Sixty-two firefighters died in 2019 from injuries sustained while on duty, 22 less than the 2018 total of 84 firefighters, according to a new report from the U.S. Fire Administration. The 2019 total includes 10 firefighters who died under circumstances that were part of inclusion criteria changes resulting from the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefit Act.
- PUB DATE: 11/9/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Homeland Security Today

Bob Perkins of the Winthrop Fire Department says his wife grows nervous when he and his firefighter sons Connor, 22, and Cody, 19, get called to fires or other emergencies. “By now, she’s sorta used to it, but she still gets pretty nervous sometimes,” he said, “and she ends up listening to the pager.
- PUB DATE: 11/9/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Sun Journal

In an unprecedented weekend of COVID-19 infections, nearly all of the US is seeing cases rise as the national total teeters near 10 million. There were 105,927 new coronavirus cases reported on Sunday, marking the 5th day in a row that cases topped 100,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
- PUB DATE: 11/9/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CNN

Did you know that for over a century the fire trucks in Opelousas had names? That used to be a custom in this town as well as many other towns and cities across the U.S. Let’s talk about that. Several days ago I received a message from Debbie Harmon Payne asking if I would know who the Opelousas fire truck “Sid” was named for.
- PUB DATE: 11/9/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Daily World

Three people were injured when a propane tank exploded in an RV in Seattle Monday morning. Dispatchers received multiple calls reporting explosions and flames around 7 a.m. inside an RV at 24th Ave SW and SW Myrtle Street, according to David Cuerpo with Seattle Fire. "I heard loud popping sounds then I saw black smoke," said Rachel Jones who lives in a nearby apartment, adding there had been an accumulation of trash and items surrounding the RV.
- PUB DATE: 11/9/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle