The Oklahoma City Fire Department has returned all of its rigs to full-time service after 13 months of cutbacks imposed to stave off a budget shortfall. The department saved $2.6 million between October 2016 and this November by reducing overtime from "callbacks," when staffing falls below minimums.
- PUB DATE: 12/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Oklahoman

Kern County has released an independent report that details more than $12.75 million in savings that could be achieved by changing the way the Kern County Fire Department pays firefighters, buys vehicles, and provides service to small cities and county airports. But the Kern County Fire Fighters union on Friday called the report a cut-and-paste hit piece designed to rally public opinion against firefighters right before the county launches a contract assault on their pay and benefits.
- PUB DATE: 12/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Bakersfield.com

The whole system of building regulation in the UK is “not fit for purpose”, a damning independent report in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire has found. Confusing rules and a lack of enforcement means construction companies are able to abuse the system, according to interim findings of the review chaired by Dame Judith Hackitt.
- PUB DATE: 12/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Independent

PHOTOS - An Amtrak train making the first-ever run along a new route hurtled off an overpass Monday near Tacoma and spilled some of its cars onto the highway below, killing at least six people authorities said. Seventy-eight passengers and five crew members were aboard when the train derailed about 40 miles south of Seattle before 8 a.
- PUB DATE: 12/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000

A southbound Amtrak train plunged off a bridge onto Interstate 5 south of Tacoma Monday morning, killing an unknown number of people and injuring others. "We have fatalities and casualties," said Detective Ed Troyer of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department. "This is a regional mass casualty response.
- PUB DATE: 12/18/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000