Multiple patients are being treated at University of Iowa Health Hospitals & Clinics for injuries following an explosion and fire at a Marengo plant, about 80 miles east of Des Moines. The Iowa State Patrol tells KCCI that the explosion happened around 11:20 a.m. on Thursday. Many agencies responded within a 30-50 mile radius.
- PUB DATE: 12/9/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KCCI-TV CBS 8 Des Moines

The Ohio Senate voted down legislation Wednesday that would lengthen the minimum required prison sentence of anyone convicted of killing a firefighter or EMS worker while driving, setting up a possible negotiation session to hammer out differences in the bill with the Ohio House. The decision comes weeks after a Cleveland firefighter was killed in a recent hit-and-run by an allegedly drunk driver.
- PUB DATE: 12/9/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Cleveland.com

In the early morning hours of Dec. 8, 1922, fire tore through Oregon’s oldest city. Astoria’s fire likely began near 11th Street and quickly spread through the downtown business district. Despite a drizzle of rain and light snow, the blaze jumped from building to building. Within an hour of the first alarm, an entire block turned to ash.
- PUB DATE: 12/9/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Oregon Public Broadcasting

U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal announced that his bipartisan bill to improve disability and retirement benefits for federal firefighters is included in the final version of this year’s defense policy bill. He said that puts the benefits bill on the path to becoming law by the end of this month. The Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, which had already passed the House earlier this year on its own and is part of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, ensures federal firefighters receive the same access to job-related disability and retirement benefits as state, county and municipal firefighters.
- PUB DATE: 12/9/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Santa Barbara News-Press

VIDEO: The City of Montgomery has purchased seven new firetrucks for Montgomery Fire/Rescue, marking a historic moment. It’s the largest investment in the department’s 125-year history. Mayor Steven Reed and Fire Chief Miford Jordan made the announcement Thursday at a press conference in front of the fire department’s headquarters, saying it’s part of the city’s Montgomery Forward Initiative.
- PUB DATE: 12/9/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WSFA-TV NBC 12 Montgomery