The Detroit Fire Department reported that Fire Boat 1 Capt. Walter Szelag died in the line of duty Friday of an apparent heart attack.
At about 4:45 p.m. fire crews called for an ambulance to the fire boat station. Capt. Szelag was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The department web site said one firefighter reported that Friday was meant to be Szelag's last shift at the boat station before it was closed for the winter. - PUB DATE: 11/23/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: firerescue1
Columbus firefighters recently rejected a three-year contract proposal that would have given them raises of 3.5 percent in the first two years and 3 percent in the final year.
Union members mainly objected to lower pay differentials for paramedics and increases in health-insurance premiums.
More than two-thirds of the members rejected the contract, according to three firefighters, including a captain. - PUB DATE: 11/20/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: columbus dispatch
A Detroit firefighter and longtime veteran died last night while on duty.
Sgt. Vince Smith, a 24-year veteran with Detroit Fire died in his sleep at Engine 48, on Fort St near Marathon Oil refinery. Smith was assigned to DFD Ladder 13 but he was pulling a duty shift overnight at Engine 48.
"He had a special way that he saw life," said Battalion Chief Steve Kirschner. - PUB DATE: 11/20/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WJBK fox 2 detroit
A proposal to reclassify three of the Kingman Fire Department's six battalion chiefs from exempt to non-exempt status revealed conflict between the city's police and fire departments at Tuesday's City Council meeting, and led to hard feelings and some profanity.
City Manager John Dougherty said the change was necessary for three of the battalion chiefs who work in operations and are on the same 24-hour shift schedule as firefighters. - PUB DATE: 11/20/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: daily miner
Fuel mitigation is crucial for combating the nation’s growing wildfire problem, but culture, politics, and geography can be significant barriers keeping communities from doing the work.
That’s one of the key findings in “Local Wildand/Urban Interface: Fire Department Wildfire Preparedness and Readiness Capabilities,” the new report of an ambitious NFPA project aimed at capturing, for the first time, how municipal fire departments nationwide are adjusting to their increased role in battling wildfire. - PUB DATE: 11/20/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NFPA Journal
Some volunteer firefighters in Robeson County are under fire from vandals.
Someone has been breaking into the homes of Parkton volunteer firefighters and has even shot the fire station’s sign.
Parkton Fire Department Captain Jason Viar said that recently, several of his firefighters have been answering a different kind of alarm-burglar alarms at their own homes. - PUB DATE: 11/20/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WRAL-TV CBS 5 Raleigh
His face is scarred, he’s missing the tips of all 10 fingers and he has a long, difficult recovery ahead. But the young firefighter who survived last summer’s deadly Twisp River blaze said he’s grateful for the family, friends and community who have helped him pull through.
“This accident was a true tragedy, but it’s brought out what’s good in the world,” said Daniel Lyon Jr. - PUB DATE: 11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: seattle times
Judge Joseph K. Williams won't recuse himself from the retrial of a man accused of starting a fire in 1995 that killed three firefighters, saying prosecutors who sought a new judge failed to back up claims Williams harbored a grudge against the ATF or a potential expert witness.
Williams granted the retrial for Gregory Brown, 38, after a 2012 Post-Conviction Relief Act hearing, on the grounds that the prosecution did not tell jurors that two key witnesses were promised thousands of dollars in exchange for their testimony. - PUB DATE: 11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
In a significant step forward for the renewal of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday agreed to back a permanent extension of its expired health program, according to Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y.
But King said “there is still a long way to go” because the Zadroga reauthorization bill must pass out of four key committees. - PUB DATE: 11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: firerescue1
Cory Hohs' idea was inspired by a close call with a Chicago fire truck on his motorcycle, but his new app, which warns drivers to the presence of emergency vehicle traffic, is being tested first in Grand Rapids.
That's because the city's fire department was not only willing to take part in a pilot, but the agency also let Hohs and his two partners gather research as they rode on fire trucks during emergency calls. - PUB DATE: 11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Mlive.com
Three people whose homes and acres of property were destroyed during the worst wildfire in Washington state history are blaming the Department of Natural Resources for their losses. They all live near Carlton, and filed a lawsuit in Okanogan Superior Court this week naming the State of Washington DNR as defendant. - PUB DATE: 11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KIRO-TV CBS 7
Permanently renewing legislation to benefit Ground Zero first responders could be financed by closing a tax loophole, Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said Tuesday.
That loophole allows foreign insurance companies to issue reinsurance in the United States without paying the same taxes as their U. - PUB DATE: 11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Poughkeepsie Journal
An FDNY Lieutenant saved a three-week-old baby boy from the smoky attic of a burning house in Queens Tuesday night, officials said.
Lt. Adam Vilagos pulled the newborn out of his crib in the attic of the two-story house on 106th St. near 35th St. in Corona, moments after a blaze erupted at around 9:30 p. - PUB DATE: 11/18/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: new york daily news
VIDEO - Action News Investigates has learned that Pennsylvania State Police are targeting Pittsburgh-area firefighters who are using illegal lights on their personal cars. But firefighters are pushing back, saying strict enforcement of the law could put them and the public at risk. Some volunteer firefighters use blue lights when trying to get to the station in a hurry. - PUB DATE: 11/18/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTAE-TV ABC 4 Pittsburgh
DTE Energy crews, Detroit police, fire and EMS units were all on the scene of an ambulance accident on the city's west side.
The accident resulted in power lines down on a Detroit EMS rig.
The accident happened in the intersection of West McNichols and Schaefer.
"I heard an explosion and sparks fling and I ran over here, from what I understand the ambulance was going through the light and the car at the same time and they hit each other,” said Greg Houser, who was working across the street. - PUB DATE: 11/18/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WXYZ-TV ABC Detroit
More than a year after he was sentenced to a year in prison on attempted bribery charges, local support for Firefighter Aaron Brantley has not waned.
Brantley was joined outside Superior Court at 235 Church St. by roughly two-dozen supporters from both state and local NAACP branches, the fire union, clergy, community activists and concerned citizens. - PUB DATE: 11/18/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: new haven register
American International Group, Inc. (AIG) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) have announced that AIG member companies will provide funding for a grant program that provides local fire departments with resources to implement the Ready, Set, Go! Program (RSG). The program, designed by the IAFC, promotes educational awareness and preparedness community outreach to those who live in high-risk wildland fire areas. - PUB DATE: 11/18/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: International Association of Fire Chiefs
A surprising new scientific paper suggests that the pattern of global wildfires varies based on the day of the week — with considerably fewer fires globally on Sunday than on other days. And not only that: It partly attributes this pattern not to anything natural about ecosystems, but rather to human behavioral patterns — including weekly rituals that are ultimately rooted in culture and faith. - PUB DATE: 11/18/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: the washington post
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's overhaul of how the city hires new firefighters - launched 16 months ago amid allegations of nepotism and bias - has so far failed to meet his aim of diversifying the LAFD and may require further reforms to succeed, according to interviews with city officials and a Times analysis of government data. - PUB DATE: 11/17/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: los angeles times
Lexington County is telling its 350 firefighters and paramedics they need to be in shape.
Being ready physically is required under a fitness plan adopted by County Council last week.
All firefighters, paramedics and other ambulance crew members will be tested yearly as well as command staff who normally supervise activities. - PUB DATE: 11/17/2015 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: the state
