The Chicago Fire Department said Tuesday it was “not acceptable” for paramedics to leave a teen unattended after he was shot in the head and severely wounded as they treated others hit by gunfire at a party on the Near West Side this week. “It is not the policy of the Fire Department to leave people on the street, even if they are mortally wounded,” said department spokesman Larry Langford.
- PUB DATE: 6/20/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Chicago Tribune

Brownsville’s former fire chief, Carlos Elizondo, has appealed a ruling denying his claim that the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office has charged him twice for the same alleged crime to a higher court in Corpus Christi. Authorities arrested Elizondo last October and accuse the former city official of stealing $8,000 from the Brownsville Firefighters Association Political Action Committee through unauthorized ATM withdrawals, according to a police report filed by the association’s president.
- PUB DATE: 6/20/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Brownsville Herald

Firefighters in Amelia County are mourning the loss of one of their own after he died during a recent training exercise. Amelia County Volunteer Fire Department Company 1 Chief Justin Wargofcak said William Moore IV, 48, of Amelia County, suffered a medical emergency and went into cardiac arrest Thursday, June 14.
- PUB DATE: 6/19/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WWBT-TV NBC 12 Richmond

The crowds hadn't yet arrived at Charleston 9 Memorial Park on Monday when Jacqueline Drayton introduced her son to the site where his grandfather died fighting a massive blaze 11 years ago. They stopped at the memorial for Drayton's father, Charleston Firefighter James "Earl" Drayton. And one by one, they visited the plaques honoring the other eight Charleston firefighters who perished on June 18, 2007.
- PUB DATE: 6/19/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Charleston Post and Courier

San Diego is paying seven helicopter rescue medics a total of $442,000 because they didn’t receive overtime pay despite regularly working 56-hour weeks. Federal law requires overtime pay of one and a half times the regular wage for all hours worked over 40 in one workweek, but there is an exemption for government workers engaged in fire suppression.
- PUB DATE: 6/19/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: San Diego Union-Tribune

Two romantically involved Akron firefighters are on paid leave for possibly getting too hot in a firehouse. City administrators have suspended Lt. Art Dean and Provisional Lt. Deann Eller after receiving a tip that the pair of officers allegedly produced pornographic videos on city property, then posted their flames of passion on the internet.
- PUB DATE: 6/19/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Akron Beacon Journal

The recently released NFPA report of 2017 firefighter fatalities is both encouraging and troubling. Clearly, the efforts of many of our industry partners have had an effect on reducing our mortality numbers – the 60 on-duty deaths reported reflect the lowest number reported in over 40 years. However, some of the unexpected shifts identify room for improvement.
- PUB DATE: 6/19/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

Documents from a five-month investigation of Steve Krentel, the former chief of St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 12, have been turned over to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, which issued a warrant for the more than 4,000 pages last month. Krentel's wife, Nanette Krentel, was found dead of a gunshot wound in the couple's burned-down home nearly a year ago.
- PUB DATE: 6/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New Orleans Advocate

Several firefighters were injured battling a five-alarm blaze Saturday on Staten Island. The flames broke out shortly after 7 p.m. at a fire marshal’s house on Steinway Avenue in the New Springville section. “One of the houses is one of our fire marshals’. Fortunately, his family and his baby were down at the Jersey Shore for the weekend, but he was at work to come home and find that his house was destroyed,” Chief of Department James Leonard said.
- PUB DATE: 6/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CBS New York

Documents from a five-month investigation of Steve Krentel, the former chief of St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 12, have been turned over to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, which issued a warrant for the more than 4,000 pages last month. Krentel's wife, Nanette Krentel, was found dead of a gunshot wound in the couple's burned-down home nearly a year ago.
- PUB DATE: 6/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New Orleans Advocate

A Knoxville Fire Department firefighter was hospitalized after suffering smoke inhalation while battling a warehouse fire in West Knox County Saturday evening. According to KFD spokesperson Captain D.J. Corcoran, units were dispatched to 1737 Louisville Dr. at 8:27 p.m. Saturday amid reports of smoke showing from the Aquarium Life Support Systems building from a Knoxville Police Department officer.
- PUB DATE: 6/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Knoxville News Sentinel

Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Jeremy Finney was, by all accounts, a model firefighter — until he lost his cool. The outburst cost him two ranks. Finney has served nearly 16 years in the department and was a member of the Tactical Medical Response Team, which accompanies SWAT teams on dangerous missions. He helped kids learn about firefighting through the department’s Explorer program.
- PUB DATE: 6/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Tampa Bay Times and Tampa Bay.com

Massachusetts firefighter Matt Parziale had a Father’s Day to remember as he completed his final round of the U.S. Open. Parziale shot 5-over par Sunday in the final round, finishing with a score of 16-over par for the tournament. The score tied for the top amateur score at Shinnecock Hill in New York.
- PUB DATE: 6/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCVB-TV ABC 5 Boston

It started with a hissing and then a pop. Four natural gas workers and a Tulsa firefighter were trying to turn off a ruptured gas line when it ignited. The fire burned the four Oklahoma Natural Gas employees and the firefighter. Tulsa Fire Capt. Stan May said the firefighter’s injuries were among the worst.
- PUB DATE: 6/15/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Tulsa World

Attack an EMT, and you could face serious prison time. That message will be affixed to every FDNY ambulance as part of a campaign by the department to warn would-be attackers that assaulting an EMT or paramedic is a felony. “FDNY EMTs and paramedics are protected by New York state law. Assault is a felony punishable by 7 years in prison,” reads a new decal, soon to be placed on every city ambulance.
- PUB DATE: 6/15/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Daily News

VIDEO/PHOTO - Two people fell to the ground from 34 feet in the air, when a roller coaster derailed on the Daytona Beach Boardwalk, fire officials said Thursday night. The accident happened on the Sand Blaster roller coaster. In total, 10 riders were extricated from the ride and six of those people were taken to a hospital.
- PUB DATE: 6/15/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WKMG-TV CBS 6 Click Orlando

Thousands of firefighters in our area put their lives on the line to protect us every day, but now those firefighters say their own well-being is on the line. Firefighters said a bill that could give them life-saving benefits is being blocked by a local senator in Raleigh. You might think firefighters get the same benefits as other people who work dangerous jobs, like police officers, when in fact they don't.
- PUB DATE: 6/15/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WSOC-TV ABC 9 Charlotte

The International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Safety, Health & Survival Section has announced the winners of its 2018 awards. The section awards recognize both organizations and individuals who have made a significant contribution to health and safety within their own organizations and the fire service.
- PUB DATE: 6/15/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: IAFC Safety, Health & Survival Section

Plainfield Fire Chief Frank Tidwell is suing the city, alleging city officials engaged in a conspiracy to force him into retirement. The lawsuit, which was filed in Union County Superior Court, names the City of Plainfield, Mayor Adrian Mapp, Public Safety Director Carl Riley, former Business Administrator Rick Smiley and Deputy Fire Chief Jeffrey Courtney, among other entities.
- PUB DATE: 6/15/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: MyCentralJersey.com

Toledo Fire and Rescue Department Chief Luis Santiago announced his retirement Wednesday, a proclamation met with declarations of admiration from city leaders, including the head of the union that only three years ago slammed the chief with an overwhelming no-confidence vote. Chief Santiago said he expects to remain in the position until his retirement, effective Aug.
- PUB DATE: 6/14/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Toledo Blade