Sunday is the beginning of National EMS Week when the U.S. recognizes those who serve in emergency medical services. According to the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), National EMS Week was started in 1974 by then-President Gerald Ford. This year in particular, the week is a good opportunity to honor the service that EMTs and paramedics provide to society in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, "one of the most daunting and demanding challenges our country has ever faced," a proclamation signed by President Trump on Friday said.
- PUB DATE: 5/18/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fox Business

A Virginia 911 center is combining remote solutions with FirstNet connectivity as part of a multi-pronged strategy to ensure operational continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic today and to evaluate new technological options for the center in the future. Doug Campbell, deputy director of the Department of Emergency & Customer Communications (DECC) for the city of Alexandria, Va.
- PUB DATE: 5/18/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: IWCE’s Urgent Communications

Early in the novel coronavirus pandemic, Nick Fugate figured he would probably get infected sooner or later. As a paramedic with King County Medic One, he and his colleagues were transporting gravely ill patients every day, amid an atmosphere of uncertainty and urgency. Even now that hospitalizations have declined, Fugate puts his odds at 50-50.
- PUB DATE: 5/18/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Seattle Times

A two-alarm fire at a home Sunday in the town of Vaughn on the Key Peninsula claimed the lives of two people, fire officials said. Firefighters were called to the 18000 block of 95th Street Court Northwest where a fire was burning in the basement. Firefighters confirmed they found two people dead in the basement after several people reported hearing explosions come from the home.
- PUB DATE: 5/18/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KIRO-TV CBS 7 Seattle

Firefighters were called to a residential house fire early Sunday morning that had smoke billowing from the garage. When firefighters arrived to the house on Northview Loop near Bombing Range Rd., the garage connected to the house was engulfed in flames. The smoke could be seen for miles as crews worked to contain it.
- PUB DATE: 5/17/2020 6:45:19 PM - SOURCE: YakTriNews