Four central Sonoma County fire agencies aim to join forces within months as one huge fire district — a shift fast-tracked by the October fires and the most visible progress in a years-long effort to streamline the county’s outdated, uneven and financially struggling fire services network. Windsor, Rincon Valley and Bennett Valley fire districts and the Mountain Volunteer Company are on track to be one agency by this spring.
- PUB DATE: 10/5/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Santa Rosa Press Democrat

The downsizing of government in the city of Youngstown began Thursday with cuts in the fire department. There will likely be more to come, one city official told us the police department and clerk of courts may be next. But Thursday the focus is on the fire department. "We all have to tighten our belt to be more fiscally responsible with the cities money," Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley said.
- PUB DATE: 10/5/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WYTV-TV 33 News

Public safety agencies subscribing to FirstNet now have access to the full fleet of 72 dedicated deployable network assets. Stationed across the country, these assets can either be deployed for planned events or called upon in emergencies to help first responders stay connected and operate faster, safer and more effectively when lives are on the line.
- PUB DATE: 10/5/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: AllThingsFirstNet.com

Hampton Township's fire and police departments are to merge into a public safety model, where firefighters and officers are crossed trained to do both jobs. The township's Board of Trustees on Monday, Oct. 1, approved the partial transition from two agencies into one, said Supervisor Terri Close. Six board members voted in favor of the proposal, while one voted against it.
- PUB DATE: 10/5/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: MLive

Nashville Mayor David Briley on Wednesday announced he's promoted William Swann to be new director chief of the Nashville Fire Department, becoming the first African-American to hold the leadership post. Swann, a 22-year veteran of the department who has served as interim fire chief for 11 months, replaces Ricky White, who retired as director chief in 2017 after serving in the job for just one year.
- PUB DATE: 10/4/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Nashville Tennessean