For years, firefighters at Seattle’s Station 31 have worried that the place where they barbecue steak and try to sleep between calls might be making them sick. Red flags were first raised in the early 2000s, after a string of firefighters were diagnosed with cancer. But a subsequent study found no link between the station and the illness.
- PUB DATE: 7/9/2018 8:05:35 AM - SOURCE: Seattle Times

A man was found dead after a fire broke out inside his Bellevue home Sunday evening. Firefighters were called to the home just before 9:30 p.m., and arrived to find a fire on the back side of the home, according to Lt. Camari Olson with Bellevue Fire. They had difficulty getting into the home due to a large number of items inside, and had to cut down a window to gain access.
- PUB DATE: 7/9/2018 2:15:21 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

A Phoenix firefighter was found dead in his quarters Friday while on duty at the Arizona Army National Guard Base, the Phoenix Fire Department announced Sunday. Juston Doherty was 45, according to public records. Phoenix Fire Capt. Rob McDade described the technical-rescue technician, a 15-year veteran of the department, as "heroic" and committed.
- PUB DATE: 7/9/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com & KPNX-TV NBC 12 Phoenix

The Supreme Court of Wyoming has ruled that in a combination fire department, part-time and volunteer firefighters are entitled to vote on whether or not firefighters can form a union. The decision was handed down Friday, July 6, 2018. The case involved two IAFF locals, Campbell County Firefighters IAFF Local 5058 and Jackson Hole Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 5067, who sought to collectively bargain with their respective municipalities.
- PUB DATE: 7/9/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireLawBlog.com

It has been about 14 months since Russell Brooks last served as Utica’s fire chief. With Brooks on administrative leave, the Utica Fire Department has had three interim chiefs in that span. Retired Utica fire Capt. James Barefoot, the latest appointed to the role, officially started July 2. Through it all, Brooks continues to challenge the city’s decision to place him on paid, nondisciplinary, administrative leave due to concerns with Brooks’ health.
- PUB DATE: 7/9/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Utica Observer-Dispatch