After vetting more than 100 applicants in the past year, the city of Charleston has announced who will take the helm of the fire department. The city released a statement Thursday that Daniel Curia, fire chief in Durham, N.C., has accepted the job as chief of the Charleston Fire Department. Curia will speak at a press conference at 1:30 p.
- PUB DATE: 3/30/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Charleston Post and Courer

The Orange County Fire Authority broke department protocols in its response to the Canyon 2 Fire by not deploying enough equipment after receiving early reports of flames, an independent investigation has determined. The report bolsters concerns that a bungled response might have allowed a small blaze to grow into the county’s most destructive wildfire in at least a decade.
- PUB DATE: 3/30/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Orange County Register

A Senate bill to pay for firefighter cancer benefits was sent to the House after being stripped of its funding source last week, but the governor and bill’s sponsor believe the legislation could still result in the benefits being funded. SB 541, which would have used a surcharge on insurance policies to fund benefits for firefighters presumed to have gotten cancer from their work, passed the Senate March 22 after being amended to remove the surcharge funding approach, said state Sen.
- PUB DATE: 3/30/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Seacoast Online

A Utica firefighter pleaded not guilty Thursday to three misdemeanor charges stemming from a Jan. 6 incident in which he allegedly harassed a female co-worker. The defendant, Richard Forte, was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, offering a false written statement and third-degree criminal tampering.
- PUB DATE: 3/30/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Utica Observer-Dispatch