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| Diversions, extra calls put added pressure on Houston's EMS crews during COVID-19 pandemic Houston's emergency medical services crews are as busy as they've ever been, answering the COVID-19 call. "There is no easy shift out here," said Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña. "Each and every day." The Houston Fire Department is a "full service" department which means firefighters respond to fires and other emergencies and provide ambulatory services when necessary. Data reviewed by Channel 2 Investigates shows that since March, there's been a 30% increase in calls for service. It's happening at a time when the firefighters are falling victim to the virus themselves. Three weeks ago, more than 300 firefighters were in quarantine. "When you take 300 firefighters, that's almost a third of what I would need every day, to staff every day," says Chief Pena. Captain C.J. Brown is the fire department's EMS supervisor. He hasn't been quarantined, but he knows the potential is there. KPRC-TV NBC 2 HOUSTON Body found in rubble from Montgomery County house fire Officials are urging residents to maintain working smoke alarms in their homes as they investigate an early Thursday morning fire that appears to have claimed the life of a Montgomery County house's occupant. A little before 5:30 a.m., neighbors called 911 about a home on fire on the 1300 block of Ashland Drive outside Conroe city limits. The Needham Fire Department responded and found the one-story house engulfed in fire. As they took out the flames, firefighters discovered a lifeless body, according to the Montgomery County Fire Marshal's Office. The victim is thought to be the home's 50-something male occupant but remains have not been positively identified pending an autopsy. Investigators from Conroe Fire and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted the fire marshal's office, according to a statement from the agency. CONROE COURIER Houston fire union, fire chief disagree on reason for critical shortage of firefighters Houston Fire Department is dealing with a critical shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some disagree on the reason. The fire union tweeted on Thursday that the pandemic was a scapegoat. "Due to HFD staffing shortage, the mayor has cut fire service at stations all over city, including Station 31 on north side," the tweet reads. "COVID-19 is excuse for, not the cause of HFD's lack of "surge capacity" in pandemic response. 400+ firefighters have left HFD for better jobs or retirement." "The city of Houston is hemorrhaging firefighters," said firefighter union President Marty Lancton. "We have been in a staffing crisis for months so it's not ok if the city decides to use the COVID quarantine of firefighters as a cover-up to the statismic staffing problems the city has known about for months." But Houston Fire Chief Sam Pena seems to disagree. KRIV-TV HOUSTON MYFOX 26 Family loses pet due to fire at an Amarillo home One family pet is dead after a fire at an Amarillo home this morning. On July 15, at around 8:21 a.m., Amarillo Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at a home near the corner of Goodnight Trail and Southwest 47th Avenue. AFD says the first unit arrived at around 8:26 a.m. and found smoke coming from an attic vent. Crews forced entry into the home to ensure everyone was out and extinguish the fire. Once inside, crews encountered high heat and heavy smoke but were able to confirm all residents were out of the home. Firefighters pulled one dog and three cats out of the home. Two of the cats received oxygen, but resuscitation efforts on one of the cats was not successful. None of the residents of the home were reported injured, and the fire was called under control at around 8:45 a.m. KFDA-TV CBS 10 AMARILLO Accelerated Drying Increases Potential Wildfire Ignitions Across Texas Wildfire activity has increased in Texas, and accelerated drying has elevated the potential for new wildfire ignitions, the Texas A&M Forest Service said. According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, new wildfires will become increasingly difficult to put out if the current temperatures and drying conditions continue into August as forecasted. "Vegetation is rapidly losing moisture due to consecutive days of extremely high temperatures," Brad Smith, Texas A&M Forest Service Predictive Services Department Head, said. "Grass that was green five days ago has wilted and turned brown under the accelerated drying produced from the extreme heat. It will be quite difficult to replenish this lost moisture during the normally dry months of July and August." KXAS-TV NBC 5 DALLAS - FORT WORTH Crews battle two mobile home fires in southwest Bexar County, officials say Crews are responding to two mobile home fires in southwest Bexar County, officials said. The fires were reported in the 11000 block of Wheeler Road on Wednesday night. The mobile homes were occupied, according to a county public information officer. Officials have not reported any injuries at this time. However, there are several mobile homes near the blaze, and firefighters are attempting to contain the fire from spreading. The Lytle Fire Department is assisting in fighting the fire. KSAT-TV ABC 12 SAN ANTONIO PREVIOUS STATE NEWS |
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| Massive fire destroys waterfront apartments under construction in Washington state VIDEO: A massive 4-alarm fire tore through a waterfront apartment complex under construction in Everett Thursday, creating a raging inferno that damaged two homes up a nearby hill and partially burning an ambulance and fire truck that had responded to the scene. The fire in one of the two large buildings broke out around 5:45 p.m. at the upcoming Waterfront Place Apartments and quickly spread across the building. Videos from social media showed towering flames stretching high across the sky as dozens of firefighters scrambled to the scene to start dousing the blaze. Gusty winds then blew the flames and burning embers across West Marine View Drive, sparking additional brush fires along 16th Avenue that severely damaged one home and caused some minor damage to another, Everett Fire officials said. A KOMO photographer found embers on the streets more than a mile away from the fire scene. KOMO-TV ABC 4 SEATTLE How Nevada agencies respond to firefighter suicides outpacing line of duty deaths Nationwide, firefighter suicides have been growing and are continuing to outpace line of duty deaths. It's a trend that has persisted in the last few years, especially for states like Nevada and California who are hit hardest by wildfires. One study found that 37 percent of fire and EMS professionals have contemplated suicide, nearly 10 times the rate of American adults. In 2017, there were 103 reported firefighter suicides and 93 line-of-duty deaths. The Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance estimates about 40% of firefighter suicides are reported and if this estimate is correct, the actual number of suicides would be 257, more than doubling the number of line-of-duty deaths. At least two Nevada firefighters have committed suicide in the past year, including a Truckee Meadows firefighter who took his own life in 2019. That loss of life hit Northern Nevada emergency response agencies especially hard and forced a re-evaluation of their mental health approach. KRNV-DT NBC 4 RENO Dire firefighter shortages in South Carolina county put lives in peril: ‘We do the best we can' For years, the department has lacked manpower in emergency situations, making response times longer when timing is crucial. Lives could be in danger in Georgetown County, where firehouses face chronic manpower shortages. In some cases, fire engines continually go out with only one firefighter on the truck, while national standards call for a minimum of four. That can leave one person handling the duties of an entire crew for minutes — in situations where minutes matter — until other trucks can arrive. A lot can happen in the first few minutes of a fire, according to Doug Stern, spokesman for the International Association of Fire Fighters. "One firefighter by himself is not going to be enough," said Stern, noting the essential tasks required after arriving on scene, from locating a water source to dragging a hose. "One person alone cannot accomplish those tasks before a fire gets out of hand." MYRTLE BEACH ONLINE California city settles lawsuits over deadly 'Ghost Ship' fire for $32.7 million The city of Oakland, California, will pay more than $32 million to settle lawsuits brought on behalf of victims of the deadly 2016 "Ghost Ship" fire in which 36 people died, officials announced. "This was a horrific tragedy that deeply impacted every corner of our community," a statement from the city attorney's office said. The fire occurred in a warehouse that had been converted without permits into a residence for artists. There were no fire sprinklers or alarms. When the fire broke out Dec. 2, 2016, there was an electronic music party on the second floor. Fire officials and former residents have described the first floor of the building as a "labyrinth" and a firetrap, and a survivor testified that people who were unable to escape came up a flight of stairs shaking their heads and saying, "No." The stairs were built out of wooden shipping pallets. The settlement announced Friday allocates $23.5 million for the families of those who died, as well as $9.2 for someone who survived, Sam Maxwell, the city statement said. NBC NEWS Alabama city to host 2025 World Police and Fire Games The Magic City will host the World Police and Fire Games (WPFG), an event featuring more than 10,000 first responders competing in 1,600 medal events, from June 27 to July 6, 2025. The city's successful bid for the event was announced in May by local officials and The World Police and Fire Games Federation. "From the beginning, we were impressed by all that Birmingham has to offer," said LC Collins, president of the WPFG. "We believe that this city is the whole package – from its venues, infrastructure and history of hosting major events, to its entertainment, dining and attractions." The decision comes following a presentation to the Federation's Board of Directors by the Birmingham Bid Committee, which was led by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, the city of Birmingham and Jefferson County. The games are "expected to have an economic impact of $75 million on the Birmingham region and will showcase our home to over 150,000 people between athletes, supporters and spectators," said Jefferson County Commissioner Steve Ammons. VILLAGE LIVING ONLINE PREVIOUS NATIONAL NEWS |
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| Deputy Chief of Mobilization/Intel (Senior Coordinator – Fire and Rescue Services) - Cal OES - Sacramento County, CA Fire Chief - City of Salinas - Salinas, CA Deputy Chief, Emergency Services - Kachemak Emergency Services - Homer, AK EMS Director - Lake Health District - Lakeview, OR Fire Chief - City of Lincoln - Lincoln, NE Director of Emergency Services - Bakersfield / Monterey / Oxnard / Redlands / San Diego, CA, Grayson, GA, Hendersonville, TN, Jacksonville / Lakeland, FL, King of Prussia, PA, Madison, WI, Mobile, AL, Palmer, AK, Taylors, SC Entry Level Firefighter/EMT-Firefighter/Paramedic - Missoula Rural Fire District - Missoula County, MT (closes: Jul 17, 2020) Fire Chief - City of Cathedral City - Cathedral City, CA (closes: Jul 17, 2020) Fire Chief / EMS Director - City of Monona - Monona, WI (closes: Jul 22, 2020) Firefighter/Paramedic - Northern Nevada/California FIRE Consortium - Carson City, NV (closes: Jul 25, 2020) EMS Director - Meeker Volunteer Fire & Rescue - Meeker, CO (closes: Jul 31, 2020) Fire Chief - City of Boise - Boise, ID (closes: Jul 31, 2020) Fire Chief - Dammeron Valley Fire and Rescue - Dammeron Valley, UT (closes: Jul 31, 2020) Automotive and Equipment Mechanic - Roaring Fork Fire Protection District - Carbondale, CO (closes: Aug 03, 2020) Division Chief - City of Victorville - Victorville, CA (closes: Aug 03, 2020) Deputy Fire Chief - Harrisonburg Fire Department - Harrisonburg, VA (closes: Aug 10, 2020) Fire Chief - City of Sterling Heights - Sterling Heights, MI (closes: Aug 14, 2020) Fire Chief - Town of Littleton - Littleton, NH (closes: Aug 28, 2020) Firefighter - Anchorage Fire Department - Anchorage, AK (closes: Sep 13, 2020) POST JOB MORE JOBS |
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| "Slide-In" 250 Gallon Firefighting Apparatus - Asking $4,795 - Elkton, OR Bauer Fill Stations - Asking $5,495 / $6,995 / $8,995 - Arlington, WA 2016 F550 XLT - 4x4 Ambulance - Auction extended through July - Lincolnshire, IL 1989 Ford 4x4 Medium- Rescue - Price lowered - Now asking $28,000 OBO - Haines, OR 2009 International/Horton Ambulance - New lower price - $22,900 - Bloomingdale, IL POST EQUIPMENT MORE EQUIPMENT |
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| COVID-19 and Wildfire: Episode 1 - hosted by Intterra and WFCA - Webinar Series - Gordon Graham and Dr. David Black Strengthening Your Wellness - 10-11 AM PDT - Webinar - July 23, 2020 Canceled: FFABCs Diversity Workshop - 50th Convention IABPFF - Hartford, CT - August 2-7, 2020 Fire-Rescue International Conference and Expo - IAFC - Virtual - August 19-21, 2020 Postponed: American Fire Sprinkler Association to host AFSA39 - Orlando, FL - September 13-16, 2020 Fire-Rescue Med Conference - IAFC - Online - October 19, 2020 Wildland-Urban Interface - IAFC - Online - November 3-4, 2020 VCOS Symposium in the Sun - IAFC - Clearwater, FL - November 12-15, 2020 POST EVENT MORE EVENTS |
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