Miles Richard Bowers' first job as a firefighter in 1948 was to help tackle one of Jacksonville's worst fires at a paint factory. One of his last jobs was in 2003 when he was named the city's fire chief for the second time. He had previously led the department from 1984 to 1988. Bowers, who served longer than any other firefighter on the force, died Tuesday after a stroke.
- PUB DATE: 1/11/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Jacksonville Times-Union & Jacksonville.com

The recent milestone of all 50 states and 5 of the 6 U.S. territories having opted in to the FirstNet NPSBN is significant and signals widespread support for nationwide public safety interoperability never before possible. It has always been FirstNet’s goal to convince all the states and territories to opt in to the FirstNet network.
- PUB DATE: 1/11/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: AllThingsFirstNet.com

In Palmyra, Wisconsin, a town of about 1,800 people, a firefighter is a police officer is an EMT. They're hiring people to be public safety officers and do every job. If you're sick or hurt and you call 9-1-1, you want someone there quickly. Across the country, budget cuts are making it more difficult to staff departments and keep up with demand.
- PUB DATE: 1/11/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTMJ-TV 4 Milwaukee

VIDEO - Fire crews in DeKalb County are investigating what caused a massive fire at the Avondale Forest Apartments that displaced dozens of families. The two alarm fire in Decatur damaged more than twenty units one week ago. "We never know from shift to shift what we're going to end up with so it pays for us to be ready," said Eric Jackson with Dekalb County Fire.
- PUB DATE: 1/11/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CBS 46 Atlanta

Attorneys for the state and the city firefighters union will have two court-approved mediation sessions this month to try to resolve issues regarding salary cuts and a possible 10 to 12 more layoffs. Both parties were back in court Wednesday, as Superior Court Judge Julio Mendez reviewed state-proposed staffing and salary cuts for the Fire Department in the ongoing case between International Association of Fire Fighters Local 198 and state.
- PUB DATE: 1/11/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Press of Atlantic City