For the first time in city history, the Spokane Fire Department will be led in part by a woman. “Since 1884,” said Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer. “It’s exciting. It’s progressive.” On Monday, city officials announced Trisha Wolford would work as the department’s assistant fire chief. The position was previously held by Schaeffer, who was promoted to fire chief in May following the retirement of Bobby Williams, who worked as fire chief for 28 years.
- PUB DATE: 11/22/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Spokesman-Review

After the first of two explosions rocked the Verla International factory at 10:15 a.m. Monday, dozens of firefighters – some paid, most volunteers – raced to the scene on Temple Hill Road. They found chaos. Employees poured out of the burning building. They were using multiple exits, and many didn’t speak English, said Chris Sweeney, chief of the Vails Gate Fire Department.
- PUB DATE: 11/22/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Times Herald-Record

New charges have been filed in connection with the October 2015 arson fire that killed two Kansas City firefighters. Thu Hong Nguyen, the 45-year-old woman accused of starting that fire, now faces a new arson charge for allegedly setting a 2013 Lee’s Summit blaze for which the cause previously had been ruled to be undetermined.
- PUB DATE: 11/22/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Kansas City Star

Have you ever struggled to defend yourself after a simple conversation or suggestion you have given as a manager to improve an operation or a process? Has that conversation taken on a life of its own? Has a conversation like that ever been perceived as discipline? I have found that in today’s environment, there is often confusion between the activity of management and the action of discipline.
- PUB DATE: 11/22/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FireRescue1

Neighbors in Onalaska unleashed their frustrations on fire commissioners Tuesday night. They're upset after a third of the all-volunteer fire department resigned. Some say small town politics is putting public safety in jeopardy. Commissioners voted last week to strip Fire Chief Andrew Martin of his title.
- PUB DATE: 11/22/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: king5.com