The leader of the Alameda firefighters union wants at least $200,000 from the city in damages over what he describes as “false” and “malicious” accusations against him as a result of the city manager’s allegations she was put under political pressure to pick a union-backed candidate as fire chief. Jeff DelBono cites Vice Mayor Malia Vella and City Councilman Jim Oddie as witnesses — the same elected representatives that City Manager Jill Keimach secretly audio-recorded for evidence that they were possibly violating the City Charter by weighing in on whom she picked as a fire chief.
- PUB DATE: 4/30/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: East Bay Times

William “Billy” Goldfeder was awarded the 2018 FDIC Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement award at this morning’s General Session. Making the presentation were Chief Bobby Halton, editor in chief of Fire Engineering/FDIC International education director, and Eileen Cress, daughter of Tom Brennan. In his introduction remarks, Halton noted: “Today we recognize someone who, not to sound cliché, truly needs no introduction.
- PUB DATE: 4/30/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fire Egineering

Polk County Deputy Manager Joe Halman on Friday cleared Fire Rescue Capt. Jay Schwartz of any wrongdoing after the captain helped to fight a fire while he was off duty and without proper equipment, saying Schwartz’ actions were, in fact, “heroic, commendable and consistent with expectations of Polk County Fire Rescue employees.
- PUB DATE: 4/30/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: News Chief

Part I and Part II - A newly obtained collection of police body camera footage offers exclusive insight into what Oakland police knew about the dangerous warehouse where 36 people died — and what happened that fateful night. A year before the Ghost Ship blaze killed 36 partygoers, an Oakland police officer could sense the fire danger as he and a colleague wandered through the cluttered Fruitvale district warehouse, called there for a tenant dispute.
- PUB DATE: 4/30/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: East Bay Times

City Secretary Anna Russell has one week to finish verifying a petition Houston firefighters submitted last summer seeking pay parity with police or risk being hauled into court, a state district judge said Friday. Judge Dan Hinde had given Russell until Friday at 5 p.m. to verify whether the firefighters had reached the minimum threshold of 20,000 signatures needed for the item to appear before voters.
- PUB DATE: 4/30/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Houston Chronicle