In the 27 years Tom Hatley has worked as a structural and wildland firefighter, he says he has lost count of the number of fatalities he’s seen. “I’ve lost track — I’m sure hundreds,” he says. “I remember one year, I was called Dr. Death because every time I was on call — I had like six fatalities in six months.
- PUB DATE: 9/12/2019 5:52:14 AM - SOURCE: Crosscut

In the three months since firefighters abandoned a north Seattle station long suspected of sickening crew members stationed there, response times in the area have slowed by as much as 60%. Between June 18, when Station 31 — nicknamed the “cancer house” by firefighters — was shuttered, and July 31, responding units took a minute and a half longer than normal to respond to fires and basic medical incidents in the area near Interstate 5 and North Seattle College, according to data provided by the Seattle Fire Department.
- PUB DATE: 9/12/2019 5:51:49 AM - SOURCE: Crosscut

Vashon Island Fire & Rescue is moving ahead with developing a rescue swimmer program, after various members of the district were divided in recent months about the program’s merits. At the Aug. 28 board meeting, the five commissioners voted unanimously to direct Chief Charlie Krimmert to draft operating protocols for the program, which the district first launched in 2016, but never fully implemented.
- PUB DATE: 9/12/2019 1:55:44 AM - SOURCE: Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber - Metered Site

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation on September 11 to help ensure first responders and public sector officers and employees who developed a qualifying health condition as a result of their heroic response to 9/11 rescue, recovery and clean-up efforts at World Trade Center sites receive the pension and health benefits they deserve.
- PUB DATE: 9/12/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The National Herald

Greensboro firefighters could find out what toxins they’re being exposed to just by wearing wristbands. Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham fire departments are partnering with the Duke Cancer Institute for a study analyzing chemicals that could put firefighters at risk for cancer. “I've been very involved in training firefighters my whole career and I've been exposed to a lot of different things and it's really crossed my mind an awful lot,” Greensboro Fire Department Assistant Chief over Health & Safety Alex Gossett said.
- PUB DATE: 9/12/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WGHP-TV Fox 8 Greensboro