A Pasco firefighters union donated $500 to help the Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels repair or replace a delivery van that was stolen and vandalized last month. Local 1433 Pasco Union Firefighters Charitable Foundation learned about the stolen and damaged van and wanted to help out. Union president, James McGrath, said he holds a personal connection to Meals on Wheels and even traveled to Nashville, Tennessee with the Nutrition Services Director, Kristi Thien, to learn more about the program.
- PUB DATE: 12/11/2019 7:38:43 PM - SOURCE: YakTriNews

San Juan County Manager Mike Thomas brought a draft resolution in front of the county council that could help fund a radio upgrade for emergency services. During its regular meeting on Dec. 3, the council was presented with a resolution to put a sales tax increase on the February ballot that would pay for improving outdated EMS communication.
- PUB DATE: 12/11/2019 2:04:35 AM - SOURCE: Journal of the San Juans

A City of Newburgh Fire Department union leader is denouncing what he described as a new structure for the impending layoffs of first responders on Dec. 31, but City Manager Joe Donat contends this method is the fair and right way to do business. The 2020 city budget calls for 14 firefighters to lose their jobs at the end of the year.
- PUB DATE: 12/11/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Times Herald Record - Metered Site

Easton's Fire Department is going gender-neutral, at least in the ordinance that governs operations. Easton City Council's Public Safety Committee reviewed ordinance changes Tuesday that include converting "men" in the ordinance to "firefighters," and "he" will become "the Fire Chief." For example, the current language, "When answering an alarm of fire, he shall be in complete charge of all officers, men and apparatus'' will be "When answering an alarm of fire, the Fire Chief will have complete charge of all officers, firefighters ….
- PUB DATE: 12/11/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WFMZ-TV 69 News

In 2016, Denton (Texas) Fire/Rescue (DFR) Department Firefighter Gary Weiland had knee surgery, and for two years, everything seemed fine. Then, in 2018, while playing football in the yard with his family and friends on Thanksgiving Day, his entire life changed without warning. “I was literally running around the field, throwing a ball, and my knee started to swell up,” Weiland said.
- PUB DATE: 12/11/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1