A few years back, there were hundreds of people applying to be a Springfield firefighter — but that’s dropped off dramatically. “Our last test — we only had 27 applicants,” said Capt. Brian Leciejewski of the Springfield Fire/Rescue Division. To get more people in the door, the division is eliminating a preliminary requirement for applicants.
- PUB DATE: 10/29/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Springfield News-Sun

Five firefighters are suing the Unified Fire Authority and two of its former top administrators for allegedly hiring less-qualified family members of command staff instead of them in 2011. The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City, says the men were experienced firefighters seeking full-time positions with the agency that spring.
- PUB DATE: 10/29/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Salt Lake Tribune

Around 20 to 25 Houston firefighters say they've been asked to cover their union and generic fire department shirts at some polling stations in Houston, despite the fact that their shirts didn't appear to violate election law, according to the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association. This comes after the Harris County Clerk's Office earlier this week instructed poll workers to not allow people wearing shirts depicting the names of three progressive groups to cast ballots, earlier reports say.
- PUB DATE: 10/29/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Houston Chronicle

The daughter of a 30-year-old woman who died after paramedics failed to transport her to a hospital or even take her vital signs has filed notice of her intent to sue Hillsborough County. And other lawsuits may be coming. The notice was sent to Hillsborough County commissioners and the county’s fire department by the Kimsey Law Firm.
- PUB DATE: 10/29/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Tampa Tribune and TBO.com (Tampa Bay Online)

An assistant fire chief with the California Office of Emergency Services has died after falling ill at a multi-agency coordination meeting. According to a line-of-duty death notification from the U.S. Fire Administration, Assistant Chief Ken Hood, who was 50 years old and a 34-year fire service veteran, suffered an acute medical emergency during the meeting in Quincy on Wednesday.
- PUB DATE: 10/26/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse