Earlier this month, 41-year-old Robert Pattison went to introduce himself to his fellow firefighters at Engine 55 at Joy and Southfield in Detroit. Second Battallion Chief Shawn McCarty calls it a tradition for firefighters. "It's not mandatory, it's voluntary," he says. "You come in bearing gifts. The usual gift is doughnuts, but you are allowed to bring whatever you want to bring in.
- PUB DATE: 10/10/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fox 2 Detroit

Channel 2 Investigates has learned Houston fire Chief Sam Pena will make a case to city leaders Tuesday to purchase about $12 million in new emergency equipment to update the HFD's ailing fleet. Specifically, Chief Sam Pena will ask for 10 more evacuation boats, four more rescue boats and six to seven more high water vehicles.
- PUB DATE: 10/10/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KPRC-TV NBC 2 Houston

Houston Fire Chief Sam Pena gave City Council a bleak assessment Tuesday of his department's readiness to respond to significant rainstorms and even to daily fire and medical calls, saying a ramshackle fleet and inadequate training are putting the safety of both citizens and firefighters at risk. The Houston Fire Department must double its annual spending on engines, ladders and ambulances, the chief said, and must ramp up its purchases of water rescue apparatus and the training to enable personnel to operate them.
- PUB DATE: 10/10/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Houston Chronicle

Massive wildfires sweeping through parts of California have killed at least 15 people and damaged more than 1,500 residences and other buildings, according to authorities. Firefighters were battling 17 fires across multiple counties in the state as of late Monday, authorities said. Intensified by strong winds, the fires charred about 115,000 acres of land, destroyed at least 1,500 buildings and forced nearly 20,000 residents to evacuate.
- PUB DATE: 10/10/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: ABC News

People came looking for answers Monday night about why they are getting less fire protection than nearby communities. The answer is money. A lack of funds has meant that Fire Station 83 is staffed only half the time. When a fire broke out in a house down the street last week, engine companies had to be called in from other fire stations.
- PUB DATE: 10/9/2017 11:35:56 PM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000