Many firefighters at New Milford Fire Company 1 will remember Frank Matagrano for his 43-plus years of dedication to the company as both a volunteer firefighter and an engineer. Matagrano, 75, died on Friday, nine days after he suffered a stroke, which then led to a heart attack as he was on his way to a scene.
- PUB DATE: 12/27/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Northjersey.com

After over a year of surgeries in an attempt to heal his knee from infection, a firefighter underwent surgery to have his leg amputated. Reporter Herald reported that Berthoud Fire Protection District fire investigator Josh Macdonald was injured in a March 2016 house fire after pulling 75-year-old Cecil Ann Dunfee from her burning home.
- PUB DATE: 12/27/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1.com

Spokane Fire Department said they are seeing an increase of violent calls that have jeopardized the safety of first responders. The Spokane Fire Department responded to a house fire earlier this week. The homeowner became violent. He struck a firefighter in the face while being rescued. He became violent again, striking another first responder.
- PUB DATE: 12/27/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KREM.com

A Kansas City, Kan., firefighter and paramedic was found dead in his bed Tuesday morning at the Fire Station 19 at 80th Terrace and State Avenue, the fire department announced. Jason Garrett was 46 years old and had been with the Kansas City, Kan., Fire Department for five-and-a-half-years. The death is under investigation, but it is believed he died of natural causes.
- PUB DATE: 12/27/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Kansas Star

Kelley Whitelens hiked a steep hill toward the backyard of a home on Coyote Road in Santa Barbara, one hand wiping the sweat from her face, the other pulling up her sagging pants. Whitelens is the only female firefighter in a 19-person team from South Dakota fighting the fierce Thomas fire — which, at 281,620 acres spread across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, is California’s largest wildfire on record.
- PUB DATE: 12/27/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Los Angeles Times