Training has been halted for thousands of firefighters. The U.S. Forest Service can’t let contracts for needed equipment. In forests across the West, no federal employees are reducing dry fire fuels that feed catastrophic blazes. These are some of the effects of the federal shutdown on federal firefighters, and experts say the situation could quickly worsen.
- PUB DATE: 1/11/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Bend Bulletin

Two utility contractors faulted for contributing to an explosion that leveled part of downtown Sun Prairie and killed a volunteer firefighter in July have been fined for “serious” violations by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In citation letters dated Jan. 4, OSHA said its inspectors found that Kansas-based Bear Communications and Michigan-based VC Tech failed to call a diggers hotline or utility owners to locate underground lines before starting work.
- PUB DATE: 1/11/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Wisconsin State Journal

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