Congress today passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1), a comprehensive reform of the U.S. tax code. The IAFC applauds Congress for addressing several important issues affecting the fire and emergency service, including: Fire Sprinklers: Since the devastating 2003 fire at the Station Nightclub in Rhode Island, the IAFC has urged Congress to incentivize business owners to retrofit their properties with fire-sprinkler systems.
- PUB DATE: 12/21/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: International Association of Fire Chiefs

The Baltimore Fire Department is reeling as the city has experienced the most fire deaths in a decade, Chief Niles R. Ford said Wednesday. Twenty-eight people have died in fires with more than a week left to go in the year — more than half of them in just four incidents, according to the Fire Department.
- PUB DATE: 12/21/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Baltimore Sun

Pierce County firefighters have a fire under control at a mobile home park in Puyallup. The fire destroyed a mobile home near the 8000 block of River Road East on Thursday morning. Pierce County Fire tweeted out a photo that showed smoke coming from the mobile home. Fire officials said the family living there was able to get out safely, however, their home is a total loss.
- PUB DATE: 12/21/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KIRO.com

Six people were displaced after a fire scorched their Fisher’s Landing-area home’s attic Wednesday afternoon. Firefighters were called to a house fire on Southeast 179th Court shortly before 4:20 p.m., according to dispatch logs. Vancouver Fire Department spokesman Darrin Deming said they arrived at a two-story home to find all six occupants had been evacuated.
- PUB DATE: 12/20/2017 10:29:40 PM - SOURCE: Vancouver Columbian

A firefighter with the Hamilton Township Volunteer Fire Department died Wednesday after he helped battle an early morning barn blaze. Jeffery Alan Blackmer, 42, apparently fell ill at the fire station at 8021 N. Ind. 3, where he was cleaning gear after the fire in the 7700 block of North Delaware County Road 320-E.
- PUB DATE: 12/20/2017 10:15:37 PM - SOURCE: Muncie Star Press