VIDEO: The Hickory Hills Fire Department said it has some employees it could hire back if a change to the state's pension system is made. House Bill 2051 would allow those who are eligible for the pension to also continue working for a volunteer department. "I think it's great," Hickory Hills Fire Chief Craig Youngblood said.
- PUB DATE: 3/13/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOKH-TV FOX25

After a fire destroyed the lone fire hall on Madeline Island in early March, the Wisconsin DNR stepped in to help the island. When the fire broke out on March 6, volunteer firefighters from Bayfield, Red Cliff, Washburn and Ashland responded, but could only bring relatively light "brush trucks," according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, because the ice wasn't thick enough to support the weight of fire engines.
- PUB DATE: 3/13/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KSTP-TV

VIDEO: A proposed bill in the State House would make cancer an occupational disease for firefighters. Local fire officials said this would help with workers’ compensation, and if a current or former firefighter passed away from cancer, it would be considered a line-of-duty death. "The nature of the business is you work around carcinogens and there’s a really good chance that something’s going to happen,” said Rob Mullaney, president of the Horry County Professional Firefighters.
- PUB DATE: 3/13/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WMBF-TV NBC Myrtle Beach

VIDEO: Firefighters in Emmet County are taking exception to cuts in funding for life-saving equipment. Emmet County Commissioners approved a budget that slashes funding for local fire departments in half, and could take it all away next year. “We felt we should voice our concern about this and bring it to the commissioners’ attention,” Resort Bear Creek Fire and Rescue Chief Al Welsheimer, said.
- PUB DATE: 3/13/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WWTV-TV 9&10 News

The Freeport City Council on Monday discussed a potential ordinance change that would allow the Fire Department to bill insurance companies for auto accidents. If approved, the Fire Department would start billing the responsible driver’s insurance company $500 for every accident that firefighters are dispatched to and $1,400 if the driver is extricated from the vehicle.
- PUB DATE: 3/12/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Freeport Journal-Standard