A new federal law aims to protect wildland firefighters by requiring agencies to outfit crews with GPS locators and deploy drones to scout out and map blazes. The Wildfire Management Technology Advancement Act, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., was signed by President Donald Trump last week after sailing through both chambers of Congress with large majorities.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Spokesman-Review

A recent study revealed Frederick County firefighters are paid less and receive less benefits than those in nearby counties. The study, completed in November and released publicly last week, is an analysis of pay scales, benefit comparisons and how large each county’s fire services division is Multiple county officials this week said that although Frederick County pays its firefighters less, other jurisdictions — like Montgomery County and Baltimore County, both used in the more-than-100-page study — have both larger populations and tax bases to pull money from.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Frederick News-Post

On a mild spring day, Cory Pippen suits up in firefighter’s gear outside Therrell High School as he prepares to climb Atlanta fire Truck 25. No, he’s not putting out a fire or saving someone from a burning building, but with the help of the Atlanta Fire Department, he is one step closer to a dream he’s had since he was a child: being a firefighter.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Atlanta Journal Constitution

While a couple of cities over the past year have threatened to drop out of the Orange County Fire Authority, Garden Grove is veering the opposite direction – toward membership. If the final steps unfold as expected, OCFA may absorb the 93-year-old Garden Grove Fire Department as early as August. All full-time current employees would stay put.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Orange County Register - Metered Site

Attracting and retaining volunteers to fill the ranks of Maine’s many volunteer fire departments has gotten increasingly difficult, but lawmakers hope a bill to fund a pension program for volunteers could change that. The Legislature approved a bill in 2017 setting up the pension program but did not fund it.
- PUB DATE: 3/25/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Portland Press Herald