The Bald Hills Fire Department named Jacob Jones as this year’s Volunteer Firefighter of the Year. Each of the three shift lieutenants of the department nominated one of their members for consideration, with Jones — Lt. Donovan McCartney’s nominee — rising to the top. The nominees were reviewed and scored by each of the district’s officers with the highest scoring nominee being selected.
- PUB DATE: 9/29/2021 1:04:01 AM - SOURCE: Nisqually Valley News

A home was damaged by fire Tuesday night in North Whitehall Township, according to a Facebook post from the Slatington Volunteer Fire Department, which assisted at the scene. WFMZ reported the fire was in the 2000 block of Levans Road. The fire call was just afer 10:30 p.m., WFMZ said, and the second alarm was sounded at 10:38, the Slatington department’s post said.
- PUB DATE: 9/29/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Lehigh Valley Live

Capt. Karen Bureker didn’t know whether she wanted to have children when she first became a firefighter paramedic nearly 20 years ago. But after getting married, Bureker and her husband decided to start a family. It was during her first pregnancy, after six years on the job, that Bureker realized just how difficult the transition from firefighter to mother would be while rising through the ranks of her male-dominated profession.
- PUB DATE: 9/29/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NBC News

The trio were just kids 20 years ago when their FDNY fathers died: Two during the 9/11 terrorist attack, and the third only a few days earlier while on the job. Sons Jonathan Otten, Gary Watson and Andrew Gorumba will proudly join the Class of 2021 in graduating Wednesday from the FDNY Fire Academy, with each inspired by their heroic dads and determined to follow in their footsteps as members of the department that embraced all three in the dark days after their fathers passed away.
- PUB DATE: 9/29/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Daily News - Metered Site

Some of our county's biggest wildfires started in October, but as we head into this potentially dangerous time, local fire departments are struggling to fill shifts. Exhausted firefighters are turning down overtime. This past weekend, an engine company at Fire Station 20 was shut down for 24 hours. The reason? A lack of staffing.
- PUB DATE: 9/29/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KFMB-TV CBS/CW 8 San Diego