Spokane police said on Tuesday afternoon that officers recovered an "airsoft handgun which resembled an actual firearm" from the scene of an hours-long standoff downtown on Monday night. Spokane Police Ofc. John O'Brien said in a release on Tuesday that the airsoft gun was recovered from a beverage cooler that the suspect, 49-year-old Phillip Booher, was hiding in during the standoff.
- PUB DATE: 10/1/2019 3:48:56 PM - SOURCE: KREM 2 News

A person escaped a burning Vancouver home with some minor injuries on Monday morning, Vancouver Fire Department officials said. The fire was reported at about 9:30 a.m. in the 12800 block of Northeast 14th Street. The column of smoke from the burning house could be seen across the city. Firefighters arrived to find flames in the front window of the single-story home.
- PUB DATE: 10/1/2019 4:02:41 AM - SOURCE: KATU-TV ABC 2 Portland

The Evanston Fire Department collaborated with local officials on a new law that creates a hiring preference for fire service career applicants with at least 600 hours of fire suppression work in a certified program. The law, signed on August 23 by Governor J.B. Pritzker, amends the Illinois Municipal Code and the Fire Protection District Act.
- PUB DATE: 10/1/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Daily Northwestern

The first day of the Muncie city ambulance service kicked off Monday morning with a busy day of calls, but questions remain because of contracts that are not finalized. MFD started using its own ambulances Monday in much of Muncie, taking over duties from Delaware County EMS. MFD responded to three runs right off the bat, Fire Chief Eddie Bell and EMS Chief Rachel Clark said in a live video on the city's Facebook page announcing the change.
- PUB DATE: 10/1/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Star Press

A program bringing together fire departments, high schools, and Madison College is working to target future firefighters, as departments across the country face challenges in recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters. The program, called Start College Now, brings together area high schools and fire departments with Madison College to provide training using firefighting equipment to certify students in firefighting, as well as get them college credits.
- PUB DATE: 10/1/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WMTV NBC 15 Madison