In Phoenix, not every medical 911 call results in an ambulance ride to the hospital. Sometimes, the fire department calls for a taxi to take the person to the hospital instead. The number of taxi rides is growing — overwhelmingly so for people in poor neighborhoods — as fire officials wrestle with more calls and limited resources.
- PUB DATE: 1/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com & KPNX-TV NBC 12 Phoenix

Firefighters and other responders working on some of the busiest stretches in Texas now have an added level of safety with apparatus that were recently placed in service. The Irving Fire Department has placed two “blocker” apparatus in service and the department will be adding three more blocker units in the coming months.
- PUB DATE: 1/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Firehouse

Many research studies have focused on firefighter mental health challenges due to a sinAcross the country, firefighters are responding to fewer fires but are increasingly called upon to provide Emergency Medical Services (EMS), perform search and rescue, and react to hazardous materials incidents and natural disasters.
- PUB DATE: 1/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: U.S. Fire Administration

The state Supreme Court refused Wednesday to reinstate a San Francisco jury’s $3.7 million damage award to 15 firefighters who claimed age discrimination in the city’s scoring of a 2008 exam on promotions to lieutenant. The Superior Court jury agreed with the firefighters in 2013 that the Fire Department’s exam unit had weighed some parts of the test more than others, and ranked the test-takers, in ways that were unrelated to fitness for the promotion, and that had an adverse effect on applicants older than 40.
- PUB DATE: 1/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: SFGate.com

A 4-year-old boy who was saved by his mother's and firefighters' CPR efforts got to meet the first responders who were there to help. "It was incredible," said mom Stephanie Lentell. "I underestimated the emotional impact facing these firefighters would have, but to be able to personally thank them and have them meet Michael was amazing.
- PUB DATE: 1/18/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: http://komonews.com