VIDEO: An FDNY firefighter who spent over a year recovering from injuries he suffered fighting a house fire returned to work Monday. Robert Velazquez was greeted as he walked back into Engine 257, Ladder 170 in Canarsie, Brooklyn. In a Facebook post, the FDNY said in part, "With the support of his family, friends, and his FDNY family, and through sheer determination and grit, Firefighter Velazquez is back at his second home, his firehouse.
- PUB DATE: 12/6/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WCBS-TV CBS 2 New York City

The D.C. Council unanimously passed emergency legislation Tuesday that could help solve an ongoing staffing shortage at the 911 call center. The bill, which had nine cosponsors, allows retired firefighters and police officers to work as call takers and dispatchers without losing any pay from their pensions.
- PUB DATE: 12/6/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WRC-TV NBC 4 Washington, D.C.

PHOTOS: A century-old fire engine once in the service of Las Cruces firefighters completed a long journey this week from a salvage yard, to a local home, all the way to Oregon and back again. It was briefly parked, looking shiny and new, in front of Las Cruces City Hall Monday, as LCFD Chief Jason Smith celebrated its donation back to the city at the regular city council meeting.
- PUB DATE: 12/6/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Las Cruces Bulletin

VIDEO: A critical piece of Southern California's effort to fight fire has been quietly making a name for itself for the last five years. The Quick Reaction Force (QRF) is a cross-agency partnership that has been available during peak fire seasons, but now thanks to $35 million from Southern California Edison, this first of its kind public-private partnership is available year round.
- PUB DATE: 12/6/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KABC-TV ABC 7 Los Angeles

A bucket of possibly — but not very — radioactive kitty litter was the culprit in a hazardous material response Tuesday night outside a Capitol Hill apartment building. Seattle Fire responded to the report of a suspicious bucket marked as containing hazardous material outside the E Harrison building around 6:15 PM.
- PUB DATE: 12/6/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Capitol Hill Seattle