A state Senate probe of New York's building codes zeroes in on two municipalities with terrible reputations: Mount Vernon, where a lone inspector handles the entire city, and Ramapo, where lax enforcement has led volunteer firefighters and the County of Rockland to step in. "The key takeaway from this investigation is that there has been a systematic failure to adequately prioritize code enforcement at all levels of government," said state Sen.
- PUB DATE: 8/7/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Journal News (LoHud.com)

The State of Montana will pay the volunteer firefighters that fought the North Hills Fire. Montana DNRC has hired the firefighters under their Emergency Firefighter (EFF) program. The volunteers will be paid for their hours spent fighting the fire from 12:00 p.m. on July 26 through 12:00 a.m. August 1.
- PUB DATE: 8/7/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTVH-TV NBC 12 Helena

VIDEO: South Metro Fire Rescue is trying something it says is “fairly revolutionary” among fire departments. Monday night, SMFR officially swore in two dogs to the department. Champ and Molson even have their own badges. “It really, truly solidified them as an employee and gives them the ability to be a part of the department the same that way I am or anybody else,” Molson’s handler, paramedic supervisor JP Piche told FOX31.
- PUB DATE: 8/7/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KDVR-TV FOX 31 Denver

Voters in Medical Lake and Spokane County Fire District 3 voted to merge the city’s fire department with the district Tuesday night. In Fire District 3, the measure passed with 71.3% of the vote. Medical Lake voters passed the measure with 74.1% of the vote. Both measures needed a simple majority or 50% to pass.
- PUB DATE: 8/6/2019 9:49:14 PM - SOURCE: Spokane Spokesman-Review

Firefighters in the Tri-Cities say they have been responding to an unusually high number of vehicle fires this year. Chief Lonnie Click with Benton County Fire District #1 said those vehicle fires often lead to roadside starts of wild land fires. This is mainly due to dry vegetation going directly up to the side of the road, quickly getting set ablaze when a car on fire pulls over to the side.
- PUB DATE: 8/6/2019 7:47:51 PM - SOURCE: YakTriNews