The Baltimore City spending board approved a new program Wednesday aimed at solving the city's emergency medical services shortage. Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace said the city is down 80 EMS providers, and that number has increased. In June, firefighters union Local 734 president Matthew Coster said there were 74 vacancies.
- PUB DATE: 1/11/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WBAL-TV NBC 11 Baltimore

Leaders in Washington state are hoping for approval of legislation that would grant Smokey Bear a license plate in the state. While known and used in prevention efforts across the country, Smokey Bear is rooted in the Pacific Coast. A bill has been pre-filed proposing a new license plate featuring Smokey Bear, which would be the first option for state license plates through DNR, supporting wildfire prevention and wildland firefighter programs.
- PUB DATE: 1/11/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Chronicle

Tacoma Police Department (TPD) officers arrested three juveniles for alleged arson Wednesday afternoon in connection to a fire that occurred at Gault Middle School on Jan. 3. The TPD said on Jan. 3, just after 4 a.m., officers and Tacoma fire personnel were called to a fire at Gault Middle School, located at 1115 E Division Lane.
- PUB DATE: 1/11/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

PHOTOS: A massive 2-alarm fire destroyed a commercial building in a matter of minutes in Downtown San Antonio near the Bexar County Pretrial Services building. The fire started just before 7 a.m. Wednesday at a huge commercial building off Buena Vista Street near South Comal Street. Aerial footage shows the building fully engulfed in flames with the roof and several walls collapsing.
- PUB DATE: 1/10/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WOAI-TV NBC/CW 4 San Antonio

VIDEO: Three Belleville firefighters were taken to the hospital Tuesday morning after their fire truck was involved in a crash and flipped onto its side. It all happened at Route 161 and Carlyle Avenue, right by Belleville East High School. The good news is that nobody was seriously hurt. The bad news is that there is significant damage to both the fire truck and the Toyota 4Runner, which was also involved in the crash.
- PUB DATE: 1/10/2024 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTVI-TV FOX 2 St. Louis