Santa Maria and Lompoc may be just 30 minutes apart but to some, its funding plans for public safety, city jobs and looming Calpers debt, feels worlds apart. Despite being more than $3 million in the red, the Lompoc City Council majority have long maintained that officials need to balance the budget before bringing a sales tax into the mix.
- PUB DATE: 6/20/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KCOY-TV CBS 12 Santa Maria

In Gene Necklaus’ 36-person Scottsboro Fire Department, he’s seen three firefighters in recent years diagnosed with occupational-related cancer. One of them died last year. The other two were able to return to work after treatment. One had $20,000 in out-of-pocket expenses, including deductibles and co-pays, Nicklaus said.
- PUB DATE: 6/20/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Alabama Daily News

A patient pulled out a gun and opened fire during an ambulance call in southwest Houston, officials say. Firefighters responded to reports of a man having a heart attack in the 12000 block of Sela Lane when the patient, identified by police as 66-year-old David Pham, reportedly pulled out a gun and fired two shots.
- PUB DATE: 6/20/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTRK-TV ABC 13 Houston

A Springville firefighter who died during a training exercise Monday is being remembered for his love and dedication to the community he served. Fire Chief Richard Harvey on Tuesday identified fallen firefighter as Jared Wayne Echols, a 35-year-old husband and father of two young daughters who joined the department in January.
- PUB DATE: 6/19/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: AL.com

More than 60 firefighters tried to save a St. Matthews strip mall from burning to the ground Monday, but none of them were from the St. Matthews Fire Department. Johnny Wong, who who works right next door to the strip mall that was destroyed by the fire at China 1, witnessed the fire. "I went across the street, and when I realized that there was no firefighters at the scene after a few minutes, I was getting worried,” he said.
- PUB DATE: 6/19/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WDRB-TV Fox 41 Louisville