VIDEO: A bill passed in this year’s West Virginia Legislative Session aimed at protecting first responders while they’re helping people in need will soon become law after receiving Gov. Morrisey’s signature earlier this month.

Senate Bill 4 was drafted by Senator Mike Oliverio (R-Monongalia) last spring after he found similar legislation passed in Florida. This bill states that the public, upon receiving a verbal warning, must stay 30 feet away from first responders to ensure their safety and to keep patients and bystanders safe, as well.

12 News spoke to Senator Oliverio on the importance of prioritizing first responders’ safety.

“Whether it’s a law enforcement officer, a firefighter or EMS, we understand that the public wants to see what’s going on, and if the public wants to record with their phone or take photographs, that’s fine, but we just need to make sure that they’re out of the way of the first responders.

And this just makes it very clear that if a first responder thinks the person is in their way, they can instruct them to move back 30 feet, or simply 10 yards,” Senator Oliverio said. Failure to move after being warned by a first responder could result in a misdemeanor charge, leading to a fine of up to $500 and/or a year of jail time.

WVNS-TV CBS/FOX 59 Lewisburg

The post New West Virginia law will require public to stay 30 feet away from first responders appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

VIDEOS/PHOTOS: Thirteen people were injured after an explosion was reported at a manufacturing building in East Providence on Wednesday night.

Police said they responded to Aspen Aerogels on Dexter Road at 8:14 p.m. for a report of an explosion and fire inside the facility.

Officers said they located multiple people with minor injuries inside and outside of the building. There are no reports of major injuries. Fire officials said the back of the building suffered significant damage.

“There is a process they do in the building, they do super insulation, as part of that process, the insulation is dried in basically an oven. And during that process is when the explosion happened,” said Chief Michael Carey.

It is unclear what caused the explosion. The Office of the State Fire Marshal is investigating.

WJAR-TV NBC 10 Providence

The post 13 injured after explosion inside manufacturing plant in Rhode Island appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

VIDEO/PHOTOS: A fire discovered early Saturday in a newly constructed wing of Ferrucci Junior High has prompted an extended closure as officials conduct further environmental testing, Puyallup school district officials said. As a result, Ferrucci Junior High will be closed April 13 through April 15 for all students and programs. During the closure, there will be no access to the building, transportation services, meal service, school-based activities, or facility use. To make up for lost instructional time, the district will use three make-up days already built into the academic calendar: May 22, June 17 and June 18.

KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

The post Puyallup school fire sparks environmental testing, building closure extended appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

VIDEO: Two people were killed when a trailer caught fire in Woodinville on Wednesday night, according to Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue. Firefighters responded to the 9000 block of 212th Street Southeast for reports of a fire. At the scene, crews found a fifth-wheel trailer engulfed in flames.

Once the fire was contained, firefighters found two people dead inside the trailer. Their identies have not been released. The Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire. Firefighters reported seeing hazards nearby the trailer, including a propane tank and overhead, arching power lines.

KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

The post 2 bodies found in Woodinville trailer fire appeared first on Daily Dispatch.

The Longview Fire Department served as a test location for a new expansion to a University of Washington program that allows pre-med students to work with health care professionals during their spring break. Quality journalism doesn’t happen without your help

The Health Care Alternative Spring Break program typically embeds students in hospitals and clinics to gain real-world experience in rural communities. This year, it also sent three students to observe the fire department’s emergency medical services.

The students shadowed emergency medical technicians and visited the 911 dispatch center. On their last day, they spoke to health science students at R.A. Long High School about their college experience and what pushed them toward medicine as a career.

The Longview Fire Department and UW, in Seattle, have been discussing the necessity of giving students experience with pre-hospital care since 2000, but this marks the first year that idea became a reality, Battalion Chief Eric Koreis said.

EMS 1

The post Wash. FD becomes test for university’s pre-med expansion appeared first on Daily Dispatch.