Amid staffing concerns and the growing use of overtime hours, the Southeast Thurston Fire Authority is hoping to pass a 2020 operations budget that includes the addition of four new firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT) positions. The mission to hire four new paid positions is part of the fire authority’s larger budgeting goal this year to prioritize staffing needs.
- PUB DATE: 12/17/2019 2:38:29 AM - SOURCE: Nisqually Valley News

Firefighters jumped into action when an industrial facility went up in flames in Southwest Philadelphia on Monday night. They performed a high-risk move, shutting off a valve within feet of the flames. It happened around 6:45 p.m. at the Point Breeze Terminal located along the 6300 block of Passyunk Avenue.
- PUB DATE: 12/17/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WPVI-TV ABC 6 Philadelphia

The Dallas Fire Fighters Association is hoping to recruit Houston firefighters days after Sylvester Turner was elected to his second four-year term as mayor. Houston's Proposition B, the voter-approved pay parity plan for Houston firefighters, has caused turmoil between HFD and the city of Houston.
- PUB DATE: 12/17/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTRK-TV ABC 13 News Houston

Alexandria acting fire chief Corey A. Smedley will step up to the role for good, becoming the first black permanent fire chief in the Virginia city’s history. On the heels of what Alexandria City Manager Mark B. Jinks described as a nationally competitive recruitment effort, the city announced on Monday it opted to promote Smedley from his current role as acting fire chief — a position which he has held since the retirement of chief Robert C.
- PUB DATE: 12/17/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTOP News

Scranton Fire Chief Patrick DeSarno gave notice Monday he will resign from his position effective Jan. 3, Mayor Wayne Evans said. DeSarno accepted a job offer in another field, the mayor said. The decision was not unexpected, Evans said. “I appreciate his doing this and of course I wish him well in the future and thank him for his service,” the mayor said.
- PUB DATE: 12/17/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse