The Orlando Fire Department plans to hire 25 paramedics, a move opposed by the city’s firefighters union but which Chief Roderick Williams says will help the agency handle the increased demands of a growing city. It would mark a shift for OFD, which currently doesn’t employ civilian paramedics. All of its firefighters are either emergency medical technicians or paramedics.
- PUB DATE: 11/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Orlando Sentinel

Suiting up for another tour of duty, Sean O'Rourke barely gets into his turnout gear when the first alarm comes into the station house of Tower Ladder 138 and Engine 289 in Corona, Queens. Climbing behind the wheel of the tower ladder truck, O'Rourke is the muscle driving the giant truck answering the call of the smell of gas at a home.
- PUB DATE: 11/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WABC-TV 7online.com

A fire crew attended a boy with autism’s birthday party after none of his classmates showed up. FOX News reported that Holden Bridges, 7, invited his entire class to his birthday party, and began crying when he realized no one was coming. “He kept saying his friends were just getting ready, going to get presents, that’s why they were late,” Holden’s mom Amanda said.
- PUB DATE: 11/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

A former volunteer is facing multiple charges after allegedly embezzling federal money from a volunteer fire department. Kathy Gwinn, of Hurricane, is charged with federal program theft, embezzlement and stealing federal monies. According to federal court documents, Gwinn embezzled more than $75,000 through checks she wrote to herself from the Teays Valley Volunteer Fire Department, while she was a treasurer at the department.
- PUB DATE: 11/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WSAZ-TV

Reports of gunfire kept firefighters from fully attacking a house fire in Lynnwood Wednesday. The call came in around 7:30 a.m. in the 14300 block of 16th Place West. Authorities at the scene said they had received reports that there were gunshots heard at the scene, but that was not immediately confirmed.
- PUB DATE: 11/29/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: King 5 News