VIDEO: Firefighters in New Bedford protested the mayor's inauguration Monday night over the city's longstanding blackout policy. Fire station blackouts have been in effect since 2009 when the former mayor, Scott Lang, initiated the policy as a way to try and save money during the Great Recession. Through the policy, a different station is closed, or "blacked out", for a 24-hour period to cut back on staffing, therefore reducing costs.
- PUB DATE: 1/7/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WLNE-TV ABC 6

The city faces $10,800 in fines from the state for safety violations at the Warrenton Fire Department. The state Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated an investigation after anonymous complaints. It fined the city $7,500 for not ensuring a proper respiratory protection program, $2,100 for not ensuring employees wore the right protective equipment, $420 for improper training, $420 for not maintaining a safety committee, $180 for a lack of equipment inspections and $180 for not keeping a hazard communication program.
- PUB DATE: 1/7/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Daily Astorian

VIDEO: York police said a registered sex offender has been arrested after showing up to emergency scenes pretending to be a firefighter. Robert Shipman, 29, was arrested Saturday after officers said he blocked the roadway at a serious accident on East Jefferson Street and had red lights on his truck.
- PUB DATE: 1/7/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WSOC-TV ABC 9 Charlotte

Engine 72 used to put out fires in North Olympia. Now one rages inside of it, guaranteed to cook a fresh pizza in two minutes. Christopher and Janene Murray are the owners of Murray’s Rustic Pie, a wood-fired pizza operation built in a converted fire engine. The mobile food truck has been in commission for the pizza business since last summer, traveling to farmers markets, breweries, community events — even weddings — when they’re not serving about 30 pies a day from the driveway of the Murray home at 536 NE C St.
- PUB DATE: 1/7/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Walla Walla Union-Bulletin - Metered Site

The city contends the firefighters union shouldn’t be permitted to intervene in a civil lawsuit filed by a state board seeking an injunction to stop Youngstown from reducing the number of battalion chiefs. It also argues in a Monday filing that the State Employment Relations Board, which filed the lawsuit Dec.
- PUB DATE: 1/7/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Vindicator