Winter is when the federal government starts spending dollars to prepare for the wildfire season, but the ongoing shutdown has put some of this preparation in limbo. Cutting underbrush and holding prescribed burns are critical to keeping firefighters safe and protecting towns near fire-prone areas. But there’s basically no prescribed burning going on right now according to the National Association of State Foresters.
- PUB DATE: 1/11/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Boise State Public Radio

VIDEO: A Palm Beach County firefighter is suing Fire Rescue after he says a captain discriminated against his disability. Eduardo Mesa said others then joined in on the retaliation. Eduardo Mesa's lawsuit is at least the fourth lawsuit filed against the county or Fire Rescue regarding discrimination and retaliation since 2016.
- PUB DATE: 1/11/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WPTV-TV NBC 5 West Palm Beach

A local fire department is making changes after NBC Connecticut Investigates began looking at what some might consider generous perks for its commissioners. The bonuses went away after our first set of stories. Now commissioners have eliminated some of the last of the perks. They agreed to get rid of the weekly free tank of gas they are eligible to receive.
- PUB DATE: 1/11/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WVIT-TV NBC 30 West Hartford

Mayor Sylvester Turner on Wednesday invited the Houston firefighters union to sit down with him to discuss “any ideas you have” about how to implement the pay parity measure passed by voters last November, but left it unclear whether negotiating pay raises through contract talks was an acceptable idea.
- PUB DATE: 1/11/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Houston Chronicle

Two Skagit County fire districts are awaiting reimbursement from the state of Washington after sending firefighters and equipment to California to help battle summer wildfires. In August, fire districts 3 and 14 — which serve the areas of Conway and Alger, respectively — sent crews to battle some of California’s deadly wildfires.
- PUB DATE: 1/11/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: GoSkagit.com