Rhode Island firefighters are counting on state lawmakers to guarantee higher-paying, tax-free disability pensions to firefighters who get any form of cancer. And it looks like they made a winning case to the Democratic leaders in the House and Senate. Both the House and Senate Labor Committees have scheduled votes on Wednesday, during the lead up to next week’s special summer session, on bills that say: “Any type of cancer found in a firefighter is conclusively presumed to be an occupational cancer.
- PUB DATE: 7/8/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Providence Journal

VIDEO: Water rescues near dams can be particularly harrowing as the churning waters known as "the boil" can pull in people and rescuers. The Elgin Fire Department is painfully familiar with that, after two of its own died in 1974 during a rescue near the city's dam in the Fox River. The department now has a new tool expected to enhance safety, a Waterwog 3 rescue boat made by Creature Craft that works well near low-head dams, fire officials said.
- PUB DATE: 7/8/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Daily Herald - Metered Site

PHOTOS: On April 30, 2016, a United States Post Office letter carrier in Fall River, Massachusetts, left his truck to do a 20-minute loop by foot to deliver some mail. When he got back to the truck, the dashboard was on fire. The next day, on the other side of the country, a letter carrier in Chandler, Arizona loaded his truck with the day’s mail.
- PUB DATE: 7/8/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: VICE Media

Talk to federal disaster preparedness and response agencies like FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Guard and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration about training, and one thing comes to the surface repeatedly: Experiential training is the gold standard. To prepare their employees to do the work of saving lives in a disaster response situation, these first responders emphasize exercises that put their employees through their paces.
- PUB DATE: 7/8/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Federal News Network

PHOTOS: Firefighters were battling a 2-alarm fire at a what used to be a funeral home in White Center Wednesday morning. The fire broke out just after 4:30 a.m. at the home in the 10700 block of 16th Ave SW, according to Puget Sound Fire firefighters. Crews from Tukwila, Skyway have joined Puget Sound Fire in fighting the fire, officials said.
- PUB DATE: 7/8/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000