VIDEO: Fire departments across Central Texas are preparing to implement mandatory annual cancer screenings for firefighters under a new state law aimed at detecting health issues early. The Wade Cannon Act requires all paid fire departments in Texas to provide annual cancer screenings for employees. Departments have until June 1 to implement the screenings.

“Cancer has always been an issue for firefighters,” said District 54 Representative Pat Curry. “And on top of that, if they’re not getting the annual physicals and they’re not available to them, that can be a real problem.” Hewitt Fire Chief Jonathan Christian said firefighters face constant exposure to carcinogens during emergency calls. “Every time we go into a fire, we come out with all the carcinogens and smoke. It penetrates everything,” Christian said. “We get exposed to a lot.”

Curry said firefighters often encounter unknown hazards during structure fires. “They go out into the middle of these fires, and they don’t know that this house happens to have a bunch of paint or different chemicals in it,” Curry said. “And all of a sudden the garage catches on fire and things start exploding, and they’re breathing in something that could easily give them cancer or kill them.”

KWTX-TV CBS 10 Waco

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A fire at Green Mountain Elementary School Wednesday morning cancelled school for the day. Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue announced in a statement Jan. 7 they received a call for a commercial structure fire at the school around 7 a.m., when an HVAC unit caught fire and caused smoke to spread throughout the building. The fire activated the sprinkler system, which contained the flames to one room. According to CKF&R, firefighters at the scene ensured the fire was extinguished and worked to clear the smoke from the building.

Kitsap Sun-Metered source

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VIDEO: A quiet night before Christmas turned into a life-changing moment for one Anderson Island family — and a call local firefighters will never forget. On the evening of Dec. 23, Katherine Sims suddenly went into labor at her home on Anderson Island and dialed 911. Volunteers with Anderson Island Fire and Rescue were dispatched immediately. “They told me the baby’s absolutely coming. No choice,” Sims said.

With the island’s last ferry for the night already gone, the crew decided the fastest way to reach the mainland hospital was by fire boat. Getting Sims there wasn’t easy. “It was a whole process to get me down to the boat on the gurney in the first place,” she recalled. “At that point I’m realizing this is getting real, really fast.” Once the boat hit open water, Sims said the ride was anything but smooth. “Once you hit the wakes and with the contractions, it was ouch — it was absolutely painful as heck,” she said.

It took about 10 minutes for the crew to reach the dock. Once they hit land, Sims’ water broke — and she realized she wouldn’t make it to the hospital. “This is DEFCON,” she said. “There is no way I’m making it to any hospital at this point. And then those next two pushes … I did this. I am so proud of myself.” At 12:01 a.m. Christmas Eve, Sims gave birth to her daughter, Halle — delivered right on the fire boat by volunteer EMTs.

KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

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The Comstock Township (MI) Fire Department held a Push-In Ceremony for new Engine 912, which will replace an engine that was totaled in a wreck.

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Elkhart (IN) City Council approved $2.7 million for a new tiller to improve maneuverability in downtown areas, enhancing fire department capabilities and potentially lowering insurance rates.

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