It was a heartwarming scene played out multiple times across the Puget Sound area Thursday: First responders converging on local hospitals, lights and sirens flashing...in a show of thanks and support for the health care professionals working inside. It all began at the Swedish Medical Center campuses on First Hill and in Issaquah at 10 a.
- PUB DATE: 4/17/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us all to make changes in our day-to-day lives, from the way we communicate to what we wear. First responders have had to adapt the same way. The way they show up to your home during a call is not what you’re used to. Spokane firefighters want you to know, they will look different than they typically do when their team is responding to calls.
- PUB DATE: 4/16/2020 7:41:50 PM - SOURCE: KXLY-TV ABC 4 Spokane

One person is dead after an senior living apartment unit accidentally caught fire in Federal Way early Wednesday morning. South King Fire and Rescue crews responded to the Meridian Court Apartments, 31420 23rd Ave. S., shortly before 2:30 a.m. April 15 for reports of smoke coming from a single unit on the third floor, according to Community Affairs Officer Lt.
- PUB DATE: 4/16/2020 1:48:00 AM - SOURCE: Federal Way Mirror

Richard Congdon is a Herkimer County Sheriff's Deputy and a volunteer firefighter for the Salisbury Fire Department. He came up with the idea to re-purpose self-contained breathing apparatuses, or SCBAs, to make masks that can protect against the coronavirus. Congdon says firefighters change their SCBAs every year, so he thought it was a good idea to re-use them to help front line workers.
- PUB DATE: 4/16/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WKTV NBC/CBS/CW+ 2 Utica

The $2.2 trillion CARES Act is doing far too little to help the men and women of the fire and EMS service fighting on the front lines during this global pandemic. IAFC President Chief Gary Ludwig continues to receive myriad reports of little or no PPE in fire departments because of depleted inventories and decimated budgets because of overtime to cover those out sick and quarantined.
- PUB DATE: 4/16/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: IAFC.org