will support federal, state and local governments’ efforts to support public health and safety through the use of voluntary consensus codes and standards. On February 2, the court granted a motion for summary judgment filed by a number of standard development organizations (SDOs), including the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), ASTM International and ASHRAE. - PUB DATE: 2/9/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: National Fire Protection Association
Building contractors who do unauthorized or shoddy work would face progressive discipline — ranging from a freeze on permits to license suspension or revocation — under a mayoral crackdown to prevent a repeat of the tragedy that killed a 42-year-old Chicago firefighter.
Daniel Capuano plunged to his death in December 2015 when he stepped into an open elevator shaft while searching through a burning, two-story warehouse at 9213 S. - PUB DATE: 2/9/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times
Embattled Fire Chief Teresa Deloach Reed, who has been heavily criticized since 36 people died in the Dec. 2 Ghost Ship warehouse blaze, is on leave from the department tending to a sick relative, according to a fire official.
Deputy Chief Mark Hoffmann said he was told Reed was out due to a sick family member, and that he and Deputy Chief Darin White have been rotating as interim fire chief. - PUB DATE: 2/8/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: East Bay Times
