The July 2018 death of an inter-agency captain who was helping fight the Ferguson wildfire was ruled a “serious accident” and sparked an investigation and change in policies for the National Park Service. Capt. Brian Hughes, 33, of the NPS Arrowhead Hotshot agency, was killed on July 29, 2018, while he and his crew were removing hazardous standing dead trees to prevent the fire near Yosemite National Park from spreading, according to a news release.
- PUB DATE: 5/8/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Merced Sun-Star - Metered Site

Fighting wildfires in Washington costs an average of $153 million a year. Last year, Public Lands Commissioner Hillary Franz offered a plan to cope with some of those costs. How did the proposal fare? Under the state budget just finalized last week, the Department of Natural Resources will receive $48.
- PUB DATE: 5/8/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: iFiberOne

A longtime town firefighter recently filed a claim seeking payment for all hours worked as a volunteer over the last three decades, igniting potentially lengthy negotiations at a time when Waterford and other towns are shaking up fire services to address increasing concerns over manpower and labor laws.
- PUB DATE: 5/8/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Day

Monday marked the first day of testimony in the trial of two men accused in the Oakland warehouse fire that left 36 people dead more than two years ago. Derick Almena, 49, and Max Harris, 29, have been jailed since their arrest in June 2017. Prosecutors say Almena rented the warehouse and Harris acted as "creative director," helping book concerts and collect rent.
- PUB DATE: 5/8/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NBC Los Angeles

The chairman of the Benton County Republican Party says he’ll continue to press the county’s elected leaders to discuss new ways to invest surplus taxes in public safety. Bill Berkman asked the county’s three Republican commissioners on Tuesday to consider the party’s plan to seek voter approval to add rural fire districts to other agencies eligible for a special sales tax to support law enforcement.
- PUB DATE: 5/7/2019 8:55:24 PM - SOURCE: Mid-Columbia Tri-City Herald - Metered Site