VIDEO: The Wichita Fire Department hosted a special surprise presentation on Wednesday for a former Wichita firefighter. Rebecca (Downum) Chandler became Wichita’s first female firefighter in 1983. “It was a wonderful time. I didn’t really know how long I could do it, but I did it as long as I could,” she said, “I enjoyed doing it.
- PUB DATE: 9/7/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KWCH-DT CBS 12 Hutchinson

VIDEO: New York and Nashville researchers studied blood cell mutations in 9/11 first responders and determined some cells were cloning out of control and causing cardiovascular disease. Thanks to this research, an exercise fanatic discovered he had underlying and extensive heart disease. Roger Grad exercises 90 minutes a day, five days a week.
- PUB DATE: 9/7/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WISH-TV CW 8 Indianapolis

VIDEO: Fairfield firefighters gathered Thursday night to shave a mullet for a good cause. The mullet had been growing out for 798 days by Lt. Lee Corbo. Corbo decided to create a fundraiser and shave his hair in support of the Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer. He is also supporting a Norwalk firefighter who has been diagnosed with cancer.
- PUB DATE: 9/7/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: News 12 Connecticut

Firefighting is a brotherhood. Few people understand that better than Eric and Jason Vander Kooy. They both joined the McLean Road Fire Department in rural Skagit County 28 years ago, becoming part of a close extended family. "It's great working with my brother," said Eric Vander Kooy. "Everybody here is my brother and sister, too, when you've been here this long.
- PUB DATE: 9/7/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

The OIFR Safety Committee, consisting of Safety Officer Bob Nutt, Volunteer Lt. Greg Sawyer, Capt. Don Swain and Chief Holly vanSchaick have been awarded a $25,000 grant for new firefighter bunker gear (also known as turnouts) through the Department of Labor and Industries Firefighter Injury Illness Reduction Program (FIIRE).
- PUB DATE: 9/7/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Islands' Sounder