The Fire District Board accepted Chief Buddy Emerson’s retirement request Wednesday amid allegations from the firefighters union that he endangered employees' lives during Hurricane Irma and acted recklessly as chief. Emerson had submitted his retirement effective at the end of February, but the board, at a special meeting, unanimously accepted it effective immediately.
- PUB DATE: 10/12/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: TCPalm

Shooting off fireworks in Ohio, a time-honored tradition of lawbreaking across the state, would become fully legal just in time for July 4, 2020, under a bill that passed the House on Wednesday. For decades, Ohioans have been allowed to purchase fireworks but not legally set them off inside the state.
- PUB DATE: 10/12/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Columbus Dispatch

Massive wildfires sweeping through California have killed at least 24 people and damaged thousands of homes, businesses and other buildings, authorities said. Firefighters were still battling 22 wildfires in multiple counties as of Thursday morning. Intensified by strong winds, the flames have charred more than 170,000 acres of land, damaged or destroyed at least 3,500 structures and forced nearly 20,000 residents to evacuate, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
- PUB DATE: 10/12/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: ABC News

Massive wildfires sweeping through California have killed at least 26 people and damaged thousands of homes, businesses and other buildings, authorities said. Firefighters were still battling 22 wildfires in multiple counties as of Thursday morning. Intensified by strong winds, the flames have charred more than 170,000 acres of land, damaged or destroyed at least 3,500 structures and forced nearly 20,000 residents to evacuate, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
- PUB DATE: 10/12/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: ABC News

The Senate FIRE-SAFER re-authorization bill passed in early August but has yet to make any progress in the House. Due to the lack of action, Representative Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Representative Dave Reichert (R-WA) and the other House Fire Services Caucus members introduced their own FIRE-SAFER re-authorization bill (H.
- PUB DATE: 10/12/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Washington Fire Chiefs