In a historic development, the U.S. Senate has passed the IAFF-endorsed Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), advancing a long-fought effort by the IAFF to secure federal recognition of occupational cancer as a line-of-duty death.

“We know the devastation occupational cancer has brought to our profession. When a fire fighter dies from job-related cancer, that is a line-of-duty death – and it is long past time the federal government recognized that truth,” said General President Edward Kelly. “Congress’s passage of the Honor Act marks a significant turning point. This legislation ensures our fallen are honored, and their families are not left behind.”

The Honor Act, led by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Reps. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) and Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), updates the federal Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program to recognize occupational cancer as a line-of-duty death. The bill extends death and educational benefits to survivors and presumes certain cancers are job-related, removing the requirement to pinpoint a specific exposure.

International Association of Fire Fighters

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A rare piece of Greensboro Fire Department history returned home Monday, more than a century after it was first purchased and decades after it last served the city, according to the department.

American LaFrance Steam Engine No. 496, built in 1904, arrived in Greensboro after being away for more than 85 years. The engine was originally purchased by the Greensboro Fire Department the same year and was the first engine produced after the formation of the American LaFrance Fire Engine Co. The nearly nine-foot-tall engine, which weighs more than four tons, served the city into the 1920s, remained in reserve through the 1930s and last pumped water in 1940.

The engine traveled across the eastern United States for decades before being restored by Firefly Restoration Co. in Maine, with most of its original components preserved. Dean Green, who recognized the engine’s historical significance, facilitated its return to Greensboro. City officials and fire department members marked the homecoming as a celebration of the department’s heritage and service to the community.

WFMY-TV CBS 2 Greensboro

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A semi truck crash has fully blocked SR 28 east of Wenatchee, causing significant traffic delays. Trooper Jeremy Weber from District 6 explained that the incident involved two semi trucks in a partially head-on collision. One driver was transported to the hospital, while the other sustained minor injuries. The crash resulted in a full load of apples being lost. Drivers were advised to avoid the area and seek alternative routes.

KAYU-TV FOX 28 Spokane

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An 18-year-old Central Washington University student, Brayden Robert Todd, is facing a felony arson charge after allegedly setting multiple small fires inside a campus dorm during finals week. Police reported that Todd set a piece of paper on fire on a student’s door and burned items in a trash can at Dugmore Hall, which can house up to 402 students. Todd pleaded not guilty to first-degree arson and a cannabis possession charge. His attorney described the incidents as a prank, while prosecutors argued the fires put lives at risk. A judge set bail at $35,000 and banned Todd from campus. His trial is scheduled for Feb. 2, 2026.

KIMA-TV CBS/CW+ 29 Yakima

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Fire service leaders are re-evaluating the use of large-caliber streams in firefighting tactics, emphasizing their effectiveness in rapidly extinguishing fires, despite traditional views on water supply.

The post Large-Caliber Streams: Not Just a Defensive Weapon appeared first on Fire Apparatus: Fire trucks, fire engines, emergency vehicles, and firefighting equipment.