Firefighters were busy trying to douse a blaze at a three-story townhome under construction in Wallingford. Neighbors called in the fire in the 4200 block of Winslow Place N. just after 5 a.m. Carter Costello was just coming down off Queen Anne Hill when he spotted the massive flames: "We looked over the edge of the bridge and saw this huge, billowing red cloud -- the fire was huge, it was insane," he said.
- PUB DATE: 9/13/2018 5:53:22 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

The city's fire department is no longer using lights and sirens on all of its runs, prompting the fire union to warn that the new policy could endanger lives. But Detroit's fire commissioner says he has no plans to back down on a strategy that gives discretion to dispatchers, firefighters and EMTs to alert those en route to "go easy," which means they can switch off their lights and sirens to arrive safely.
- PUB DATE: 9/13/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Detroit News

As Hurricane Florence approaches the U.S. continental east coast, the IAFC reminds fire and emergency service leaders to discourage the practice of self-dispatching to emergency response and recovery locations. In major disasters, the fire service needs to be disciplined in its response. First responders must be ready and available to the local communities and—when requested—be ready and available to respond should a call for assistance be received from affected jurisdictions.
- PUB DATE: 9/13/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: International Association of Fire Chiefs

A young woman who was sexually abused in a mentor program at Cascade Township Fire Department has filed a federal lawsuit against the township and Boy Scouts of America. Two now-former Cascade Township firefighters - Clem Bell, 53, and Steven Drake, 34 - had relationships with the then-16-year-old girl and exchanged sexually explicit photographs and videos with her.
- PUB DATE: 9/13/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Mlive.com

The International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) has released a white paper that covers best practices related to health and safety, particularly as it concerns cancer prevention. The white paper was put together by the IAAI Health and Safety Committee after it was re-established in 2016 when it was deemed that health and safety practices and protocols for investigators had not been keeping pace with those of firefighters.
- PUB DATE: 9/13/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse