City and county officials are looking for a site to build a joint Emergency Operations Center and Peninsula Communications facility, the Port Angeles City Council heard recently. Meanwhile, negotiations continue for a consolidated PenCom-JeffCom 9-1-1 regional dispatch center, officials said. The Port Angeles City Council voted 6-0 last Tuesday to authorize the police and fire departments to “begin a collaborative effort with Clallam County to explore options for a joint city-county EOC [Emergency Operations Center] to be co-located with a new PenCom facility.
- PUB DATE: 2/12/2019 5:51:40 AM - SOURCE: Port Angeles Peninsula Daily News

Several crews responded to a 2-alarm fire in Bremerton early Tuesday morning that damaged four apartment units and injured two people. At about 1:40 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to the 1100 block of Wheaton Way to find the 22-unit building on fire. Two residents were taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation.
- PUB DATE: 2/12/2019 4:30:55 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

Legislators in Texas are mulling a bill that would make illegal to “impair or degrade” mobile data in any declared disaster zone, in an apparent response to telecom giant Verizon’s decision last year to tell California firefighters busy tackling the deadly Mendocino Complex fire they needed to upgrade their plan or continue to suffer slow speeds.
- PUB DATE: 2/12/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Gizmodo.com

During his early days as a firefighter, Stan Morse sometimes battled flames without a breathing apparatus, choking down the smoke. Over his 40-year career, he also cleaned the underside of firetrucks with a toxic chemical that has since been taken off the market. Morse also breathed in diesel engine fumes powerful enough to blacken the fire station walls.
- PUB DATE: 2/12/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Virginian-Pilot

VIDEO: When first responders arrive at a scene, sometimes what they encounter is so horrific the incident has lasting psychological impacts. Other states are taking action to address mental health issues these heroes sustain on the job and there is a push in Idaho to follow suit. On Sunday, a town hall was held in Meridian to discuss why the Gem State needs to act now.
- PUB DATE: 2/12/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTVB.com