VIDEO: The Kern County Administrative office and the Kern County Firefighter's Association have not been able to settle on a two-year contract after the two sides failed to agree on how to cut overtime spending. The Firefighters Association voted against the county's offer last night, an offer that would have cut overtime spending by the department by $3.
- PUB DATE: 5/10/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KERO-TV ABC 23 Bakersfield

Keith Johnson could tell story after story about the vitriol he’s faced as EMS chief of Malvern Fire Company. “I had a gentleman literally in one breath thank me for my crew saving his daughter’s life," he said, “and in the second breath say: 'But your bill’s ridiculous, I’m not paying.’” In Berwyn, Fire Chief Eamon Brazunas has gotten scathing notes from folks upset about their ambulance bills because they wrongly assume that the service is free for taxpayers.
- PUB DATE: 5/10/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Philadelphia Inquirer

VIDEO: A massive fire early Thursday consumed 613 Automotive, a used car dealership at the south end of the village that was being used as the staging area and a set for the filming of an HBO miniseries. Ellenville Police Chief Phil Mattracion said the cause of the 1 a.m. fire at 188 S. Main St. (U.S.
- PUB DATE: 5/10/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Daily Freeman

Rhode Island’s public employee unions have again scored a victory in the state’s Democrat-dominated General Assembly. In a series of final votes on Thursday, state lawmakers approved bills to mandate time-and-a-half pay to firefighters who average more than 42 hours a week and to lock in the wages and benefits in expired teacher and municipal public employee contracts until a new contract is in place.
- PUB DATE: 5/10/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Providence Journal - Metered Site

Around the U.S., many police departments, fire departments, emergency medical services, and other first responders are experiencing a shortage in staff. Fire Marshal Ricky Shores said Columbus Fire and EMS is currently about 25 people short and they only hire once a year. Shores said when Columbus Fire and EMS are at full staff, they have roughly 100 people on board.
- PUB DATE: 5/10/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTVM-TV ABC 9