After he retired from the Portsmouth, New Hampshire, fire department in 2001 following more than 20 years of service, Ricky Plummer jumped from job to job so often, officials in one of the towns he served reportedly expressed concern.
In September 2014 — after stints in North Yarmouth, Biddeford, Gray and Standish in Maine; Marlborough, Massachusetts; and Cocoa, Florida — Plummer became the new fire chief of Old Orchard Beach. - PUB DATE: 5/11/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: bangor daily news
The Chicago Fire Department is making another round of changes that, a union leader warned Monday, could put the lives of paramedics and the general public in danger.
Two years ago, self-contained breathing apparatus were removed from all 75 Chicago ambulances. In addition, 70 paramedics graduating from the fire academy were not issued fire helmets, boots and protective clothing, known as “bunker gear,” that are standard issue for firefighters. - PUB DATE: 5/10/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: chicago sun-times
Santa Rosa is considering legal action to recoup some of the money it spent on the $4 million Fountaingrove fire station that failed to fully comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Newgate Court station is now fully operational and the problems fixed, thanks to a nearly $200,000 change order that brought the kitchen cabinets, bathroom stalls, exercise room doors and other features in line with ADA requirements. - PUB DATE: 5/10/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Fire, smoke and danger are part of the gig when you're a firefighter, but every once in a while something happens on the job that is far from routine. For a group of San Antonio firefighters that was certainly the case when a late night run turned into something they call "the catch." Engine 39’s Jeromy Wuneburger recalled his baby-catching abilities, by raising both hands to the sky. - PUB DATE: 5/10/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KSAT-TV ABC 12 San Antonio
The widow of a Claremore firefighter who drowned in an attempted rescue during a flash flood is suing the city after a notice of claim that was filed last year went unanswered.
Shelli Farley filed the initial notice Oct. 6 and accused the city of negligence in the death of 44-year-old Capt. Jason Farley, who was sucked into a drainage pipe while attempting to rescue a woman and six children stranded at a birthday party on May 23, 2015. - PUB DATE: 5/10/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: tulsa world
If the highest, hottest flames can’t melt the bond that connects firefighters, then cancer — which can be as insidious and incendiary as a fire itself — doesn’t stand a chance against the dedicated wave of red.
Two Racine County firefighters and their families are discovering how powerful that brotherhood can be as they battle recently discovered cancer. - PUB DATE: 5/10/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times
A volunteer firefighter in Johnston County died after responding to a vehicle crash in Kenly on Saturday, officials said.
John Morris Davis Jr., 45, a Kenly firefighter, was among fire crews who responded to a crash on Princeton-Kenly Road, the fire department said a statement to the media.
“He just wanted to help people, whether it was helping people at the fire station or helping the public,” said Tim Little, Kenly Asst. - PUB DATE: 5/9/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WNCN-TV NBC 17
The Old Orchard Beach fire chief – who has worked previously at numerous fire departments in Maine and elsewhere in New England and the U.S. – was charged with arson early Saturday for allegedly setting the April 15 fire that burned 42 acres of the Jones Creek Marsh and forced the evacuation of a nearby condominium complex. - PUB DATE: 5/9/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Central Maine
The FDNY’s latest graduating class of 310 probationary firefighters had the lowest drop-out rate in years, but some question whether the training was watered down.
The class started with 324 and lost only 14 due to resignations, failure or injuries — a 4 percent drop-out rate, sources said. The usual dropout is 10 percent or more. - PUB DATE: 5/9/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: new york post
A 12 News investigation has revealed that Phoenix Fire Marshal Jack Ballentine personally accepted a $100,000 check while on duty from a philanthropist whose business, the Madison Improvement Club, had failed its fire inspection 11 months earlier.
The money was a donation for the 100 Club of Arizona. - PUB DATE: 5/9/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: 12news
In November 2011, Gabriel Terry and others from a Tuolumne County firefighting crew were dispatched to fight a wildland blaze that began when a supposedly controlled burn got out of control.
Employees of the Don Pedro Recreation Agency, which is part of the Turlock Irrigation District, set out to burn some brush piles. - PUB DATE: 5/9/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: fireresuce1
PHOTOS - Acrid plumes of black smoke blanketed parts of west Houston for hours Thursday as a raging warehouse fire forced one school to evacuate and residents to shelter in place amid concerns of possible environmental contamination from chemicals stored on the property.
Runoff from the firefighters' efforts sent vivid red streams of chemical additives flowing into Spring Branch Creek, and authorities warned residents to avoid the water there and in nearby ditches and culverts until it could be tested. - PUB DATE: 5/6/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: houston chronicle
A Georgia volunteer fireman died Thursday after suffering a heart attack while on the scene of a brush fire late last week, according to a news release from the town.
Steven Lapierre, 58, a lifelong Georgia resident, served as a member of the Georgia Volunteer Fire Department for more than 40 years, the town said. - PUB DATE: 5/6/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: burlington free press
VIDEO - A San Diegan and former fire chief spoke to 10News about the freak accident that left him scarred for life.
10News caught up with Matt Shobert running up and down the steps at the San Diego Convention Center, training for a triathlon.
"Right now, exercise makes me feel the best," said Shobert. - PUB DATE: 5/6/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KGTV-TV ABC 10 San Diego
Six people have died in an overnight house fire today on Syracuse's North Side, according to the Syracuse Fire Department.
Neighbors this morning reported hearing an explosion and rushing out to find the home nearly engulfed in flames.
The fire at 212 Martin St. was reported at 3:51 a.m., Onondaga County 911 dispatch logs show. - PUB DATE: 5/6/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Syracuse Post-Standard & Syracuse.com
PHOTOS - Acrid plumes of black smoke blanketed parts of west Houston for hours Thursday as a raging warehouse fire forced one school to evacuate and residents to shelter in place amid concerns of possible environmental contamination from chemicals stored on the property.
Runoff from the firefighters' efforts sent vivid red streams of chemical additives flowing into Spring Branch Creek, and authorities warned residents to avoid the water there and in nearby ditches and culverts until it could be tested. - PUB DATE: 5/6/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: houston chronicle
Harassment and bullying have been in the news lately. And a recent firefighter suicide might have been linked to online bullying. When such behavior exists in any workplace, the outcome is always negative and sometimes tragic.
Many fire departments put considerable resources into preventing and mitigating workplace harassment, yet it may occur even on departments that have made a commitment to eliminating it. - PUB DATE: 5/6/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: firerescue1
A criminal case that made national news a year ago when a bystander’s video showed Fresno fire Capt. Pete Dern falling through a burning roof, followed by his dramatic rescue by fellow firefighters, ended Wednesday when the woman who pleaded no contest to starting the house fire was sentenced to nine years in prison. - PUB DATE: 5/5/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: fresno bee
A group of Oklahoma City firefighters took it upon themselves to solve a unique problem for neighbors of the firehouse.
Bri Johnson, 10, was diagnosed as a toddler with spinal muscular atrophy, caused by a deficiency of a motor neuron protein.
"It's the gene that helps you walk, and since I don't have that, I can't walk," she said. - PUB DATE: 5/5/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: newsok.com
Kansas governor Sam Brownback signed house bill 2502 into law this week, a bundle of gun-legislation from the session. It will allow public employees like firefighters and paramedics to concealed carry a weapon while on the clock.
One local fire chief will be hesitant to adopt the law over to his department. - PUB DATE: 5/5/2016 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOAM-TV CBS 7 Joplin & Pittsburgh
