A new report by a task force studying PFAS, or “forever chemicals” commonly found in nonstick cookware, some clothing and firefighter gear, is being praised by the firefighting community. “It was really shocking, both through testimony that we heard and coming to understand that PFAS is in all of the turnout gear that is used by our firefighters, and with the increase of PFAS in gear, we’ll also see increases in cancer rates,” said state Rep.
- PUB DATE: 4/22/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Sentinel & Enterprise

What started as an activity for one firefighter to do with his kids is now earning him likes, follows, and comments on social media. Chris Maleta and his family moved to Brunswick County nearly two years ago from Kansas where he served as a firefighter for 13 years. He’s continued his career in North Carolina and has now been in the fire service for 15 years.
- PUB DATE: 4/22/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WWAY-TV ABC/CBS/CW+ 3 Wilmington

VIDEO: Two lawmakers are saying the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in Frick Park in January reaffirmed why western Pennsylvania needs a top-tier urban search and rescue team. Thursday, they introduced legislation with the goal of making that happen. Pittsburgh's assistant fire chief says they called in the state's only urban search and rescue team to help with search efforts when the Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed in Frick Park in January.
- PUB DATE: 4/22/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KDKA-TV CBS 2 Pittsburgh

It's time to dust off that camping gear and hit the trail. But before you go, Smokey Bear wants you to brush up on fire prevention. "Because only you can prevent wildfires." After 77 years, that's still the message we get from Smokey Bear, but this year, he's got a new digital assistant. The assistant can answer all kinds of questions, right on your smartphone.
- PUB DATE: 4/22/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

Two Jefferson County fire departments rescued a California woman who became stuck in a vault toilet at the top of Mount Walker on Tuesday after falling in the toilet to retrieve her phone. Mount Walker is located in Quilcene, Washington and is part of the Olympic National Forest. The woman told rescuers that she dropped her cell phone down into the vault toilet while she was using it.
- PUB DATE: 4/22/2022 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KCPQ-TV FOX 13 Seattle