According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), if you have a reported home fire today, you are more likely to die than you were in 1980. This startling fact is attributed to several factors, including the way homes are built and the contents in them. “Open floor plans and a prevalence of modern synthetic furnishings make homes burn faster and the fires produce deadly smoke and gases within moments,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy.
- PUB DATE: 9/28/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NFPA.org

A fire truck hit a tanker truck on U.S. Route 36 just east of state Route 258 around 3 p.m. Wednesday, according to Sgt. William Bower of the State Highway Patrol. The firefighter driving the Newcomerstown Fire Department truck, Heather Stein-Wells, 42, was ejected from the truck. She suffered a broken hand, scrapes and required stitches at Coshocton Regional Medical Center.
- PUB DATE: 9/28/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Times Reporter

FirstNet provided the city of Whiteville, N.C., with critical voice and data communications throughout Hurricane Florence and subsequent flooding in the area, passing a “big test” regarding the resiliency and flexibility associated with the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN), according to a Whiteville official.
- PUB DATE: 9/28/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Urgentcomm

Former Fire Chief Mark O’Brien says he will fight his firing by the town manager, and will likely seek a public hearing before the Board of Selectmen, saying in an interview Thursday he “has nothing to hide.” Town Manager Pat Finnigan confirmed O’Brien’s employment was terminated Sept. 18, but would not provide further details, citing personnel privacy laws.
- PUB DATE: 9/28/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Seacoastonline.com

Easton's firefighter union says it does not want the city to start hiring part-time employees. The union laid out its grievances with possible part-time hires in a Facebook post on Monday. In the post, the union says hiring part-timers would equate to a cut in staffing and says the city isn't willing to send-part time employees to the Allentown Fire Academy for training, something Mayor Sal Panto denies.
- PUB DATE: 9/28/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WFMZ-TV Channel 69