American flags were removed from three fire trucks in New York on Tuesday sparking heated discussion on social media and disappointment from union members. Arlington Fire Chief Tory Gallante was directed by the Board of Fire Commissioners to remove the flags from the backs of the trucks during Monday's meeting.
- PUB DATE: 8/17/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Poughkeepsie Journal

Firefighters experience post-traumatic stress disorder at rates similar to what's seen among combat veterans, according to a new report released Tuesday by the International Association of Fire Fighters. While firefighters aren't exposed to the same type of trauma soldiers see in a theater of war, elements of their daily job can be traumatic with the sheer volume of calls, the nature of the job and the possibility of losing a colleague in the line of duty, said Alvin White, president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association who was in Las Vegas for the association's convention.
- PUB DATE: 8/17/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Houston Chronicle

A northwest Louisiana firefighter who traveled to Baton Rouge to help with flood rescue efforts is believed to have accidentally discharged his weapon, wounding another firefighter, according to officials. The incident happened Monday night in the 9000 block of Greenwell Springs Road. Investigators say the bullet first hit a boat and then hit the fireman.
- PUB DATE: 8/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KSLA-TV Shreveport News 12

A California man was arrested Monday on arson charges for allegedly sparking a wildfire that exploded over the weekend, destroying more than 175 homes, businesses and other structures in a small town, authorities said. Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin said Damin Anthony Pashilk, 40, of Clearlake was arrested Monday on 17 counts of arson and is in jail.
- PUB DATE: 8/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fox News

As a Philadelphia firefighter, Steven Mesete often is required to spring into action at a moment's notice, abruptly sending his heart into rat-a-tat mode. "You can be sitting still, and then running at 100 miles an hour," he said. One day last week, Mesete ramped up his cardiovascular system in a much more controlled fashion, walking on a treadmill with wires stuck to his chest and a cardiologist standing nearby.
- PUB DATE: 8/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Philly.com

Chief Michael Jensen is leaving Unified Fire Authority, an agency under investigation over bonuses it approved for him and three others. During a two-hour closed-door meeting, Jensen said, he and the agency's board had a "long, good discussion" and agreed on a "mutual separation" in the best interest of Unified Fire Authority (UFA).
- PUB DATE: 8/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Salt Lake Tribune

NASA’s new artificial intelligence — capable of running on a cellphone — could soon put Apple’s Siri and Microsoft’s Cortana to shame. The hope for the AI, named AUDREY, is to be deployed in the field to help save first responders’ lives by making split-second recommendations in dangerous situations, NASA officials said.
- PUB DATE: 8/16/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Los Angeles Daily News

Justin Beebe loved nature, especially the woods. He was also a hard worker who always put others before himself, his lifelong friend Colin James said. So it seemed only natural that Beebe combined these elements and joined the Lolo Hotshots crew to fight wildland fires. “This was the job of his dreams,” James said.
- PUB DATE: 8/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Las Vegas Review-Journal

More than 5,400 Ground Zero responders and others who lived, worked or went to school near the fallen Twin Towers have come down with 9/11-linked cancers, a grim tally that has tripled in the past 2¹/2 years. As of June 30, 5,441 people enrolled in the WTC Health Program have been diagnosed with 6,378 separate cancers, with some struck by more than one type, officials said.
- PUB DATE: 8/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: new york post

When the fast-moving Oak Knoll fire jumped from a field of dry grass and weeds across Interstate 5, it began devouring a row of Ashland homes, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the air. "Heavy, thick, dark, acrid smoke was rolling through the subdivision," Jackson County Fire District 5 Chief Darin Welburn said of the 2010 fire started by a mentally ill homeless man.
- PUB DATE: 8/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Mail Tribune

A wind-whipped wildfire roared through a Northern California town still recovering from a devastating blaze nearly a year ago, destroying more than 100 homes and forcing thousands of people to flee, authorities said Monday. The fire seemed calm Sunday before gusts kicked up the flames that tore through neighborhoods in Lower Lake, a town of 1,200 about 90 miles north of San Francisco, officials said.
- PUB DATE: 8/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KGO-TV ABC 7 San Francisco

A former Old Orchard Beach fire chief has been indicted on a felony arson charge and a related misdemeanor in connection with a seven-alarm fire in April that burned 42 acres of marshland in the town. Ricky Plummer, 59, of Biddeford resigned from his post about a week after he was arrested on the arson charge on May 7.
- PUB DATE: 8/15/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Portland Press Herald

The fire union has filed a complaint against the city, citing safety and labor concerns related to Office of Emergency Management Deputy Director Rick Fontana, who the bargaining unit alleges has been performing the duties of Fire Department employees. The complaint was filed this week with the state State Board of Labor Relations by union attorney Marshall T.
- PUB DATE: 8/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New Haven Register

July was a deadly one for the nation’s fire service as 16 firefighters died on duty. The majority of the deaths were due to medical issues including heart disease and hypertension. USFA records show July as deadliest month in recent years. In June 2013, records show there were 25 firefighter deaths that included 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots killed in a wildfire.
- PUB DATE: 8/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: firehouse

A planned two-day hearing to determine whether Liberty Township's fire chief should be disciplined for alleged management lapses has been extended into next month. Following 10 hours of testimony on Monday and Tuesday, a third day was needed on Wednesday to hear testimony of three firefighters, a medical adviser for the fire department and a human resources specialist, each testifying to problems with Tim Jensen.
- PUB DATE: 8/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Columbus Dispatch

In July, a group of fire officials from cities and towns across Massachusetts that have colleges in their communities met at NFPA to discuss the upcoming school year and a perennial challenge: how to start and end the college year without a significant fire tragedy on or around their campuses. The fears of local fire officials are not without merit.
- PUB DATE: 8/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: National Fire Protection Association

Criticism over extravagant "incentive" pay to four top leaders of the Unified Fire Authority has spurred not one audit, but two. Citing complaints alleging improper compensation and "other potential misuse of public funds," the Utah state auditor launched an investigation of Unified Fire Authority compensation, credit cards and fuel cards last week.
- PUB DATE: 8/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Salt Lake City Deseret Morning News

Durham's speed humps often delay firetrucks and ambulances in getting to their destinations and increase risk to those they're trying to serve, a fire official says. Deputy Chief Chris Iannuzzi of the Durham Fire Department wrote a paper on Durham's speed humps while attending the elite Executive Fire Officer Program in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
- PUB DATE: 8/12/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

A fire and explosion at a Silver Spring apartment complex has caused massive damage, killing two, injuring dozens and displaced almost a hundred residents, some of whom are still missing. The incident is now being treated as a death investigation. According to Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein, fire crews were called to the 8600 block of Piney Branch Avenue for reports of an explosion and fire shortly before midnight.
- PUB DATE: 8/11/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WUSA-TV 9 DC

An assistant fire chief that Mayor Tony George had demoted to captain last week is returning to his post after his replacement turned down the promotion. Michael Bilski, president of the International Firefighters Local 104, said Ed Snarski ascended back to his assistant chief position after Robert Suchoski, one of two firefighters promoted to assistant chief, decided to return to his position as captain and fire inspector.
- PUB DATE: 8/11/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice