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National Fire News

Nebraska Fire Marshal: Living room fireplace ignited fire that killed family of 6

An investigative team with the Nebraska State Fire Marshal's Office says a living room fireplace is what started a fire that killed all six members of the Speer family on October 20th. Mike and Michelle Speer, with their four children all died in the blaze. A family member said firefighters found each of their bodies in beds.
- PUB DATE: 10/25/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KETV-TV ABC 7 Omaha

Massachusetts Firefighters Spend Five Hours Removing Bodies from Fiery Wreck

A heartbroken dad whose son was killed in a fiery head-on collision on Interstate 495 in Middleboro said "I love them all" as he spoke of his boy and three college buddies who died in a midnight crash police said was caused by a wrong-way driver. State police said the Sable was struck head-on by a 31-year-old woman behind the wheel of a 2011 Infiniti G37 headed southbound on northbound I-495 just after midnight yesterday.
- PUB DATE: 10/25/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse

Body of missing Washington firefighter found

A body recovered Saturday in western Grant County was identified as the King County firefighter missing since last Saturday, authorities said. There were no signs of foul play, sheriff’s deputies said. Ken Ward, 43, was last seen October 15 in Roslyn, Wash. Dozens of people joined the statewide search.
- PUB DATE: 10/24/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KIRO-TV CBS 7

13 killed when California tour bus hits truck

A tour bus returning from a casino crashed into the rear of a semi-tractor trailer on Sunday near Palm Springs, California, killing 13 people and injuring 31 others, according to state police. The bus driver was among those killed and the truck driver was injured, California Highway Patrol division Chief Jim Abele said at a press conference.
- PUB DATE: 10/24/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CNN

10 years later: How the Esperanza fire became a raging inferno that killed 5 California firefighters

The call woke Jess McLean about 2:30 a.m. His boss wanted to know whether he could help with a fire, even though it was his day off. It’s a big one, Capt. Mark Loutzenhiser told McLean, Engine 57’s fire engine operator. McLean, always eager to help, turned to his wife, Karen. “Can I go?” he asked.
- PUB DATE: 10/24/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Redlands Daily Facts

Boston Fire Department targeting cancer risks for firefighters

A Boston firefighter is diagnosed with cancer every three weeks, the city’s fire commissioner, Joseph E. Finn, said in a keynote address at a conference in Nashville. Speaking at the annual Firehouse Expo on Thursday, Finn said the Fire Department is working hard to reduce cancer risks among firefighters, according to Firehouse.
- PUB DATE: 10/24/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Boston Globe

FDNY firefighters disciplined for hazing African-American member

Seven Midtown firefighters have been disciplined for violating the FDNY’s “zero tolerance” hazing policy, The Post has learned. Five firefighters and two officers at Engine 40-Ladder 35 near Lincoln Center — a firehouse that goes by the nickname “The Cavemen” — allegedly ridiculed an African-American member, sources said.
- PUB DATE: 10/24/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Post

Search continues for bogus Florida fire department chief

Will the real, um, no, the fake Chief Don Bock please stand up? Commissioners on the Key Largo Fire-Rescue and Emergency Medical Services District want to know who has been calling the U.S. Department of Labor pretending to be the chief and telling the feds that the handful of paid members on the volunteer fire department are breaking the law by covering some volunteer shifts.
- PUB DATE: 10/24/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Keys Reporter

Ousted Utah fire chief blasts 'toxic' city governance, elected officials

Thomas Graydon says he must have fought back for his firefighters one too many times. The South Weber fire chief was forced out Monday night by Mayor Tammy Long after a conflict between Graydon and City Manager Tom Smith over the handling of a firefighter disciplinary case. In an interview Wednesday evening, Graydon unleashed a series of complaints about Long, Smith and city council member Marlene Poore and described the South Weber City work environment as “toxic” under its current leadership.
- PUB DATE: 10/21/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Ogden Standard-Examiner

Minnesota firefighter responding to fatal car crash discovers that 16-year-old victim is his son

As a member of the volunteer fire department in the tiny northwestern Minnesota town of Ada, Randy Peterson has a routine when his pager goes off. He checks to see if his kids are at home. At 10 p.m. Sunday, when he was called to a two-vehicle crash with one car on fire in the neighboring town of Borup, Peterson had a sinking feeling.
- PUB DATE: 10/21/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Star Tribune

Pennsylvania fire chief leaving post he's held since 1953

Edward Hutchinson wants to make a fitting exit after more than six decades as fire chief. “I want to get on a horse and ride off like John Wayne into the sunset, and wave,” said Hutchinson, who will turn 95 in November. “I want a little humor.” The man popularly known as “Hutch” will not run for a 22nd term, leaving the fire department to find another leader for the first time since 1953.
- PUB DATE: 10/21/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Wyoming fire chief announces retirement following apology for landfill fire email

Casper Fire Chief Kenneth King announced his retirement Wednesday, hours after apologizing for sending an email asking an investigator to delete “bad parts” from video evidence of the Cole Creek Fire. King will step down Jan. 2, 2018, the city announced. City Manager V.H. McDonald received and accepted his retirement letter Wednesday.
- PUB DATE: 10/21/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Casper Star-Tribune

Application Period Open for the Fire Service Executive Development Institute

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) has received a significant grant award as part of the Motorola Solutions Foundation’s public safety grant award program. The grant will make it possible for the IAFC to provide a fifth year of the highly successful Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI).
- PUB DATE: 10/21/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: International Association of Fire Chiefs

Portland fire chief praises firefighter: He 'saved the lives of a lot of citizens'

A brand new lieutenant in the Portland Fire Bureau acted heroically and put his life at risk Wednesday morning to save lives when an explosion destroyed a building and injured several people, the bureau’s fire chief said. Chief Mike Myers said during an afternoon news conference that Lt. Peter St. John was injured in the explosion and had been taken to a hospital.
- PUB DATE: 10/20/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KATU-TV ABC 2 Portland

Oregon fire chief praises firefighter: He 'saved the lives of a lot of citizens'

A brand new lieutenant in the Portland Fire Bureau acted heroically and put his life at risk Wednesday morning to save lives when an explosion destroyed a building and injured several people, the bureau’s fire chief said. Chief Mike Myers said during an afternoon news conference that Lt. Peter St. John was injured in the explosion and had been taken to a hospital.
- PUB DATE: 10/20/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KATU-TV ABC 2 Portland

New York firefighter dies from 9/11-related cancer

Active duty Yonkers Fire Lt. John "J-Rod" Rodriguez died Tuesday night from a 9/11-related cancer. He was 53 years old. Rodriguez leaves behind a wife and two children. "John Rodriguez was first and foremost a family man, a loving and devoted husband and proud father," said Yonkers Fire Union President Barry McGoey, who joined the department with Rodriguez in October 2000.
- PUB DATE: 10/20/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NY Journal News (Lohud.com)

Chicago Fire Commissioner Defends Suspension of Lieutenant

Chicago Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago on Wednesday defended his 60-day suspension of a lieutenant who refused to send underlings into an area where they might be exposed to Ebola but said the city will accept an arbitrator’s ruling overturning the suspension. Santiago said the decision not to appeal the arbitrator’s ruling had nothing to do with the no-confidence vote taken Sept.
- PUB DATE: 10/20/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times

Two St. Louis firefighters rescued after falling through stairwell in burning home

Two firefighters were rescued after falling through a stairwell in a burning home Thursday morning at Eichelberger Street and Wherry Avenue. Authorities say they fell through a stairwell about 10 feet into the basement. They were being evaluated for injuries. No further details were immediately available about what injuries they suffered.
- PUB DATE: 10/20/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Phoenix firefighter responds to his own father in cardiac arrest

A Phoenix firefighter was called to the home where he grew up to help in the effort to save his father's life. Derek Dee was on Engine 20 when he realized he was headed to his parents' home on Sept. 10. Dee's father, 71-year-old Tommy Dee, was suffering from cardiac arrest. His mother called 911 and his parents' neighbor performed CPR.
- PUB DATE: 10/20/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CBS 5 AZ KPHO

Mom of missing Washington firefighter: 'He can come home and be safe'

Off-duty firefighters are searching on both sides of the Cascades looking for Ken Ward. He is a fellow firefighter who has been missing since Oct. 16. Ward has been a firefighter at Mountain View King County Fire District #44 for 10 years and always shows up for work. When he didn't show up Monday, fellow firefighters and his family knew something was wrong.
- PUB DATE: 10/20/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4

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